2004 ZX12R

[John]

hi all, looking at a new ride and have my eyes locked on a tidy 2004 ZX12R, has anyone here had a ride on/experienced them, or any known glitches with them? seriously, I need to stuff my head with as much info as possible on them..

thanks.

[justsomeguy]

They have a habit of spitting off L-Plate riders.

[justsomeguy]

......... Death says they tend to get a bit piggish above 320.....

[John]

lol, as they would.

[Motoracer]

......... Death says they tend to get a bit piggish above 320.....

On the back wheel or while riding on 2 wheels?

[John]

On the back wheel or while riding on 2 wheels?
I dont think the front wheel is real, just deco.

[justsomeguy]

On the back wheel or while riding on 2 wheels?

I think on the back wheel and sometimes on no wheels where there are crests about....

[N4CR]

hi all, looking at a new ride and have my eyes locked on a tidy 2004 ZX12R, has anyone here had a ride on/experienced them, or any known glitches with them? seriously, I need to stuff my head with as much info as possible on them..

thanks.

I would actually reccomend an 1989 TZR 250... they run great and are almost as good for dumb newbs like you.

Man get a busa turbo.. fuck the stupid kawakazi 12-r... I mean OMFG BLACK so boring and stupid looking. What sort of looser apart from you would even consider one. Jeez.

Get a life and get a TZR. Its a real bike.

edit: ps i hope you arent serious....

[John]

Yes tristan I am serious.

Please no more comments about killing myself, I just about killed myself playing with siccors so bleh, and also just about killed myself hundreds of times on motobikes so who cares, It will just be one less rate payer.

SO any real comments please?
The bike in question is a NZ new 04 ZX12R (:D) 8000k on the clock..

[Waylander]

hi all, looking at a new ride and have my eyes locked on a tidy 2004 ZX12R, has anyone here had a ride on/experienced them, or any known glitches with them? seriously, I need to stuff my head with as much info as possible on them..

thanks.
You are a far crazier boy than I ever was.

[John]

You are a far crazier boy than I ever was.
Ok, thanks for that memoriable input.

remebering that you are only a few years older than me :weird:

[Waylander]

Ok, thanks for that memoriable input.

remebering that you are only a few years older than me :weird:
Why do you want one anyway? You don't need that much speed do you? Seriously just get a 600. Then if you still want to go faster get a thou and move up from there.

[John]

If anyone was either interested in my situation I may explain it but it’s not important. I can get the 12R cheap and if the bank plays along sweet, I can finally get rid of the bike that has cost me 12k etc.<o =""></o>

The ZX12R is fast, well duh - I don’t ride like a mental anymore I gave that up a long time ago, IF I die on this bike then its no skin off anyone’s nose, so anyone know anything I should look out for on these bikes, all the reviews I read seem to have the same result - nothing to fault on the bike but its weight. <o =""></o>

[SuperDave]

Coulda sworn I heard you complain your were short of cash recently. Did you win lotto? But more seriously, going from a 250cc to a 1200cc is a pretty big leap don't you think?

[Will]

Got one in our garge. 2000 model as in unrestricted chip.

I have never ridden it as I can't get my leg over. Well, OK I can but I can't reach the ground with both feet. (my CBR is low to accommodate my leg reach). Which is probably one of the main reasons my hubby loves it. :love: There is no chance that I could take it out for a spin. :mad:

It is not made for a pillion though I have been on the back.

Apparently it has its own little foibles and that makes it "interesting". Make sure you have very decent rubber on the road, you are gonna need it.

He has a custom paint job purple,with the decals in silver, and the wheels polished silver.

It is great to follow (legally still only goes at 100k on the motorway) because it gets some major looks and double takes. :Punk:

[John]

Coulda sworn I heard you complain your were short of cash recently. Did you win lotto? But more seriously, going from a 250cc to a 1200cc is a pretty big leap don't you think?
enough of this its of no importance why I MIGHT be getting it.

[John]

Got one in our garge. 2000 model as in unrestricted chip.

I have never ridden it as I can't get my leg over. Well, OK I can but I can't reach the ground with both feet. (my CBR is low to accommodate my leg reach). Which is probably one of the main reasons my hubby loves it. :love: There is no chance that I could take it out for a spin. :mad:

It is not made for a pillion though I have been on the back.

