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...
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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?
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