Kawasaki ZZ-R 1400

Kawasaki’s original ZZR1100 certainly earned itself a fierce reputation amongst bike enthusiasts when the model was launched over 15 years ago. A wildly optimistic speedometer informing riders that they were breaking the magic 300kph barrier was nothing more than fantasy. However that never prevented the bike from reaching legend status as for many years, optimistic speedo or not, the ZZR had the highest top speed of any standard motorcycle. It was never a sportsbike by any stretch of the imagination, a wet weight well in excess of 250kg saw to that but on the street it offered all the cornering performance most riders realistically needed while keeping them cosseted in relative comfort compared to Kawasaki’s ZXR series of sportsbikes. The ZZR was a hugely popular model and remains so today on the secondhand market and has proved to be quite robust with many big ZZR11s still performing well with in excess of 100,000km on their odometers.

In 2002 the ZZR1200 superseded the now aging ZZR1100 but failed to make an impact in the market as buyers’ tastes had changed with more and more riders choosing far lighter and more sporting machinery. The ZX-12R had been released in 2000 and had taken over the mantle as Kawasaki’s flagship hyperbike in the sports-tourer segment and the model has earned a loyal following with its combination of reasonable handling along with an incredible amount of top end power. By then the big ZZR name had lost some of its gloss.

For 2006 Kawasaki are aiming to reinvent the ZZR legend with a bike born of the marriage between the ZZR1200 and ZX-12R by producing a machine they boldly claim to be ‘the most powerful streetbike in the world’. Few would really doubt that claim as rarely have Kawasaki been headed in this department. Suzuki have equaled them many times with various models and Honda challenged for the top speed crown with the CBR1100XX Super Blackbird but never quite got there. Suzuki are the only other manufacturer to have produced a machine capable of really breaking the 300kph barrier with their GSX1300R Hayabusa which goes head to head with the ZX-12R in the marketplace. The market has been waiting a long time for a new Super Blackbird and an updated Hayabusa but nothing appears to be too close on the horizon to replace those models so it appears that this time around Kawasaki is going to be unchallenged in the top speed war. For now…

Powering the new ZZR1400 is a 1352cc across the frame mounted in-line four-cylinder powerplant. Rest assured that it will be super powerful and while Kawasaki are not releasing any power figures as yet, I expect they are about to become the first manufacturer to ever stake claim to the world’s first production machine to break the 200hp barrier. Kawasaki have not gone all out for top end as they have stated that the new machine offers more than 10kgf-m of torque at 2000rpm which means the six-speed gearbox should rarely need to be stirred in order to make rapid forward progress.

Nice touches like radial mount four-piston calipers clamping on generously sized discs (optional ABS) combine with adjustable 43mm forks to suggest the new ZZR could prove to be much more of a sporting weapon than before. Design cues borrowed from the ZX-12R include a similar aluminium monocoque frame where the upper spars double as the airbox. Also similar is the fact that the engine is a stressed member and while the actual dimensions of the machine have not been released Kawasaki have stated that the ZZR1400 will roll on a wheelbase shorter than the ZZR1200 but slightly longer than the ZX-12R. They also suggest the machine has a low seat height, only a short reach to the bars and a comfortably narrow girth to help provide a sporty feel.

The indicators are integrated into the fairing at both ends of the machine and long aluminium skinned mufflers positioned at each side of the machine provide a visual link to the twin pipe layout of the original ZZR. Conventional round faced analogue gauges are provided for the speedometer and tachometer functions and a large LCD panel positioned above that displays fuel level, gear indicator, tripmeters, odometer and clock. An immobiliser function is provided while a pillion seat cowl and centre-stand will be on the options list.

Styling wise the ZZR1400 looks to be a love or hate type of machine as the long projected nose, distinctive quad headlamps and long fluted flanks are certainly quite out there.  There is no doubt that aerodynamic efficiency has been a highly ranked design objective that will help to make the ZZR1400 almost definitely the fastest motorcycle ever to enter mainstream production.

