KAWASAKI ZZR1400

It seems fitting that with the Kawasaki ZZR1400 being discontinued at the end of 2020 and 2021 rumoured to be bringing a new Suzuki Hayabusa, we check out this green king of speed.

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The Kawasaki ZZR1400 was unveiled in 2005 ready for the 2006 model year, so it also sportingly fits into our/VJMC 15-year slot.

Now, Kawasaki always knew how to make big, brash and ballistic bikes that were fast with a capital F… From the 1984 GPZ900R, through the GPZ1000RX and ZX-10, to the ZZ-R1100 of 1990 and then its replacement the ZZ-R1200, and not forgetting the quirky ZX-12R of 2000, the motors on these bikes were immense. For 2006, the Big K decided to replace both the ZX-12R and the ZZ-R1200 (which was a softy, sports-tourer by now) with the ZZR1400. What a bike.

The bike itself boasted a 1352cc motor (this would be boosted to 1441cc in 2012) with a Mikuni fuel-injection system and an aluminium monocoque frame. Uni-Trak suspension at the rear and 43mm inverted front forks completed the chassis.