This Kawasaki has brought with it from the 1980s the concept of what was once known as the "standard" motorcycle. But it does not feel like a motorcycle that can only be properly enjoyed by a top gun Tornado pilot on temporary leave from his squadron. Its lightweight, electro-plated aluminium cylinder block comes straight from Kawasaki's Ninja sports bikes It can go exceptionally fast. They want you to know that they can wheelie, frighten old ladies and be insolent to the most expensive sports cars Everything about them screams nerve-shredding performance The ZRX1200R has that too. A marriage of rubber-isolated engine mounts, a counter-balancer on the crankshaft and an additional diaphragm spring on the clutch make vibration virtually imperceptible.Many of the big, naked, bikes that are now so dramatically in vogue, set out to impress with pure aggression.
The big in-line four-cylinder power unit has been tweaked to deliver optimum performance in the low- and mid-range It pulls elegantly from 3,000rpm in fifth gear. In fact, everything about this Kawasaki is smoother than the most attentive lounge lizard. For a big, brutal, stripped-down facsimile of a 20-year-old classic superbike it felt tremendously well mannered around the first mini-roundabout and positively gentlemanly as I picked my way through a series of village streets on my way to the open road.Here the engine tuning impressed me. "But you're welcome to give it a shot if you want to." He gave me the ignition keys and left me to it.My first impression, which was to grow stronger with every mile, was that the ZRX1200R is an exceptionally nimble bike for its size. So obvious a hybrid of retro looks and modern technology could not work, could it? At this point Kawasaki's press team employed subtlety "I'm not sure it's your thing" said a thoughtful young man. So, being of that vintage myself, I stopped for a closer look It was the ZRX1200R and my first instinct was to despise it. I was wandering past their trackside stand when I spotted what looked like a well-polished example of something the Californian Superbike star Eddie Lawson used to ride in the 1980s.
Brash, naked bikes rarely overwhelm me and Kawasaki had not invited me to ride it. The new model will be different in style but will convey a similar message.Cars as fashion items? It's not a new idea, but Nissan's price tags could help to create a whole new market.. Model: Kawasaki ZRX1200R Engine: liquid cooled, 4-stroke, four cylinder, 1,164cc Max power: 122 bhp at 8500 rpm Max torque: 112 Nm at 7,000 rpm Weight: 224kg Transmission: five speed, chain final drive Brakes: front dual semi-floating 310 mm discs, rear single 250 mm disc Seat height: 790 mm Fuel capacity: 19 litres Price: £6,795 Candy lime-green clashes violently with my leathers. Its unusually minimal box-shape design and effortless interior got mixed reviews, and although it is a top-selling car in Japan, it seems Europe wasn't ready for it.Wouldn't bringing the car to Europe make a huge statement about the new Nissan? Schwarz is delighted by the question, and with a nod from the press officer at the interview, reveals that a new-generation Cube is coming this way soon. Cars are not necessarily all about driving dynamics, but are perhaps simply a style statement.The Cube was an exciting car for Nissan. Lighting, for instance, can be altered to change the in-car environment - blue for cool, soft violet for warmth.Another idea is a new approach to personalising the car (something the Japanese love) which may gain Nissan a niche in Europe. One example is Nissan's openness to ideas from other disciplines like architecture, interior design and theatre.
