My ZX9R is the last of the B models: the Kawasaki ZX9-R B4.

It's a perfect Sports Tourer. While it is quite big and heavy compared to modern bikes it can still cut the mustard when riding enthusiastically, lean over so far that you feel like the handlebars will touch the ground before the tyres break away, cruise with the big touring machines and also has terrific bike bike styling. Simply an excellent machine.

When I recently bought my new bike (a Triumph Daytona 955i - a much more modern 'sports' bike - specifically for track day action and more *enthusiastic* riding) I couldn't bring myself to part-exchange the old 'ZX' so I kept but it's now gone to a new home; a mate of mine that has just passed his test! I hope he treats old R175 YOW with some care and consideration...

1997 - Kawasaki ZX-9R B4 Peak Horsepower: 121.2 bhp @ 10,750 rpm Peak Torque: 64.9 fp @ 8500 rpm Quarter Mile: 10.42 @ 133.0 mph Top Speed: 167 mph Dry Weight: 474 lbs. (215kg) Wet Weight: 533 lb. wet

What's it like to ride?

The ZX9R is an amazing all round sports bike. It gives the rider a big bike feel, sporty handling and ride position whilst also providing a high level of comfort for touring. It is solid and steady on the long straight fast stretches eating up distances like an ICBM, but when you come to the curves it seems to lean down of it's own accord and dare you to go faster.

The ergonomics of the bike are exceptional if you are taller than the average guy. I am six foot three and weigh around 220 and the seating position is just about perfect. A slight lean forward, enough to induce that sports ride position but not too much to provide sore wrists over long journeys. Head buffeting is kept minimal but at speeds in excess of 70 (not that I would do that kind of speed - obviously) the wind provides support and reduces wrist fatigue, but head buffeting does increase slightly. I find myself unconsciously leaning forward to tuck my helmet into the calm behind the fairing.

The ZX is a 899cc liquid cooled inline four with a 6-speed box, 530 o-ring drive chain and radial tires. The seat height on the ZX is 31.5in, but feels much leggier than that. Suspension is easily adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping for both front and rear in almost unlimited quantities.

I have ridden the ZX9 on a couple of long trips, the longest to date was going from Lands End to John O'Groats and back. Approximately 1000 miles there and a 1500 back; due to taking a more scenic route on the return leg. It took 2 days to get there, which was spending 12hours in the saddle on the first day then 6 the following day. Upon arrival at mainland Britain's Northernmost point, as is if you hadn't guessed, an afternoon was spent in the Bar at the Hotel in John O'Groats. The cramped arsecheeks were soon forgotten.....

The return leg was much more leisurely and basically followed any road that looked good: All over the Highlands, Lake District, Midlands down to Norfolk, skirting around London down through Sussex to the Isle of White, and finally a 40 mile blast up the A3 back home. All in a week. Each day was an average 6+ hours in the saddle and only towards the end of each day does your backside start to complain.

ZX9R, I love it.

Specifications

What is this fascination with motorcycles?

So, back in 1990 I decided that I had been finding reasons for NOT owning a motorcycle for too long. You know, all the usual ones; They're dangerous, too fast, I've already got a car, it rains to often, they're too expensive, my garage is too small and probably the main one 'I'm a little bit scared!'

Fortunately for me, I moved house and consequently changed my Bank to a more local branch. This may seem unrelated, but bear with me. The new bank account details arrived in the post including a new, shiny, as yet virgin credit card! Whoops! So, that weekend I wandered down to the local bike shop (just to look) and ended up riding a Yamaha DT125 home. It wasn't my fault! You just cant tempt a young man like that!

I rode the Yam around on 'L' plates for a couple of years, at which stage I decided that I now needed to pass my test and move to a Sports bike. I looked around and decided that the Kawasaki ZZR600 would be a good compromise between sporty looks, good performance without being too maniac, sensible ride position and reasonable second-hand prices. Another major consideration was size. The ZZR is one of the roomiest sports bikes in the 600 class, and being over six foot this had to be a consideration.

So after a 4 day training course the big day arrived. A trip to Guildford, a terrifying wait followed by a half hour being tested by a miserable looking woman who didn't respond to any of my nervous pre-test jokes (the UK motorcycle test is a sure-fire cure for constipation!) I amazed myself and passed!

Minutes later, Bike License in my sweaty little hand I went straight to 'Motorcycle City' in Farnborough. Later that afternoon my first *real* bike arrived. It was a 1990 Red ZZR600-D1, described in the brochure as Candy Apple Persimmon Red. Why do they do that?

I had the ZZR for nearly four years, clocking up over 50K miles. The bike was great. Never had a problem with it: I kept it regularly serviced, fresh tyres and a regular supply of cush drives (any other ZZR owners will know exactly what I mean) and the bike never missed a beat. Well, apart from once, when the throttle cable snapped while I was committed to a long fast sweeping bend on the A24: Another constipation cure! But that's another story....

Then a friend of mine, ruined everything by going out and buying a Honda FireBlade.

Of course, the Blade was much faster than mine and outhandled my ZZR in every department. To make matters worse, even though Brian had been away from biking for years and I had been riding mine nearly every day, I couldn't keep up with him. I got used to seeing the back of his bike diminishing into the distance while I furiously kicked down through the gears trying to keep the engine cooking to stay with the Blade. I would normally catch up just in time to see the Blade bank into a corner, I would tip the ZZR in and then on some (more committed) occasions ground the centre stand: A big flash of sparks, the bike would squirm upright, lose the line and some fresh underpants were normally required. I loved my old ZZR but a bigger, better handling, of course faster and sexier bike just had to come.

That was when my love affair with the ZX9 started. Unfortunately for me, my cash flow projections clearly indicated that anything more than a few hundred quid was out of the question. So, after much sole searching I reached a compromise:

"If I can't have a ZX9r, I will have my ZZR resprayed so that it looks like a ZX9! Ha!"

Big mistake! I had the bike resprayed and asked for the ZX colour scheme of red, purple and white. The respray was very well done. But, unfortunately looked nothing like a ZX. It simply looked more like an old bike that had been resprayed because the paintwork was naff.

Then fate stepped in. Kawasaki announced that they were releasing a new honed down version of the ZX9R. This new model (the 'C') was significantly smaller, lighter more racy. They were doing that same thing that Honda had done with the Blade - put a 900cc motor in a 600cc bike frame. This is great if you want a very fast smallish bike, but the main reason that I liked the ZX9R-B was, as all the reviews agreed, that it was a storming engine in a large framed bike without compromising sports handling! So, I realised that if I wanted a 'B' I would have to act fast.

This is what led me to back down the dealers. And the rest is history.......

A bunch of pictures of the ZX9R

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