[VW2010]

Since these things are raced a lot, established race teams will find the root cause in no time.

Interestingly this is reported only in the USA and in certain batches. The FB group has a member called Peter who runs a racing school. He has half a dozen zx4rr thrashed weekly and hasn't faced one issue yet. That group exists because Kawasaki did not agree to replace or repair under warranty for one of the owners Dustin. Most who reported have also removed the post after their bikes were fixed under warranty by Kawasaki.

This is happening in the US and I guess the apathy would be exponential in our dealership.

The incident has happened more to nonracers than racing ones. Kawasaki has a warranty for rebuilding these engines but has not replaced even one.

Having said this, the engine issue appears to happen in different batches across different models of Kawasaki and the proportion is so low we do not tend to hear about the same. It is not a Tata. This is one reason I recommend going for the K-Care.

Beautiful write up? Do you face any ground clearance issues after riding an ADV for so long?

Thanks. So far, it has all been good and bad roads that most bikes will glide through with a decent suspension. The biggest difference is the abuse you can throw on the KTM 390 ADV versus slowing down for those bad patches. This is where the ADV is a better tourer.

[Motorfanatic1]

Originally Posted by VW2010

[b]Introduction to the Zx4RR and the first ride[/B

Many congratulations on a terrific purchase! For a beast like the ZX4RR, I hope you're investing in a complete set of riding gear.

Cheers to miles of pleasure rides ahead.

[VijayAnand1]

Little bikes are so much fun, especially when you can have a screamer like the ZX4RR. Back then Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha all made their fair share of little 4-bangers that were mostly forgotten but made sure they bridged the cylinder gap well for enthusiasts who wanted to a cylinder screamer that revved to moon and back.

Enjoy the ride, have fun and keep your updates posted!

Cheers!
VJ

[Samarth 619]

Sadly, Kawasaki wouldn't make a test ride easy, but we all know why. After separating from Bajaj, they're hardly minting big money. No small bikes, even W175 is done for with its odd boy pricing and less dealerships.
What this means is, probably now you might also have to give a ride of your ZX4RR to another prospective buyer, because Kawasaki won't. Sad.

Your reference of "funny" bike reminds me of one of the earliest videos of a ZX25R ridden somewhere in the North East, the bike was revving like a F1 car when it managed to overtake an aunty on a bicycle, with funny commentry from the rider. I laughed for minutes at length.

Coming to the present time, yes a ZX4R is indeed a very disputable decision, but its certainly giving you happiness. And remember, it still is a 79 bhp, 240kmph (on the console) bike. Its easy to forget this when the redline is far, far away almost all the time on your daily commute.
Also, agreed about people of our age not needing something as extreme as a ZX-6R.


That said, I don't agree with you on only one thing:- in my humble opinion, the instrument console should not have a phone/sim in it. Already smartphones have killed privacy mercilessly, now we don't want our motorcycle companies to spy on us.
A console's bluetooth connecting to our phones is still ok.

Good luck, go and munch a lakh or two miles on it!

[Aditya]

Exceptional, unbiased & detailed ownership reviews of bikes have started going to our homepage reviews box. It's the ultimate stamp of trust from Team-BHP (as a platform) because lakhs of visitors every month check out reviews from there & make purchase decisions.

Your review has also been included here. Thank you so much for sharing .

[VW2010]

in my humble opinion, the instrument console should not have a phone/sim in it. Already smartphones have killed privacy mercilessly, now we don't want our motorcycle companies to spy on us.
A console's bluetooth connecting to our phones is still ok.

Thanks Samarth. Actually, it does help if we have a console that can be an extended phone. It is extremely useful if the navigation is displayed in the console than having to add another phone mount etc.

Your review has also been included here. Thank you so much for sharing .

Thanks Aditya

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by VW2010

1) Why choose this over the z900

2) The ZX6r is just 2L more and is the best sports bike to buy.

Congratulations on getting yourself a mini sweet sounding pocket rocket. This was on the list of motorcycles I was considering getting and almost came very close to buying a CB 400 a bike which has been on the wish list for ages, but life had others plans for me .

Only a person who understands the joy an inline four 400cc bike provides will be able to take this leap price wise without doubting their decision taking ability. Otherwise, after a point even the ZX 6R won’t feel special enough and one would want to upgrade to a ZX 10R.

The joy of keeping the RPM needle on the boil on an inline four bike is just second to none and you don’t have to worry so much about being dead meat at the next fast corner

Happy Riding!!!

[VW2010]

I was considering getting and almost came very close to buying a CB 400 a bike which has been on the wish list for ages, but life had others plans for me

I hope you get that time in your life to enjoy what you are after. That CB400 is such a fun retro bike. I have seen one in black in Chennai.

The joy of keeping the RPM needle on the boil on an inline four bike is just second to none and you don’t have to worry so much about being dead meat at the next fast corner

Riding in 1st and 2nd all day is not everyone's cup of tea but I am milking that 12-15k RPM every time I get a chance. The exotic sound is not just during the revving up but when you release the throttle.

