Kawasaki Debuts 2007 ZX600R—New Chassis, New Engine by staff
Friday, September 22, 2006
This just in from Kawasaki:
KAWASAKI'S 2007 NINJA ZX-6R DELIVERS 600-CLASS POWER
WITH HANDLING INSPIRED BY 125 GP MACHINES
Quicker and more exciting than any middleweight Ninja sportbike in history
Designed to place its rider on the top step of the podium, the new Ninja ZX-6R
sportbike elevates 600-class power and handling to the next level. Considering the
stellar capabilities of last year's ZX-6R, Kawasaki's designers knew it would take a
special combination of middleweight power and nimble handling characteristics if they
were to make the next leap in middleweight performance. To hone the incredible new
machine into an exciting racetrack weapon, Kawasaki appointed a former 125cc Grand
Prix racer as the ZX-6R's chief development rider. The result is an all-new 600 capable
of cornering speeds previously unknown to the middleweight class while retaining the
wide spread of power that is pure Ninja.
To be quickest around the racetrack a motorcycle requires a wide powerband
and plenty of over-rev. The ZX-6R's all-new engine was redesigned from the crankcase
up for the first time in ten years, leading to an ultra-high-rpm powerplant that produces
more mid-range torque than any of its predecessors. The result is a fat powerband with
a linear torque curve for hard-hitting acceleration across the entire rev range. The Ninja
ZX-6R's impressive over-rev capability mimics a true race bike, allowing riders to stay
on the gas where lower-revving machines are forced to shift.
The Ninja ZX-6R's all-new engine was also specially designed to reduce internal
friction. That's because low-friction engines tend to be more responsive, making it
easier for the rider to modify cornering lines with minor throttle adjustments. The new
engine components were also made stronger, stiffer and more compact, resulting in an engine which is about 40mm smaller in both width and length than its predecessors.
This compact engine allowed the chassis designers to create a slim and compact
chassis. Other racing technology includes a close-ratio cassette transmission that
makes it easy to keep the Ninja ZX-6R screaming at its horsepower peak and a slipper
clutch which allows quicker downshifts without upsetting the rest of the chassis.
In designing the Ninja ZX-6R's chassis, the development team concentrated on
creating a motorcycle that would make fast entry and mid-corner speeds feel easy. A
compact, lightweight design allows it to maintain more cornering speed throughout the
turn while entry speeds are enhanced by the slipper clutch and powerful radial-mounted
front brake calipers. Complementing this track-biased package are fully-adjustable front
and rear suspension units. The entire package of frame, suspension, engine and
bodywork was designed to enhance the ZX-6R's fun-to-ride factor by offering a more
exciting ride. The results are faster cornering speeds, quicker lap times and even more
worried looks on the competition's faces.
To hone the incredible new
machine into an exciting racetrack weapon, Kawasaki appointed a former 125cc Grand
Prix racer as the ZX-6R's chief development rider.
The frame and swingarm were developed with an optimized balance of rigidity,
so the Ninja ZX-6R responds instantly and precisely to the rider's every command.
Mass centralization, engine mount locations and a variety of other factors were
optimized to help ensure instant turn-in characteristics. Once in the turn, the Ninja ZX-
6R holds a line with precision and tracks through the apex as if it were on rails.
All these features mean chassis feedback is very precise, with the ZX-6R
communicating every move directly to the rider. The machine responds more precisely
and predictably to control inputs and shifts in body weight. The result is a motorcycle
that makes the rider feel like a part of the machine.
The new Ninja ZX-6R offers the power of a high-performance 600 Supersport
racer mated with the nimble handling characteristics of a small-displacement GP
machine. Let the competition compromise performance for rider-friendliness; the new
ZX-6R was designed to take home trophies and set the quickest lap times, while being
more exciting to ride than anything else in the middleweight sportbike category. The
Ninja ZX-6R is a pure expression of Kawasaki's racing philosophy.
