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/756138
2017 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR TRACK TEST P64 (a track I'm well familiar with), and flicking the RR from side to side was much easier than even my 2016 racer that had been stripped down to the bare minimum. Taking weight off any moving part is a good thing, but taking a considerable (Kawasaki won't say exactly how much) amount of weight off the wheels makes a huge difference to how the bike handles at speed. The ZX-10RR is not substan- tially different to a standard ZX-10R, but feels like everything is ratcheted up a few notches. The power delivery is on point, the brakes and suspension (both of which are the same as the standard ZX-10R) are excellent in how they operate but the fit- ment of the Marchesini wheels is the cherry on the matte-black sundae. This is a great bike—even more that there are only going to be 500 made—making it all the more special. CN 2017 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10RR ENGINE: ................. Four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve, liquid-cooled four-stroke DISPLACEMENT: 998cc BORE X STROKE: ........................... 76.0 x 55.0mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ....................................13.0:1 FUEL SYSTEM: .............. 4 x 47mm Mikuni throttle bodies with oval sub-throttles, two injectors per cylinder Ignition TCBI with digital advance and Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control (S-KTRC) TRANSMISSION: ...........6-speed, return quickshift Electronic Rider Aids Kawasaki Launch Control Mode (KLCM), Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS), Kawasaki Sport Traction Control (S-KTRC), Kawasaki Engine Braking Control, Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS) (upshift & downshift), Kawasaki Corner Management Function (KCMF) CHASSIS: .................... Aluminum twin-spar frame Front Suspension 43mm inverted Showa Bal- ance Free Fork, adjustable stepless rebound and compression damping, spring preload adjustability, 4.7 in. wheel travel REAR SUSPENSION: ................................Horizontal back-link with Balance Free gas-charged shock, stepless, dual-range (low-/high-speed) compres- sion damping, stepless rebound damping, fully adjustable spring preload, 4.5 in. wheel travel FRONT TIRE: ....................................... 120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE: ......................................... 190/55 ZR17 FRONT BRAKES: ............KIBS, Brembo dual semi- floating 330mm discs with dual radial mounted Monobloc M50 4-piston calipers REAR BRAKES: .... KIBS-controlled, single 220mm disc with aluminum single-piston caliper RAKE: ...............................................................25.0° TRAIL: ..............................................................4.2 in. OVERALL LENGTH: ....................................... 82.3 in. OVERALL WIDTH: .......................................... 29.1 in. OVERALL HEIGHT: ......................................... 45.1 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: .................................... 5.7 in. SEAT HEIGHT: .............................................. 32.9 in. CURB WEIGHT: ............. 454.2 lbs. (claimed, curb) FUEL CAPACITY: ...........................................4.5 gal. WHEELBASE: .................................................56.7 in. COLOR: ....................................................Flat Ebony WARRANTY: ...............12 Month Limited Warranty Kawasaki Protection Plus (optional) 12, 24, 36 or 48 months S P E C I F I C A T I O N S Braking stability on the RR is excellent—as is that wall for awesome photography!