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
