Road test: Kawasaki ZZ-R1200 Motorcycle

To firmly position the ZZ-R as a sport-tourer, Kawasaki says it will offer a pair of color-matched hard saddlebags for it made by Givi in Italy. Although not yet available at press time, they are similar to the aftermarket company's E360 series (www.giviusa.com) and will cost about $700 with mounts. Corbin is also finishing up a color-matched pair of his Beetle Bags for the ZZ-R as I write this—see www.corbin.com. And you can always stick some clear shelf paper or the motorcycle-specific equivalent over those bulbous side panels to protect them if you go with soft saddlebags