1999 Kawasaki reviews

I was trying to review a 98 but it wouldn't let me go that far so i put it under the 99 which is essentially a slightly detuned 98. All I can say is this motor absolutely ROCKS!! The 1st time I rode it, I was smiling from ear to ear at the gobs of power it has. The downside to that is that it can wear you out on the track quick if you're not in shape! Suspension once dialed in was good, turned good, rocket out of the pocket, and felt light in the air. Funnest bike I've ever owned... Show less

I bought my bike new in 1999. I loved it the first time I rode it. I've riden it all over Ohio and Michigan. I'm getting it ready for this riding season, looking forward to many miles and hours of fun. If all goes right, I will be riding it to Albuquerque, New Mexico to visit my best friend this summer. Show less

I've ridden many miles in this seat and the handling and reliability cannot be beat. The bike turns heads and in my opinion is one of the most reliable bikes on the market! Show less

Easiest bike I have ever had to go fast on. Very stable with linear power. It is kind of heavy, but who cares, it's fun. Just upgraded to a 2003 GSXR1000 and wish I still had the old ZX-7R. Show less

What a great little and often overlooked bike. From it's rock solid reliability, comfort, speed and mpg you really shouldn't pass on this without a second look. Too often it is refered to as a great beginner bike. While this may be true, I think if you've ridden and owned many bikes you will appreciate the many virtues of this bike. It addresses so many areas where other bikes fall short. Semi upright seating. 4.5 gal gas tank. Over 60mpg regularly. Lightweight. Decent handling and better than adequate speed. Some write that it is so gutless you have to downshift to pass. If you feel this way, you're not using this bike as it was meant to be used. When you understand the bike you will realize it is meant to be reved. Go ahead, it won't hurt it and it will reward you with a ton of fun and speed you never expected. You can't get 70 mpg from a liter bike but you won't have to shift to pass. that's the tradeoff. I've read complaints the brakes aren't that good and the front dives when applied hard. Again you have to learn this bike. Both brakes must be applied and although different from many bikes, when learned, will give excellent feedback and gretly reduce the nose dive in trade for squat. This chasis squat or nose dive again is a tradeoff for the excellent ride this bike gives over bumps. The light springs and unsprung weight of a single disk attached to a lightweight aluminum wheel results in a a better ride. I have owned A LOT of bikes and not many have brought a smile to my face or had me singing in my helmet as often as this Little Ninja. Show less

I love this bike. I bought it last summer and have already put 12,000 mies on it. Does wheelies with ease through first and second. Handles well too. I do wish it had inverted forks though. I love the rider position. It makes long rides tolerable unlike its competition. I never was big on Kawasaki but I found this one for a good deal and when I read about the reliability and power, it had to be mine. Show less

I have sold my '01 Nomad and purchased an '06 HD Ultra. I could not bring myself to sell the 800. My wife got her license this last July and has taken over the 800. My son and daughter also ride the 800 when they come with on tours. Much to my son's distress I put the orig pipes back on at my wife's request. I've installed a Cobra light bar and a flip a lever throttle lock as well as hiway pegs and desert daugs. I have had many offers to purchase this bike but I'm going to keep it period. I get a real kick out of some people who mistake it for a HD Heritage. I replaced the orig tires with Dunlop D404's and they have held up very well hand the handling is spot on. I agree with the reviewer that mentioned the negitive fuel pressure issue. The change to prime or res is the quick fix and is not worthy of a ding in the quality area. This is a great bike! You can't go wrong with the 800. Ride safe! Show less

Had the bike for one year. Rode all year round. Great bike and quite reliable. The POG (plastic oil gear) to the oil pump was replaced by a JOG (Judge Oil Gear) a preempt fix to a factory flaw (This is what Rich makes reference to in his review) and clutch spring replaced in favor of a stronger one. Bike has V&H exhaust, intake and other mods and it pulls really well... The seat was a bit hard, so I replaced with a Mustang and I can ride for hours and feel zero fatigue. I am riding the wheels off this bike. This is my 18th motorcycle...unless I find a sweet Concours or Beemer at a steal! Show less

