Aggressive style:
Kawasaki just released this new image of their highly-anticipated 2011 Ninja ZX-10R in the flesh – sort of. This shows the bike in semi-race trim, fully clad in beautiful carbon fiber skins from head to toe, no debut getting ready for pre-production testing, both of the production and racing kind.
New features :
Several features stick out from this new image, first being the massive new ram-air intake in the snout of the upper fairing. This is most likely a straight shot through the headstock area of the frame and directly into the airbox and looks to be fairly bigger in size and positioned lower than the current ZX-10R.
Engine
Rumors are swirling that Kawasaki is aiming for a claimed 190 hp and a 435-lb wet weight. That compares very nicely with the 193 hp and 448-lb wet weight that BMW touts from its current class-topping S1000RR. The other big question is how advanced will the motorcycle’s electronics be? With BMW and Ducati coming standard with full wheel-speed-sensor-based traction control units, one would think to keep pace Kawasaki would need to do the same.
So the ZX-10R finally looks decent, but what about the motor? Has it got anything to challenge the monstrous BMW S1000RR? We haven’t heard a peep about horsepower, but the electronics package sounds right on par with the BMW if not even more sophisticate. ABS, traction control and a three-way switchable power mode selector will come as standard equipment on the Ninja (yep, Kawi refuses to drop the moniker) but each feature is programmable to fit the riding conditions. Reports on the tration control sound favorable as it will allow powerslides and mild wheelies to a certain extent and won’t interfere with forward momentum.
Chassis, suspension and brakes:
The new chassis features a shorter swingarm over the previous model and lighter frame that helps position the ZX-10R as the lightest liter bike on the market (according to Kawi). The beefy Big Piston Forks make their debut on the ZX-10R along with adjustable rearsets that can be lowered 15mm for more comfort. Will all of this add up to a better ZX-10R that’s capable of claiming the top spot in the liter bike category? We’ll have to wait and see, but on paper it looks promising.
2011_kawasaki_zx-10r
