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Review Kawasaki ZZR 1400

Silver surfer

Stronger, cleaner, sharper: The 2008 Kawasaki ZZR 1400 comes with a G-Kat, more steam and many fine modifications. Its silver paint is also new.

Bad luck for the Porsche driver: The most powerful, of all things Kawasaki sticks to the opening, three-lane track in his rear-view mirror. Just a fraction of a second later, the 1400 series passes by as if the sports car were a VW Polo. But the renovation of the sports tourer for 2008 was about more than pure speed bolts. It is true that the ZZR is now walking with 193 hp rated power in the papers, three more than before. At full speed, thanks to the ram-air effect, it should be ten more horsepower when the heart-shaped recess in the front of the fairing snaps for cool air at almost 300 km / h, which then flows in at over 80 meters per second.

As before, the top speed is slowed down electronically. But that doesn’t matter. It is more important that the externally unchanged, facelifted sports tourer now has Euro 3 approval. To do this, he needs a total of three cats: As before, two each in the silencers and now a third in the intermediate pipe of the completely new exhaust system inside. Cleaner exhaust gas is also served by enlarged cross-sections of the secondary air system, finer atomizing injection nozzles and a new engine control unit. All of this should also bring a beefier torque curve. However, the parts cannot be retrofitted on old 1400s.

It’s a shame, because the predecessor, released in 2006, which passed the endurance test over 50,000 kilometers with flying colors (MOTORRAD 3/2008), had a crux: not pushing out of the corners as fat as one would expect from such a car. Get out of the hairpin bends with good taste? Then sometimes the first gear had to be tried. Well, with the 2008 model, the second one does the same, you surf relaxed on a broad wave of torque. During 3000 tours, around ten newton meters more pull the chain than before. However, there are five less between 5400 and 7300 rpm. In practice, this means: better draft from the very bottom, slightly worse in the middle. It is not noticeable that at the top “only” real 180 horses are gathering on the test stand, seven percent less than promised.

Sporty tractor

Kawasaki’s ZZR is a sporty and reliable vehicle.

Because even so, the ZZR storms forward from 6000 tours as if the incarnate was after it. How it touches beyond 250 km / h is simply unbelievable. The speedometer needle rises wildly, while the colleague in the tachometer remains calm – welcome to a crazy world. So much power requires anticipatory driving style. All the more gratifying: The 1400 is as stable as it is on rails, the immense accuracy meets high overtaking prestige – when you fade in, six lamps burn the lane free. The Bridgestone BT 014 tires with special identification swallow high-speed attacks unmoved. Only when accelerating from a great lean angle do they like to smear away suddenly.

The unaffected chassis is just as unshakably stable as it is comfortable. A great compromise. The shock absorber in particular acts almost perfectly. The springs in the upside-down fork, on the other hand, are a little soft. The front dips relatively far when reaching for the radial four-piston brakes. In contrast to the direct competitor Suzuki Hayabusa, the stoppers are equipped with ABS, and that is also standard and finely regulating. The main stand for a hefty 249.40 euros and the higher MRA touring screen are subject to a surcharge. It costs 91.20 euros and shields very well.

The ZZR remains a very reliable motorcycle. One whose seating position, with moderately deep handlebar stubs, is moderately sporty. And a basic price of 13,795 euros is a bargain compared to Porsches.

Technical specifications

engine
Water-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, two balancer shafts, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, wet sump lubrication, injection, ø 44 mm, regulated catalytic converter with secondary air system, 490 W alternator, 12 V / 14 Ah battery, hydraulically operated Multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain,

Secondary ratio 41:17
Bore x stroke 84.0 x 61.0 mm
Cubic capacity 1,352 cm³
Compression ratio 12: 1, rated output 142.0 kW (193 hp) at 9500 rpm
Max. Torque 154 Nm at 7500 rpm

landing gear
Monocoque made of aluminum, upside-down fork, ø 43 mm, adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, central spring strut with lever system, adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, double disc brake at the front, ø 310 mm, four-piston fixed calipers, disc brake at the rear, ø 250 mm, two-piston fixed caliper.

Cast aluminum wheels 3.50 x 17; 6.00 x 17
Tires 120/70 ZR 17; 190/50 ZR 17

Dimensions + weights:
Wheelbase 1460 mm, steering head angle 67.0 degrees, caster 94 mm, spring travel f / h 117/122 mm, weight with a full tank * 264 kg, payload * 171 kg, tank capacity / reserve 22.0 / 2.0 liters.

Guarantee: two years
Colors: silver, blue
Price: 13,795 euros
Price: test motorcycle 214 136 euros
Additional costs: 180 euros

Readings
Driving performance:
Top speed 298 km / h

acceleration
0 100 km / h 2.9 sec
0 ?? 140 km / h 4.8 sec
0 200 km / h 7.8 sec

Draft
60 ?? 100 km / h 4.2 sec
100 ?? 140 km / h 3.5 sec
140 ?? 180 km / h 3.8 sec

Speedometer deviation
Effective (display 50/100) 48/95 km / h

consumption

Country road 5.7 l 100 km / h
Theor. Range 386 km
Fuel typeSuper

Performance chart

* MOTORCYCLE measurements; 1 Manufacturer information; Diagram: power on the crankshaft; Measurements on Dynojet chassis dynamometer 150, corrected according to 95/1 / EC, maximum possible deviation ± 5%; 2 including main stand 249.40 euros and touring screen 91.20 euros.

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