Unwanted in 1999, ZR-7 is a 2022 star by Giles Spencer

The Kawasaki ZR-7. A bike that didn’t exactly set the salerooms on fire when released and berated by the mainstream media who didn’t know how to label it. But does it deserve all the criticism it received?

Well, in a word, no. It was 1999 and the UK biking population was still gripped with sports bike fever. Kawasaki had built a following with its sports bikes and ability to build fast, powerful motors so it came as quite a surprise when they released the bike nobody asked for, the ZR-7.

The budget built 750cc machine (actually only 738cc) coughed out a measly 75bhp from its air-cooled engine derived from the old Zephyr range and transmitted the power to the wheels via a five speed ‘box.

Originally a naked machine, a half-faired version soon followed to allow more comfort for long range rides.

The press was very harsh in reviews, spoiled by the latest crotch rockets they moaned about the lack of speed and handling and how boring the bike felt.

The ZR-7 was never about being the quickest, best handling or most powerful machine.

Fast forward to the present day and this machine makes more sense than ever.

In the world of ever-increasing insurance, fuel, road tax, running costs, poorly maintained roads and speed cameras, the allure of sports bikes is waning.

Suzuki hit the nail on the head with their similarly styled 600cc Bandit launched in ‘96 but that bike had more sporty pretensions than the big Kwaka with a sports (of sorts) derived power plant making it feel fun and lively and handily falling into the lower tax and insurance brackets.

Let’s take a second look at the ZR-7 then. Firstly, it doesn’t look like a futuristic, cutting-edge track weapon or have classic styling but there’s no denying it’s a good-looking machine.

Its’ simple clean lines and uncluttered air-cooled motor might not be exciting but is very easy on the eye.

Kawasaki fans will recognise the engine from other models but there is a hint of Suzuki Bandit in that silhouette.

Tipping the scales at 202kg dry might not make it the lightest bike out there but it hides its weight well on the move and that extra bulk makes it feel more planted on the road.

The suspension is soft as you’d expect on a budget bike with nonadjustable front forks and the rear shock adjustable for preload and rebound but it is comfy in real world conditions and can hustle up to a point where most riders wouldn’t want to go anyway.

It’s very much par for the course with these kinds of bikes.

I rode a 600cc Suzuki Bandit when they came out and coming straight from a sports bike, I thought it handled like a barge but again, I was approaching it from the wrong perspective.

The engine may be old but that means it’s well proven.

A useful amount of torque makes overtaking a doddle and still dispatch the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds from a standstill and have enough top end for you to lose your licence very quickly.

The generous 22 litre tank can take you over 200 miles between fill-ups and the large, comfy seat will make sure you can still walk at the other end of your journey.

Sculpting of the seat by the tank means people with a shorter leg can still reach the ground and the smooth power delivery from the four 32mm carburettors matched with the softly tuned engine makes this a great bike for new riders buying their first big bike.

The sliding two pot calipers gripping twin disks at the front do a reasonable job of slowing you down.

Again, they’re not going to cut it on track but that’s not where this bike’s going to end up. If need be, steel braided hoses, a set of sintered pads and fresh fluid should sharpen up the brakes nicely.

The whole point of this bike is it’s easy to live with. The air-cooled engine is easy to work on, has less things to go wrong, has stood the test of time and is generally bullet proof.

It may not have all the latest technology, but it does have some things a lot of new bikes sorely lack, useful storage under the seat, mirrors that work, room for a pillion and a fuel gauge.

The public shunned the bike on release on the back of the bad reviews and it never really recovered but now people are starting to realise what a diamond in the rough this machine is.

Look online and there are nothing but raving reviews from the people that really count, those who actually bought the bike.

So, is this the ultimate all-round machine? Not quite but it’s pretty near.

Ditching the chain for shaft drive like its GT550/750 brethren would make it even simpler to maintain and the engine size puts it in the highest tax category, but these are only small blots on an impressive form book.

The two owners groups on Facebook total nearly 3,000 members so its popularity is starting to rise.

The fans of these bikes are real enthusiasts who are more than happy to share their pictures and knowledge of their machines to anyone. This is a friendly bunch with none of the egos associated with some of the other sports bike groups.

Thanks to its moderate sales success, these machines are going for a steal at the moment, starting from £900 for a private sale up to £3,300 from a dealer with the average price

The ZR-7 is a good looking, well-built machine with bulletproof reliability, easy to work on, real world practicality, the ability to have some fun when needed and going for a song.

 

Pictured: Travis Wicker’s ZR-7 – Picture: Travis Wicker