Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R review, test ride

We ride the fierce Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, to learn all about the true-blue, track-focussed motorcycle.

Published on Oct 20, 2013 04:50:00 AM

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Kawasaki’s ZX-10R houses a 998cc, four-stroke, in-line, four-cylinder and liquid-cooled engine which comes thoroughly prepped for race track duty. The fuel-injected engine generates a whopping maximum power of 209.9bhp at 13000rpm, while peak torque made is 11.42kgm at 11500rpm. Kawasaki’s ram-air system helps achieve such healthy output. The ZX-10R’s engine ran smooth and vibe free throughout our ride, and Kawasaki is offering various riding modes, that help tame this much power. The 10R comes with full, medium and low power modes, three levels of traction and wheelie control, plus ABS. The litre class powerplant is allied to a six-speed gearbox, shifted in a one-down, five-up pattern via a sporty toe-shift lever. The close ratio gearbox comes backed by a slipper clutch, allowing for more aggressive downshifting when riding really hard. Acceleration is as expected, fearsome and calling for an experienced pair of hands to handle safely.

The Ninja ZX-10R is held together with a twin spar alloy frame with fully adjustable, inverted telescopic fork suspension and horizontally mounted gas-charged monoshock at the rear, bolted onto an alloy swingarm. The ZX-10R seats its rider with a pronounced lean into the handlebars, arms outstretched to the handlebars, as is typical on a track focused motorcycle. The ZX-10R uses wide and grippy front (120/70) and rear (190/55) tyres, fitted to 17-inch alloy wheels. Handling is lightning sharp, and with quick turn in, the motorcycle steering exactly as asked of it. The ZX-10R corners on rails, and comes with serious stopping power, with twin 310mm petal discs up-front and a single 220mm petal disc at rear, both offering ABS.

The Kawasaki ZX-10R comes into India via the CBU route, which makes this an expensive motorcycle, at Rs 15.7 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). This, along with the Ninja ZX-14R are only available in Pune as of today. Detailed ride report coming up soon.