As you said, it will never be a choice for most but for those who did picked it up, it is a fun machine to take it for buying milk packets.

[VW2010]

Updates after a few rides. The ZX4rr is now my daily rider to the office. Well to most places including dropping my son to his swimming class. The bike is fun and unlimited and it only grows on you.

Me and Rahulkool did a few rides together with his 850.

The bar end weights cause a noise due to the metal-to-metal vibrations. I added a small rubber washer between the weight and the handlebar and eliminated the same.

Things newly added

• Android auto with two cameras (I will write a detailed reply for this)
• Tidy tail
• Radiator guard with Extension
• USB wire out using Sumitomo connector

First one is the Tidy Tail This is a full "let me be squid" effort to check how good it looks.


I hated the looks. I went back to stock. One thing to confess is the wonderful consolidated assembly of parts by Kawasaki.

The tail is connected to the body by 4 bolts. There are 3 wires to the tail. Two indicators and 1 for the number plate LED. All three use similar Sumitomo connectors as shown below.



The advantage of these connectors is that you can use the stock wires by simply using a safety pin and releasing the clip from the socket, run your wires via any holes or space provided for after-market tidy tail, etc, and reattach the pin(Just push it inside the socket) and stick to stock connection including power and voltage.

The tail section is divided into 3 parts. The bolts are screwed from inside the seats and hence the outer side is covered and clean without any exposed wires or bolts or nuts. Everything is concealed.

Even the turn lights are not just bolted but use a clip/lock mechanism to keep it attached to the tail.

The entire package feels very well engineered and put together to ensure minimal vibration and zero exposure of wires.

Next is the Radiator guard. This one I picked from Alibaba for sub-2300 and got it carried via a good friend. It is a two-piece arrangement to cover both the radiator and the exposed lower part of the fairing.



Fitment is straightforward and requires a little effort to remove the side fairings (Which again is a marvelous design to remove them and assemble in a few minutes). They are well made of aluminium and fit perfectly for the bike. Fits very snug and looks decent.

The last one is the USB socket extension. The company-provided USB accessory is not available at the service center and needs to be on backorder. I needed an accessory power to switch on the Android auto and was trying to figure out a way. As I was looking closely at the USB accessory port in the bike I realized the port came with both male and female sumitomo sockets. All I had to do was get the pins and tap the power directly from the socket. I used this connection as the switch in a relay to enable power to the android device only when the keys are on.

Because I have used a distribution box for any future additional accessories including a new USB charger, I just have to take power from the distribution box.

And here are the pictures from various rides we did over the last 2 months.

Near ECR - With the 6R, RS457 and the GS850




Me and Rahul in Idlers cafe






Somewhere to or after Idlers cafe










Closeups of the ZX4rr




Few from other trips






Green garage (may be yellow and green)


Nothing has changed in terms of the impression of the bike. It is the most fun and most stress-busting time one can have without feeling they are over the limits every time they ride this bike.

ZX4RR is definitely a great addition and the joy keeps growing.

A note to Padi service center and center manager Barani. Very professional and trying to help to resolve any issues. The tidy tail caused so much vibration that I visited the center twice to understand what could be causing the same. The technicians and the service manager were very helpful and supporting to try and figure the root cause. While they were unable to pin point, I was able to figure once I reached home and eliminated one custom change that I made.

[Turbosailor]

Originally Posted by VW2010

ZX4rr - About the bike

ZX4RR - Smiles factory reasons

• Fun engine. Fun bike.
• Comfortable riding position
• Great handling
• ZX4R had excellent suspension, the RR makes it even more comfortable
• High-quality fit and finish

Congratulation for acquiring this Green Pocket Rocket. Truly 4R or 4RR is all what one required for enjoyable super sport rides on our road. I am a great fan of inline 4 engine and have only ridden CB650R. Appreciate for giving such an in depth details of this rare green beast and you got superb photography skills too. Wishing you many safe miles ahead.

[VW2010]

Update - Second service as part of KCare done.

What was done as part of service

• Oil Change
• Torque bolts and nuts
• Clean air filter and air filter box
• Oil filter change
• Clean and polish

What is covered and what is not as part of KCare

• Oil
• Labor for the regular service
• If you want the Petronas race oil you pay the difference
• Even number services does not cover Oil Filter (all there in the KCare brochure)

If I calculate based on bills I would say each service will cost between 4.5 to 6.5k. The KCare is around 65K for 8 services and 1 additional year of warranty. So you are paying between 18 to 25k for additional warranty.

This can help you take a decision to buy or skip the KCare as the biggest advantage is the 4th year warranty that is transferable.

Loaded up and oil drained








Air filter and ram air intake







Added a givi tank setup. The BF71 fits straight up for zx4rr. And I got the 610 series from RiderZ Planet. Excellent online shop with great customer experience.





And tried the mini claw.


