THE Kawasaki ZZR1400 is to be discontinued at the end of 2020, after a production run spanning 14-years and smattering of updates that saw the bike peaking at a claimed 207hp.
The ZZR14’ was born in a time when almost all of the Japanese manufacturers had a bike in the battle for top-dog in the outright speed wars. Honda had the Superblackbird, and Suzuki had the ubiquitous Hayabusa. Each had its own way of cracking the hyper-touring nut, but none of those bikes has managed to go on for as long as Kawasaki’s intercontinental ballistic missile.
The Kawasaki ZZR1400 was built around a specially developed 1352cc engine, which produced up to 190hp in its early versions. In years to come the advent of ram-air induction would see maximum power swell 210 hp. 2012 saw the bike undergo a major restyling, with sleeker and more aerodynamic bodywork appearing on the new model. The model was also treated to a new exhaust system, 3-level Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) and a new ignition (all taken from the Kawasaki ZX-10R), a slipper clutch and a second radiator fan.
The death of the ZZR may make some people think that Kawasaki are going to have another pop at a normally aspirated sports-touring machine, although the chances of a bike slim. Kawasaki now has the supercharged H2 SX SE in its line-up. While that machine may not offer the same silky-smooth delivery as the big-capacity ZZR1400, but it is lighter, slightly more powerful and better for Johnny Polar bear – which is probably one of the main reasons the bike is soon to be axed.
