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/128206
Ka~asaki ZX-6RR Ducati's 7-series machine has always been kind of a novelty in the Middleweight Sportbike class. No disrespect to the faithful Ducatisti, but the Italian twin just seems to get its butt kicked year after year in terms of performance. This year was the year that things could have changed. Unfortunately for Ducati, it wasn't able to meet our deadline and get the new 749 to the track portion of this test on time, essentially eliminating it from the shootout. The bike did in fact show up to the track at the end of the day. but only Montano had the chance to ride it, and it wouldn't have been fair to include it at that point. My experience with the bike on the track in Spain in December was very favorable. I thought the bike handled considerably better than the predecessor and yet was just as stable as that bike had been. Once again, like the R6, mass centralization has paid big dividends. We won't know until the next time we do a middleweight shootout how the bike really fares, and that's a shame. On the street, the new 749 is really nice, with good torque and power, and excellent throttle response from the fuel-injection system. The one place that the bike is hurting, though, is in the really tight corners. The steering doesn't require nearly as much effort as the bike it replaces, but compared to the 600s, it sure does. As we mentioned in our full test of the 999. the mirrors on the new Ducatis are a freakin' joke. We wish they would've made the edges of the mirrors convex like on the ST4S's, which work well. The bike's appearance is still a subject of heated debate around the office, and it may be a battle that rages for years. Make your own judgement. Around town, just like the 999, the bike runs pretty hot, and it also dumps a lot of heat on the rider's legs from the engine (come summertime this will be a real pain). The under-theseat exhaust on the "SO version of the 749 is able to dissipate a lot more heat than on the biposto version that traps it and doubles as a barbecue. So what does Kawasaki do for Supersport racing, you ask (because the 636 isn't eligible)? They just make another bike that is only 600cc to meet the AMA rules requirements. Problem solved. We went over all of the differences between the two bikes back in issue *4 in our "First Ride" at Pahrump Raceway. In short, the key difference is the engine's displacement (599cc instead of 636). the addition of a slipper clutch, forged pistons with a higher compression ratio (13:1 instead of 12.8:1), and a swingarm that has an adjustable pivot point, making it a good platform for racing. The RR version makes the least horsepower in this test (92.9), but it actually has the most linear power curve of the bunch. The power is similar to the Honda right through the mid·range, but the bike's lack of torque and lack of top-end power is pretty noticeable. The RR handles awesome (almost as good as the R6), offering excellent feedback from the chassis and really qUick tum-in. As we mentioned with the 636, the front end has a tendency to get lively at times. Even if the 636 didn't exist, this bike is so much better than the one it replaces that it would be in the hunt for top honors in this shootout, espe· cially in the handling department. Just like its brother. the 636, the brakes are incredible, offering excellent power and feel. On the street the RR isn't as much fun as the others mainly due to the lack of power leaving lights and doing roll-ons. However, once you hit the twisties, all of that gets thrown out the window, because the bike just plain handles. In the canyons the bike's chassis is awesome. We just wish it got off the comers better. Oh yeah, that's what the 636 is for. Ninja ZX·6RR Specifications UST PRICE , .. , $8399 DISPLACEMENT 599cc ENGINE TYPE ............•.....Uquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder four-stroke BORE x STROKE .........• , 67 x 42.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO 13:1 CARBURETION EFI w/38mm throttle bodies IGNITION .......................•..• , _••.....................Digital TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY .3.5 gal. WHEELBASE .55.1 In. RAKE/TRAIL .......••••••••.............................24S/95mm SEAT HEIGHT ...•••••.••....••..• , .••••...•.... , 32.5 in. 120/65-17 FRONT TIRE REAR TIRE , , 180/55·17 FRONT·WHEEL TRAVEL .4.7 in. REAR·WHEEL TRAVEL ......•................................. .5.3 in. FRONT BRAKE ...........•.••••••••••••..•.................Dual disc REAR BRAKE ..........•.•.•..................................Disc ANAL DRIVE .............................•.•••••••••••.......Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT .........•••••••••••...................355 Ibs. 749/749S Specifications UST PRICE ..............•••..........................$13,495/$14,795 DiSPLACEMENT ...•....... , 748cc Uquid·cooled L·twin four·stroke ENGINE TYPE. , BORE x STROKE , .• " •••••.•...............•.. , 90 x 58.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.7:1 CARBURETION ...................•..••..•.....EFI w/54mm throttle bodies IGNITION E1ectronic TRANSMISSION ......•........••.•..........................Six·speed STARTING SYSTEM E1ectric FUEL CAPACfTY .4.1 gal. WHEELBASE .......•..•......................................55.9 in. RAKE/TRAIL ........•.••.••••••••.••• , •••••.•.•.••....24.5°/23.5-24.5° SEAT HEIGHT ..••••••.•......................................30.7 in. FRONT TIRE 120/70ZR I 7 REAR TIRE 180/55ZR17 FRONT·WHEEL TRAVEL ...••••••••••.•••••••••....•.•.•........ .4.9 in. REAR·WHEEL TRAVEL ....••••••.•...•......................... .5.0 in. FRONT BRAKE .......................••...••••••••••••••....Dual disc REAR BRAKE .............••..••..••••..........................Disc ANAL DRlVE .................•......... " Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 435 Ibs./439 Ibs. Like a 900d V-twin, the 7495 pumps out 55.6 ft-Ib of torque and a respectable 99.6 hp. 98.9 Horsepower and 42.5 ft·lb of torque just isn't enough to keep the ZX-6RR in the hunt. cue I e n e _ S • MARCH 26. 2003 23