Classic Bikes Custom Bikes Individual Racing Bikes AJP AJS Aprilia Ariel Avinton / Wakan Bajaj Benelli Beta Bimota BMW Brough Superior BRP Cam-Am BSA Buell / EBR Bultaco Cagiva Campagna CCM CF Moto Combat Motors Derbi Deus Ducati Excelsior GASGAS Ghezzi Brian Gilera GIMA Harley Davidson Hero Highland Honda Horex Husaberg Husqvarna Hyosung Indian Jawa Kawasaki KTM KYMCO Laverda Lazareth Magni Maico Mash Matchless Mondial Moto Guzzi Moto Morini MV Agusta MZ / MuZ NCR Norton NSU Paton Peugeot Piaggio Revival Cycles Roland Sands Royal Enfield Sachs Sherco Sunbeam Suzuki SWM SYM Triumph TVS Ural Velocette Vespa Victory Vincent VOR Voxan Vyrus Walt Siegl Walz Wrenchmonkees Wunderlich XTR / Radical Yamaha Zero Video Technical
Complete Manufacturer List

Kawasaki ZR-X 400

Make Model	Kawasaki ZR-X 400
Year	1996 - 98
Engine	Four stroke parallel twin cylinder. DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder
Capacity	399 cc / 24.4 cu-in
Bore x Stroke	57.5 х 38.5 mm
Cooling System	Liquid cooled
Compression Ratio	11.2:1
Induction	4x Keihin CVK30 carburetors
Ignition	Battery & coil
Starting	Electric
Max Power	62 hp / 46.2 kW @ 11500 rpm
Max Torque	37 Nm / 27.3 lb-ft @ 9000 rpm
Clutch	Wet multi disc
Transmission	6 Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Front Suspension	39mm RWU telescopic forks
Rear Suspension	Dual shocks preload adjustment
Front Brakes	2x 298mm discs 6 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 240mm disc 2 piston caliper
Front Tyre	110/80-17
Rear Tyre	150/70-18
Wheelbase	1450 mm / 57.1 in
Seat Height	780 mm / 30.7 in
Ground Clearance	120 mm / 4.7 in
Dry Weight	186 kg / 410.1 lbs
Fuel Capacity	16 Litres / 4.2 US gal

HERE IN JAPAN, the retro boom goes from strength to strength. Ever since the Zephyr series came out dressed like the Zl, a host of classics have been reinvented to meet the insatiable demand of the nostalgic home market.

Of all the retros a revived Kawasaki Z1100R has been the most keenly anticipated, but until last autumn an Eddie Lawson superbike replica had failed to progress beyond rumour — hence the excitement when the ZRX400 was finally shown at the Tokyo Show. OK, it's the wrong size, the wrong colour and Kawasaki UK has no plans to officially import it to Britain, but when I first saw the ZRX I thought it one of the best designed motorcycles I have met. The bikini-fairing, the engine, the colours, the seat — everything was exacdy to my taste (though surprisingly the bikini fairing, which is the visual focus of the bike, was just a last minute addition). And everyone 1 spoke to both at Tokyo and at the ZRX launch at the new Aida circuit (see Japan News) agreed with me — so no wonder Kawasaki expects to sell 12,000 this year.

Although the cylinder block is dressed with the cooling fins of an air-cooled engine, the 16-valve dohc transverse-four is actually a transplant from the Japan-only, liquid-cooled ZZ-R400. Kawasaki sees the ZRX as its sporty retro. "A lot of people enjoy modifying Zephyr to make it stronger," said a Kawasaki engineer, "but there is a limit to its potential.

"We thought we should give one which is more suitable for being modified." In fact dozens of after-market parts for this engine are already on sale in Japan so more horsepower is easily attainable.

The engine sounds extremely quiet and is silky smooth, but its power output amazed me. It is really fast and powerful, and superbly responsfve — thanks in the main to the newly lightened crank, con-rods and valve gear. At the race track, the serious powerband begins at 8000rpm, but on the street there will be enough mid tacho urge to keep the ZRX on the boil, given the ZRX's smaller Keihin CVK30 carbs which add torque in the midrange.

Continuing the compliments, I enjoyed riding this retro on the race track as much as plenty of racer-replicas — for a "naked bike" it is a superb handler. The stiff double-cradle frame is newly developed, as is the specially designed aluminium swing-arm, which is 25 per cent stronger than the Zephyr 400's. Such was the ZRX's stability I was able to hold it flat in fifth through a fifth-gear S-bend without any fears; the bike turning into sharp, low-speed bends as well as the fast ones. Whenever I went in too quick, I could amend my line in the bend quite easily.

Contributing to the remarkable stability are a pair of beefy (non-adjustable) 41mm forks. "We aimed to give the ZRX class-leading stability," said Kawasaki's chassis engineer, "so we gave it the Zephyr 750's forks at first. But our test riders claimed that it wouldn't be strong enough so we added one more clamp for the axle." The gas-charged twin rear shocks (with 4-way rebound damping adjustment) initially felt too hard, but I changed my mind during the first couple of bends. Once I fixed the lean-angle entering a bend, the suspension supported me to keep the bike under precise control.

The two front 300mm discs and dual-piston calipers had no problems at Aida, proving easily powerful enough and well controlled. The upright riding position suited me very well: the bars are high and wide, the seat height is also high and the low footpegs give plenty of legroom. The ZRX looks and feels far bigger than a 400, in fact some smaller test riders murmured that it was too big.

The seat is soft and comfortable; the bars provide plenty of leverage for low-speed manoeuvring, in fact I am sure this will be a good fellow for touring and everyday use. The tiny bikini-fairing protects me from the wind impressively well on the race track.

Kawasaki has developed the bike with some optional parts such as a grabrail, luggage carrier and engine guard. Thanks to the twin shocks, there is room under the seat for waterproofs (extremely useful for the British, isn't it?) and a U-lock. The levers are span adjustable and there is a fuel gauge between the speedo and tacho, and useful luggage hooks tucked under the pillion half of the seat.

Kawasaki says it has no plans to make a biggbr ZRX at this moment, but hasn't ruled out a full-size Eddie Lawson replica in the future, although it would be difficult to make it out of the ZZ-R1100 engine. We will have to wait and see.

Kawasaki has painted the ZRX in three different colours - none of them black, the traditional retro colour (the Yamaha XJR, Honda CB400SF and even Kawasaki Zephyr are all available in black).

One of the engineers admitted there had been some qualms about a no-black policy. However, they wanted to make the ZRX totally different from the other naked or retro bikes. So they painted the bike in grey instead of black. I haven't seen the red one yet, but both blue and grey colour were very beautiful having a forceful image. Is it only me who plans to paint it in classic Eddie Lawson lime green? □