Kawasaki ZR-7S

Kawasaki ZR-7
Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Also called	ZR-7 S, ZR-7S
Production	1999 - 01
Engine	Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Top Speed	211.5 km/h / 131.4 mph
Ignition	Digital
Transmission	5 Speed
Suspension	Front: 41mm Kayaba shock adjustable for preload/rebound damping Rear: Bottom link UNI-TRAK with 7-way adjustable preload and 4-way rebound damping
Brakes	Front: 2x 300mm discs 2 piston calipers Rear: Single 240mm disc 2 piston caliper
Front Tire	120/70-17
Rear Tire	160/60-17
Wheelbase	1455 mm / 57.1 in
Seat Height	815 mm / 32.1 in
Weight	212 kg / 467 lbs (dry),
Recommended Oil	K-tech 10W-40
Fuel Capacity	22 Liters / 5.8 US gal
Manuals	Service Manual

It could reach a top speed of 211.5 km/h / 131.4 mph.

Engine

The engine was a Air/oil cooled cooled Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.. The engine featured a 9.5:1 compression ratio.

Chassis

It came with a 120/70-17 front tire and a 160/60-17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2x 300mm discs 2 piston calipers in the front and a Single 240mm disc 2 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 41mm Kayaba shock adjustable for preload/rebound damping while the rear was equipped with a Bottom link UNI-TRAK with 7-way adjustable preload and 4-way rebound damping. The ZR-7S was fitted with a 22 Liters / 5.8 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 212 kg / 467 lbs. The wheelbase was 1455 mm / 57.1 in long.

Photos

Overview

Kawasaki ZR-7S

The ZR-7 was first introduced in 1999, although the engine specification could have been from 25 years earlier. That's because the ZR-7 is based around a slightly updated version of the Z750 engine of 1973. The air-cooled four-cylinder engine is decidedly low-tech, but it offers economical, reliable running, with a lazy, flexible power delivery.

The chassis is more up-to-date, but not by much. A steel-tube cradle frame is more than stiff enough for the power, and a monoshock rear suspension unit is adjustable for preload. The twin-piston front brake calipers aren't peformance parts, but provide sufficient stopping power, and the modern tire sizes allow decent sport-touring rubber to be fitted. Grippy rubber just shows up the lacklustre nature of the rest of the chassis though, and the ZR-7 quickly runs out of ground clearance in fast bends. However, the ZR-7 does win out in the equipment stakes. The fuel tank holds a massive 22 Liters (4.8 gal), the exhaust is long-lasting stainless steel and in addition there's a large storage space under the comfortable dual seat. For 2001, Kawasaki launched a faired version of the ZR-7, the ZR-7S. While the small half-fairing certainly improved the bike's practicality and distance capability, the extra weight didn't help either the engine or the brakes, and the ZR-7S was still outclassed by Suzuki's Bandit, Yamaha's Fazer and the faired Honda Hornet'S' in almost every way.

Kept in a low-performance commuting or novice bike role, the ZR-7 is just about up to the job. But it is the superiority of its competitors that relegates the ZR-7 to the bottom of many riders' list. Having said that, the ZR-7 has proved popular in some continental markets: extreme customized ZR-7s are, strangely, a common sight in France.{| class="wikitable" |- !Make Model |Kawasaki ZR-7S |- !Year |1999 - 01 |- !Engine Type |Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder. |- !Displacement |738 cc / 45.0 cu-in |- !Bore X Stroke |66 x 54 mm |- !Cooling System |Air/oil cooled |- !Compression |9.5:1 |- !Induction |4x 32 mm CV-Type with K-TRICK |- !Ignition |Digital |- !Starting |Electric |- !Max Power |76 hp / 55.4 kW @ 9500 rpm |- !Max Torque |63 Nm / 46.5 lb-ft @ 7500 rpm |- !Transmission |5 Speed |- !Final Drive |Chain |- !Front Suspension |41mm Kayaba shock adjustable for preload/rebound damping |- !Front Wheel Travel |130 mm / 5.1 in |- !Rear Suspension |Bottom link UNI-TRAK with 7-way adjustable preload and 4-way rebound damping |- !Rear Wheel Travel |130 mm / 5.1 in |- !Front Brakes |2x 300mm discs 2 piston calipers |- !Rear Brakes |Single 240mm disc 2 piston caliper |- !Front Tire |120/70-17 |- !Rear Tire |160/60-17 |- !Dimensions |Length 2105 mm / 82 3 in Width 785 mm / 31 in Height 1215 mm / 48 in |- !Wheelbase |1455 mm / 57.1 in |- !Seat Height |815 mm / 32.1 in |- !Dry Weight |212 kg / 467 lbs |- !Fuel Capacity |22 Liters / 5.8 US gal |- !Consumption Average |19.1 km/lit |- !Standing ¼ Mile |12.2 sec |- !Top Speed |211.5 km/h / 131.4 mph

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