Quicker and more exciting than any middleweight Ninja sportbike in history

Designed to place its rider on the top step of the podium, the new Ninja® ZX™-6R sportbike elevates 600-class power and handling to the next level. Considering the stellar capabilities of last year’s ZX-6R, Kawasaki’s designers knew it would take a special combination of middleweight power and nimble handling characteristics if they were to make the next leap in middleweight performance. To hone the incredible new machine into an exciting racetrack weapon, Kawasaki appointed a former 125cc Grand Prix racer as the ZX-6R’s chief development rider. The result is an all-new 600 capable of cornering speeds previously unknown to the middleweight class while retaining the wide spread of power that is pure Ninja.

To be quickest around the racetrack a motorcycle requires a wide powerband and plenty of over-rev. The ZX-6R’s all-new engine was redesigned from the crankcase up for the first time in ten years, leading to an ultra-high-rpm powerplant that produces more mid-range torque than any of its predecessors. The result is a fat powerband with a linear torque curve for hard-hitting acceleration across the entire rev range. The Ninja ZX-6R’s impressive over-rev capability mimics a true race bike, allowing riders to stay on the gas where lower-revving machines are forced to shift.

The Ninja ZX-6R’s all-new engine was also specially designed to reduce internal friction. That’s because low-friction engines tend to be more responsive, making it easier for the rider to modify cornering lines with minor throttle adjustments. The new engine components were also made stronger, stiffer and more compact, resulting in an engine which is about 40mm smaller in both width and length than its predecessors. This compact engine allowed the chassis designers to create a slim and compact chassis. Other racing technology includes a close-ratio cassette transmission that makes it easy to keep the Ninja ZX-6R screaming at its horsepower peak and a slipper clutch which allows quicker downshifts without upsetting the rest of the chassis.

In designing the Ninja ZX-6R’s chassis, the development team concentrated on creating a motorcycle that would make fast entry and mid-corner speeds feel easy. A compact, lightweight design allows it to maintain more cornering speed throughout the turn while entry speeds are enhanced by the slipper clutch and powerful radial-mounted front brake calipers. Complementing this track-biased package are fully-adjustable front and rear suspension units. The entire package of frame, suspension, engine and bodywork was designed to enhance the ZX-6R’s fun-to-ride factor by offering a more exciting ride. The results are faster cornering speeds, quicker lap times and even more worried looks on the competition’s faces.

The frame and swingarm were developed with an optimized balance of rigidity, so the Ninja ZX-6R responds instantly and precisely to the rider’s every command. Mass centralization, engine mount locations and a variety of other factors were optimized to help ensure instant turn-in characteristics. Once in the turn, the Ninja ZX-6R holds a line with precision and tracks through the apex as if it were on rails.

All these features mean chassis feedback is very precise, with the ZX-6R communicating every move directly to the rider. The machine responds more precisely and predictably to control inputs and shifts in body weight. The result is a motorcycle that makes the rider feel like a part of the machine.

The new Ninja ZX-6R offers the power of a high-performance 600 Supersport racer mated with the nimble handling characteristics of a small-displacement GP machine. Let the competition compromise performance for rider-friendliness; the new ZX-6R was designed to take home trophies and set the quickest lap times, while being more exciting to ride than anything else in the middleweight sportbike category. The Ninja ZX-6R is a pure expression of Kawasaki’s racing philosophy.

Engine Type:

Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four

Displacement:

599 cc

Bore x Stroke :

67.0 x 42.5mm

Maximum Torque:

TBD

Compression Ratio:

13.9:1

Fuel Injection:

DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles, two injectors per throttle body

Ignition:

TCBI with digital advance

Transmission:

6-Speed

Final Drive:

X-Ring Chain

Rake/Trail:

TBD

Frame type:

Aluminum perimeter

Front Tire Size:

120/65-ZR17

Rear Tire Size:

180/55-ZR17

Wheelbase:

TBD

Front Suspension / wheel travel:

41 mm inverted cartridge fork with top-out springs, stepless rebound damping, stepless compression damping, fully-adjustable spring preload / TBD

Rear Suspension / wheel travel:

Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® with gas-charged shock, top-out spring and pillow ball upper mount, dual-range (high/low-speed) stepless compression damping, 25-way Adjustable rebound damping, fully-adjustable spring preload / TBD

Front Brake Type:

Dual 300mm petal-type rotors with four-piston, four-pad calipers

Rear Brake Type:

Single 210mm petal-type rotor with single-piston caliper

Fuel Tank Capacity:

4.5 gal.

Seat Height:

TBD

Dry Weight:

TBD

Color:

Lime Green, Atomic Silver, Ebony, Passion Red