i,ve had 2 zx12r,s in the past so can imagine the next step the zzr has taken again. the 12r was great for longer journeys and outright power but the short blasts i do the blade is the quicker bike for me. i,m still a lover of kwaks but in the looks department theres nothing in there line up that tempts me.
Loads of power, but then she needs it due to her being a heavy beast at 265kg kerb weight big Bertha for sure, I like mine a little leaner
That's was my biggest surprise how nimble it was! The steering is way lighter than the Blade much more maneuverable and it didn't feel that much heavier than the Blade! It kinda misleading bike weights the Blade is 200kg dry so about 215kg wet or kerb and that's non ABS so and another 10kgs for that! But try one you'll be amazed! It doesn't feel heavy at all and both feet on the ground I'm 5,7" My mate who has and loves his 2010 Repsol Blade took out the new ZX10 which I've never liked and still don't but he could get near me I just left him and not just on the straights! He had a blast on the 1400 and he reckons it's the best bike he's ever ridden and I kinda agree with him! You would definitely have to watch your license tho it sits at about 3500rpm at 80mph but the Blade felt like it was screaming at over 5000rpm at the same speed! Don't get me wrong I absolutely adore my Blade personally I think she best lookin bike end off and I could never get close to what she really capable of! It just the 1400 is so good!
I need to wheel my bike backwards into the garage and I'm only little so that kerb weight's a bit daunting. Would it come with reverse. My 954 is the lightest bike I've had since I passed my test in 1978 and I can only really comfortably garage that by sitting on it and back pedalling it.
Well not sure about newer blades but my rr5 is only 179 dry so less than 200 wet? So the 265kg is loads more, its like me carrying a pillion lol, so i will keep my blade It has a better power to weight ratio than big bertha? But each to his own
I remember dropping my Suzuki TL1000R and needing help to get it back up, however when my new blade was dropped!!!! I don't remember it being heavy at all, not that that's scientific, I never dropped the RR5 Simon but it did handle better than my new bike with a pillion! I'm full of facts a figures lol
[/IMG] This was mine dude. I also bought it for the reasons you have explained .I thought i may be able to make it look a bit sporty with Cans /Hump/screen ect but tbh i just looked at it and thought the front was ok but the thing was just to long man.Anyhow i only had it for 1800 miles and went back to the blade. Agree that you could easly ride as fast as the blade all day long but what did it for me was i had a run to the Lakes and back but coming home i had to stop twice due to lack of comfort and got off the sucker Steven Hawkins style. When you look at the bike the seat is flat with the bars ,so at 6ft you are sitting low with your back bent where on the blade you are more perched on top .This was not noted when i had an half hours joy ride on a mates and like you thought thats for me so if you get the urge you need a proper day in the saddle .
For my twopeneth I think they look ok from sides and back but from the front they look mean as hell I like them a lot
I've not ridden your model mate and I'm not sure If there's any differences between yours and the 2013 model I was on but I'm only 5,7" and I found the riding position amazingly comfortable I spent a couple of hours in the saddle and I felt great afterwards But I had a day trip to Preston on the Blade to Dynojet and like u I was in agony but it was my legs! It was 210 miles each way! I had to stop 4-5 times each direction! And on the way to Haysham for our I.O.M holiday it was the same story I had to hit some silly speeds to catch up with my wife & kids in the car but sayin all that my mate who's 5,9" had no such problem on his trip to Haysham on his Blade! I think it all comes down to your stature and your weak spots! My mate recons it could be I wasn't bike fit but I ride all year round so it ain't that!
There's just something nice about the big kwaks I had a z1000r2 lawson rep in white in 84 and loved it ,smooth engine but crap in the bends I'm 5,7 too trev and know it'd fit me like a glove I wanted the wife to come out with me again as its years since she's been on the bike and said let's buy the 1400 but she said no you get what you want hence the blade! But still wonder at times if I should of bought the 1400
I think there is no single bike that ticks all the boxes. Love them or hate them, the Busa is the best bike I have ever had for two up. My mrs loved it and still says to get another. I can't justify two bikes so tend to get what I want for me. If I could, I would still have the Busa in the garage with another sport bike.
I sold my old "Year 2000 Busa" immediately after I had a go on the 2011 Blade. My Busa was heavy, chunky and the steering was stiff in compare to the Blade. Also the brakes were almost "no brakes" in compare to the Blade. Once on the Blade I thought that I am riding a bicycle, it was so easy. I like the Kawa as well but I always considered the weight and that reminds me on my heavy Busa. Anyway, I definitely will give it a try to find myself. Thanks for the thread !
Owned a 2007 model, can't argue on comfort but still a big heavy bike. Still own the very first model ZZR1100, they are great machines and the way the power just keeps coming and i hear the newer one is 20bhp more but it's not a Superbike and as much as I have strayed, I just keep coming back to that superbike agility and power. Despite what the press might say the VFR1200 is a better bike than the ZZR for most things and the Kawasaki built quality is a minus.
That's one of the main thing that sold me on the Kwak! As we were play on them I pinned the 1400 in 2nd and it churned up loose road and threw it at my mate on the ZX10! He was bombarded with stones 'n' tarmac! It hit him on the arm,chipped his carbon fibre lid went thru the intake grill on the ZX10! We headed back to mine to swap bikes but the ZX10 pissed it's coolant all over it front wheel and discs! OOOPS So I had to take him back to Kawasaki on the back of the ZZR14 and we were both blown away! It was like it was built for pillion use! It slogged the extra 15st about with ease! It was amazing I bought the Blade because my wife said get what you want! As she seldom on the bike with me but there is no doubt if I get the ZZR1400 she would want out all the time! It so amazing
Aaaah!!! that's loads better! Sorry Steve but I was totally disturbed by that image!!! No offence dude