Apparently it has its own little foibles and that makes it "interesting". Make sure you have very decent rubber on the road, you are gonna need it.

He has a custom paint job purple,with the decals in silver, and the wheels polished silver.

It is great to follow (legally still only goes at 100k on the motorway) because it gets some major looks and double takes. :Punk:
Thanks for that info, they certainly are a heavyweight !

[Motoracer]

Well, from my experience, I'd say no matter what the deal is, it ain't a wise move by any means if you really did just come from a 250... but it's your money and your life so ultimatly it's up to you. I was gunna bitch about this before, but I thought you could be some hot shot ex racer dude, pissing about with a 250 for the time being and finally had some $$ to move back up to a big bike again, so I kept my trap shut.

I could easily write an essay that would go for pages and pages backed up by more than valid points of why it would not very bright to take such a big leap, but you might not read all that so I won't bother.

Good luck and take care (lots of it!!!!!).

Regarding real life opinion on a ZX-12R, PM Death_Inc. Seriously! He is probably one of the very few people out there who has ridden one to it's limits so he'd know what's what about the 12.

[John]

Well, from my experience, I'd say no matter what the deal is, it ain't a wise move by any means if you really did just come from a 250... but it's your money and your life so ultimatly it's up to you. I was gunna bitch about this before, but I thought you could be some hot shot ex racer dude, pissing about with a 250 for the time being and finally had some $$ to move back up to a big bike again, so I kept my trap shut.

I could easily write an essay that would go for pages and pages backed up by more than valid points of why it would not very bright to take such a big leap, but you might not read all that so I won't bother.

Good luck and take care (lots of it!!!!!).

Regarding real life opinion on a ZX-12R, PM Death_Inc. Seriously! He is probably one of the very few people out there who has ridden one to it's limits so he'd know what's what about the 12.
Cool thanks, for that MR - Yes I am aware of the risks, But lifes full of them - I feel confident on the 12R so I am going for it, I will try talk to Death about it later.

Cheers.

[Waylander]

If you can afford it and think you can handle it then go for it. Would make it easier on ya when you finnaly do get your full. Just realize that some of us do care if you go out and get yourself killed on it.

[John]

If you can afford it and think you can handle it then go for it. Would make it easier on ya when you finnaly do get your full. Just realize that some of us do care if you go out and get yourself killed on it.
Yea but I'm youth so its best if I'm dead :lol:

[Waylander]

Yea but I'm youth so its best if I'm dead :lol:
Heh ok then just imagine the waste you'll make of that bike.

[John]

Heh ok then just imagine the waste you'll make of that bike.
I'll take it with me to hell :D

[Sensei]

I think Death's one is still for sale .Talked to him about them as I was looking at buying one but after riding one thought not for me . Very fast like a Busha Busha felt alitle more stable . But that only me . Still look very Kool in Black . They did have Clutch trouble Eg Slipping & breaking baskets but they should have gotten this sorted by now . Try before you buy . Know 3 people that were going to buy a ZX12R but ended up with a GSXR1300R Busha . Speed is great till you have to stop !

[SixPackBack]

Yea but I'm youth so its best if I'm dead :lol:

You owe me a drink before you kill yourself.....and yes we care!

[SixPackBack]

Bbbbbbbaaaaahhhhhhh and i was just begining to warm to you JOHN BOY....me and my furry fanny........

[Motoracer]

Fuck... I hate playing the sensible "dad" role but when you say you are confident, that scares me even more... I hope you don't mean that you know what you are in for cause I really don't think you do (if you haven't ridden big bikes before). Your best bet is to respect the bike like your mother for a very long time... Once you get comfy then you can treat her like your girlfriend... Errr, that transition sounds pretty gross!:puke: But you know what I mean right?!

I've been there. I was riding a 400 and I had ridden a couple of them for 2 years. I loved R1s more than anything and the oppertunity came along to buy one. Luckily I didn't, with the help of some great advises from mates. After having a much clearer view now from all the experience I gained over the years, I just am thankful now to all the people who told me not to buy it then.

