ZR-7 review
Anyone remember Kawasaki's ill-fated ZR-7, which got panned from day one and never really recovered? The half faired ZR-7S, which appeared a year later in 2001 also came in for some stick.
Anyone remember Kawasaki's ill-fated ZR-7, which got panned from day one and never really recovered? The half faired ZR-7S, which appeared a year later in 2001 also came in for some stick.
Unfortunately for Kawasaki, timing wasn't on their side. When it was released the ZR-7 was up against the likes of Yamaha's Fazer and Honda's Hornet, which were faster, sportier and better all rounders. Many press reports said the Kawasaki didn't handle, the engine wasn't inspiring or the brakes lacked bite. Some said all three. The poor old Kawasaki received a universal slating which it struggled to shake off.
Thing is, the ZR-7 and the ZR-7S aren't bad bikes, which makes them a fantastic buy for little financial outlay. They're plenty fast enough for a zipping to work and back, they're nimble and they're relatively cheap to maintain. Who's bothered about pin-sharp handling on the way to work anyway? I know I'm not.
At the heart of the machine is Kawasaki's simplistic air-cooled, 8-valve, four cylinder engine, which produces 76bhp and over 46ft-lbs of torque. Not astonishing figures, granted, but enough to ensure you're first away from the lights and have plenty of punch for smooth overtakes.
The faired version will happily cruise at 80mph - maybe 90 at a push - so it's ideal for longer distance commutes, where some motorway stretches are involved. What's more ZR-7 and ZR-7S' are dirt-cheap right now. How does £1500 for a decent, low mileage example grab you?
Pound for pound, we reckon the ZR-7S is one of the most underrated commuters available on the secondhand market today.
Quick facts:
• The fuel gauge can lie
• The performance improves with a Dynojet kit
• A Scottoiler's a popular modification
• A 4000-mile service is around £150
• Owners have had problems with rectifiers
Others to consider: Yamaha 600/900 Diversion, Suzuki GSX750F, Honda CB500S
Useful links:
Read more: http://www.visordown.com/learners/visordowns-five-most-underrated-commuters/1040.html#ixzz0zPv9AzLf
Anyone remember Kawasaki's ill-fated ZR-7, which got panned from day one and never really recovered? The half faired ZR-7S, which appeared a year later in 2001 also came in for some stick.
Unfortunately for Kawasaki, timing wasn't on their side. When it was released the ZR-7 was up against the likes of Yamaha's Fazer and Honda's Hornet, which were faster, sportier and better all rounders. Many press reports said the Kawasaki didn't handle, the engine wasn't inspiring or the brakes lacked bite. Some said all three. The poor old Kawasaki received a universal slating which it struggled to shake off.
Thing is, the ZR-7 and the ZR-7S aren't bad bikes, which makes them a fantastic buy for little financial outlay. They're plenty fast enough for a zipping to work and back, they're nimble and they're relatively cheap to maintain. Who's bothered about pin-sharp handling on the way to work anyway? I know I'm not.
At the heart of the machine is Kawasaki's simplistic air-cooled, 8-valve, four cylinder engine, which produces 76bhp and over 46ft-lbs of torque. Not astonishing figures, granted, but enough to ensure you're first away from the lights and have plenty of punch for smooth overtakes.
The faired version will happily cruise at 80mph - maybe 90 at a push - so it's ideal for longer distance commutes, where some motorway stretches are involved. What's more ZR-7 and ZR-7S' are dirt-cheap right now. How does £1500 for a decent, low mileage example grab you?
Pound for pound, we reckon the ZR-7S is one of the most underrated commuters available on the secondhand market today.
Quick facts:
• The fuel gauge can lie
• The performance improves with a Dynojet kit
• A Scottoiler's a popular modification
• A 4000-mile service is around £150
• Owners have had problems with rectifiers
Others to consider: Yamaha 600/900 Diversion, Suzuki GSX750F, Honda CB500S
Useful links:
Read more: http://www.visordown.com/learners/visordowns-five-most-underrated-commuters/1040.html#ixzz0zPv9AzLf
Engine - Air-cooled, 8-valve in-line four, 738cc
Fuel capacity - 22 litres
Seat height -800mm
Dry weight - 210kg
Top speed - 124mph
Average fuel economy - 42mpg
Insurance group - 11
