Kawasaki has tackled all of the essentials in producing what’s tipped to be THE one litre sports motorcycle in 2004. The Ninja ZX-10R, due to arrive in this country towards the end of this year, will be lighter, more streamlined and more powerful than anything else in its class. This means it should get going faster than a politician who’s scented a potential kickback, and change tack quicker than the same man when the press starts asking awkward questions. Kawasaki’s being a little coy with specifications, but rumour has it that the engine’s output in horsepower will exceed the dry weight of the bike in kg. We’d expect something like 165 bhp slotted into 160kg of titanium, aluminium, plastic and steel.
To reduce frontal area to less than that of their own Ninja ZX-6R Kawasaki have developed a new all-aluminium twin-tube backbone frame that arches over the engine rather than around it. The fuel tank also features a concave top that the rider can hunker down in to lessen wind resistance and improve top speed. Weight has been reduced partly through the use of six slim spokes in the wheels instead of three chunky ones, and a titanium exhaust system with a butterfly valve to improve the power spread. A slipper clutch prevents rear wheel hop when the throttle is closed for corner entry, which should help make the big little Kawasaki a formidable track tool.
All that Kawasaki will say about pricing is that it will be “realistic”.