It's not as simple or as black and white as living or dieing man... If you are not THAT rich and are spending a significant ammount of money for this 12. It is going to really suck when or if you crash. You already know this risk but I've been through peoples lives who actually have to deal with this shit and most of the time it makes them give up cause of the financial burdern.

Even if you are rich as fuck, that doesn't help much either. You can replace the bike no worries but I have a mate my age who can barely walk (he probably never will be able to) cause of not taking things slowly (I think that's the reason behind it anyway). He's half paralised and no mater how much money he's got, he's not going to be normal again. When you die, that's it. Story finishes... But what if you live on to be a fuken vegetable. There will be nothing worst than that. Even if you die or become a vegetable, the effect that will on your loved once will be still just as fuked up...

Anywho... There so many things you can not predict about bikes and you only learn about them with more and more experience. The bigger the bike the more unforgiving they are. When Death_Inc ran in too hot for corners on his ZX12, he'd step on the rear brake like a MX bike, chuck it sideways and pin the throttle as the bike corrected it self. Now that's no MX bike, that's a 200+KGs motha F'n beast!!! However with his extensive experience and skills he was able to and he will be able to come away from situations like this, without a hitch. What would you have done? There is NO WAY in hell you could apply your 250 skills to come out of this one cause let me tell you my friend. That 100+Kgs extra on that bike will make more difference than you possibly can imagine (if you haven't ridden bigger bikes that is). I know you said you won't be going that fast but this was just an extream example. There will be many other situations that you will come across where the bike will have certain demands and if you aren't able to fullfill these demands because of the lack of experience, then you will be in for some very bad times.

Then there is always the excessive use of the throttle on high powered bikes but I don't think it's a biggie. Unless the rider is a real cabbage, most people do have the self control to use the throttle effectively even if there's pleanty of power on the tap. However for obvious reasons, you can still get into deep do do, with the instant ability to gobble up distance in meters at a rapid accelerating rate!

Like I said, I really hate playing this "dad" role but if I don't and if you do end up dead, or as a cabbage or end up without a scratch on yourself but with the bike in pieces, I'd feel guilty as fuk for not telling you this much at least, now. So I am really just telling you all this for my own selfish purpouses. That's all.

See ya lata and good luck again dude!

[mikey]

when you moving into retirement home motoracer oldman?

i say go for it, if its a hgreat oppurtunity an you like the bike.

oppurtunity will onyl hang around for so long, an if you do kill yourself well motorracer can say, "well fuck me days, i was right, i told him so, he shouldn of got a big bike bla bla wa wa" but hey who cares

im going to a 1000 for sure when i get finance approved.

always be good to pass the cunts who fly past me

[DEATH_INC.]

I had a 2000 model.Probs:Weak clutch,though ok if you don't dragrace.Vibrated shit off regularaly,ate rear tyres (2000k max on sport tyres),ate brakepads,killed steering head bearings(wheelies,would you believe...),and oddly had sand inside the frame/airbox,quite common I'm told, just cleaned it out,no probs.
Riding:where do I start....plusses: outrageously fast(over 200k in second) (especially with headers.....can gain up to 15hp just by doing this)very stable at stupid speeds on 1 wheel or 2,Better clearance/handling than a busa,faster top end too(yes I've gone 1 on 1 with a busa). Minuses:Bloody big and clumsy compared to a real sportbike,you need lotsa road to ride one of these fast.Not enough ground clearance for serious sport riding either(though still more than a bus...)mine had big scrape marks down both sides of the fairing....hard to pull up from the stupid speeds it got up to real quick,not bad brakes(you can stand it on the front with 2 fingers),just the weight and speed.Very tall seat.Suspension is too soft for serious riding too.The power is quite peaky for a 1200 as well (the busa is lots gruntier)

If you want my advice I'd stay away from it till you've got a bit more experience,the speed they accelerate is outrageous,you'll misjudge how fast you're going all the time,and can get yourself in big trouble very quickly.I did quite often,which is part of the reason I don't own it anymore.Think very seriously about this move,no-one wants to be dead.
However if you must,then I still think on the whole they're a great bike,just don't expect it to keep with a real sportbike in the twisties like I thought it would.
BTW the later models were restricted to 300k I believe,but had a lot of small improvements to both smoothness and handling,as well as even more power,but the basic package is still very similar to the original.

