Photo Info: The Kawasaki ZZR600 is a direct descendant of the GPX600 and the
GPZ600 and when it was first introduced, was hailed as the CBR600
beater. Later, everyone changed their minds and said the suspension was
too soft, it was too heavy, and it had a bit of a flat spot. Yeah?? Well, I
didn''t find it too heavy, the flat spot although it existed didn''t present any
major problems, and the suspension suited the way I rode the bike. In
saying that, I''ve never ridden a CBR600 before, so it''s a bit difficult to
compare the two. The bike I owned was one of the D models, heavily
modified since the original was launched and in my opinion, lacking in any
major faults.
It needed to be revved real hard to get anywhere fast, but that''s what you
have to do if your bike''s only got 600cc''s. That''s one thing I really like
about larger capacity bikes, they make everything seem so easy. So, you
have to rev it some, and it really shifts, not the fastest bike I''ve ever
ridden, but damn well fast enough. The magic number here is 7,000,
because over 7,000 revs and right up to the 13,000rpm red line, it really
goes for it, making the adrenaline rush, stretching your arms and leaving
your ass a mile behind you. Before owning the ZZR600, most of my
riding experience (not including pillion) had been upon a Yamaha YB100,
so I wasn''t very experienced. I was a little bit overwhelmed with the ZZR,
would it be too fast for me?? Could I handle all that power?? I needn''t
have worried, the bike won''t go fast unless you *want* it to go fast. It
handles very well, you only have to think about changing line, and it seems
to happen almost automatically. Also, it encourages you to lean right down
into bends, go ahead! Get your knee down!! Easy on this bike. Novice
riders can be reassured, this bike''ll look after you...just don''t drop the
damn thing!! |
