Kawasaki Ninja ZX6-R test

Intro: MECHANICAL PURITY

For the last two or three years, Supersport bikes have entered a new era... and Kawasaki has been a leader : 136 horsepower for a weight of 164 kilograms, the 2005 Ninja 636 is looking to turn the competition on its head. Out of the question to road test this warrior on the open road. So, we set off for the South of Spain and the Almeria racetrack, a perfect locale to put the qualities of the new ZX6-R to the test.

Esthetique: A NINJA AT HEART

The first impression is awesome. The new Ninja has been doted with the same visuals as its older brother, the Ninja ZX-10... Air piercing bodywork, perfect balance, fluid lines and an all around package comparable to a certain Ducati 996 from another time. The ZX6-R s the most aerodynamically efficient sport bike Kawasaki has ever created. Everything is neatly packaged, the headlights, but more especially the muffler, which is discreetly tucked under the rider seat, making for a quite a silent ride.

Motorization: SUMO POWER

The motor has also gone through a metamorphosis. All was changed, a new cylinder, new cylinder head, and 38mm oval-shaped sub-throttle valves fed by twin injectors and redesigned Ram Air and an exhaust valve integrated with the muffler improves low and mid-range response of the 636cc engine. The Ram Air system has allowed for an increase of 6 horsepower from a previous 130 to now 136 at 14 000 rpm. The 7.2 metric kilograms of torque peak out at 11 500 rpm. All of this power for a tidy weight of just 164 kilograms.

On the road: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A WARRIOR

But enough for the impressive numbers, its time for this Ninja to offer a demonstration. As for the riding position, you’ll notice a difference from the 2004 model. The distance between the handlebars and foot pegs was reduced, which provides the rider with an idealized position for performance riding. The circuit was damp for the first laps, but progressively the rhythm began to pick up, and we began to fully appreciate the dexterity and the precision of the gearbox as much as the rest of the ensemble. As for the dashboard... more of the same from Kawasaki. Once we got comfortable with the ZX6-R, it was time to go for some quick times... and there, you enter another dimension! With each snap of the accelerator, you are launched forward; the Ninja goes from corner to corner in nothing flat... fast... very fast this Kawasaki. It would be hopelessly banal to say that the engine pushes hard and to go on about all the banalities, which go with this kind of description. No, we will just mention the engines flexibility and the astonishing range of the 4 cylinders. But what is most impressive is the progress of the ZX6-R in terms of ease of use. Is it necessary to be as virile as the 2004 model? The 2005 version of the Ninja allows the rider to take advantage of its cat like flexibility. By shortening the wheelbase by 7mm and widening the fork angle at the same time, Kawasaki has not only made the ZX6-R livelier, but also more stable. Aside from massive accelerations where the front end tends to wobble, the new Kawasaki sport bike is never compromising. While we’re on the subject of the front end, its turn in lines are of sword like precision, but does allow the rider to change his line in mid corner, which was a very delicate piece of work on the prior model. The back end, armed with a new aluminium swing arm gives the NINJA ZX-6R improved cornering performance and high-speed stability. The 2005 version also utilizes a back-torque limiting clutch, which was until now only found on the ZX6-RR, helps to reduce rear-wheel hop that may occur when downshifting a high-rpm. And just as impressive as this famous clutch is the brakes are just as amazing as ever. Like its big brother, the 636 features petal discs, but the biggest innovation has been the addition of a new radial master cylinder. The performance gains are not eye popping, in any case, the older model already had riders hanging on for dear life... but it is in the feeling where the improvement was made. But beware of harsh acceleration; its power can catch out even the most experienced rider... Its kind of like a pair of Japanese Nunchuks, this famous weapon that can sometime turn on its user. So, there you have it another warrior in the sport bike segment. And the one word that best characterises this Ninja is : purity. Aesthetic, mechanical and technical purity... and the best of all, you need not be a Samurai warrior or better yet you need not approach this Kawasaki like a kamikaze to take on the available performance and sheer thrills coming from this latest Ninja.