[Motoracer]

when you moving into retirement home motoracer oldman?

i say go for it, if its a hgreat oppurtunity an you like the bike.

oppurtunity will onyl hang around for so long, an if you do kill yourself well motorracer can say, "well fuck me days, i was right, i told him so, he shouldn of got a big bike bla bla wa wa" but hey who cares

im going to a 1000 for sure when i get finance approved.

always be good to pass the cunts who fly past me

Young Mikey, I don't expect anyone to listen to me. If they do, it will only do them good and I guess it sort of is a bonus for me. I KNOW I AM RIGHT! That's not the point... The point is that if I don't try, I'd kick my self in the future for not trying, if the unfortunate was to happen.

I've been riding bikes fast (or trying to) for the last 4 years and I have probably come across about 20+ different people who I have known in real life, go through serious crashes. So I am just speaking from experience.

Yes I am thinking a lot differently now but thats just a part of growing up I guess. Of course I am not saying don't go hard. Go fucking hard! In fact go hard or go home!!! But just make sure you don't bite more than what you can chew and just take it a step at a time and all that carry on...

[Sensei]

Abit long winded but well put MR . Would be good to hear you brought a ZX/GSXR/CBR 600 John . 80/20 = 80 % Skill 20% Bike ! Takes years of fast riding to gain the skill needed to control these Weapons that are for sale now adays & even then they can spit you off quicker than look at ya . Buy wisely John & enjoy learning new skills as we all do each time we get on our bikes
still . :clap:

[Madmax]

going from a 250 to a ZX12R !!
the first step you take when you get off is a big one
(try walking at 140MPH)
Man if you want to kill yourself just get a ZX10R
:nono:

[HDTboy]

I hear they're underpowered

[DEATH_INC.]

You'll go faster everywhere except for long straights on a good 600,that's why I went back to the 750,it's actually faster point to point then the 12 was....

[Sensei]

You'll go faster everywhere except for long straights on a good 600,that's why I went back to the 750,it's actually faster point to point then the 12 was....


Yep as with my post Death . Ride the Wheels off a 600cc then look at something Bigger after that . You'll have the right state of Mind by then . :yes:

[DEATH_INC.]

going from a 250 to a ZX12R !!
the first step you take when you get off is a big one
(try walking at 140MPH)
Man if you want to kill yourself just get a ZX10R
:nono:
No,you'll die faster on the 12...it's faster over 250k (they still pull hard at 300+) and they don't stop and handle like the thous do....

[Hitcher]

Motorad gave me a ZX12R one day as a loaner when my ride was in for a service. Full Yoshi exhaust. Wow. What a noise! Small children and grown men ran to their mummies. I think I made second gear once...

If you like Blackbirds and rides of that ilk, you'll love the 12R. More herbs than Nandor's sporran. Stops quicker than a wife at a shoe sale. Less comfortable than Jesus at Easter.

[Madmax]

No,you'll die faster on the 12...it's faster over 250k (they still pull hard at 300+) and they don't stop and handle like the thous do....
sounds like the old H1 tripple a bit
:devil2:

[Dafe]

Hi there, An interesting thread. The ZX12R is a wonderful machine, It's a very rauchy looking bike when viewed riding down the motorway. From behind they're one of the most serious looking sportsbikes, the rear wheel is f$%king evil looking, what a monster!
I have noticed that you are intending to jump from a 250 to a 1200.
I don't think you'll get much from doing that!
The 1200 is very heavy and you won't enjoy the ass kicking capabilitys available from todays top bikes. Unless you're on a boring long straight!
If you need to do a jump in CC size. Jump to a 600. You'll get alot more out of it, you'll enjoy it far far more! Todays 600's are very light and with all the grunt you need, you'll not push this bike to it's limits unless you are worldly exceptional. You should get a feel for a light, powerful and manuverable bike.
The 1200 is really a bike for somebody who has seen their days of young riding fun. When you get bored of the 600 you may wanna step to a thousand and join the big boy clubs. When you've seen enough funerals and paid enough fines, lost your licence etc and matured somewhat, you'll come to realise that a nice big powerful and heavy chunk of metal like a ZX12R will be the one for you. In the meantime, experience and enjoy motorcycling, don't deprive yourself of the good and "BEST" funtimes to be had in between!
You're not a idiot like some on here have suggested. You just need to work your way up and experience them all. The crawl before you walk principle. It applies to motorcycles too. Chances are "statisically" that you'll probably get into some very serious trouble on a big beast, and it won't be your fault either! More likely some inconsiderate cage driver. You need to learn how to ride a large less manuverable bike by gaining experience that is earned only by doing time, then you'll learn the importance of lane positioning, following distances, apexs, buffer zones etc.
Please for your own sake and sake of your family & friends, wives, mistresses, kids and cats & dogs to be. Don't go past a 600 yet.

