Kawasaki ZR-7 reviews

I bought my ZR7 new in 2001, and have loved it ever since. There is nothing like going up a steep hill at 60, pulling back the throttle, and just zooming up it like it wasn't even there! My only complaint is that it is very cold blooded, needing at least three or four minutes of warm-up to run properly. But once it is ready to ride, it is one of the best rides out there! Show less

After fighting the BMW maitenence wars for three years I purchased a Kawasaki ZR-7S on the suggestion of a mechanic friend. I have owned many bikes over the years and for my money, this is the best one ever. Stone reliable, great on long trips and a joy around town. Frankly, at my age the bike has kept me out of trouble more than once. My only complaint is that the stock seat is too soft. I've tried Corbin (awful and heavy) and Sargent, not much of an improvement. Best is to take the stock seat to a local shop and have them install a gel pad. My next purchase will be a decent set of luggage, the one thing I miss about our BMW. Local dealers are selling left over 2003's for under five grand and at that price I think the mid-side Kawasaki is a true bargain. Show less

I have been riding this bike for about a year now and it's great. If you are a person who is interested in getting into riding, this bike is for you. It has plenty of power so you won't grow out of it right away. The riding position is very comfortable for a long ride. It is also great for city riding. It is very maneuverable in and out of traffic lights. I have been using it for communting to work and school. Well what are you waiting for? Go for it! Show less

I own a bone stock 2000 zr-7, and frankly, it is one of the best all-around motorcycles out there. Sure the "standard" design has left most American buyers wanting for some time now, since the early 80's and the Zephyrs in fact, but this is the best attempt at retaking that ground that I have seen. I bought it early in 2004, with a scant 2800 miles on it. This bike is still in perfect condition and looks great. The design is muscular and just SCREAMS power. The motor could be worked up quickly with the addition of a decent slip on (read "not so cheap yoshimura or such") and re-jeting or any host of other minor mods, and handling would be helped by some harder springs and maybe a change of tire to something a bit more sporting, but as is, from the showroom floor.. this bike is a nearly perfect daily drive. Enough power to get the jump on most things, and while it may not have the death-wish pull of most liquid-cooled fours, that are the rage these days, it DOES have a center stand, ample aftermarket, and well heck! it even still looks good! And insuring a bike with almost no plastic is a great thing to come by when you're in college and have to spend all your money on beer and books. I give this bike a 5 star rating only because 6 isn't an option. Congrats to Kawasaki for making yet another wonderfully useful machine. Show less

I bought my 2000 ZR7 new in April 2003, so I got a real sweet deal on it. The only times that it has been back to the dealer was for valve adjustments at 650 miles & tires/valve adjustment at 8350 miles. I've put 8250 miles on it in the first season that I had it. It's been a great all around bike. I installed a mid sized wind screen and bought a set of soft bags and have had no problem putting 1500+ miles in a week of riding. No, it's not as fast as a Yamaha FZ1 or Suzuki Bandit 1200, but it's a whole lot cheaper to insure. Show less

What's deceiving about this motorcycle is that it looks like a hooligan bike. This bike looks a lot like the Honda 919, Honda 599 and the Suzuki SV650, all of which are excellent hooligan bikes. So, a lot of people bought the ZR 7 thinking that they were going to get a hooligan wheelie-machine. The ZR 7 is more like the Honda Nighthawk...just with a sportier look. The ZR 7 has a lot of great features: good looks, dual front disc brakes, mono-shock rear suspension, center stand, a large metal gas tank, and a beefy 170 rear tire. It beats the Nighthawk 750 all day long in my opinion. The Nighthawk 750 is what this bike should be compared to...not fuel injected hooligan bikes. This bike is fun and does what it's supposed to do very well. This bike can't keep up with any 600cc sportsbike. It's a commuter with bullet-proof reliability, a comfortable seating position, and a look that doesn't' scream "NERD" like some other commuters. If you can pick one up for under $2,000, then it's a good deal I guess, and there's a lot of fun to be had on it. It's a shame that Kawasaki didn't design the performance of this bike to match the looks. They realized their mistake and made the Z750...what this bike should've been in the first place. Show less

Picked up a used 2001. Good: Handles great at any speed, has more than enough speed and rides steady at any speed and the sitting position is upright. Bad: The seat gets hard after an hour and the fairing isn't much help after you hit 70 and a 6th gear would be better. Show less

I started out the year with an older cruiser. I had to change bikes because of lower back pains. At 35 years old I couldn't see myself driving a sport bike. I spotted this 2002 ZR7s at a local dealer with 167 miles on it and fell in love. I put 2500 miles on it since. It is a great bike to ride anywhere. I find the bike to be exhilarating to ride. The acceleration is just right without it scaring the hell out of you. Throttle responce is a bit sluggish at times. The handling is awesome. I do plan on making a few changes to the appearence and the performance. All in all this bike was a great purchase. Show less

This is my first bike. I bought it in July of 03' and I'm having a blast! It's easy to handle and the color is beautiful. I won't stand out amoung most other street bikes, but I love it. I want to add fairings and I'll be good for at least two more seasons. Show less

I know that people say the ZR-7S is an old tech machine, softly sprung and not the fastest bike out there, but that doesn't matter. The ZR can do just about everything well and that is what this bike is about. Want to commute? Its light handling, good torque low down and comfortable suspension make it ideal. Want to tour? With excellent wind protection from the half- fairing (and even better with an aftermarket touring screen), optional hard bags, a big 5.8 gallon tank capable of allowing the bike a range way over 200 miles at a time and the ZR can take you cross country in comfort and style. Want to ride the back roads with a bike that handles better than you would think and can keep up with most bikes when ridden on the street, then the ZR will do it for you as well. Me, this is my second ZR-7. I had a 2000 ZR, traded it on a ZRX, which is a great bike but not for me, and now have returned to a bike that is much more than the sum of its parts. For me there is no better bike made than the ZR-7. If you can look beyond the obvious and allow yourself to think about riding a great all around machine, you just may find that the ZR-7S could be the best bike for you as well... Show less