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
UST PRICE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE $10,999 1137cc Uquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder, four-stroke BORE x STROKE 79 x 58mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.0:1 CARBORETION Electronic fuel injection IGNITION Digital w/ 3-D map TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FOEL CAPACITY 6.3 gal. WHEELBASE 58.5 in. RAKE/TRAIL .........••..•••......... 25°/99mm SEAT HEIGHT 31.9 in. FRONT TIRE 120/70-17 REAR TIRE 180/55-17 FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL _ 4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.7 in. FRONT BRAKE ..........••.•.•.•...... Dual disc REAR BRAKE Disc Chain FINAL DRIVE.............••••••••• _ CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 492 lbs. SUZUKI The Suzuki has one problem at the dragstrip: the clutch. If it weren't for that, it would probably do better but, looking at the times, it got damned close despite the handicap. Most of Larry's comments about the Hayabusa were aimed at the clutch, and he's not biased. Remember, he races one. Larry said it best by saying that the spectrum between engagement and disengagement is way too narrow. It's all or nothing. I was actually really happy to watch Larry struggle with it, because I'd been experiencing the same problems at the strip and even on the street and I didn't feel as stupid after watching him battle with it. A lot of his missed launches were due to wheel-spin, or excessive chatter from the clutch. When he did nail it, it was simply a testament to his skill. Larry was impressed with the 'Busa's power, saying that it was right in the hunt. He did comment that he thought that first gear was too short, making the jump to second a big gap. Overall, he liked the ridability of the bike, although he did complain about the bike's weight. Larry's best run on the 'Busa was a 10.175 at 137.88 mph, which translates into 9.848 at 142.526 corrected another kick-ass time. Just to put it all into perspective, my best corrected times on the three bikes weren't even as good as Larry's uncorrected times. I've got some work to do. KAWASAKI This bike is everyone's favorite of the group on the street because of the awesome power-to-weight ratio and a chassis that is able to cut a line through the canyons as well as in a straight line. UST PRICE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE $10.999 1198cc Uquid-cooled, DOHC, in-line four-cylinder, four-stroke BORE x STROKE 83 x 55.4mm COMPRESSION RATIO _ 12.2:1 Fuel injection with 46mm throttle bodies CARBORETlON IGNITION Digital TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FOEL CAPACITY __ 5.3 gal. WHEELBASE 56.7 in. RAKE/TRAIL 23.5°/94mm SEAT HEIGHT 32.3 in. 120/70-17 FRONT TIRE REAR TIRE _ 200/50-17 FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.5 in. FRONT BRAKE ...........•............ Dual disc REAR BRAKE Disc FINAL DRIVE _ _•••••••••.•..... Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 463 Ibs. The key element that separates the ZX-12R from the other two at the dragstrip is the bike's cable-actuated clutch. Larry felt that it was the easiest to manage off the line, and that it offered the best feedback. He also raved about the bike's excellent power-to-weight ratio. Larry thought that the transmission was the slickest-shifting of the group and also had well-spaced ratios. Other comments pointed to the bike's light-steering feel and sporty geometry. As for the engine, he felt that not only was the motor powerful, but that it was exceptionally smooth all the way through the rev range. Larry's best time on the Kawasaki was awesome. Remember, this was accomplished without messing with tire pressures or lowering the front suspension. He ended up ripping off a 10.137 at 138.73 mph, which, corrected, turned into 9.811 at 143.4 mph! Wow! That's a kick-ass time no matter how you look at it. What could he have done if we would have messed with the bike more? Bottom line 1. Kawasaki 2. Suzuki 3. Honda UST PRICE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE $10,849 1299cc Liquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder, four-stroke, DOHC, TSCC BORE x STROKE _81 x 63mrn COMPRESSION RATIO 11.0:1 CARBORETlON Keihin/Denso fuel injection IGNITION Digital transistorized TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM.....•••.............. Electric FOEL CAPACITY 5.8 gal. 58.5 in. WHEELBASE ...............•...... _ RAKE/TRAIL 24.25o /g7mm SEAT HEIGHT 31.7 in. 120/70-17 FRONT TIRE REAR TIRE ..............•••••....... 190/50-17 FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL N/A REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL N/A FRONT BRAKE Dual disc REAR BRAKE Disc FINAL DRIVE 530 Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT .. 478 Ibs./480 100. (CA model) $262,100 less, you can smoke the Lamborghini through the lights in the quarter-mile by over two seconds, and match its speed all the way up to 184.9 miles per hour on the ZX-12R. That's why the ZX-12R is the Cycle News Ultrasport Shootout winner. It's no surprise that the bike with the best overall performance figures in this test was the one everyone raved about, but it was the lightest and best-handling of the group. It was the most entertaining to ride, and after riding the bike from Carmel to Los Angeles, I can vouch for its longdistance-cruising manners as well. You can do everything on the Suzuki and Honda that you can do on the Kawasaki, but wouldn't you like to do it a little quicker and faster? eN And the winner is • the 2002 Kawasaki ZX·12R! Conclusion I don't know what you base your purchasing decisions on, but I tend to look for the best-overall-performing bike for what my riding habits are. In this category, only one thing counts, and that's outright performance. But this has more to do with acceleration and street performance than top speed - the top speed is just for bragging rights. I mean, how may people who own a Lamborghini Murcielago will ever see its claimed 205-mph top speed? And how cool is it that, for cue. e n e _ S • JULY 10. 2002 37