Folks, I ALWAYS liked the look of this bike; it clearly pays homage to the Kawasaki GPz series of bikes produced in the early 1980s. I always liked that look. In fact, I've had it mistaken for a 1983 bike! Though this bike may look like it came out of the early 1980s, it has modern technology. It has liquid cooling. It has a ZX-11 powerplant, though it's been retuned for more low and midrange power. Its frame doesn't flex like a piece of licorice. I could go on, but you get the point; it has modern technology where this makes sense. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford this bike when it was new. Back then, I was riding an old Honda; it may not have been much, but at least I WAS riding! Even so, with a better than expected bonus from my job last year, I was able to afford a nice, almost new, 1999 ZRX1100 which only had 5,500 miles on the clock-wow! The bike's previous owner didn't leave it stock, though. He installed a Kerker header and muffler; K & N pods; and, he installed a jet kit. The bike puts 115-120 hp to the pavement-plenty enough for me! The shocks are aftermarket too. The bike has AWESOME acceleration! Even with my 260# aboard, she'll hit 60 in 3-3.5 seconds. This bike will blow away ALL but the most exotic and expensive sports cars. Once the suspension is set up right (this takes time, but it's worth the effort), this bike handles well too; it'll take any curve as fast as you dare to go. In addition to liking its classic looks, I also purchased this bike because, being a big guy who lives in an area with hills and mountains, the extra hp comes in very handy. When I'm on I-78, I don't have to worry about being crowded by some knucklehead SUV driver yapping on her cellphone; a little twist of the throttle puts me 100 yards ahead of the idiot in second. If you're close to a an 18 wheeler, you can quickly get away from him. If there's anyone making you neverous, this bike will get you out of harms way-rapidly. You gotta love it-safety, through superior horsepower! In addition to awesome acceleration, this bike stops as well as it goes. With two big, pizza pan size discs up front, it should! It also has a single disc brake on the back wheel. The brakes are so good that, with the exception of dire emergencies, you can stop this bike with two fingers on each handlegrip-no joke. The brakes are that good. The bike, when properly set up (this is key!), will handle well too. It'll certainly exceed the skill and ability levels of 99% of the riders out there. If you don't take the time to set up the suspension, you WILL regret it; this machine will fee like a ponderous, lumbering beast beneath you. Once it's set up, she'll take any cruve as fast you dare. However, this bike is NOT for beginners! Repeat: this bike is NOT for beginners. Even though I'd owned three bikes before this one, when I picked this one up, I'd been out of the saddle for a few years. Boy, I almost killed myself on the thing! I took it easy till I got used to it. This is a machine that has lots of power; if you get behind the bike, you'll be in trouble-quickly! How does one handle a bike like this? One handles this machine the same way one handles a dangerous power tool or knife-with respect! Treat this machine with repsect, and you'll be ok. The only real gripe I have with the bike is that the stock seat leaves something to be desired. Next year, I will change the seat out for a new Corbin seat made for my bike. In closing the ZRX1100 will do everything you want a bike to do. It can commute. It'll blitz any twisty backroad. It can easily keep up with traffic, no matter what the speed. With a set of tapered Eclipse saddlebags (the bottoms are tapered so as to clear the high exhaust), you can do some weekend touring. This bike is a machine that WILL bite if you screw up. This is a bike that can do it all. In the ZRX, one has all the versatility of a standard, while retaining the best virtues of a sport bike. Who says you can't have it all, eh? Show less

I had a 1997 Ninja ZX11, nice BUT...I never truely felt comfortable with that bike-even with a Corbin seat and bar risers. Not so with the ZRX! It fells like it was custom made for me. I was concerned it would be boring compared to the Ninja, not so! The ZRX is actually more entertaining since the power is in the low/mid range, perfect for street use. And when you're not racing from corner to corner the motors got enough tourqe to happily cruise along in one gear. No need to work the shifter to keep the motor in "the sweet spot". The only thing this bike is lacking is a 6th gear for relaxed freeway cruising. Otherwise, a GREAT motorcycle! Show less