FEATURES:

Key Features:
- Distinctive Ninja® styling
- Most powerful production Kawasaki motorcycle to date
- Next generation monocoque aluminum frame
- Comfortable riding position

1,352cc Four-Cylinder, DOHC Engine
- Tuned to provide smooth power across a very wide rev range while raising Kawasaki’s legendary horsepower standards to a new level
- Carefully planned engine design keeps it compact and narrow
- Chrome composite plated aluminum cylinder bores are lightweight, durable, and quickly carry heat away from the combustion chamber and piston for supreme durability at high power outputs

Gear-Driven Dual Engine Balancers
- Already in perfect primary balance, dual secondary balancers virtually eliminate unwanted vibrations for extremely smooth engine operation and rider support

Ram Air Induction
- Central Ram Air duct produces a straighter path to the airbox for maximum intake efficiency
- This system takes cooler, high-pressure air from in front of the fairing and guides it through the air cleaner and into the engine for maximum power output

 

Digital Fuel Injection
- 44mm Mikuni throttle bodies are fitted with sub-throttle valves that are controlled by the ECU to provide precise response and make DFI® performance smoother, with response similar to constant velocity carburetors
- 32-bit electronic control unit works with dual throttle valve system to further enhance throttle response and control
- A digital computer feeds the engine exactly the amount of fuel it needs for cleaner emissions and maximum fuel economy

Digital Ignition
- Digital Timing Advance enhances low-and mid-range power
- Four individual spark plug-mounted ignition coils fire each spark plug independently to achieve the optimum timing for that cylinder at that instant
- ECU includes an idle speed control system for easier starting and warm-up

Radial Pump Clutch Master Cylinder
- Hydraulic clutch features a radial-pump clutch master cylinder for smooth and precise clutch engagement
Next-Generation Monocoque Aluminum Frame
- Evolved from the ZX-12R, the frame is a hollow aluminum box that arches over the engine from the steering head to the swing arm pivot. It is narrow, strong, rigid and very light
- Engine is rigidly mounted to increase the monocoque’s torsional rigidity. Plus using the engine as a stressed frame member decreases the frame’s weight by approximately four pounds
- Engine positioned forward in the frame, wheelbase and front/rear weight balance were carefully designed to achieve high-speed stability and responsive handling
- Massive head pipe casting contributes to frame rigidity
- The monocoque section houses the air box and air filter in a space-saving design that actually simplifies air cleaner maintenance. Two screws hold a plate on the left side of the frame that allows air cleaner access
- The battery is also housed within the frame and has simple access through the back side of the frame
- The steering head and swing arm pivot areas are cast aluminum for superior strength and rigidity

Inverted 43mm Cartridge Type Front Fork
- Damping rates offer stiff initial action to resist front-end dive when braking
- Stepless damping adjustment improves suspension performance

Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® Rear Suspension
- Linkage rates provide linear suspension action
- The bottom-link design concentrates the weight lower in the chassis for a lower center of gravity, which makes the motorcycle more nimble

Radial Mounted Petal Front Disc Brakes
- Radial mounted four-piston front brake calipers. Instead of mounting the calipers with threaded tabs cast near the top of the caliper, the radial design utilizes integrated mounting points at both the top and bottom of the caliper, with the mounting bolts inserted through the rear of the caliper instead of the side/front. This makes the caliper more rigid, which improves brake feel over a wider range of operation
- A separate brake pad is used for each piston. One large pad can deform with the heat generated by hard braking, resulting in a loss of brake feel at the lever. Individual pads provide increased cooling efficiency and can absorb more heat without deforming so they maintain consistent brake feel stop after stop
- Petal design brake discs provide better cooling and warp resistance
- Radial-pump front brake master cylinder improves brake performance and lever feel
- Wheel rims feature center ribs which are slightly offset so tire balance weights can be located precisely along the wheel’s centerline.

Wind Tunnel-Designed Bodywork
- Since the monocoque frame goes over the engine the fairing is uninterrupted by protruding frame spars, adding to the extremely long and low styling. Both the front and rear turn signals are integrated into the bodywork and have clear lenses to enhance the appearance
- Quadruple projector beam headlights give the ZX-14 a distinctive upper fairing. The outer lights contain position lamps and the high beams, while the low beams are in the center lamps
- Lightweight Denso radiator with high-density cores provides maximum cooling efficiency

Full Instrumentation
- Dual analog speedometer and tachometer with white faces are easy to read
- Multi-function LCD digital display includes an odometer, two trip meters, fuel gauge, gear position indicator and a clock
- Programmable shift indicator lamp illuminates at pre-set rpm to signal rider upshift
- Programmable clutch engagement lamp illuminates at pre-set rpm to signal the rider to engage the clutch
- CAN (Controller Area Network) interface between the meter uses fewer wires while allowing a greater volume of information, such as estimated fuel mileage, to be exchanged