ZZR1100 - opinions please

[NinjaNanna]

Well I move to OZ on Sunday and already I'm thinking of what bike to buy.

I've come across this ZZR 1100 that I'm quite interested in.



It's a 2000 model and done 46,000kms.


So are there any past or present owners of these bike out there that can offer first hand opinions on these beautiful beasts.

Common Issues/Good Points/Bad points?

Cheers
NN

[Katman]

I'm not aware of any bad points.

One of the nicest sports/tourers ever made.

[george formby]

I'm not aware of any bad points.

One of the nicest sports/tourers ever made.

I concur. Plenty still around & some with huge miles on them. IIR they started the whole "we make the fastest bike" thing.

[Maha]

Kinda wanted one when I was looking at ditching my 600. Always liked the look of them...
Theres a 2000 model on TM for $6495 + ORC.

Did you manage to sell your ZR?

[sootie]

I ride one & love it. It has done 94,000kms & still runs like new.
There is an identical one in Whangarei done 147,000 & goes the same.
These are just pups. There was one on Trademe a year or so back had done 350,000 & owner claimed it still ran like new.
Local Kawasaki agent agent reckons he never sees them, & local Honda agent toldme they are over engineered.

[DEATH_INC.]

When they were first released they radar-ed one on the autobahn at 304kph (anyone in a kwakka dealership will remember the ad campaign). FB or PB tested one against the supposedly faster blackbird...it could pass the bb, the bb couldn't return the favour....
I do know of one that broke, one of My mates one's, but I think he ran it outta oil.
Nearly brought one myself once too. Cool bikes. Perfect for Aussie.

[iYRe]

I've got a zrx1100 and its nice.. www.zrxoa.org has good info on zrx/zzr's

They were one of the bikes to buy.. although, i've read that the zrx1100/zzr1200 are the better models, but its more of a preference thing than anything else..

[Madness]

I owned a '93 model for several years and loved it. They do everything pretty well, including holding their own in the twisty bits. I "upgraded" to a ZX12-R but honestly miss the ZZR. The suspenders are pretty average but I believe good results can be had by fitting emulators to the forky bits. They like eating Blackbirds for dinner too, fwiw.

Buy eet!

[bsasuper]

I had a 95 model, comfy, good tank range, typical kawasaki engine- stacks of power.Its a heavy beast so dont go trying any stoppies.

[NinjaNanna]

Thanks guys, just the feedback I was looking for.

[NinjaNanna]

I owned a '93 model for several years and loved it. They do everything pretty well, including holding their own in the twisty bits. I "upgraded" to a ZX12-R but honestly miss the ZZR. The suspenders are pretty average but I believe good results can be had by fitting emulators to the forky bits. They like eating Blackbirds for dinner too, fwiw.

Buy eet!

I test rode a ZX12-R before buying an R1 - honestly for NZ I thought the ZX12-R was too much bike for me - especially given the twisty nature of kiwi roads. How would you compare the zzr to the zx12 given you've had them both? I understand the zzr is still a bullet but does it feel tamer than the 12?

[NinjaNanna]

Did you manage to sell you ZR?

Yep it's been gone for a few weeks now ... practically gave it away considering the service and tyres it had just had

[MaxB]

The one in the photo looks like a late D model like mine.

Good Points - Unburstable motor, typical Kwak build quality, easy 400km + tank range if you stick to legal ish speeds, stability at high speed , great 2 up, great luggage platform, plenty of spares & tuning parts, ability to cover large amounts of distance in small amounts of time.

Bad points - Licence shredder, seat needs mods to ride all day, weight works against you in the twisties, unsophisticared suspension and genuine Kwak spares prices.

BTW all the bad points bar the weight are fixable with time and money.

The mian thing to worry about applies to all older bikes is how abused it has been. You have to get it thoroughly checked out.

Note some D models were restricted for their various markets. UK models had modified carb tops that cut power to about 125hp. Swiss models were even worse. Oz models may be ADR compliant and lose a few horsies. The regular model produces 150hp for about 178mph (Cycle magazine). Forget claims of 300kmh plus made on some websites. They won't do it without serious tuning $$$ dropped on them.

The only other thing I've heard is that constant wheelstands could wreck no. 3 cylinder due to oil starvation. There is even an external oil feed mod for that.

ZX11/ZZR1100 owners tend to keep their bikes for years. That should tell you highly regarded they are.

Hope that helps.

[pete376403]

One of the madder UK magazines (Fast Bikes, Performance Bikes, something like that) took a ZZR, Blackbird and Hayabusa to France for some motorway madness. Even though the 'Busa and Blackbird were quite later designs, the ZZR was right up there with them. When the 'Bird ran out of gas, they found that the ZZR was quite comfortable towing the "Bird at 120 (MPH)

I lust after the purple and gold one

[nudemetalz]

Always liked them. My bike before the Guzzi was an '89 ZX-10, the one the ZZR replaced. Loved that machine too. Licence loser also,..(but not me )