2002 Kawasaki ZR-7S Motorcycle reviews

This is a fun bike in town or on the freeway. It's pretty easy to handle and yet its 4 cylinders carry me as fast as I'd like to go. Many sportbikes can beat it but in turn it will outpace many cruisers. I just recently learned that this is called a "naked" bike because it's a sportbike with an uncovered engine. The rider position on this bike is less aggressive than a sportbike but more uncomfortable than a cruiser. This mix might be okay for some people but my passenger hates the seat angle, and I get tired on it after about an hour. I've gotten to the point where comfort means more to me and I am considering the Honda VTX 1300R. Show less

I bought my 2002 ZR-7S new in 2003. It has a lot of low-end torque, decent acceleration, handles well and gets 55 mpg on the highway. It also has a huge 5.8 gallon gas tank so I usually do not start looking for a gas station until I have hit 220 miles. Negatives: There is a buzz in the seat around 5K RPM and the cowl buzzes a little around 2k RPM (two widely reported issues). I also found the seat to be pitched a little too far forward. I was prepared to buy another seat so I first tried cutting out some foam in an attempt to level it, and that worked. Show less

I bought the ZR-7S on March 1st 2004 with 4500 miles on her. I've put 26,000 on her since. It's been dead reliable never missing a beat. I've been to Kentucky and back for a round trip of 2500 miles and had not a lick of problems even running her as hard as I could. The seat is comfortable for all day and night riding. The power, while maybe down from today's standards, is still enough to propel you to 140mph. Some may say that it doesn't handle well, but they are sadly mistaken. I regularly beat GSXR, R6, ZX6R and even R1 riders in the corners and leave them thinking "what just happened here?". The only problem with the bike I have right now is that the pegs are too low. I have scraped the feelers off completely and am now tearing the rubber peg up every time I take tight corners. Lets just say I make a good light show if you're behind me! I would recommend this bike to anybody: novice, experienced, touring riders, anybody. You just can't beat what you get for the price you pay. Show less

I started out the year with an older cruiser. I had to change bikes because of lower back pains. At 35 years old I couldn't see myself driving a sport bike. I spotted this 2002 ZR7s at a local dealer with 167 miles on it and fell in love. I put 2500 miles on it since. It is a great bike to ride anywhere. I find the bike to be exhilarating to ride. The acceleration is just right without it scaring the hell out of you. Throttle responce is a bit sluggish at times. The handling is awesome. I do plan on making a few changes to the appearence and the performance. All in all this bike was a great purchase. Show less

I had been looking around for a decent bike that I could put alot of miles on and not have my back killing me all the time. I am500 6'2" and while I had fun with my Kawasaki 600 Ninja, I got tired of being forced to "assume the position" with the low handlebars. The ZR-7S has a very nice powerband with a good amount of low end response ( sure was amazed at the power below 4000 RPM for the required "less then 4000" brake-in needed for the first 500 miles) The bike has a nice clean look to it and I got alot of complaments on it and love the handling of it also. I also considered a Honda Nighthawk which I think is a great looking bike and also fun to ride, but the main thing that sold me on the Kawasaki was it having the twin disk brakes up front (Honda Single disk) and the single disk in the rear (Honda-Drum brake), plus the Kawasaki just seemed to be a little more on the modern or hi-tech side. Show less

I bought my ZR7S last year and put 3000 miles on it. Overall it is a very good bike. A little buzzy around 80 MPH.. Top end about 130. For just tooling around and hitting the country roads it is fine. It will not keep up with a Ninja but then the speed limit is only 55 or 65. How fast is fast enough? If you are looking for a bike that has a lot of bang for the buck, this is it. Show less

Have read several reviews of this bike, by both magazines and owners themselves, and find them somewhat amusing. I have read that it is old tech, too slow, doesn't handle well, too noisy, too cold blooded, blah, blah blah!!! If I didn't know better, I would think that every motorcycle rider out there is a speed-intoxicated maniac professional rider. I know better. Other than being slow to warm up and having a habit of bogging when down shifting (particularly from 3rd to 2nd), I like this bike. Just bought my 2002 1.5 months ago, and I like it. Looks nice and clean, commutes great, and is very distinctive with it's purple paint. ( looked blue in the brochure). If you are looking for a reasonably priced, fun to ride bike and are not worried about being the next race champion or the coolest looking cruiser on the block, buy one. Show less

This bike is ok. Not really that exciting to me. it has it's good points. 25yr old bullet proof air cooled engine. Gas gauge that is sort of accurate. Usuable powerband. The bike however is unexciting. I mean it's fun for awhile but will leave you wanting more. The bike is not confidence inspiring in the twisties. It does ok. The brakes are sub par with a decent amount of fork dive. Not many are sold so you do get some uniqueness when driving around town. The purple is gawd awful color though. Mine was an 01 in red. Much better color. The bike is overall fine and it is some what antiquated. It's price is attractive thought but for the same price range you could do better on a Bandit1200. The B12 is a much better bike in ALL regards. Heck even a 00 SprintRS goes for the same price and is hands down a superior bike. But I didn't post to just trash on this bike. For some, it will be more than enough. It didn't satisfy me though. Show less

If you want a sport bike but you also want to do some touring and reliabilty and insurance costs are a concern you'll get it all in this bike. At around $6000 no other bike I looked at came close. It surprises me that this bike isn't sold out. Riding for 34 years and dozens of bikes I pretty much know an overall value when I see it and this bike is it. Although it shouts "sport bike" it really is a standard do it all cycle. I am 6'2",200 lbs and it feels perfect. I see it suggested as a beginner bike and wonder if it means a beginner at racing as this will handle with any bike and is down only on top end miles per hour and 1 or 2 seconds quarter mile times with the highest tech bikes. Insurance is low and has all day comfort for this fifty something rider,MPG in the 50s and has a pedigree of reliability. I always believed that beginners should start out on 125cc dirt bikes for a year and as their experience increases so should the size of the bike. There are too many one bike accidents with young riders unschooled in bike dynamics at speed.You could use this as a beginner bike but do yourself a favor and double up on your insurance. Show less

I recently bought this bike in the beginning of June. Love the handling, braking and great looks. It's great for anyone looking for a first bike, or just a sport like cruiser for those long trips to the softball games. The only two main complaints that I have and there really not a problem but could be addressed if Kawasaki took down some notes and thats, it needs six speeds. Five speeds is just aliitle bit revvy for a sport cruiser. They say the bike is a kind of blue. It looks more purple then anything. As for power great in it's class. Fuel injection. Ah we can only dream. But what else does a man or women want for $ 6,000 out the door. All and all good job Kawasaki. Now If they make the same style bike only with six speeds and a 1100 power plant like the Suzuki bandit. I think other makes will look just plain ordinary. My advise to the smart buyer. Buy this bike. You will be satisfied. Show less