reeds:
More manageable. Not more 'violent'.
Zerks:
Posts out the wazzoo on this. Opinions vary. Makes it easier to grease, but there isn't any cleaning going on, either. The most likely failure (the bottom shock mount) doesn't lend itself to the 'zerking' idea. If you're taking the linkage apart to service THAT bearing, might as well do the others (including cleaning out the old goo) at the same time.
Also, grease the steering head. Yeah...that's been zerked before, too. General consensus..doesn't work well. Filling the whole stem up with grease is a LOT of grease...and it'll be making a mess all over the front of your bike for a long time to come. Might as well just take it apart, too!
re: grease
Don't use 'general purpose' moly chassis grease. It's inherently useless for this application. Use the best grease you can find, preferably a waterproof marine grease. Good reports from belray users. I use hydrotex parasyn70 (in case you asked). It is GOOD stuff!! Lost THREE bottom shock bearings even WITH maintenance being done on a regular basis with other greases. Last time I took it apart (having used the hydrotex product) is was good as new.
Which, by the way, is complete crap. A 'new' bearing from kawi has the rollers fit so poorly, you can SEE the slant to them in the cage. It's like they forgot a roller or something. It's a pi$$ poor bearing! I bought several, so used 'em anyway. If you can get an aftermarket bearing, use it! BuyKawasaki.com will tell you bearing size if you wanna look for one.
Gotta do it. Right now, if not sooner.
BTW...if you have oem pull rods, be careful putting them back on. The shoulders on the bolts are a bit short. It's easy to NOT get the outside pull rod over the shoulder of the bolt. You'll tighten it up, go for a ride, notice your suspension is sloppy cuz it got knocked off the shoulder edge. Likely you'll have ruined your pull rod and the bolt(s) in the process.
So...make sure the shoulders go IN the rod hole!!