Bought a ZX12 to replace the Hawk...
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Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24
Bought a ZX12 to replace the Hawk...
... now I have 2 bikes with no intention of selling either one :happysad: The other half is still under the assumption one of them is going to go. Joke is on her, I'm getting a set of helibars for the ZX12 and repainting the Hawk.
Long rides with lots of highways, ZX12.
Short rides with lots of twisties, Hawk.
Only after riding these back to back did I come to that conclusion. The ZX12 has a lot of power, to the tune of 180rwhp, it literally peels your face back at WOT in 1st gear. Power starts at 3000rpm and builds till 7000 where it begins to churn your insides. I've had it for a few weeks now and I haven't gotten used to the power every time is a thrill. It's big and heavy in the corners and has very good high speed stability.
In comparison the Hawk has razor sharp handling, linear power and so much more confidence. It's slow past 90, and the wind blows you around so much that it isn't fun to go faster. The Hawk is a perfect low speed bike while the ZX12 is a perfect high speed cruiser. I keep switching back and fourth and getting reacquainted with each one is exciting.
PS: I have found a bike that gets worse fuel economy that the Hawk, 30mpg on premium compared to 35mpg on regular.
Long rides with lots of highways, ZX12.
Short rides with lots of twisties, Hawk.
Only after riding these back to back did I come to that conclusion. The ZX12 has a lot of power, to the tune of 180rwhp, it literally peels your face back at WOT in 1st gear. Power starts at 3000rpm and builds till 7000 where it begins to churn your insides. I've had it for a few weeks now and I haven't gotten used to the power every time is a thrill. It's big and heavy in the corners and has very good high speed stability.
In comparison the Hawk has razor sharp handling, linear power and so much more confidence. It's slow past 90, and the wind blows you around so much that it isn't fun to go faster. The Hawk is a perfect low speed bike while the ZX12 is a perfect high speed cruiser. I keep switching back and fourth and getting reacquainted with each one is exciting.
PS: I have found a bike that gets worse fuel economy that the Hawk, 30mpg on premium compared to 35mpg on regular.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,978
From: thorold ontario
congrats on the new bike. if it makes you feel better i average 28 mpg on my bike, was 38 last year but the regear and breathing mods somehow managed to make her thirstier. lol. i was thinking of something in the 1100 range for my next bike just to 1 up someone i know, its how we do things here 
how much of a turd is the zx12 in corners? is it just too much bike to throw around or is it just not as nimble as our bikes?
how much of a turd is the zx12 in corners? is it just too much bike to throw around or is it just not as nimble as our bikes?
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 360
From: Florida panhandle
Always loved the zx12. The best styling kawasaki ever had in my opinion. I had a zx11 for many years before my hawk and it was an awesome all around bike. Once you get used to the weight even the 12 can handle very well. I woudn't put down the kawi in any aspect of handling if you know how to ride it. Congrats and try and hang on to it...literally! lol
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,517
From: Boynton Beach, FL
I'll chime in since I owned one and say I also feel the zx12 is an amazing bike. I had a mint '00 with a full muzzy exhaust, power commander, geared, slightly lowered (also rode it briefly before I sold it at the stock ride height) and it was handful. Probably 170-175 at the wheel. Definitely took some getting familiar with the throttle. The power and brakes were simply stellar on the '12. I always thought the handling on the superhawk, even stock, was fantastic, and can't say I ever pushed the '12 in the corners as hard as I used to push the superhawk, as I was often two up on the '12. But there was just no denying that the superhawk felt like a sportster after riding the '12. I still always keep the local '12s for sale in my favorites in case I find a few extra thousand laying around somewhere 
It's hard to believe that newer bikes like the s1000rr make similar horsepower STOCK and weigh so much less. And yes while I'm sure the zx14 is a better all around update it's kinda ugly and looks more like a big old school open classer. I much prefer the styling of the '12. And it's just so badass how my '12 would accelerate as hard from say 130+ as a superhawk does from 30 lol. Previous owner had it on a radar gun at 195 mph. I miss that bike...
P.S. Haha I thought the same thing about the mileage. I never did better than low 20's with my '12.
It's hard to believe that newer bikes like the s1000rr make similar horsepower STOCK and weigh so much less. And yes while I'm sure the zx14 is a better all around update it's kinda ugly and looks more like a big old school open classer. I much prefer the styling of the '12. And it's just so badass how my '12 would accelerate as hard from say 130+ as a superhawk does from 30 lol. Previous owner had it on a radar gun at 195 mph. I miss that bike...P.S. Haha I thought the same thing about the mileage. I never did better than low 20's with my '12.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 250
From: NJ/NYC
ZX12 is a nice bike, but I like the ZRX1200 better. Just a preference, but I do like to sit up on long trips on highways.
Congrats on the new bike, and may you get to keep both without having to sleep with them.
Congrats on the new bike, and may you get to keep both without having to sleep with them.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24
congrats on the new bike. if it makes you feel better i average 28 mpg on my bike, was 38 last year but the regear and breathing mods somehow managed to make her thirstier. lol. i was thinking of something in the 1100 range for my next bike just to 1 up someone i know, its how we do things here how much of a turd is the zx12 in corners? is it just too much bike to throw around or is it just not as nimble as our bikes?
how much of a turd is the zx12 in corners? is it just too much bike to throw around or is it just not as nimble as our bikes?Always loved the zx12. The best styling kawasaki ever had in my opinion. I had a zx11 for many years before my hawk and it was an awesome all around bike. Once you get used to the weight even the 12 can handle very well. I woudn't put down the kawi in any aspect of handling if you know how to ride it. Congrats and try and hang on to it...literally! lol
The ZX12 needs a lot of effort, so much so that you have to brace your body to provide leverage, making your whole body stiff. I'm sure much of this can be tuned out with a shim in the rear, 190/55 tire (I have never felt confident with a 190/50), the weight difference is roughly 50lb but it feels like much more. The ZX12 is much wider than your typical 600 or 1000, the Hawk is the narrowest bike I've ridden (short of a dirt bike).
Finally, the power delivery of twin vs i4, I like to switch back and fourth throughout the week so I haven't really gotten use to it and every time I'm back on the ZX12 I'm fondly reminded how much better the power deliver of the Hawk is, the 12 throttle feels much different depending on whether you're at 3000, 5000 or 7000rpm. I did a few accidental wheelies on the 12 today because I rode the Hawk last.
Long distances, high speeds the ZX12 is where it's at, city or back roads the Hawk rules. I have started picking which bike I ride based on the route I take, I'm noticing a lot more riding dynamics by switching it up.
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