VOLUME 57 ISSUE 48 DECEMBER 1, 2020 P41
ZX-10R
and 85 lb-ft of torque for the
Euro model, although we're
not sure what we'll have in
America. You can be as-
sured, sadly, it will be less.
The motor is essentially
the same as it was before,
although Kawasaki has
shortened the first three gear
ratios while keeping fourth,
fifth and sixth the same and
altering the final drive ratio.
The result is more punch of
the corner at low rpm, help-
ing it stay with beasts like
the Ducati Panigale V4 R. In
the cylinder head, Kawasaki
modified the inlet port slightly
for better airflow.
Interestingly, Kawasaki
has fitted a race-style air/oil
cooler that allows the oil to
be routed from the left lower
side of the crankcase to the
oil cooler itself, then back to
the right side, the result be-
ing better cooling across the
entire rev range.
On the chassis side the
swingarm pivot is mounted
1mm lower, fork offset in-
creased by 2mm and the
swingarm length itself in-
creased by 8mm. Inside the
fork are softer springs, while
the rear goes the other way
and increases the spring rate.
Brakes are a bit old school
with Kawasaki choosing to fit
Brembo M50 calipers, which
came out five years ago and
have long been superseded
by the company's Stylema
range. The calipers are
mated to steel lines, 330mm
discs and a Brembo radial
master-cylinder.
Kawasaki has finally done
away with the old Gameboy-
style dash and fitted a unit
similar to their touring lineup.
It's full TFT and allows you to
pair your phone to the bike.
The electronics include
three riding modes of Sport,
Road and Rain, and four
manual riding modes, launch
control, cornering ABS,
traction control, engine
brake control and, hallelujah,
cruise control. However,
there's still no independent
slide control or wheelie con-
trol—it's all part of the traction
control algorithm.
On the bodywork side,
you now get winglets built
into the body, a 40mm taller
screen, 5mm higher pegs
and a redesigned seat that
Kawasaki claims gives the
new ZX-10R 17 percent more
downforce than in 2020.
The 2021 Kawasaki ZX-
10R will retail for $16,399
without ABS, and $17,699 for
the KRT ABS model. CN
