Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1022726
IN THE WIND P42 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10R RANGE GETS UPDATED K awasaki has unveiled the 2019 Ninja ZX-10R range including the base model R, electronic suspension SE and the track special RR, with the big news of more revs for the RR. The '19 RR will get a 600-rpm increase in its redline from 14,200 to 14,800 rpm, with the sole aim of retaining its domination of WorldSBK, especially against the emerging Yamaha YZF-R1 and the eagerly-awaited Ducati Panigale V4. The aim is simple: increase the revs of the stock, homologated motorcycle and you increase the available revs for WorldSBK—which is the only race series that matters, according to Kawasaki. This year especially, Kawasaki has been ham- strung by rpm limitations to tighten up the WorldS- BK field and basically, stop Jonathan Rea from winning all the time. Kawasaki has no such plans to end its WorldSBK domination and will likely get slammed with more rev limits next year if they do win the lion's share of races. As such, with 600 rpm more from the stock RR, when the rev limita- tions are applied Kawasaki will be right where they want to be and nearly back to their pre-2018 rev limit. Think of it as crafty rule bending… The 10RR also gets new titanium Pankl conrods that weigh 100g each, helping quicken the throttle response, and the valve train now uses finger fol- lowers like BMW's S 1000 RR instead of the old shim and bucket system. Both these mods are de- signed to maximize that new 14,800 rpm redline. The base model ZX-10R will not be getting many changes, with a one hp increase to a claimed 200.2 (the RR claims 212.2 hp), a funky red cam cover, up and down quickshifter, but that's basically it—no new chassis, TFT dash, or overall bodywork changes. Kawasaki USA hasn't yet released pricing for the ZX-10R, SE or RR models, but expect a hefty price increase of the RR thanks to those titanium rods. CN AMA HALL OF FAMER VAUGHN L. BEALS JR. PASSES A MA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Vaughn L. Beals Jr., former chairman and CEO of Harley- Davidson Inc., passed away in Gig Harbor, Washington. He was 90. Beals was part of the team of executives who helped to resurrect Harley-Davidson in the 1980s. Hired in 1975 by AMF Harley-Davidson as a vice president and group executive, Beals eventually led the group of managers who bought the company from AMF in a leveraged buyout. He served as CEO of Harley-Davidson from 1981-1989 and as chairman from 1981-1996. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2008. CN