Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~ ~Do( 0 x 0 @ 0 )(}[][s 2001 Cycle News Gooee Sportbike Shootout 100 90 80 .. 70 ; &. J: ~I I t t - I I I , 60 I il W Ul 30 I~ A 20 I 70 Ul I l> m &Dc} .a , , ~ f ! I "" 50; 40~ lJ' ~ 30 20 ' ""I"" ;: . / . / -, 1/ , , 80 I Ii i cl:40 - o I T -I 50 10 ; , ~ Ql l!! o """its Brofbers _, I Dept 100 R&D I I IoYNOR~OO3 Max ~ r·BM. TORQU • 42 , 90 /;..1 I" 1,,,, ,,,rI,,,, I""I"" I,,,,I,,,, ""1 " "I' : I,,,, I,w to o 1 2 3 4 S 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1S RPM (xi 000) KAWASAKI NIN.JA ZX-6R W@§~@[f©JEIDwEJ§ ~@\:B!]§ It's the nature of competition that what was good enough last year is usually not good enough when it's time to do it again. New designs are rolled out, speeds increase, lap times fall, and being number one only assures that you're the target everyone will be shooting at next season. After a revamping that made it just good enough to edge out the Yamaha YZF-R6 in last year's shootout, Kawasaki elected to go the minor update route with the Ninja ZX-6R this year, effectively making the bike a stationary target. And brother, did it ever get nailed. Not that the 6R is a bad motorcycle - hell, it's a great motorcycle - but the problem is that it just so happened to be the kingpin when Suzu ki and Honda rolled their fuel-injected wondermobiles down the alley this year. To add to the clobbering, the ZX-6R even takes a back seat to a minimally revised YZF -R6, Yamaha doing just enough to unseat the Kawi for second place in the carry-over class. There's a lot to like here, though. For example, the ZX-6R is regarded by our crew as having the best transmission, hands down. It might be just a tad hard to find neutral at idle, but beyond that it's "like butta." Equally as awesome are the Kawi's brakes, which exhibit a top-notch feel. They may not be the most powerful, but the modulation is outstanding. Looking to the belly of the beast, the motor feels like it has the most mid-range of any bike in the group. It offers a really smooth, torquey tug from the middle revs on up to a top-end that goes a bit soft compared to the Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda. While it may be a step behind on the track, the flush power spread just about makes the ZX-6R the ideal street machine of the group. Kawasaki ZX-6R IFEATU~E~ happy with the feedback from the front end as we were on some of the other bikes when heeled over. The 6R also has a tendency to stand up on the brakes entering tight corners, which forces the rider to ease off prematurely to get the bike turned. Thanks to the top-heavy sensation, straight-line stability isn't an issue on the, urn, Kaw. Last year, some of our testers raved about how bad the new graphics package made the ZX-6R look. This year, our test unit came with the graphics package deleted. Guess what? Our testers raved about how bad the lack of graphics made the ZX-6R look. It may h ave t a k en tw0 years t 0 get t 0 th e h ea rt 0 f th e rna tter, but the truth is that the bike's styling is rather bland and uninspiring, falling more along the lines of the dated-looking Triumph TT than the fresh-looking edges of the Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki. And what's up with that black ram-air snout, anyway? The color change only draws attention to the ugliest part of the Ergonomically speaking, it was also unanimously voted as the Cadillac of the bunch. Peering into the cockpit, the gauges are easy to read, especially that bike. Some testers just made the derogatory statement that the ZX-6R "looks like a Kawasaki." That's rather subjective, but we think, a rather telling com- clock (you know, the one that is reminding you that you should be at work right now). The Kawasaki is every bit as willing on the track as it was last year, but in light of the improvements made by the competition, it simply isn't as able. Problem one is that the little Ninja acts Like a big Ninja when pushed to track speeds, telegraphing a girthy feel when transitioning from side to side. Initial turn-in isn't difficult, so call it a sluggish feel, and we weren't as ment. Overall, as much as we did like its performance, the Kawasaki ZX-6R that landed atop our middleweight podium last year now finds itself off the pace now. There are elements of the machine that are worth retaining, but the Green Gang will need another motorcycle to have a chance at top honors next year. Until then, Ninja fans will have to be happy with big, smooth and fast as the ZX-6R's calling cards. 24 JANUARY 24,2001 • III U III len e _ s Engine • Neodymium magnet altemator for quicker revs • Compact motor design • Liquid-cooled oil cooler is more compact than aircooled • Electroplated cylinder bores for less weight, better durability f, better heat dissipation • Narrow valve angles for more direct fuel path • Magnesium cylinder head, oil-sump pan. generator, countershafl sprocket f, clutch covers Chassis • Dual, semi-floating Tokico front disc brakes wI 6-piston calipers • Extruded-aluminum swingarm wI hexagonal shape f, internal ribbing reduces weight • Aluminum lower triple clamp What's hot? • Tranny smoother than a White House press secretary • Seamless mid-to-top transition - with carbs, no Jess • The best bike for a long ride What's not? • There's a hole in the ceiling (power-wise), and the other three Japanese bikes are leaking through it • More top-heavy than Anna Nicolle Smith • Dude, it's blue! Bottom Une Kawasaki has - through no fault of its own - fallen behind the times, simply because the others have stepped up so qUickly. We'd rather switch than fight. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R ~fF?>EC~IFUCATUON~ UST PRICE $8099 DISPLACEMENT .599cc ENGINE TYPE Liquid-cooled, 16-valve in-line fourcylinder, DOHC four-stroke BORE X STROKE 66 x 43.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO N/A CARBURETION _ _ _..(4) 36mm Mikuni IGNmON ....Digital with Kawasaki Throttle- Responsive Ignition Control TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM _ _. _••••• _ _.Electric FUEL CAPACITY _ .4.8 gal. WHEELBASE .. " . " _••• _•••.•.••........55.1 in. RAKEITRAIL ........•.• _ 23.5°/91mm SEAT HEIGHT _. _.. _••. 32.3 in. FRONT TIRE _... .. 120/65- 17 REAR TIRE 180/55-17 FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL _•.•• _•.•. _ .4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL , ••...•..........5.3 in. FRONT BRAKE ............•...•.•••....Dual disc REAR BRAKE _ Disc FINAL DRIVE .....................• _ Chain .377 Ibs. CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT ..•• _••• _• _•

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