wobbly monster power (Kawasaki ZZ-R1100)

Member Name: exzzr1100owner

Product:	Kawasaki ZZ-R1100
Date:	23/03/02 (1729 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: effortless power, good looks, pillion comfort

Disadvantages: jelly like handling, low screen, weight

I've just sold my ZZR1100D4 this week after 2 years of ownership. My reason for writing this review is to share my thoughts with anyone who was interested in buying a ZZR1100. Firstly in favour of the bike it does exactly what it was designed to do excellently - namely get to a license threatening speed extremely quickly. It will do about 75-80 in first gear! I've done 700 miles on it from southern France to Caan in the north in under 9 hours.(including lunch stops and fuel stops that works out at an average of 95 mph, and i got lost round Paris!) This is what it's made for. What it is not made for is bends, it doesn't like them, it does't so much go round them as wobble round them. I never felt as safe as I did on my CBR600. Two up cruising on straight A roads is much better. I actually thought it handled better with a pillion. Get yourself one of those trickle chargers you leave attached all the time when not riding, because if the battery goes flat you need to unbolt and lift the fuel tank to get to it. The brakes were not too good either - needing a good squeeze to bring the big lump to a halt. Also a flip screen is a good idea (unless you like a facefull of wind or like to have your chin on the tank) because it's only got a low screen. Anyway like I say i've sold it because I wasn't using it that much - maybe that's because I didn't enjoy riding it that much or maybe because of the overall size of the thing. I think that unless you want to blast from one county to another (at warp factor 9 mr. sulu) the ZZR is just too big for it's own good - an 750/900cc should be enough to give the right balance between weight and power. To sum up then, a blindinly fast bike, excellent reliability, good for touring but has dodgy handling.
I'm going to buy a scooter now and have some fun.
Keep safe.

Summary: