Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R ABS

Everything about the Kawasaki ZX14R is intimidating. It is humongous with a length of 2170 mm, width of 780 mm, and height of 1170 mm. With a ground clearance of 125 mm it is like a low slung ballistic missile. But thankfully it does not look out of proportion in any way. Then there is the shape of the bike. Every piece of body panel seems to be sculpted to make the bike as slippery through the air as possible.  Especially the bulbous front end. This also gives the bike a hunkered down front heavy stance. That giant ram air intake is hard to miss and pretty much sets the tone for the bike. The quadruple projector headlight setup with integrated indicators makes for a menacing look. The long and low windshield is all business. As is the almost completely shrouded front wheel. From the sides, the bike sports a completely faired body with its dual tone color scheme with black and green making the most of the bike’s sculpted tank and gills. The matt black finished long upswept and angled dual exhaust hints towards the bike’s sporty intentions.

The ZX14R is not pretty but it is certainly very imposing and holds an immense presence on the road. The bike rides on 17-inch wheels with a fat 120/70 tyre on the front and an even fatter 190/50 tyre for the rear. The cockpit is fitting for a flagship motorcycle with no bodywork fasteners in sight for that premium look and feel. There are two dials for the speedometer and the tachometer and a LCD screen displaying all sorts of relevant information in between them. The clamps are milled and feel premium. While slightly outdated, it is still functional and stylish.

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX14R uses an aluminium monocoque chassis that has been strengthened to handle the power from the engine. The rigid chassis also allows the bike to have a slim profile. Fully adjustable 43 mm inverted front forks and a remote adjustable Ohlins TTX39 bottom link Uni-Trak rear shock with a piggyback reservoir serves as the bike’s very competent suspension. The damping settings have been fiddled with to provide sportier feel. These combined with the immense grip afforded by the fat rubber give the ZX14R stability at high speeds while also allowing it to take on corners like a superbike. The bike does weigh 269 kg and is a pain to drag out of parking. But the heft disappears very quickly when the bike is on move. The 800 mm high gunslinger style seat is spacious and comfortable and perfectly suited for all day riding. Even the pillion seat is made with a lot of care and not as just an afterthought.

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX14R uses a 1441 cc water-cooled inline-four DOHC engine with 4 valves per cylinder. The fueling uses four 44 mm throttle bodies and is mated to a 6-speed transmission. The engine produces a massive 210 PS  at 10000 rpm thanks to its ram air intake and 158 Nm of torque at 7500 rpm. The engine has been improved to provide more torque across the rev range and much more power in the mid to high rev range. The bike really comes into its own above 4000 rpm, when it turns into an absolute monster.

Never forget that this bike has a sub 2.5 sec 0-100 kmph time and routinely achieves sub 10.5 sec times at the drag strip. Top speed, of course, is limited to 300 kmph. Thankfully you do not necessarily have to drive this bike with all its power. The presence of a low power mode means that the bike can be driven with only 75% of power on tap and a more relaxed throttle response. The bike also comes with a back torque limiting anti hopping slipper clutch. The bike comes with a 22-litre fuel tank that with its 12 kmpl mileage gives it a decent range.

Braking cannot be compromised on a bike with a performance like this. Thankfully Kawasaki has given the bike brakes that can very much keep up with its engine. There are dual semi-floating 310 mm Brembo petal discs with dual radial-mount, Brembo M50 monobloc 4 piston callipers up front. The rear meanwhile gets a 250 mm disc with an opposed two-piston calliper setup. These brakes are simply ferocious and the way they can stop the bike in its tracks will need some getting used to for most riders. As the name suggests, the bike comes with ABS and a triple mode Kawasaki Traction Control system that provides optimum grip for a wide range of driving conditions.

The Kawasaki ZX14R is at the pinnacle of motorcycling performance. It takes no prisoners in its quest for acceleration and outright speed. But this pursuit has also made it a great touring bike and power cruiser. If you can handle the power and have a big enough wallet, you need to experience the bike at least once.