Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R 2016

Compared to the previous generation, which surprisingly is still on sale besides this new iteration, the new Ninja ZX-10R looks lesser aggressive. The sharp lines of the previous motorcycle have made way for more curves, making the motorcycle look bigger despite being smaller in terms of dimensions.

At the front, the Ninja ZX-10R comes with a pair of curvaceous headlamps, which bring it much closer to the frontal styling of the Ninja ZX-14R. However, what has remained unchanged is the positioning of the central air vent between the headlamps. The ZX-10R comes with a revised windscreen with a more swooped out upper portion of the front fairing.

The large full fairing extends towards the sides, exposing the powertrain in two partitions. The fuel tank, as well as exposed frame design, has been retained from the previous generation, though. In this day and age, the three-spoke alloy wheels on the ZX-10R look a bit old-school. At the rear, Kawasaki has diluted the futuristic looking tail of the previous version of the motorcycle and ditches the unified tail lamp for a more conventional LED tail lamp with turn indicators mounted on the small rear fender. However, we would have liked to see a better design for the 4-into-1 exhaust pipe on the Ninja ZX-10R.

Out has gone the partitioned full digital instrument console and in comes a more legible fully digital unit. Below the tachometer panel laid out like a rainbow, the bigger LCD screen displays speedometer, odometer, trip meters, engine temperature gauge, gear indicator, clock and selected ride mode. The bike comes with the same set of split handlebars as well as rearview mirrors integrated with turn indicators.

The Kawasaki ZX-10R has always been that one supersport which has managed to be sharp like a scalpel without sacrificing much on the real world riding comfort. In this new iteration, the ZX-10R comes with 43 mm fully adjustable balance free telescopic forks at the front and a horizontal back-link with balance free gas charged monoshock at the rear.

Kawasaki has made some minute changes to the steering head, swingarm and wheelbase, making the motorcycle feels more sure-footed and planted around corners. The Ninja ZX-10R comes fitted with dual 330 mm Brembo discs at the front and a single 220 mm disc at the rear. The motorcycle comes with split seats, and just like on any other supersport, the pillion seat is impractical in daily urban usage.

Kawasaki has retained the four stroke, liquid cooled, inline four, fuel injected, 998 cc engine from the previous generation version of the motorcycle. Since it’s an upgraded model, it does come with its own share of minute changes to the powertrain, like new pistons with shorter skirts, a new lighter crankshaft with lighter rod journals, cams with more overlaps, larger exhaust valves, a new airbox, all new cylinder head with reworked intake and exhaust ports and increased cylinder wall thickness.

Thanks to these changes, the engine now develops a maximum power output of 210 PS and a peak torque output of 113.5 Nm. The engine comes coupled to a 6-speed gearbox.

To keep up with the trend, Kawasaki has stuffed the Ninja ZX-10R with all the modern electronic aids. The motorcycle comes with ABS, Kawasaki Launch Control (KLCS), Kawasaki Intelligent Braking (KIBS), Kawasaki Sport Traction Control (S-KTRC), Kawasaki Engine Braking Control (KEBC), and Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS).

At a time when all the super sports are becoming much lighter and more focused, Kawasaki has managed to click the right balance between outright sportiness and practicality of daily usage. The motorcycle might have become a bit more compact than before, but hasn’t lost out on aggression, when it comes to performance, riding dynamics and styling as well.