Kawasaki ZZR 1400 Performance 2017 — Specifications

What does a motorcycle look like when you remove its muzzle? The answer lies in Akashi with this ZZR 1400 Performance, a version that, in 2017, finally allowed the beast to roar as it had always intended. Because it must be said, the standard version of this hyper-sportive suffered from a serious complex: original exhaust silencers as heavy as they were aesthetically questionable, which literally stifled the engine's character. Kawasaki therefore pulled out the card of a prestigious equipment supplier to unleash the true potential of this flagship.

At the heart of the monster, nothing changes, and that's very much a good thing. The 1441 cm3 inline four-cylinder remains a weapon of mass destruction, with its 202 horsepower at 10000 rpm and, above all, its tsunami of torque available from low revs. This engine is a veritable physical anomaly, capable of propelling the 268 kg fully fueled beast towards horizons located beyond 300 km/h with disconcerting ease. The aluminum monocoque frame and the Öhlins suspension at the rear are there to channel this fury, offering a balance between insane stability at very high speeds and a certain comfort for long distances, despite a seat height of 800 mm that will suit average builds.

But the real argument of this Performance edition is its titanium and carbon Akrapovic kit. Forget the bulbous silencers, make way for a double outlet architecture on each side that lightens the motorcycle, improves breathing and, above all, transforms the mechanical symphony. The power gain is not officially communicated, but it is secondary to the acoustic transformation and the weight loss. This kit, combined with the higher, more protective screen and tank stickers, finally gives the ZZR 1400 the bold style that matches its temperament. For those looking for a Kawasaki ZZR 1400 Performance Sport opportunity, this 2017-2019 version is clearly the one to target, the transformation being much more than aesthetic.

Faced with competitors such as the Suzuki Hayabusa or the BMW S 1000 RR, the Kawasaki ZZR 1400 Performance 2019 plays a different card. It is not the most agile nor the most electronically sophisticated, but it remains the undisputed queen of the highway and excess. Its audience? Demanding globetrotters seeking the ultimate machine to swallow continents, mechanics enthusiasts who savor the surge of a large displacement engine, and all those who believe that a motorcycle should above all communicate raw emotion. With a new price approaching 18450 euros, it was a significant investment, but the Kawasaki ZZR 1400 Performance motorcycle valuation today makes it an interesting used proposition for those who want to own a living legend, finally freed from its chains.