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/128162
The ZX-12R was consistently the quickest bike at LACR. Here, Larry Laye bums up a set of perfectly good tires be10re making a quarter-mile pass. I've always thought that hydraulic clutches suck, but that was until I paid attention to the unit on the XX. Leaving stoplights in a hurry? It's no problem on the XX - it's easy to modulate and slip and allows quick, clean launches every time. Another thing that is really nice is the bike's lowdown grunt - it pulls like a monster truck off the line. When manufacturers claim they've tuned their bikes for "midrange grun, thj~s what they should feel like. On the oth~r band, the motor seems to fall on its face fairly quickly as the revs rise - the rev-limiter is hard as well, meaning that the world momentarily stops when it kicks in. This is where the bike is getting killed - it just lacks the horsepower of the other two brutes. Handling is on the plush side, which is great for commuting, but not the best for a tight canyon road. Associate editor Kit Palmer - who has the most ridiculous commute of anyone at Cycle News - loves the XX because it fits perfectly into his riding habits. It takes a good effort to muscle the XX around a set of tight twisties, and after a fairly short period of time you need to pull over and take a break - get into some nice sweepers, however, and you'll be fine. But, for everyday riding, there isn't a lot to complain about. Like I said above, the cockpit is well-designed and offers all the information you could ever ask for, including dual tripmeters, a digital fuel gauge, an LCD speedometer, a clock and an analog tachometer. One thing that is noticeable is the width of the bike while lane-splitting (Californians know what I'm talking about). The mirrors are positioned a little on the high side and the overall girth makes you think twice before threading the needle. I hate linked brakes. That pretty much sums it up with regard to the brakes. It changes the XX from a potential hooligan bike into a very quick sport-touring bike. To you, this means no burnouts, and no rearwheel lock-up slides. Can we please keep motorcycles fun? This is probably the best bike of the group on which to carry a passenger as well, so keep that in mind. KAWASAKI ZX·12R The biggest, baddest Ninja in Kawi's range is finally making a name for itself. In real-world conditions, the bike is hard to beat. It weighs in at 463 pounds dry (claimed), which is the Lightest in this group, and while that is fairly heavy in today's sportbike market, it's a waif in this company. The ZX feels lighter, handles lighter, steers lighter and is just easier to manage in everyday riding conditions. The fact that the ZX has the shortest wheelbase and the steepest rake numbers makes it the handling king of this group. This, in turn, easily makes the bike the most enjoyable of the group in the canyons and in any sort of handling duel. In addition, Kawasaki offers ride-height shims for the rear shock from their accessory catalog, which we'll tryout after this comparo is complete. These should jack up the rear end of the bike even more to help improve steering and handling. One of the key ingredients to the zx that we really like is the fact that it sticks with a cable-operated clutch instead of the hydraulic units on the other two bikes. This makes launches from stoplights a piece of cake. The clutch can be modulated and slipped with ease, which gives you the confidence to launch the thing as if from a slingshot. The Kawasaki is almost there with the cockpit design. It's a thousand times better than some of the brand's other models. The combination of the LCD info screen and the analog tach and speedo are well-laid-out. My only complaint would be that an LCD speedometer would be easier to read than the analog unit. When I first rode the ZX, I was a little worried about the brakes, but the pads have since bedded in and feel very good. They aren't on par with bikes like the Rl or CBR954RR, but they work well and have good feel. The transmission on the ZX-12R is awesome. I wish more manufacturers would make their trannies shift like this. A light tap with the toe and it slices into the next cog like an axe through butter. Effortless. The power-to-weight ratio of this bike is what makes it a blast, much like a GSX-R 1000. It just plain performs and doesn't have the weight hindrance of the others. The motor is smooth and seamless with unbelievable grunt. SUZUKIHAVABUSA The king of straightline performance finally has its hands full with the new ZX-12R. As the incumbent, the Suzuki is going to have to prove itself all over again. Once hooked up, the Hayabusa is a missile. cue I .. n e _ S • JULY 10, 2002 33