[dangerous]

remebering that you are only a few years older than me :weird:
How old are you and how many bikes have you owned???


The ZX12R is fast, well duh - I don’t ride like a mental anymore I gave that up a long time ago, IF I die on this bike then its no skin off anyone’s nose, so anyone know anything I should look out for on these bikes.
That has to be one of the dumbest things I have read here........ you sound way younger than Stonechucker and look what happened to him (could happen to me too) as far as I know he wasent the most experanced riders on a 1000cc super bike..... neither am I even tho I have been riding for 22 yrs non stop. I have ridden the 12, busa Gixer thours etc, and every time I do I relise it could kill me and thats with my experance.

John.... if I get this right you are a young fella comming of a 250..... should you go with the 12 you will most likely end up a dead young fella, the last guy I knew on a 12..... is dead..... fuk he would pass me on the back wheel at 200kph.... he could right that bitch.... but it FUKING well killed him.

I wish you the best should you go with the 12... I really do. :ride: :ride: :ride:

[Sensei]

If John is Grown up enough to be thinking of buying a ZX12 then he may be Old enough to listern to some of us that have been riding for 30+y's & make the right choice for himself I hope so . :yes:

[justsomeguy]

When is this thread getting shifted to the pointless drivel section???

[JohnBoy]

my 2 cents...

i like the 12R's, in fact i thought of buying one before i (just now) brought my K4 1000. but they seemed a little heavy for me and only to be a one trick poney. i am a little concerned that your going from a 250 to 1200, i promise you that you will learn more in the first 10min of wet weather riding than you have previously. however if you feel comfortable then go for it.. i had a mate go from a dosile 400 to an R1 and he goes really well now.

please always keep in mind that if you do buy it that obviously there is quite alot of go foward under that throttle, be thoughtful where you unleash it.

good luck to you, choose wisely :ride:

[Waylander]

I think he want's it simply so I can't laugh at him for having a smaller engine than me.:rofl: You'll only beat me by about 50cc mate come on! Not really worth it lol.

[John]

hey all - I had another test ride, few wheelies later I found it to be a bit of a tank in the corners (for me anyway) - I was looking at it for the price really, it was a lot of fun and it is slightly to big for me, I also found that 200kmph is rather easy to achieve accidentally - BUT sad thing is they already have a fecken buyer (they put a deposit on it!) for it so I guess whoever bought it saved my life anyway, so thanks for all the input - No I am not a newbie when It comes to riding, accidents happen I know, I've had a shit load - I have owned a crap load of bikes, some incredibly fast dirt’s and some Smokey 2strokers on road.
Guess I got encouraged to hard by the seller, either way I have my eye on 3 other bikes (which are a lot more suited) an XB12, M600, ZX9R - the ZX9r being the cheapest of the bunch... Its all being thrown around in the air at the moment, I was more after information on the ZX12R in respect to common faults....

Oh well, thanks for caring about my well being much appreciated.

[PSYCHO]

Common problem : police

[dangerous]

If John is Grown up enough to be thinking of buying a ZX12 then he may be Old enough to listern to some of us that have been riding for 30+y's & make the right choice for himself I hope so . :yes:
:niceone: :ride: mate ya have it in one :ride: :niceone:


:nya: k14: looks like I was right aye :apint:

[DEATH_INC.]

Common problem : police
He he....yeah,forgot that one....