Invented issues and attempts to fix it

One issue I invented that doesn't exist for most who ride the bike is the fairing vibrations. Just google fairing vibrations- Kawasaki, you will find numerous threads to start slowly draining into the abyss of problems that may never exist in your own bike. But to be honest I had removed the fairing enough times that the stock rubbers and washers are expected to not fit snugly as from the factory. The fairing near the thighs and a little bit on the seat vibrate

Things I did to eliminate things like frame sliders include riding with and without the sliders and more. Finally, I figured the fairing vibrates when you let the 4-cylinder scream for 16k. It is just natural for parts around a screaming engine to react the natural way.

So I decided to remove all the fairing and started adding some styrofoam support to reduce the metal-to-plastic vibrations. A little tedious but it did help to arrest 70% of the feeling.

I am planning to get some anti-vibration material and replace the styrofoam. This is more like an ocd fix thana real problem as Rahul who rode the bike hardly complained about any vibrations on the fairings and when I rode his 850 I came back and told him his fairing had the same vibrations

Here are the ride pictures after the service with Rahul and his 850gsa.




















Anyway, it is now my pet project to keep trying new things with the bike.

Overall Experience so far:- Absolutely fabulous. The daily rides to the office is very short but the fun I have is just difficult to explain in words. And every km you ride this little rocket, my face always is filled with smiles. This is the best thing one can get without worrying about too much power and still have the 1000cc like experience every time one rides this.

[VW2010]

Unlock - Let us make this zx4rr a tourer and ride with a group of proper tourers

The trip - Office work-related Bangalore trip was converted to a motorcycle ride and which then became a Jawwadu hill ride with the usual gang.

Additions
Givi Tank Bag and Mini Claw.
USB hub and a recharging wire to the front of the bike. The hub has 4 connections that I can tap into.

Givi Tank bag - The standard BF71 that is used for Versys (I think) fits the zx4rr. Most tank bags from Givi will fit into this BF71 holder. The one I got was the 610 model. A 6L tank box can be extended to 10L when required.

Mini Claw - ZX4RR requires a little more than simple mods to get pannier side boxes or luggage options. Mini claw replaced all this and fits perfectly for carrying 1-2 weeks of requirement.


Here is a picture of the tourer now

The route plan was to head to Jawwadu, spend some time, and head out to Bangalore via Vaniambadi.

Our First stop at a small hotel which had good veg food.Photo story of our first stop.

Always you will find a friend photobombing.




Looks was still ok with all these additions



Givi Bag close up




The GSA 850 and the 4RR are next to each other.

Next stop was just before entering the Jawwadu hills. We always stop at this spot to get the group together and plan the next phase of the ride to the hill top.

Our rides for this weekend

Ducati Scrambler


zx4rr


V1K Kawasaki


GSA 850


Triumph 900


GSA 900


GS 1300


The Line up

Continued... (For attachment limitation reasons)

[VW2010]

Some close ups of the bikes

Few pictures as we rode in the mountains.

Closing comments


Total Kms for this trip - close to 800kms
Return trip - nonstop to Chennai with one stop over at Sai Sangeeth

Can the ZX4rr be used as a tourer - I think it can. I am also biased as I feel more comfortable in a sports bike as it is easy on the lower back for me vs naked or adventure. The bike was excellent to ride in that cruise zone and at 100kmph it even returned close to 26kmpl.

Givi Tank Bag - Totally worth the expense as it allowed me to keep necessary things, a camera, a few battery packs, gloves, sunglasses, and a few more things.

Mini Claw - Exceptional for touring and it was not breaking my bank either. Holds enough for a week-long trip and is not that difficult to mount and unmount.

Negatives as a tourer - The headlights are useless. It needs auxiliary lights if this will be your only bike. Horns need an upgrade for the highway.

Overall Summary:- I enjoyed the ride as it was a piece of constant music to the ears. There were stretches where I enjoyed the 16k rpm in multiple gears as well as simple cruising at 5k rpm. The suspension is exceptional to the extent that I felt the same comfort that I had taking the 390 ADV to Krishnagiri with the adjustable suspension.

The bike can munch miles, the rider triangle is comfortable.

Super fun bike that gives me miles of Smiles. As with this entire thread, this is a bike that continues to deliver exponential smiles per mile.

[Laks]

That's a fantastic looking ZX-4RR. I see that you have external TPMS and a Navigation screen installed. Screen doesn't look its Chigee. Anyway, what has been your experience with external TPMS sensors? Has it been working well and transmitting fairly accurate pressure readings?

[VW2010]

That's a fantastic looking ZX-4RR. I see that you have external TPMS and a Navigation screen installed. Screen doesn't look its Chigee. Anyway, what has been your experience with external TPMS sensors? Has it been working well and transmitting fairly accurate pressure readings?

The screen is a Chinese product that me and a friend wanted to try, test, and understand the shortcomings and suggestions for product development.

The TPMS does not have a reader and I misplaced the covers. So the TPMS is currently functioning as covers. This is one of the inputs to the manufacturer for adding the application to the screen.

The screen is Android Auto and I am trying to get something that allows us to add any APK instead of a restricted, google ecosystem forced, limited applications via Android Auto.