Kawasaki ZZR 1400 Review

Overall Rating

After 4 years on a Blackbird I have just run in my new ZZR 1400. First Kwakker I've had. Bikes pre Blackbird have been Triumph Daytona 955, Bandit12, Bandit6 and (20 years ago) the original CB 750 having learnt on a 250 Super dream. So, fairly 'Hondarised'. The Blackbird was/is excellent. Faultless power curve, flexible, comfortable with 1 or 2 up and fantastically reliable. Downsides minor, but now looking dated with poor front end. The ZZR is a revelation in the handling department - loads more front end feel, better turn in, sharper but still comfortable suspension. It's lighter than the Bird and far more 'flickable'. I'm 6'2" and I prefer the riding position on the Zed -I had installed bar risers on the BB and that improved it, but the Zed is more 'natural' for me. Like others the Zed is slightly 'flatter' than the Bird at low Revs - this can be fixed by tuning or getting the '08 model where new engine map has given more bottom end. Mine is 07 and thats why I got it new for £7,000. Having said this, 'flat' under 5000 rpm is a relative concept - I'm fairly quick and use my bikes daily through London with annual trips abroad and week end blasts - and this Kwakker, once you have adjusted to the different power curve, is a blinder! The Bird is no slouch, but this thing is astounding. Just run in so I have for the first time 'given it some' and my God it's got some shunt! Inexorable power and surging acceleration for as long as your nerve holds (and probably longer). Don't be put off by all this talk of 'nothing under 5,000' - its a sharp handling, comfortable, cool looking, modern hyper tourer. The only question is will it hold up as well as Honda's BB when it comes to looking good after 5 years daily, all weather use. Time will tell...

Members' Comments onDr Kwakker's Review

• mutsnuts64 on 11th Apr 2009

  I have just been and arranged a trade in for a new 09 ZZR1400 against my current (and fourth) Honda Blackbird, which has been destroyed - yes DESTROYED by another winter of salting. It is an 04 plate stealth black that was excellent last september. A short message for Honda: what were you thinking, your build quality is now third world and I regularly park next to 10 year plus VFR's that make my bird look like an MZ. Kawasaki from now on - you had your chance.

• mutsnuts64 on 11th Apr 2009

  Just ordered an 09 ZZR1400 and swapping my 04 plated BB for it. This is my fourth BB and the fourth (two from new) since 2000 that has been destroyed - DESTROYED - by a British winter of salting: brake unions and frame around headstock RUSTY, every bolt on the calipers, the calipers, all the alloy and dont get me started on the forks... While Honda are building bikes in Spain, apparently sourcing plating of components in Europe and elsewhere where the sun shines permanently and the only salt you see is either on the table or in a tide mark on the beach, I will never buy another Honda. I regularly park next to a couple of VFR's of late nineties vintage and while they both have stellar mileage, they still make my BB look like an MZ in comparison. What were Honda thinking? I only pray that the ZZR is everything I have heard and exceeds the BB's performance and useability. And another thing, does anyone know why Honda are doing an excellent impression of a shy wallflower at the world's hyper-tourer dance? What was I supposed to blow my £8.5K on, a Pan European??? GRRR...