Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R 2002 — Specifications

Who said neo-retro was a recent invention? From the early 2000s, Kawasaki was already playing the revival card with its ZRX 1200 R, a motorcycle that resolutely looked back to the 1980s while benefiting from the technology of its time. We are talking about a motorcycle with character, not a pale imitation. Its engine, a 1164 cm³ inline-four inherited from the ZZR 1100 but enlarged for the occasion, sets the tone: 122 horsepower at 9000 rpm and, above all, 10.4 kg-m of torque available from 6000 rpm. Figures that are immediately felt in the wrist. The right grip commands a veritable barrel of gunpowder, a ferocious surge that propels its 251 kg fully fueled with rare authority. It is precisely this philosophy of a large, "hairy" and torquey roadster that constitutes the DNA of the Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R.

Visually, it is imposing. Its steel double cradle, its twin-spar swingarm in the style of yesteryear’s superbikes, and its massive stance give it a unique presence. The version in green and white, a clear nod, inevitably evokes the Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R Eddie Lawson Replica, paying homage to the 1981 and 1982 world champion. But don't be fooled, beneath this vintage look lies a modern engine for the time, capable of sending the machine to a top speed approaching 230 km/h. A performance that, even today, is striking when you seek to know the top speed of the Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R 2004. It was also available in an S version with a half fairing, offering appreciable protection, but the heart of the range remained this R, pure and hard.

However, not everything is perfect in retro land. The chassis, with its 43 mm fork and two shock absorbers, shows its limits when you want to play racers. Heavily loaded at the rear, it becomes physical to lean and the suspension requires careful adjustment, a real headache to reconcile comfort and handling. Fortunately, the brakes are up to the task, with two 310 mm discs at the front gripped by six-piston calipers of remarkable efficiency. In the city, it surprises with its relative maneuverability despite its size, but it is on winding roads and at a sustained pace that it reveals its true temperament: it prefers large, sweeping curves where its inexhaustible engine can express itself, rather than tight changes of direction.

Today, if you are looking for a used Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R, you will find a cult model. Whether it's a Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R 2004 or a 2006, the announcements for the best-rated used Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R attract connoisseurs. It is a motorcycle for experienced riders who are looking for something other than the aseptic perfection of the modern ones. It vibrates, it roars, it demands participation, and that's precisely why we love it. Its autonomy with its 19-liter tank is just correct, and two-up travel is compromised by high passenger footrests. But for the solo rider, in an engaging but not punitive roadster position, every ride becomes a mechanical adventure. A Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R technical review will confirm it, it is a simple, robust and terribly charismatic motorcycle. A concentrate of raw sensations that, in the age of all electronics, has never been so valuable.