Test fleet: Kawasaki ZX4-RR

Six hours in the saddle from East Yorkshire to the Lake District and back - can Kawasaki's ZX-4RR be used in the real world?

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On paper, a rev-hungry 400cc sportsbike shouldn't make sense for a 300-mile slog.

I've been here before: in my youth I toured on 400s, even my much-loved but punishing KR1-S. Back then, I was young, foolish, and full of dreams. This time, I expected pain.

But the ZX-4RR has a different character. More refined, more usable. Perhaps I was judging a book by its cover. Only one way to find out: East Yorkshire to the Lakes and back, in a single day. I'd planned an early 8.30 am start. Real life had other ideas — school run, emails, hunting for waterproofs. By the time I rolled out it was nearer 9.30am which meant ditching my favourite A-road route and hammering up the motorway instead.

At first, it was comical: 70mph equals 7000rpm, 80mph equals 8000rpm, 90mph equals 9000rpm. Sounds brutal, but remember this motor makes peak torque at 13,000 and peak power at 14,500. It'll happily rev to 16,000. So cruising at 80mph, you're only halfway up the dial. Yes, the revs are noticeable, but it's surprisingly smooth, and the Euro5-friendly Akrapovic exhaust keeps noise levels legal and bearable.