Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 2009

The new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R has been updated. Looking at the overall package of changes, it's clear Kawasaki is serious about putting its sponsored racers on the box and giving its customers a hard-edge middleweight sportbike. The passel of improvements is aimed at centralizing mass, improving handling and making fresh-from-the-crate throttle response better than ever before.

Aside from the new looks and 10kg (20lb) lopped off the weight, the headline feature is the first use of Showa’s Big Piston Front fork technology. Eliminating most of the internals associated with traditional cartridge forks, the BPF is simpler and lighter while providing better feedback and smoother action.The main frame was stiffened, the engine rotated a bit to adjust both stress-mount points and the overall center of gravity, and additional stiffness was built into the swingarm mounting points. The swingarm itself is longer, lighter and more rigid than before.

Revised chassis balance and mass centralization

• Revised frame stiffness around the swingarm pivot and the rear engine mounts optimizes front-rear rigidity balance
• Engine is mounted with a steeper cylinder bank angle. Rotated around the output shaft, the engine’s CG is 16mm higher
• New exhaust layout with a short side muffler lowers weight previously located under the seat
• An exhaust pre-chamber further contributes to mass centralization

Ergonomics and chassis feedback

• Seat-pegs-bar relationship was adjusted slightly, with the handlebars moved closer to the rider and turned in slightly for a more intuitive riding position
• Fuel tank profile is more flared around its top, similar to the ZX-10R, providing a larger contact patch which contributes to improved rider feedback
• Slim, waist on fuel tank makes it easy for the rider to grip the tank with his knees or to hang off in turns
• Front to back, the new seat is shorter, allowing the rider to shift his body farther back on the rear seat step, helping to reduce rider fatigue
• Steeper rake angle quickens steering response and enhances communication from the front tire
• Relocating the rear brake master cylinder reservoir forward of the swingarm mount frees up space around the footpeg, enabling a reduction of parts and contributing to weight savings

Lower seat height

• New rear sub-frame is narrower, making it easier to reach the ground
• Front of seat is narrower and seat height is approximately 10mm lower, for a slimmer riding position and a shorter reach to the pavement

Advanced suspension

• ZX-6R features the first production-use of Showa’s new Big Piston Front fork (BPF) design
• The BPF eliminates many of the internal components used in a cartridge-type fork, simplifying construction and resulting in lighter overall fork weight
• The large-diameter of the BPF’s internal piston allows a reduction in damping pressure, for better feedback and smoother action
• The ZX-6R swingarm uses many of the same parts as the ZX-10R; both left and right inner plates, the left outer plate, rear stand bosses, brake caliper stopper, chain guard and swingarm pivot shaft
• Greatly improves braking and initial corner turn-in

Brakes

• New 220mm rear petal disc is 10mm larger
• Revised rear brake lever is now mounted coaxially with the footpeg for increased mid-stroke braking efficiency and improved feeling

Race-quality steering damper

• A race quality adjustable Öhlins steering damper with relief valve and twin-tube design is fitted as standard equipment

Additional Features

• New fairing offers better wind protection and was designed to minimize the effects of cross winds
• Position lamps are now integral with the projector beam headlights; the new Ninja ZX-6R now features dual position lamps like the ZX-10R
• New one-piece fender (previously a three-piece construction) offers improved aerodynamics
• New inner fender above the swingarm helps to reduce turbulence and keep the undertail clean
• Revised front brake hose routing with a three-way joint at the lower triple-clamp facilitates bleeding air from the brake lines
• Similar in design to that of the ZX-10R, the new instrument panel gives at-a-glance information to the rider

Specifications

• Engine Type Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
• Displacement 599 cc
• Bore x Stroke 67.0 x 42.5mm
• Compression Ratio 13.3:1
• 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 24 deg / 4.0 in.
• Frame type Aluminum perimeter
• Front Tire Size 120/70-ZR17
• Rear Tire Size 180/55-ZR17
• Wheelbase 55.1 in.
• Front Suspension / wheel travel 41 mm inverted Showa Big Piston Front fork with top-out springs, stepless compression and rebound damping, fully-adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in.
• 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 / 5.2 in.
• Front Brake Type Dual 300mm petal rotors with dual radial-mounted, four-piston, four-pad calipers
• Rear Brake Type Single 220mm petal rotor with single-piston caliper
• Fuel Tank Capacity 4.5 gal.
• Seat Height 32.3 in.
• Curb Weight 421.2 lbs.
• Color Lime Green, Metallic Diablo Black / Flat Super Black, Candy Surf Blue / Flat Super Black