With Suzuki having launched a heavily reworked Hayabusa for 2008, Kawasaki couldn’t possibly do nothing about it. So we have the 2008 ZZR1400, and while it looks more or less the same as before, Kawasakisay they’ve made small, but significant changes everywhere, improving the bike significantly.To begin with, there’s the ZZR1400’s 190bhp, 1352cc, DOHC inline-four, which is now fully compliant with Euro III emissions regulations. Kawasakiclaim that the engine’s new intake ports and fine-atomising fuel injectors reduce mechanical noiseand help boost power throughout the rev range. (This is supposed to take care of some riders’ complaints that at lower speeds, the ZZR1400 didn’t feel like a 190bhp, 1400cc sportsbike.) Also, a third honeycomb catalyzer has now been added in the exhaust collector, and this joins the two catalyzers already present in each silencer.The ZZR1400’schassis has also been revised – the aluminum monocoque is now die cast (rather than gravity cast) for reduced weight and increased stiffness. In keeping with the bike’s hyper sports-tourer positioning, ergonomics have been further refined for long-distance riding. And with a price tag of US$11,999 the big Ninja remains an excellent value for money proposition
