by plane » Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:45 pm
Here is a report that I wrote on another board 18 months ago...
This is just an honest opinion of the ZRX1100 motorcycle from someone who has owned one for the last three years.
Let me preface this story with the fact that I have a perchance for Kawasaki motorcycles, or more to the point, their motors.
Why buy one?
The ZRX first caught my eye in 2000 at a motorcycle shop in Melbourne. Initially I was hit by its (relatively) compact size and aggressive styling. Living in a country town I had not been exposed to many late model bikes and had not owned a bike for at least 5 years. The ZRX made an immediate impact.
Fast forward to 2002 and the time had come to get back into motorcycling. A trip to Mackay with a limited budget saw me perusing the used bikes with some intensity. At one of the shops stood a ’99 model ZRX1100.
Although not “officially” for sale by the shop, it was for sale by one of the shops salesmen. I hastily organised a test ride and off I went.
First impressions.
I was impressed with the torque of the motor and the handling of the bike. I returned to the shop and picked up my wife. Part of the purchase criteria was pillion capabilities. Needless to say, she felt the bike was smooth, comfortable and she liked the styling. The only problem (in my mind) was that the budget would be exceeded. REALLY exceeded. Imagine my surprise when the minister for war and finances approved the purchase. A deal was struck and the 1100 headed north the following Friday. That was 38,000 km’s ago.
So what is the ZRX like to live with day to day?
“Jack Of All Trades” would be a fitting description. I use the bike daily as a commuter. Have taken two-up tours on it. Have scratched down the Gillies Highway’s 263 bends (in 19km) and have gone for a leisurely cruise on a Sunday afternoon on the beachfront.
What is wrong with it?
Once you get used to the bike, two major flaws become apparent. In the tight stuff, its weight really becomes a factor. At about 240kg, the bike will never be a featherweight and it can become a handful in tight going. The Gillies showed this up quite quickly. Couple this with stable (read slowish) steering and you end up with a handful. The other problem is its adjustable, but cheap suspension set-up.
The suspension doesn’t have the high speed dampening capabilities of today’s real sports bikes and, again, it shows up when pressing on in the twisties. Rear wheel chatter entering corners and understeer on the way out make for an interesting time.
If attacking tight corners is going to be your prime use for the bike, get something different or invest lots of money on suspension upgrades and frame stiffening. Shedding some weight would also help.
Other annoyances can be: The lack of a full fairing and abysmal seat when touring. The “pig ugly” muffler and boat anchor exhaust system need attention.
What’s good about it?
Its general all round appeal and the ability to tailor the bike to your needs are its greatest attributes. This bike is a blank canvass waiting for owners to add their own personal touches depending on what area they would like the bike to excel in. Modifications to the engine are almost mandatory and start (no surprise here) with the airflow of the engine.
A pipe and a jet kit will unleash at least another 10-15 horsepower and save about 10kg in weight. Then you can attack the internals of the motor and unleash even more. One hundred and fifty horsepower is very achievable on this bike without any compromise in reliability. Add on a turbo and your staring 200bhp in the face! The list is endless.
The motor’s torque is a strong point. My wife likened it do driving an automatic car. She found it that easy to get off the line after riding her 250. The midrange of the bike shines when you are in the tight stuff, grunting out of each corner with ease.
Remember how I said it was a handful in tight stuff? This is only a relative term as the ZRX will leave a lot of other bikes in its wake and keep sports bike riders on their toes when the bike is ridden well. By slipping the yokes down the forks a couple of mm and / or flipping the eccentric chain adjusters on the swing arm, the steering quickens slightly. I added a 25mm “tail riser” to each of my rear shocks to improve the turn in of the bike even more.
Touring is limited by your butt’s ability to soak up the torture thrown at it by the standard seat. Add to that, the wind turbulence created by the bikini fairing and you have the two major inconveniences presented by the bike.
Corbin and Sargent both make replacement seats that are so far in advance of the stock item, they are lonely. Zero gravity and MRA both make screens that alter the airflow over the front of the bike to alleviate the turbulence.
The bike still turn heads as much for the colour as the retro styling of the bike. Many people compliment you on how well restored your ‘80’s bike is!
What broke?
In the last three years the bike has been incredibly reliable. I change my oil and filter every 5,000km so engine wear has been minimal. It had its first valve adjustment at 40,000km and that was when it spent its longest time off the road as the wrong shims were sent to my mechanic.
Other breakdowns include a holed radiator and burst upper coolant hose. Neither of which rendered the bike useless, just wounded.
Other niggles include loose fasteners and a buzzing from the inner panel in the fairing. Regular inspections of the bike are a must as bolts such as the swing arm nut and the bolts holding the frame cradle in have been known to come loose of fall out!
Would I buy a different bike?
Yes, at the moment I lust after a ZX12R and a ZX10R. Both of these machines push my buttons. A Z1000 is not far off the mark either (told you I like Kwaka’s). Priorities being what they are, a new bike doesn’t feature high on the list at the moment so they remain items of lust.
What must be said is that I have never owned a bike for more than twelve months before. The ZRX and I just ticked over three years together.
Would I buy another ZRX?
Only if mine gets trashed.
Since then I have added an Akropovic full system, nothing much else has changed... 71,000 km and still going strong...
Cheers,
Pete
Live Fast, Die Sideways
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You know the black Z courier that gets around brisbane CBD(perfect 4 courier work). 
. You can get them *dancing* under pressure 
as Marty has said, but for what your requirements are, I think you would be very happy with one of these as your daily hack.
