Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Review : Lethally Sublime

Verdict

Creating a 200 horsepower litre-class machine is no longer rocket science in this decade. What is impressive about the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is just how easy it is to ride despite all that power. And even though it is by no means a small motorcycle, all that girth just seems to disappear the moment you swing a leg over it. Kawasaki has earned a reputation for exciting, high-revving, twitchy machines, but with the 10R, they have created a superbike that almost feels like a 600, in the best way possible.

A few years ago, we would have had no second thoughts in calling the ZX-10R the best superbike money can buy. But the arrival of the sterling new (by all third-person accounts – we haven’t tested it yet) Yamaha YZF-R1 and the reigning king that is the BMW S1000RR are mighty contender to overlook. Make no mistake, it still packs a wallop and it would be long before one could take this machine to its limits or give it a proper thrashing. Don’t let its sophisticated electronics and friendly nature lull you into a false sense of indifference though. It will still chew and spit out uninvolved riders without missing so much as a heartbeat.

But we are already looking forward to the next iteration of the Ninja ZX-10R, even if that may take a couple of years to materialize. And judging by the gobsmaking H2 and H2R, we are optimistic about what Kawasaki is cooking up in its skunkworks to take on the new kings of the superbike throne.

For now, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is available at only one place in India, Bajaj’s flagship showroom in Pune. Both the standard green/black and 30th Anniversary colour options are on sale, and the former will set you back by INR 17.25 lakh, on-road, Pune. That is quite a steal for a legally sold superbike in India at the moment.

For that money, what you get is a supremely confident and easy to ride 1000cc motorcycle that can also turn into a ballistic missile should you so desire. It is fast, comfortable, packed with rider aids, and can even do decent long distance runs if you’re up for it. The styling and that colour scheme is still eye-catching, even though we have grown pretty used to it by now.

If you’re a biker making your first move into the rarified world of superbikes, you can’t go wrong with the Ninja ZX-10R.

By the way, I also remembered what Spider Man creator Stan Lee actually said: “With great power comes great responsibility.” I guess that goes well with the green Kwacker too, does it not?

Price: INR 17.25 lakh, on-road, Pune

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE	Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-4
DISPLACEMENT	998cc
POWER	197hp@13,000rpm (207hp with ram air induction)
TORQUE	112Nm@11,500rpm
BORE & STROKE	76.0 x 55.0mm
COMPRESSION RATIO	13.0:1
FUEL SYSTEM	EFI (4) 47mm Keihin throttle bodies, two injectors per cylinder
IGNITION	TCBI with digital advance and Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control (S-KTRC)
TRANSMISSION	Six-speed
FINAL DRIVE	Chain
RAKE / TRAIL	25.0º / 4.2 in.
FRONT TIRE	120/70ZR-17
REAR TIRE	190/55ZR-17
WHEELBASE	56.1 in.
FRONT SUSPENSION / WHEEL TRAVEL	43mm inverted Big Piston Fork, adjustable stepless rebound and compression damping, spring preload adjustability / 4.7 in.
REAR SUSPENSION / WHEEL TRAVEL	Horizontal back-link with gas-charged shock, stepless, dual-range (low/high-speed) compression damping, stepless rebound damping, fully adjustable spring preload / 5.5 in.
FRONT BRAKES	Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Braking (KIBS), dual semi-floating 310mm petal discs with dual four-piston radial-mount calipers
REAR BRAKES	KIBS-controlled, single 220mm petal disc with aluminum single-piston caliper
DIMENSIONS
Kerb Weight (Kg)	198
Overall Length (mm)	2075
Overall Width (mm)	715
Overall Height (mm)	1115
Wheelbase (mm)	1425
Ground Clearance (mm)	135
Seat Height (mm)	813

GALLERY