Kawasaki India launched the locally assembled Ninja ZX-10R and the Ninja ZX-10RR a few months back. By locally assembling the motorcycles, the prices for the Ninja ZX-10R dropped by Rs 6 lakh, while the Ninja ZX-10RR is now Rs 3.1 lakh more affordable than the CBU bikes. The drop in prices had made the Ninja ZX-10R the most affordable 1,000cc superbike on sale in our country. And it didn’t come as a surprise that close to 100 bikes allotted for India in the first batch sold out in record time. Now, both the locally assembled superbikes have arrived at dealerships and deliveries have begun, with Anzen Kawasaki already delivering one of each bike on August 3.

The locally assembled ZX-10R and 10RR will be sold as single-seat versions in our market. By offering both the motorcycles without a pillion seat, Kawasaki can avoid homologation requirements in terms of engineering a saree guard for the bike. Both the litre-class motorcycles will be equipped with a rear cowl, but will not have pillion footpegs. However, customers do have the option to add a pillion seat as an accessory, which will cost around Rs 38,000.

Powering the Kawasaki superbike is a 998cc, inline four motor churning out 200hp at 13,000rpm and 113.5Nm of torque at 11,500rpm. It features a six-speed gearbox and a quickshifter as standard fitment. It gets electronic aids such as traction control (S-KTRC), multi-level power modes, launch control (KLCM), ABS control (KIBS), cornering management (KCMF) and an engine braking function (KEBC) – all of which are controlled by an inertial measuring unit (IMU).

The ZX-10RR is a more track-focused version of the standard superbike and gets superior Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres, which are wrapped around lighter seven-spoke Marchesini forged aluminium alloy wheels. Finally, the engine gets a different head design that can accommodate race-spec cams.

The ZX-10R and the 10RR are the most powerful and expensive motorcycles from the Japanese brand’s portfolio to be assembled in our country. Both the motorcycles are CKD imports and will be assembled at Kawasaki’s Chakan plant. The Japanese two-wheeler giant also has plans to make India its export hub and might launch low-displacement motorcycles in our market in the future.