Review Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

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Review Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

Review Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R
1.37 kilograms per horsepower

Kawasaki did it. Has built the most powerful production motorcycle in the world. With the best power to weight ratio in its class. ZX-12R: with a full tank of 249 kilograms, measured 182 hp. Genius and madness. Pure Adrenaline.

Monika Schulz

March 24, 2000

First things first: the ZX-12R cannot fly. Although aircraft engineers were also involved in its development. The new one owes to them Kawasaki its two wings halfway up the cladding. No pure downforce spoilers. No, the parts are mainly used for aerodynamics, just like the small, molded wind deflectors at the bottom of the fork. Findings from the world of modern high-speed jets, brought to the streets in order to obtain a completely bare equivalent: speed!
A delicate subject. Kawasaki is aware of the concerns of the bourgeoisie, who are sensitized in this regard, but does not think of using mendacious aspirations to hide the true intentions of the great ninja. Frank and frei, the green marketing strategists proclaim that the idea behind this machine is »very simple«: »It should be the fastest, most stable and strongest machine with the best power to weight ratio in its class.« A crystal clear announcement. Supplemented by the soothing afterthought that, of course, one had also thought of “real environmental friendliness”. The titanium silencer was therefore equipped with an uncontrolled catalytic converter.
Titan, yes. And magnesium. Aluminum anyway. Wherever possible, the technicians have saved weight. The completely redesigned, compact 1200 series four-cylinder is a whole twelve kilograms lighter than the power unit of the ZZ-R 1100. With the clever monocoque frame, whose hollow structure serves as an air filter box, a further five pounds could be shed despite the massive construction. Nevertheless, the ZX-12R strolls mightily on the scales. Pushes the pointer far beyond the targeted 230 kilograms with a full tank, it only stops at 249. Just below Hayabusa level.
But it doesn’t matter. At least in terms of the power-to-weight ratio. Because with measured 182 ?? in words: ONE HUNDRED AND TWO EIGHTY-TWO ?? Horsepower, the Suzukis from twelve research peregrine falcons are almost a dove of peace. As promised, 1.37 kilograms per horsepower is the best in its class. And don’t necessarily feel like a child’s birthday.
In fact, the uber-Ninja is a pretty humorless motorcycle, already making it clear on the idle throttle that it has little to gain from the mediocre life on this side of the sound barrier. The injection engine snaps its greed for acceleration through the nobly manufactured four-in-two-in-one exhaust system, but nevertheless knows how to behave in the lowlands of everyday life. Its cold running properties, for example, are flawless, the clutch is as smooth as butter, and the gears snap securely like snap hooks. Only the hard use of gas causes irritation. In conjunction with the slight play in the drive train, it gives the four-cylinder a nervous component.
All senses on high tension, the stalk through the city traffic begins: Sitting position relaxed, touring sporty. Similar to a ZX-9R. Dimensions for a 1200 still reasonably compact. Handling in stop-and-go traffic okay. Overview perfect. Consideration … my goodness, these Manta-Manta mirrors trimmed for downforce. A size smaller would have done it too. But things are good, you have to give them that. Project the world beyond with almost no gaps.
In the face of such care, confidence increases. In the first corner taken faster, however, it is slowed down again: Huiuiui ?? what a wide arc. Really takes up a lot of space, the good piece. Much more than expected. In addition, as the speed increases, more and more physical effort is required to lift the machine over the wide contact area of ​​its 200 mm rear tire when changing lean angles. 200! Yes. The Zwolfer is the first production motorcycle with such a fat skin. Or at least the first to openly admit it. With an effective 197 millimeters, the custom-made Dunlop D 207 is hardly wider than some lavishly dimensioned 190s.
Ruts, bumps, braking in an inclined position ?? the cake back there accepts every suggestion, runs after it, stands up, somehow sets itself in scene. Thanks to the rubber mixers, it’s not just negative. Grip and feedback are also good.
In slow corners there are sometimes small inconsistencies in the gait pattern of the Kawasaki. When the loosely steering front wheel is already on course, but there is still a sense of directional stability at the rear. Feels as if there were more than 1,440 millimeters of wheelbase between the two axles, manifests itself in a gentle oscillation around the longitudinal axis and is probably due to the excessively wide and flat contour of the rear tire. But it sounds a lot worse than it is. And ultimately does not require half as much concentration as the moral handling of the brutal torque of the twelve.
Two centimeters of turn on the throttle and ?? ratchet ?? it tears the asphalt to pieces. It doesn’t matter in which gear. The power delivery of the 1200 engine is ?? to put it mildly ?? brilliant. And irritates incessantly. It has to bang! This thoroughbred does not like just puffing around like that. How the Kawa differs fundamentally from its main competitor Suzuki GSX 1300 R Hayabusa. It doesn’t really matter to him whether she should mime the butter steamer at 80 km / h? would like a passenger on board ?? or at 280 the King Tiger of the Autobahn. But the twelve does not want to drive 80. Especially not in a two-person operation. She is an athlete. Basta. And the cover on the pillion cushion is only removed if the Pope or something happens to be standing on the roadside. Nobody feels comfortable back there anyway. Far too high, far too little space for the legs.
Ah, guuut ?? the highway. The actual territory of the Kawasaki, which has not done badly so far, but has raised an explosive question: WHY? Why a motorcycle that obviously wants to go straight ahead, as fast as possible? Typically woman, this objection, says the speed freak, annoyingly refers to an armada of choppers and cruisers who have nothing else in mind, only with the opposite speed sign. And Kawasaki says, “To explore a new dimension in motorcycling.” Okay, okay.
Get on the train. Gas gas gas. The twelve wants to be hunted. Finally wants to show who she is … “the fastest, most stable, strongest in its class”. She has already proven the latter. Medium could also be achieved, despite the slight prancing around the steering axis, which already starts at 240 km / h, but never assumes the quality of a real stability problem. By the way, Kawasaki has dispensed with a steering damper.
And the former? Can only be explored to a limited extent on this Sunday morning. As icicle cold and windy. The Tellert measuring device shows 297 km / h. More is not possible with the best will. According to the speedometer, that’s 340 things, by the way. And somehow that’s enough. Because at 270 at the latest the fun has a hole anyway. When the world whizzes by at 75 meters per second and the sheer acceleration still pushes you into the saddle as if someone had the big »>> Fast-Foreward-Button «activated, that’s actually not really nice anymore.
The good mood until then has to do with a) the top-notch wind protection and b) with the high-quality chassis components: spring elements that have been given the right mix of firmness and comfort; Brakes like electromagnets. The total of twelve pistons on the front wheel are always attached to the discs in proportion to the lever force introduced and snap when necessary? schwuuuap ?? with brute force. Quite the opposite: the rear brake. Does it work digitally? open or close, there is nothing in between. But it goes well with the total work of art ZX-12R, which is also rather extremist, right down to the design. The wide-roll green of the rims, for example, or the huge ram-air throat, the gigantic, brilliantly shining light system, the mighty front fender and the tank that extends far below the seat. In general, it’s going to be exciting behind the scenes of the Greens. What else is beautiful is on the next page. Please turn the page.

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