Kawasaki ZRX1200R

The Kawasaki ZRX1200R is a muscle bike manufactured in Japan. It it an evolution of the ZRX1100, which is an evolution of the "Eddie Lawson Replica" series, made famous by the track racer of the same name. [ MSN Bikepoint review, Robert Smith, 07/2006. ]

The ZRX is available in three guises, the ZRX1200S, an "R" version with a bikini fairing that apes the original ZRX1100, or the Eddy Lawson replica, so called because the American racer used one to win Superbike races in the USA in the days when Superbike racing really did mean road bikes on the track.

There's also the standard unfaired model, the ZRX1200. Your choice would depend on what you want from the bike. The "R" model might be the best for those seeking the authentic looks of a late Seventies muscle bike. The naked version will suit those with strong necks -- you'll need one to hang on to the missile at 155 mph!

The fairing on the "S" isn't faithful to the Seventies look, as it's far too sleek and modern for that. But it does a brilliant job in keeping the rider comfortableThe riding experience owes a lot to the seventies' universal Japanese motorcycle (UJM) that the big Zed is so blatantly modeled on. For a start, you sit on the bike, rather than in it as with many of the modern sport bikes.

The bars are wide, fairly high, and made of tubular steel unlike the stubby alloy clip-ons that grace so many bikes nowadays. It has a broad saddle, built for comfort, actually containing more than one millimeter of padding between your bum and the pan. The footpegs aren't placed in a cruiser position, but then they aren't set too far back and too high like on a hyper-sports machine. In other words, you're now sitting as you might have done when riding your CB750, Z900 or GS750 all those years ago.

In the seventies, Honda and Kawasaki sold their big fours by the truck-load. With this ZRX1200, Kawasaki has tried to recapture some of that early glory

So, the ZRX will beat its UJM ancestors hands down in the motor department. Things are no different in the twisties. The Japanese were so obsessed with making their bikes fast in the seventies that they forgot to make them go around corners, too. In fact, they didn't actually know how to build a chassis capable of handling the weight and power of their engines.

While the parts might look superficially similar to those fitted to the seventies UJMs, the components on the ZRX are far more sophisticated. The lay-down rear shocks, with their piggy back remote reservoirs, are adjustable for preload and damping and look the part. As does the massive reinforced swing arm, which has been designed to mimic something a UJM owner might have fitted as an aftermarket part in the seventies.

The bike features a 1164cc, 4 cylinder inline, liquid cooled engine. It has 4 X 36mm Keihin carburettors and a 4 into 1 stainless exhaust. Models up to 2004 have black painted headers, and 2004 onwards are equipped with polished headers. The frame is conventional steel tube with the engine supported in a removable cradle. The front suspension is conventional forks with adjustable damping and preload, whilst the rear is twin gas charged shocks with adjustable damping and preload. [ Kawasaki Heavy Industries, ZRX1200 service manual, 2001. ]

Specifications [ MSN Bikepoint review, Robert Smith, 07/2006. ]

KAWASAKI ZRX1200.

"ENGINE".

Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC, 16-valve, in-line four-cylinder.

Bore x stroke: 79 x 59.4 mm.

Displacement: 1164cc.

Fuel system: Four x 36mm Keihin CV carbs.

"TRANSMISSION".

Type: Five-speed, constant-mesh.

Final drive: Chain.

"CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR".

Frame type: Steel double cradle.

Front-suspension: Conventional 43mm Showa forks - fully adjustable.

Rear-suspension: Twin shock absorbers - fully adjustable.

"DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES".

Wheelbase: 1465mm.

Rake and trail: 25 degrees 106mm.

Dry weight: 222kg. Seat height: 790mm.

Fuel capacity: 19 litres.

"PERFORMANCE".

Max power: 123.7hp at 8500rpm.

Max torque: 11.4kg-m at 7000rpm.

External links

* [http://www.zrxoc.com/ Kawasaki ZRX Owners Club]
* [http://www.zrxoa.org/ ZRXOA (ZRX Owners Association)]
* [http://www.zrx21.com/ ZRX Club de France]

Notes