New Toy in the Garage

[mossy1200]

Im having trouble finding photos of mine now. Cant even find any on sd cards. Might be some in the photo albums.
Was a 2005 model.

I did dig up some old 1/4mile results from 2005.
Turns out I won the standing quarter miles ( First equal ) 10.31 sec. Managed that time twice during the day.

[avimistry]

That's an interesting one....A series with the B series front cowl

Why you say that? I thought is was a complete B series. But I've compared the A to B series and apart from the front cowl they look pretty much alike, actually identical.

[mossy1200]

Why you say that? I thought is was a complete B series. But I've compared the A to B series and apart from the front cowl they look pretty much alike, actually identical.

Wing mirrors on B series are smaller.

B series are speed limited and A are not.

[Madness]

B3 & B4 went to the radial 4-pots. There was a year or so when they came with the curved scoop and 6-pots I think. The 4-pot legs accept the black Nissin calipers from the '14, a popular upgrade.

[Madness]

B series are speed limited and A are not.

Only a few A1's made it out of the factory de-restricted the story goes I think you'll find.

[mossy1200]

Only a few A1's made it out of the factory de-restricted the story goes I think you'll find.

Did all the A models have the 350kph speedos or only the de-restricted.

Mine ran the flying quarters plus or minus 1km every time in 5th or 6th. Think 276kph true speed by memory. It had more to give but went sad sack. Speedo was showing 300 at the time.
I put it on Motomarts dyno and it had 168hp rear wheel. Not sure if ram would add 10 more. 2005 model.

[Madness]

Did all the A models have the 350kph speedos or only the de-restricted.

I think the only difference between the first "full noise" models and those after the "gentlemen a agreement" was smaller header pipes & modified ECU.

I have the '04 and have always wanted to do the sprints, I got to 265 timed on my old ZZR1100. I rate the ZZR as a better all-rounder and easier to live with as an only bike.

[T.W.R]

Why you say that? I thought is was a complete B series. But I've compared the A to B series and apart from the front cowl they look pretty much alike, actually identical.

B series...more integrated intake scoop, mirrors changed, triangulated pilot light, different screen & head lights, black swingarm, radial 4pot calipers
A series... pronounced scoop, alloy painted swingarm, slimline pilot light & deeper screen, 6pot calipers

There's a few more minor differences less obvious at 1st glance.

[mossy1200]

I think the only difference between the first "full noise" models and those after the "gentlemen a agreement" was smaller header pipes & modified ECU.

I have the '04 and have always wanted to do the sprints, I got to 265 timed on my old ZZR1100. I rate the ZZR as a better all-rounder and easier to live with as an only bike.

17 T S....on Suzuki K5 1000 2005 4.82 186.73 300.51
18 C Fai.....her MV Augusta F4 1000 2004 5.32 169.18 272.26
19 S Mossman Kawasaki ZX12R 2005 5.28 170.46 274.33
20 S G....in Suzuki 1300 2005 5.16 174.42 280.70


Some results.
Got the quickest standing but not quickest flying by some distance. Speeds are averages but idd say spent most of the time on the limiter in the timed 1/4 showing its true speed limiter is lower than the 300 claimed and indicated on speedo.

[T.W.R]

Nice find, theese are a nice bike from my experiences with them, always liked the big Kwaka's.

One thing of note, previously in the UK i worked on alot of theese and the only thing they seemed prone for was tightening valve clearances. We were doing them every 8,000miles and you could almost guarantee all the exhausts would need shimming. And the frame design makes it a fiddly bugger of a job to re shim them.

Regular oil changes and making sure they were warmed up propperly before rinding them were the only things we found that helped stem the clearance tightening process.

Otherwise they were a real pleasure and no other common faults i came across. Im sure you will enjoy every minute on her.

Read a few of the KHI bulletins about some issues back years ago and a few mentioned premature wear of cams on low km (sub 10k) bikes that hadn't been run in properly & speed sensor failure but mostly at the pick-up unit which was usually cured by fitting an revised/updated pick-up.
Have read likewise elsewhere so no major vices

[avimistry]

B series...more integrated intake scoop, mirrors changed, triangulated pilot light, different screen & head lights, black swingarm, radial 4pot calipers
A series... pronounced scoop, alloy painted swingarm, slimline pilot light & deeper screen, 6pot calipers

There's a few more minor differences less obvious at 1st glance.

Im familiar with the facelift differences but it was the swingarm and calipers that gave it (blue A series with B series cowl) away..

I'd go with either. These definitely deserve to be on the bike hall of fame (if such existed)..

[Madness]

17 T S....on Suzuki K5 1000 2005 4.82 186.73 300.51
18 C Fai.....her MV Augusta F4 1000 2004 5.32 169.18 272.26
19 S Mossman Kawasaki ZX12R 2005 5.28 170.46 274.33
20 S G....in Suzuki 1300 2005 5.16 174.42 280.70


Some results.
Got the quickest standing but not quickest flying by some distance. Speeds are averages but idd say spent most of the time on the limiter in the timed 1/4 showing its true speed limiter is lower than the 300 claimed and indicated on speedo.

There's other ZX12 times from back then that we're up around 285 odd but yeah, 300 was always something only the yanks seemed to manage.

TWR, look up the brake pads for a ZX1200 B1 or B2. I think you'll find they're the 6-pot Tokicos. The radial brakes came after the body styling change by 2 years.

[avimistry]

GRRR

Mossy, that's without a doubt a mean machine but I gotta go with Big Dog on this one. Well I'm a little biased as the ZX12R was my first love, but hey after all these years she's still got it..

[Big Dog]

GRRR

Lol. No matter what you say you will always find someone you offended.
The 14 i rode was a lot of bike. I would definitely own one. If I could find one I could afford. They are after all significantly more expensive than a similar vintage / mileage Hayabusa.

When I bought the 'busa I was happy enough with my Gsx1100f but in the back of my mind I was trying to get to where I could liberate the necessary for a 6 year old Kawasaki I just never seemed to have re deposit for. Then one day I was shopping for a jacket and bought a Hayabusa for 4k less.

I have tried to buy (but never succeeded) several big Kawasakis.

The GPX Haldanes didn't want to sell me. Apparently too much like hard work to sort out a test ride for someone waving most of the window price in cash.
The ZZRs that kept selling before I had the money.
The ZX10 I like but not enough to sell the Hayabusa.
The ZX14 that Mt Eden had but for some reason I just did not gel with.

Just never had means motive and opportunity at the same time.
But the Kawasaki that girds my loins has always been the 11 and 12. They sing such lusty songs.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

Yeah similar story.... brought a ZXR 10 or so years ago did 60thou+ kms on it...just felt so attached to it when out on the road and eyed up a few ZZR11s that I missed due to one reason or another and vowed to get hold of a good Kwaka somewhere along the line. As a hairy arsed teen hoon always loved the GPZ1100....(managed to get hold of 750 a few years ago) but got bitten by the K-bug after having a 30km blast on Z1300 when I was 18.
Admired the 12R from the 1st time I saw one, worked on & rode a XZ-14 before managing to sling my leg over a 12R, but the 12 has a bit more rawness to it.

'Twas a GPX750 and a GPZ1100 I was wanting to test ride at Haldanes. Both were in the window. I could have paid cash for the 750, would have needed finance for the 11.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.