Designed to settle the issue of supremacy in the flagship class once and for all, the ZZR1400's new engine boasts an increased displacement and thorough engine tuning to deliver heady levels of power and unrivalled acceleration. The step up in performance over its predecessor is readily apparent, with more available torque across the rev range and substantially higher upper-end power. And with the notably stronger acceleration, twisting the throttle past 4,000 rpm may result in a sensation not entirely unlike that experienced by astronauts breaking free from the Earth’s gravitational pull.

Stiffer springs for both the front fork and rear suspension deliver a firmer, sportier feel. Along with the new springs, damping settings were also revised to suit the significantly greater output.

Nestled in the canopy is an instrument cluster with dual analogue-style speedometer and tachometer. Black faces with white font make them easy to read at a glance. Multi-function digital display now includes external air temperature and a more precise remaining range function. (In addition to a more precise fuel gauge, the ECU also keeps track of injected fuel volume when calculating remaining range readings.) Other features on the multi-function display include a fuel gauge, gear position indicator, odometer, clock and dual trip meters. Numerous modes including current and average fuel consumption, remaining range, battery voltage and the newly added external air temperature are all controlled using a multi-function button located at the left handle.

The new gunfighter-style seat contributes to both design impact and ergonomics. Its sculpted shape provides hip support during strong acceleration. Slimmer at the front, it also facilitates the reach to the ground when stopped at lights.

Thematic quadruple 29 fins of the side fairings are maintained, although their design is more 3-dimensional, contributing to a more dynamic image of the side of the bike.

A depression in the fuel tank cover facilitates tucking in behind the screen. Machined finish on the fuel tank cap contributes to the high-quality image. High-quality sculpted rubber tank pad protector, provided standard, protects the finish of the lustrous paint on the fuel tank.

Sculpted design of the upper triple clamp complements the high-quality image of the cockpit area. On the special graphics edition, the upper triple clamp features contrasting sections: painted finish vs. hairline finish with a clear coat.

More aggressive design for the characteristic quadruple projector beam headlights contributes to the increased impact of the front cowling.

Easily adjustable back-torque limiting clutch facilitates smooth downshifts and helps prevent rear wheel hop, which becomes more likely with the increased back-torque.

Gusseting on the swingarm increases rigidity to match the greater output. Swingarm is 10 mm longer to suit the new final gear ratio. (This also contributes to the slightly longer wheelbase.)

The ZZR features retractable luggage hooks that tuck in neatly at the rear of the front seat. These are complemented by two hooks on the passenger tail grip. Idealised hook placement (not too close together) enables large-sized items to be securely attached to the rear seat.

4 mm longer stroke increases displacement of the powerful In-Line Four engine to 1,441 cm³. Bore and Stroke are now 84 x 65 mm. Compared to its predecessor, the new engine offers more torque at all rpm, and substantially more power in the mid-high range. Acceleration from 4,000 rpm and up is notably stronger. Torque is strong enough to pull away from lights in almost any gear: at 2,000 rpm there is 9.5 kgf.m of torque available! And this figure jumps significantly from 3,000 rpm.

More aggressive, larger-volume tail maintains the LED taillight and integrated rear turn signals of the predecessor.

All-new wheels offer significant weight savings over those of the predecessor. The front wheel is 360 g lighter and the rear wheel saves 1030 g, for a total reduction of 1.39 kg.

While the increased engine performance already delivers significantly increased torque, shorter gearing care of a larger rear sprocket (41T >> 42T) further accentuates the stronger acceleration.

Sculpted by the wind, the ZZR1400’s bodywork offers high aerodynamic performance that reduces drag, and contributes to stability and wind protection at highway speeds.