2005 Kawasaki reviews

The past 3 years of ownership have been a real pleasure. The bike still looks and performs as new. Actually, it probably performs a little better than new since it is well broken in. I get a consistent 46-47 mpg at mild to moderate speeds. Stock suspension works well for my style of riding. It took me a while to dial it in but the fellas at the dealership are a wealth of information regarding just about any aspect of this bike. The ergonomics are great for us middle age folk who don't appreciate any additional shoulder, back, neck, and wrist pains. There is not much wind protection above 65-70 mph. I recommend buying something else if the wind bothers you a lot. The aftermarket wind screens help a little but not much. I don't ride that fast so wind is not an issue for me. This bike is a true all around performer with great manners at low speeds. It is a fairly large bike but once underway it is very manageable. I appreciate the heft because cross winds don't upset it very much. I think the looks are brilliantly executed for those of us who appreciate this bikes origin. My overall impressions of this motorcycle are very positive and feel that it won't let me down due to its simplicity and rock solid reliability. There is no better value for the money that I know of. Show less

It has fine performance, an exceptional vintage style, is technologically way ahead of other brands and is a thing of beauty. And... 50 MPG! Mine was bought new in '06, yes really! It's a fine unit with air shocks, drive shaft and fuel injection. Mine was bought with the Samson Samurai Long Cannons already installed. I consider this one of the luckiest days of my short 55 year life! I will never sell this beauty. I do believe I am going to paint the silver areas of fenders and tank in some shade of red. Show less

I went intent on buying a Honda Shadow, but after rode off the lot with my 05 Vulcan 800 Classic. This is a great motorcycle. Plenty of power for a mid-sized bike, but the handling and the feel of the motorcycle are unbelievable. Show less

I'm over six feet tall and I thought this bike was too small for me, but I couldn't be more wrong. It is perfect. It is lightweight and handles like a dream. You can't get a better 250. The Ninja is as good as it gets in its class and I love every minute of this bike. Show less

This is the best bike for the price out there. It runs great and looks great. It has been three years and I have never had a problem. I love this bike. Show less

This is my first bike. I bought it in June of '07 with 4,000 miles on it. I have not had any problems with it. I find that it is a heavy bike compared to others. Balancing it well when stopped is still something I am improving on, but other than that it seems to be a fine bike for a beginner of my size. Shorter riders may find that it is too tall or wide. I find the bike to be very comfortable. Everyone that sits on it loves the stock seat and floorboards. My passenger (my girlfriend) tells me the back seat is comfortable for about an hour's ride. The only negative I can think of about this bike is that the low beam is not powerful enough. I have to ride around with the high beam on at night. I love this bike and expect to keep it for a long time. Show less

I used to ride everyday... that is until I became married with children. Well the kids are grown now and so I decided to ride again. I bought a 2006 Meanie last spring and at first thought it was just too much bike for my old butt. After a couple months of riding almost every day it became obvious that it not only wasn't too much bike but I actually wanted more. After upgrading the exhaust, adding a K&N filter, power commander and some perks (shorty windshield, removable saddle bags and rear bag, passenger backrest, etc.) it is the PERFECT bike for me. Handles like a dream when I fly through the twisties with sports bikes, out guns as well as out handles my buddies on their Harleys, stops on a dime (several dogs owe mother Kaw their lives for putting on those brakes), cruises beautifully on long trips and performs well in freezing rain (ALWAYS bring your warm clothes and rain gear with you this time of year). Add very reliable to the above list and it is definitely the best bike for me. Looks hot, performs hot and is hot. Plus, it taught me how to ride again. Show less

Where to start... the handling is quick and effortless. It's such an easy bike to ride you can really push and still be comfortable. The 636cc engine is a monster that comes to life around 7000 rpm and doesn't stop screaming all the way to its 15,250 redline. A good rider can give liter bikes fits all day long on one of these, tear them up in the corners and have enough power to stay with them on the gas. With standard PC3, exhaust, and intake mods no 600 is going to touch you and the guys on the big bikes will be wondering why you're so fast, because like all the big bike riders say, it's just a 600 right... Riiiiggghhhtt, just try not to smile too hard when you smoke some squid on a liter bike. Show less

I always wanted a ZRX1200R. When I heard the are going out of production in Australia, I rushed out & purchased a new ZRX1200R. 2007 is the year the ZRX is to be discontinued in OZ so I purchased a brand new 06 model. I was looking @ the 06 & 07 ZRX's side by side in the show room & went for the 06 due to I liked the colour more than the 07 model ZRX. These bikes do everything well. They handle, brake, and perform very well considering their price. I owned a GSX1400K5 & can only say the ZRX1200R is a winner & has more power & handles much better than my previous GSX1400K5. It will be sad to see the ZRX finally take a bow, long live the muscle bikes... Show less

The original shield was too short for me so I replaced it with a Cee Bailey's vented shield and raised the bars and lowered the pegs. The riding position was vastly improved. The oem rear tire lasted me 2 years and I replaced it with the same brand/type. Ride and mechanicals were great. I took 2 long trips and it rode and handled well. This bike is an excellent blend between sport and touring and was as much at home in town or on the twistys as it was on the highway. Anyway, for someone looking for a commuter that's also a lot of fun on the weekends and can definitely keep up with the big boys, this bike is an excellent choice. All of the rider modifications to change the rider position have been done. Show less