Talk:Kawasaki ZZR600

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hmm, me again - I've just realised that the 2005 US model (the version in the pic, that I only just looked at) is totally different from 2005 European models of ZZR600. This leads me to pull my paragraph about European models, as I now realise I'm on shaky ground when comparing them to US versions. I tried to change the article title (as you can see in my change comment) but failed - being a bit of a wiki numpty. I am, however, proposing that we should have two separate pages for US and European ZZRs. They may have been the same bike under different names before, but now (ironically) they both bear the same name and, at least in appearance, are very different beasts. Perhaps I'll create the Euro version page when I get time. Either way, everything is back in now exactly as I left it. Below in italics is the paragraph that I put in and removed, for reference (and posterity lol).

Bikes manufactured for the European market have, since first manufacture in 1990, been designated ZZR600 with the 'D' or 'E' suffix, in line with the Kawasaki ZX600 designation. The 'E' model (first produced in 1993) has marked differences internally and externally from the older 'D', namely the highly visible front ram air intake, lighter internals including thinner valve stems and smaller big-end crankpin, and also some chassis alterations. Despite this, the bike's weight has remained constant at 195kg. US 'ZZR600' designated bikes (since 2003) are the later European 'E' models, whilst the older US 'Ninja' designated bikes are comprised of 'D' and earlier 'E' models.

--PaxRomana 12:29, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Hi, I neglected to comment my changes on this article (I'm new to this sort of thing :) ). I put in the extra paragraph to describe the model history of the bike in Europe (I'm in UK and have owned both 'D' and 'E' models), important because of the major differences between the 'D' and the 'E', of which there is no mention at all in the article. Indeed, at first glance I thought the existing article was in error when it was stated that the 2003 version was the same as earlier models, before realising that in terms of 'ZZR' designation in the states, that's true. For European models, though, this would be erroneous: a ZZR600D is somewhat different from an ZZR600E, as I imagine the US Ninja models over the years would bear out, hence my extra paragraph.

--PaxRomana 11:25, 23 October 2006 (UTC)