Kawasaki GPZ1000RX. I bought this bike back in 2002 from Riihimäki from a guy that had just imported it from Germany. We had a long bargain talk before the decision. It was so-called tax-free bike, so i paid the taxes after i bought it for the government but it was still cheaper than our local bikes were. Despite it's announced 126hp it was fast! Faster than CBR1000F with a margin.

This is the bike i made my personal speed record with, 270 km/h steady. I did that on our Janakkalan suora, and the thing was screaming. That thing about old Kawasaki's... They might be rough, sound like a concrete mill on idle, but boy do they go when you push them hard. Honda's are sweet and well thought but these Kawasaki's have the edge definitely when the performance is all that matters.

After that mentioned high speed run i decided to change the oil, and found it's viscocity was pretty close to that of the water. I dunno was it that or something else but after that bike pushed slight black smoke always when accelerated hard no matter the new oil or carb overhaul. These kinda things do happen when you buy old imported bikes, they are like box of cholocates, you never know what you are gonna get. But yeah, it was fast. Faster than the impression you get reading the specs.

Handling was not very good on corners. I did not like it's feel on cornering. Honda CBR1000F example is way, way better on that respect. With GPZ1000RX you always had a feel that you never knew where you front end was exactly. It feels like it has high center of gravity on corners, you feel like you are gonna fall on corners, it oversteers probably because of that 16-inch front wheel dunno, not good. But on straights...loved that engine. Kawasaki's engines keep what they promise, and it was also very easy engine to service. Changing the cam chain and starter chain was piece of cake. It was thirsty bike too, never managed to get it under seven litres per 100km.

I did have kind of emotional connection to this bike too from the past. My father's brother¨'s son had this bike during the eighties, and he loaned it for me one day. Man, that was something back then. When you were like eighteen this bike felt like a missile:) A king of the road. I have not forgotten that feeling. This is one of those bikes that will stay in my heart.