zx12r [road test]

The acceleration of the ZX12R is nothing short of incredible. In true Kawasaki tradition this engine, which produces over 175BHP is more than ready to take on all comers, anywhere, anytime. With truckloads of power and torque on tap, the ZX-12R accelerates out of corners at an incredible pace, the huge 200 section rear tyre digging deep to put all that power down to the road. Its deep and powerful sound that accompanies the rapid acceleration is the acoustic complement to the wind noise ripping through your helmet as you gain momentum at a frightening pace. Passing cars? No problem. Twist the throttle in any gear and reach Warp factor 12 a few moments later, downshift and nail it and you may see God! I quickly found the arm-straightening power intoxicating and difficult to resist, so much so that on a quiet stretch of unrestricted Autobahn I was alarmed when glancing down at the speedo to see a reading of 190mph, and I had only just changed up to 6th! At these speeds, the excellent wind protection of the big ZX12R was much appreciated.

It’s on the twisting A & B roads that big, powerful bikes like this are usually most challenged, but even though the ZX12R tips the scales at a mighty 213kg (that’s 43kg more than a GSX-R1000), the ZX carries the extra bulk well. Steering rake has been increased to a rather steep 23.5 degrees, and the fork offset has been reduced, thus providing improved, and much quicker turn-in characteristics. The changes made to the 12R chassis revolved around shifting the weight forward in the interest of keeping the front end planted, and it seems to have worked since it absolutely no problems running alongside and in front of its track-happy lightweight brethren.

In the interest of keeping that awesome power to a manageable and more useable level, the crankshaft weight has been increased by 2kg, which is partly responsible for the smoother delivery. A new oval-shaped pulley operates a bank of 46mm throttle bodies, helping the rider feed fuel gradually to give smoother throttle response when first cracked open. The new ram-air intake has now been cleverly incorporated into the front cowling to create a more aesthetically pleasing nose, while the 30% increase to its surface area makes the system more functional than the snorkel like intake it replaces. The new bike thus has an absolutely linear power delivery and has got rid of that slightly annoying ‘hunting’ feeling when cruising at normal speeds. Although the bodywork on the new bike has only been slightly tweaked, it does benefit from a one-point reduction in drag coefficient letting it slide through the air easier (as if it needs to!). The 12R still retains the wings on the lower fairing, which effectively do nothing, but they do give you something to talk to the spectators about. “Yes sir, those help to keep the bike stable at speeds over 150mph, just like a Porsche rear wing really.”

The dash has a digital display with the fuel gauge, two trip meters, an odometer and a clock, all of which are handy stuff no matter who you are or where you’re riding. The traditional analogue tacho and speedo look good and are easy to read whether you’re tucked in or cruising along. Changing gear on the ZX couldn’t be any easier with its 6-speed box being as smooth as anything I have ridden. The improved characteristics come courtesy of an increased shaft diameter that reduces clearance between the gear selectors for a more precise feel. With the exception of one false neutral between 4th and 5th, the gearbox was fantastic throughout our test proceedings. The clutch was also easy to operate, with a relatively light and positive action, and the lever pull wasn’t tough enough to warrant any complaints

The Mega Ninja can be thrashed (if you can) down any A or B road or it can help you tap into terminal velocity on an unrestricted bit of German Autobahn near you.The ZX-12R is an excellent mix of touring comfort and sports performance. However, inexperienced riders seriously need not apply. But if you've got a few years riding under your belt, the ZX12R is the wild card ride for you. The biggest cost to any ZX12R riders may be their licenses!!

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