???? – 2006retired
Aegean Sea (website)
“A clean paradise, kept spotless to the very last tide.”
“Went out at 9,800 rpm, carburetors intact, dignity fully intact.”
The ZZ-R1200 (ZX1200-C1) was Kawasaki's big-hearted sport tourer, built from 2002 to 2005 as the successor to the long-running ZX-11. Under its twin-spar aluminum frame sat a liquid-cooled, DOHC 1164cc inline-four making 145 rear-wheel horsepower — 158.8 claimed at 9,800 rpm. People loved it because it hauled hard luggage in comfort yet outpaced the fuel-injected Honda CBR1100XX and ran the quarter mile in 10.12 seco
In 2005, Kawasaki retired the ZZ-R1200 after four model years, closing the book on the ZX-11 lineage it inherited. It left behind a reputation as the last great carbureted bruiser of the sport touring world — twin fans, twin headlights, and enough muscle to humble most anything at a red light. Few bikes bowed out with that kind of resume still on the table.
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“A clean paradise, kept spotless to the very last tide.”
“Alfa's Violin has played its last movement, and the garage is quieter for it.”
“Nine million pixels before anyone knew what to do with them.”