From: sysop@elan.glassboro.edu (Ken Denton (Supervisor))
Subject: Kawasaki Zephyr 750 Review
Keywords: kawasaki zephyr review
Organization: Rowan College of New Jersey
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 15:26:42 GMT

Kawasaki Zephyr 750 (ZR750)
1991
Red (of course)

Having finally reached the end of the break-in period (in 2.5 weeks), I can
now review my bike.  List price for the Zephyr (which can no longer be called
that, thank you Lincoln-Mercury) is $4699, but it can be had for quite a bit
less.  I got prices ranging from $4500 to $4100, and finally found a 91 left-
over for $3899 at East Coast Kawasaki, Trenton, NJ.

The bike is small for a 750, feeling much smaller and lighter than its primary
rival, the Honda Nighthawk 750.  The pegs are somewhat rearset, and the super-
bike style bars are slightly forward, resulting in a not-uncomfortable forward
lean.  I have found the seating position to just about ideal for brisk around
town and freeway riding, as the wind offsets your body lean.  The mirrors are
adequate, but barely.  If your sleeves blouse up a bit, you'll find yourself
looking at your elbows quite a bit.  The mirrors from the 550 Zephyr may be a
solution.  The passenger accomodations are OK, but not great.  The rear half
of the seat has quite a forward tilt to it, resulting in the passenger sliding
forward during any braking.  Also, the rear pegs are not rubber covered, and my
SO has complained about tingly toes after only 30 mins of riding.  A Corbin
should solve the seat issue, and I am still trying to hunt up some nice rear
pegs to cure the tingles.  The grab rail is a nice feature.

The brakes are excellent.  Twin discs in front, single disc in rear.  The rear
may be a bit touchy, as I locked it up twice in my first week (guess I'll get
used to it - my 81 CB750's drum was not exactly spectacular).  It only takes a
two finger pull to bring the bike down from speed quite rapidly.  The adjustable
levers for the brake and clutch are very handy (ha ha).  It took me a while
to get used to the brakes constantly adjusting themselves after every stop.  I
thought they were grinding at first, until I was enlightened.

The motor...is a blast.  It may only be 8 valves versus the Nighthawk's 16, but
it walks away from the Honda at any speed.  Usable power starts down around
3000, and gets serious about 5500 through 8000.  After that, it tapers down
toward the 10,000 redline, but still quite gutsy.  It is geared a little low,
and is turning around 5000 at normal highway speed.  As vibration is at a
minimum, this isn't really a problem.  What is nice about that is it keeps the
engine in the meat of the powerband when cruising down the highway.  Just the
thing for blasting past slower cages.  Rarely have I had the need to downshift
for a passing blitz.  The exhaust note is subdued (I was used to a 4->1 Kerker),
but sounds good.  Much better than the mime exhaust on the Nighthawk.

Handling, as far as I can tell so far, is quite good.  It is very quick to turn
in, and keeps the line without much input from the rider.  Very stable on the
freeway, doesn't wander from the straight ahead without provocation.  Being I
ride primarily in southern New Jersey, where road designers were forbidden to
use anything besides straight lines, I haven't really worked it out in the
twisties...yet.

Other things... the high-beam is amazing.  Riding 20-30 yards behind my friend
with his EX500, my high-beam outreaches his.  Since I get quite paranoid riding
at night, I love having all the portable daylight I can find.  Storage space
in the tail is minimal.  The tool kit already resides there, so a pair of gloves
or a bungee net will fill the rest (or a videotape fits perfectly).  Two helmet
locks are great and easy to use.  Gas gauge is accurate - when it hits bottom of
'E' time for reserve.  Choke is very hard to modulate, and idle speed very
difficult to control.  Start the bike in the morning, and it zooms to 6000
instantly.  Back off on the choke just a smidge, stutter and die.  The toggle
switch of choke levers.  Chain adjustment easy due to cam-type adjuster.  Nice
fat tires front and back.  Kawa's Neutral Finder is pretty slick.  Multi-
adjustable shocks in back can be adjusted for preload, rebound and compression.
No adjustment in front (Some of the mags call the mushy front fork their major
complaint of the bike.  It does tend to dive under heavy braking, and just
getting on the bike uses about 1/3 of the fork travel.  Progressive Springs
are recommended by the mags).

Overall, I love this bike (my 2nd).  I can't wait to take a weekend trip to the
mountains (hills for you left coasters) and play in the twisties.


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%          Ken Denton                     DOD# 1124           %
%          sysop@elan.glassboro.edu       91 ZR750            %
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