Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128145
2002 Kawasaki ZX-12R Styli", ""d "",od """ties The styling changes for 2002 are subtle, but a few of them not only dramatically improve the appearance of the bike, they have also helped the engineers to reduce the bike's drag coefficient by a full point. This in tum should help improve the bike's top speed, but Kawasaki has remained mum about that. Small winglets were added on the side fairing to help improve the airflow around the bike by breaking up turbulent air. Another key redesign was the TIuInk you for redesigning the .._r-----'"""":.-------.., milTOn; I can now bear to look at them. front upper fairing and ram-air intake duct, which not only look beller but are also supposed to contribute to the bike's improved aerodynamics. One of the most obvious changes are the new mirrors, which are a huge visual improvement over the previous bike's. The instrument panel has been redesigned and features a combination of analog and digital LCD instruments: The speedometer and tachometer remain analog, whiie the rest of the information is digital, including a huge clock, which is nice. Note the aerodynamic wlnglet on the lower fairing. • Redesigned upper cowl has shorter nose for improved aerodynamics with a one-point drag coefficient reduction (33 to 32). • New 20mm higher windscreen is higher and wider for improved wind protection. • New mirrors are lighter, more compact and feature an antivibration design for improved visibility. • New inner cowls reduce turbulence behind the windscreen. • New lower fairing uses a three-piece design with separate inner triangle. • New front fender is 80mm shorter and gives the front end of the bike a more aggressive supersport look. Its aerodynamic design reduces wind resistance of the wheel and fork. • Three color schemes available. • Newly designed instruments are easier to read and include a lightweight electronic speedometer. Other instrumentation includes an electronic tachometer, digital odometer, twin tripmeters, clock, bar-type fuel gauge and coolant temp gauge. • New headJamp lens design. • Passenger-seat cowl enhances sleek, aerodynamic appearance. before, I never rode it. As for the new model, I think the throttle pull is great in terms of how light and responsive it feels, but in the same breath, I think it's a little hypersensitive. The throttle is so light that when you hit freewayexpansion bumps - or any bumps in the road, for that matter - it causes your hand to jerk slightly. The throttle is so sensitive that it reacts like no these nice, rolling rises that demanded you crank third-gear whee lies at every opportunity. The bike's power delivery is so smooth that it isn't that intimidating at all. One '02 change that I'm not sure was an improvement is the new oval throttle-body pulley. I can't say if the throttle pull was heavy on the old bike or not because, as I mentioned 22 MARCH 13, 2002' cue I _ n __ s other bike I've ridden before. Sometimes it causes a surge, and sometimes it makes you chop the throttle and get herky-jerky. It's a shame, really, because I think that the Kawi's fuel-injection system is really smooth and nice, and this hypersensitivity kind of mimics the feel of bad fuel injection. Another nice trait of the bike is the aerodynamics of the revised bodywork. Only the radar gun will tell if Kawasaki's claimed one-point drop in the drag coefficient has improved top speed, but to the rider, the reward is a nice calm pocket of air to sit within. One thing to think about in terms of performance is the bike's lack of fuel economy. I understand that it's an 1199cc, high-performance bike, but man, 30 to 35 mpg on our way home wasn't getting us too far. The only real meaning to this is that it's not much of a touring bike, but we already knew that, right? Back to the handling for a minute. We eventually got into the tighter stuff, and one thing that I had already noticed was how nimble the bike was around town, due to the lack of a steering damper. This was also noticeable right away in the tight The new 20mm-higher windscreen offers enough protection to trick you into thinking you're going slower than you really are, as mentioned above. stuff; turn-in and handling were fairly impressive for such a big bike with so much crankshaft effect from the motor. My only complaint would be Specifications Ninja ZX-'2R UST PRICE $10,999 DISPLACEMENT , •••••• _• , ••..................................1199cc Uquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder four-stroke ENGINE TYPE CYUNDER HEAD J 6 valve, DOHC BORE x STROKE 83 x 55.4mm COMPRESSION RATIO .....•••.••.••...............................12.2:1 CARBURETION Fuel injection with 46mm throttle bodies IGNITION Digital TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY .5.0 gal. FRAME Monocoque, pressed aluminum, with detachable subframe WHEELBASE .5 7.1 in. RAKEfTRAIL ......•.......................................23.5/99.06mm SEAT HEIGHT .32.3 In. FRONT TIRE 120/70ZR17 REAR TIRE 200/50ZRI7 FRONT SUSPENSION 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL .4.7 in. REAR SUSPEN.SION .....•...•..•........UNI- TRAK with piggyback single shock REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.5 In. FRONT BRAKE Dua1320mm disc, w/twin six-piston calipers REAR BRAKE Single 230mm disc, w/twin-piston caliper FINAL DRIVE Chaln CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 463 Ibs. COLORS Pearl Mystic Black/Metallic Crescent Gold, Passion Red/ Pearl Cosmic Gray, Candy Thunder Blue/Pearl Cosmic Gray