You're right as usual Pitternator, it is about feel, but the ZZR does move the game on for me. Compared to the Fazer, it feels taught, stable, smooth and well . . . modern.
I finally took the plunge and bought a ZZR today and it has to be said, I did wonder what I've done when I lit up the rear tyre in the wet for the fourth time on the way back from the dealer, and I wasn't anywhere near full throttle.
Where can I use it, well, you know bikes, anywhere and nowhere, but buying bikes is more about usability, feel and experience for me too. The FZ1 doesn't have the right qualities compared to the FZS. The big Kwak, I think does. You want torque? Character? It's ossum, as the Americans would say. Only the Multistrada came close, and right now I don't have the money for one of those.
I didn't buy it just for the speed, although it certainly is a hoot from that point of view, but because until I find a next generation Fazer-like machine with the right qualities, for me it's the next best thing out there, and I like sports tourers. It's riding position is actually quite VFR, for instance. Having looked for a replacement for the FZS for the last couple of years and tried many many bikes, it's the only one that's really appealed.
Anyway, my Fazer is now too old for breakdown insurance on the continent and it's way past 90,000 miles old, so I had to get something for the big trip this year... and, as it happens, 5k can buy an early ZZR with 10,000 on the clock which is within a few hundred quid of what you'd pay for a decent FZ1 Fazer with the same miles, so what the heck. And the insurance is only an extra hundred quid a year. And I've still got the Fazer.
Hmm.
If I sound like someone trying to justify a purchase to himself, you'd be right. I have some very mixed feelings about it. I think I need some Foccer Forum therapy. Oh well, at worst, it's going to be a hell of a stop gap until the next bike!