With a flashy presntation which took place yesterday in Times Square, New York, Kawasaki launched in style its brand new Ninja ZX-6R, the new generation of the successful Supersport model which will see the return to the 636 cc displacement and will become available on the markets worldwide next year.
The bigger capacity of its engine – obtained by increasing the stroke from 42.
5 mm to 45.
1 mm – will provide the new Kwak with an obvious performance advantage over the outgoing model that will be especially significant at low and medium revs, making the unit more ‘manageable’ at the same time.
However, there are many changes to the engine which contribute to the overall improvement of this bike, including the connecting rods which are now 1.
5 mm shorter, while much effort went into the enhancing of its efficiency and the reduction of its internal frictions.
Claimed output for the new Ninja 6 is 131 hp at 13,500 rpm, with a maximum torque of 70.
5 Nm at 11,500 rpm.
The new ZX-6R will be equipped with ABS and Kawasaki’s own traction control system(KTRC), which is operated through a switch on the left clip on, and will allow for three different driving modes (four including the ‘off’) : ‘Mode 1′ allows significant sliding and is designed for the track, ‘Mode 2′ is for sporty driving with limited slip, while ‘Mode 3′ is for difficult conditions and eliminates any chance of slippage of the rear wheel.
The new ZX-6R will also have two selectable engine power modes: “Full”, which provides the rider with the whole engine power, and “Low”, which allows it to deliver just 80% of its full potential.
It must be noted that Traction Control and these engine power modes will work independently, with the result that there will be 8 possible setting combinations.
At the front there’s a new braking system by Nissin with one-piece “monobloc” radial-mounted 4-piston calipers paired with new 310mm rotors, while the rear we have a 220 mm rotor coupled with a single piston caliper.
The front calipers are also 90 g lighter than the old set (-45 g each) and boasts a better heat dispersion.
The model also comes with Kawasaki’s own Supersport-grade KIBS ABS, a multi-sensing system based on a Bosch unit that elaborates the data coming from front and rear wheel speed sensors, engine’s ECU (throttle position, engine speed, clutch actuation and gear position) and the pressure on the calipers to modulate the action of the brakes and avoid any sort of lock-up.
The new Ninja 636 has been fitted with Showa’s advanced Big Piston – Separate Function Fork (BP-SFF) , which combines Showa’s own SFF and BPF technology and is lighter and easier to adjust.
At the rear instead we get a Bottom-link Uni-Trak suspension with 5.
3 inches of travel and a gas-charged shock with top-out spring and a pillow ball upper shock mount.
The rear spring is now 25 mm longer, and usees a softer rate to enhance ride comfort.
The power genereated by the new 636 cc unit gets delivered through a new high-tech F.
C.
C.
clutch with assist and slipper functions.
It allows quick, effortless downshifts when scrubbing-off speed for a corner and helps minimize rear wheel hop caused by excess back-torque.
The lightweight twin-spar aluminum frame places the engine in the optimum position for superb handling and rider feedback.
It features a new steeper 23.
5-degree rake angle that helps quicken steering response, enhance maneuverability and promote clear communication from the front tire.
It also uses new steering stem seals that produce less friction for easier steering inputs and noticeably improved handling at low speeds.
2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R SpecificationsEngine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-fourDisplacement: 636ccBore x stroke: 67.
0 x 45.
1mmCompression ratio: 12.
9:1Fuel injection: DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies and oval sub-throttlesIgnition: TCBI with digital advanceTransmission: Six-speedFinal drive: 520 series X-ring chainRake / trail: 23.
5 degrees / 4.
0 in.
Frame type: Aluminum perimeterFront tire: 120/70 ZR17Rear tire: 180/55 ZR17Wheelbase: 54.
9 in.
Front suspension / wheel travel: 41mm inverted Showa BP-SFF fork with top-out springs, stepless compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 4.
7 in.
Rear suspension / wheel travel: Bottom-link Uni-Trak® with gas-charged shock, top-out spring and pillow ball upper mount, stepless compression damping, 25-way adjustable rebound damping, fully adjustable spring preload / 5.
3 in.
Front brakes: Dual 310mm petal rotors with dual radial-mount, Nissin four-piston, monobloc calipersRear brake: Single 220mm petal rotor with single-piston caliperOverall length: 82.
1 in.
Overall width: 27.
8 in.
Overall height: 43.
9 in.
Fuel capacity: 4.
5 gal.
Seat height: 32.
7 in.
Curb weight: 423.
4 lbs.
Color choices: Pearl Flat Stardust White / Flat EbonyMetallic Spark Black / Flat EbonyLime Green / Metallic Spark Black