Kawasaki ZR-X 1200

Turn the key, press the starter button and that huge exposed engine fires up with a mechanical rustle that's similar to any of those Seventies machines. Stick the big ZRX into gear, drop the clutch and open the throttle and you are greeted with something that’s nothing like those old machines. The ZRX is completely different from the old 4’s of the past, it doesn’t need to be worked hard! Those early bikes really only gave their best near the redline, the ZRX1200 is a very different animal indeed. With today’s requirements of emission and noise regulations the latest version of the old Z is far quicker, more powerful, has tons more torque and handles beautifully in comparison to any of the older bikes it tries to emulate. The Kawasaki has a bank of four Keihin 36mm CV carburettors, K-TRIC ignition control and a cat hidden in its end can, and they do an admirable job in giving this big retro a completely new feel. It's mid range performance is just huge, at anything more than 2,000rpm give it a big handful of throttle and this bike just hurtles forward like its on a mission! And the power surge is all the way up to the redline at 10,500 rpm. The ZRX’s motor is incredibly flexible, you do find yourself getting used to no a no change policy when you get out of town purely because it can! there's really no need to use any other gear except top.

So, the ZRX beats its ancestors with the utmost of ease in the motor department, but what’s it like to actually ride? The Japanese were pretty obsessed with making their bikes fast in the seventies that they forgot to make them go around corners! In fact those frames were just not capable of handling the weight and power of their engines. No the ZRX is completely different from it’s older counterparts in the handling stakes as well. While some bits of it look superficially similar to those fitted to the seventies and eighties bikes, the components on the ZRX are far more sophisticated. With the combination of a massive swing arm and those lay down shocks with their piggy back remote reservoirs and adjustment for preload and damping, they do a good job of keeping the rear wheel planted and delivering the 120 horses directly to the road. Up front a pair of std forks do their bit in stabilising the big ZRX, but they are not the same kind of kit found on today’s modern sports bike, although they do their job quite well.

The ZRX is available in two models, the ZRX1200S model, as tested, or an "R" version with a bikini fairing, the Eddy Lawson replica. This is 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. 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 "S" version isn't faithful to the seventies look, it's far too sleek and modern for that. But it does give fantastic protection from the wind at almost any speed. The space behind the fairing is completely still, even at well over 100 mph cruising speeds. Usually you get some sort of turbulence from this type of half-fairing but not so on the ZRX. You find yourself in almost complete tranquillity, this, combined with that effortless engine could have got me into big trouble. I often glanced at the Speedo in complete horror on a motor-way or open A road to find myself cruising at speeds well over 100 mph, things were quiet and calm and I honestly hadn't realized I was riding so fast, officer!