2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R – Top Contender in Middleweight Segment

2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R packs power, dominance, speed and handling and more beneath its 599cc engine, sophisticated Showa suspension and twin spar aluminium frame. It is basically a 600cc class sport motorcycle produced and introduced in the year 1995, and has been constantly upgraded throughout the years in response to new products from Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda. The ZX series is what was known as Ninja line of Kawasaki bikes in 1980s and still carries the name today. The Kawasaki ZX-6R was originally launched as middleweight sports bike with aluminium frame and had dry weight of 401.2 pounds. With competition from Suzuki’s GSX-R600, Yamaha’s YZF-R6 and Honda’s CBR600F4i getting more aggressive, the company planned to make extraordinary move for late 2002 models.

Whether you are a racer or street rider, the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R packs a kind of powerful strength, which will surely satisfy even most discriminating aficionados. It carries on the practice of middleweight dominance began in the year 1985 with legendary ZX600-A1 to astounding level. In today’s ultra competitive 600 supersport segment, where racetrack success, streetbike acumen and technology can change dramatically every year, that’s saying a lot. It was absolutely dominating 600 shootout performance, and one sure to be replicated in 2012 because of its flawless all-around ability and track-honed DNA.

The 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R’s DNA starts with Double Overhead Camshaft 16-valve inline four-cylinder powerplant, which is everything top-shelf middleweight engine should be: smooth, blessed with hammer-like dependability and enormously powerful. Critics everywhere agree ZX-6R performs and runs like the bigger displacement bike, and one which packs rolling chassis out-handling and out-suspending all others. It is a unique combination for track day junkies, racers and street riders alike.

Motivation for the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R comes from a jewel-like 599cc inline-four-cylinder engine with Digital Fuel Injection, which is good for pulsating 117 horsepower at 13,000 rpm with 63.9 newton meters of torque at 11,000 rpm. The engine is teamed up with 6-speed with back-torque limiter (slipper clutch), which is quite communicative and responsive. Squeezing enormous power from small displacement has been a Kawasaki forte for several years, from 350cc A7 Avenger to 500cc H1, and from first Ninja 600 to this latest ZX-6R; best-in-class power is a Kawasaki sportsbike birthright.

There is more than peaky top-end power in 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R with its dual camshaft engine, 13.3:1 compression, 38mm throttle bodies and 16 valves that generate a sort of smooth mid-range and low-end power making dealing with surface streets, everyday riding and traffic a much more agreeable affair. Add to that liquid-smooth control feel and superb throttle response and you have a supersport bike with traveling manners, which easily match its extraordinary racetrack prowess.

Much of the rheostat-like, smooth power delivery is gained through exceptional combustion efficiency of 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. Cylindrical guides in top of airbox guide fuel charge into intake funnels directly for reducing buffeting and enhancing cylinder filling. Sophisticated cylinder head porting slams air or fuel charge into and out of combustion chamber post-haste, while high current secondaries in ignition coils offer consistent, hot spark at all rpm for maximum combustion impact. The mid-range performance of its powerplant also benefits from special profile pistons with low piston ring tension for reduced friction, advanced camshaft chain guides for highest degree of cam-chain stabilization and dual-bore velocity stacks with inlets at two different heights.

Keeping in mind its racing heritage, the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R gets cassette type gearbox, which greatly makes simpler gearing changes at the track, allowing more time for riding and reducing setup time. The high tech slipper clutch hardware typically found only on high-end motorcycles enables effortless, rapid downshifts when diving into slower corners from big speed without upsetting chassis. The lean physique of Ninja ZX-6R is fundamental to its better handling with every component carefully scrutinized for minimal weight. Camshafts are made of chrome-moly lightweight steel, while magnesium engine covers help shed pounds. Internal engine parts like oil pump, starter gears and transmission are cautiously designed for minimal weight and maximum strength.

The perfect example is legendary Showa-built Big Piston Front fork (BPF) front suspension of 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, one large technical step beyond cartridge-type fork used on other 600cc bikes. The magic behind BPF is the bigger diameter internal piston that enables reduction in damping pressure for superior front end feedback and smoother action, particularly under braking and initial corner turn-in. In addition, the Big Piston Fork eliminates many of internal components used in cartridge-type fork, making simpler construction and resulting in lighter overall fork weight. The result is superior feedback and more control; just what you need while ripping through favorite right hander during tip-toeing or track day.

The acclaimed triple petal disc brake package of 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R with radial mount calipers at front is refined and powerful. 300mm petal-type rotors Four-piston highly rigid calipers offer excellent feel and awesome power at front wheel. On the other hand, the petal-type 220mm rear disc gets pedal coaxially mounted with footpegs for optimum pedal feedback and increased mid-stroke braking efficiency.

For superior capitalizing on this sophisticated level of precise control and light weight response, the ergonomics of 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R have been fine tuned for enhancing feedback from motorcycle to rider and vice versa. The one-piece front fender and highly refined fairing offer excellent airflow to radiator and aerodynamics, plus minimal crosswind buffeting and superb wind protection for rider. The inner rear fender mounted above swingarm reduces turbulence and helps keep the rear of a bike aerodynamically clean. Its instrument panel offers plethora of at-a-glance information, while adjustable twin-tube race-spec Ohlins steering damper with relief valve completes track-ready package.

So, it’s all here: handling, power, advanced technology, typical Kawasaki reliability and light weight exactly what you need to tame mean streets, the racetrack or both.