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ninja zx-10rr

Kawasaki Germany is releasing a specially built Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR WorldSBK Edition in its respective country.

  • Available in just 10 units, the ZX-10RR WorldSBK Edition not only feature Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) paint and graphics but also equipped with KRT’s variable air intake system similar to the current race bike ridden by Jonathan Rea. 
  • the main feature is the variable air intake currently used by KRT at the WorldSBK. 

 

Furthermore, the 998cc inline-four powertrain also received significant upgrades by KRT, including lightweight pistons and titanium connecting rods from Pankl Racing Systems. The engine is also fitted with racing camshafts, piston pins with DLC (diamond-like coating) and lightweight valve springs. In addition, KRT also threw in a set of Marchesini forged wheels. 

However, the piece de resistance is the variable air intake system used by KRT in the WorldSBK. The system allows greater airflow into the combustion chamber at determined high RPMs. 

As usual, the WorldSBK Edition will feature full KRT graphics including a numbered plaque on the tank. Customers will also received a special WorldSBK box filled with extra goodies including a laser-etched illustration of the bike and a customised key fob. 

According to Kawasaki Germany, the Ninja ZX-10RR WorldSBK Edition is priced at EUR33,145 (RM166k). 

  • Dominasi Alvaro Bautista dan jentera Ducati V4 R dalam kejohanan WorldSBK sudah pasti membakar semangat Kawasaki.
  • Ianya disemarakkan lag dengan penggunaan teknologi MotoGP dalam jentera Ducati V4 R.
  • Mereka membayangkan bahawa mereka akan muncul dengan sebuah Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR yang baharu bagi musim 2020.

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  • Kawasaki is probably reeling in shock from Alvaro Bautista and the Ducati V4 R’s dominance in WorldSBK.

  • They are also upset that Ducati used MotoGP technology in the V4 R.

  • They’ve hinted that there’ll be a new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR for the 2020 season.

Kawasaki had kept their faith in the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR for the 2019 WorldSBK season. The bike had won four titles in a row, after all.

But the combination of the Ducati V4 R and Alvaro Bautista laid everything bare, destroying the entire field. It’s not good lose face this way so a new ZX-10RR must be in the works for 2020.

It was bound to happen as Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) Senior Engineer Ichiro Yoda told German website Speedweek.

Kawasaki isn’t happy about Ducati building a number of special, homologation models that are far removed from the “normal” V4. To them, it’s going against the spirit of WorldSBK and thus has stuck to the slightly hotted-up Ninja ZX-10R, which became the ZX-10RR.

However, one has to remember that WorldSBK rules actually encourage this route. A factory needs to build 250 homologation specials in the first year, followed by another 250 in the next. The sales price is capped at € 40,000.

The question is if Kawasaki wants to really go down this route. The superbike segment is shrinking but there are still plenty of interested parties. But Kawasaki is the only one among the Japanese Big Four who are not involved in MotoGP. Consequently, they will definitely need to respond to the Ducati V4 R in WorldSBK, and that means a new ZX-10RR.

Rea di Assen (sumber: WorldSBK)
  • Motosikal Kawasaki ZX-10R telah pun mendominasi Kejohanan WorldSBK.
  • Ianya telah dibina dari awal dengan matlamat untuk memenangi kejohanan.
  • Motosikal Ninja ZX-10RR 2018 yang telah diperkenalkan sewaktu EICMA berusaha untuk meneruskan dominasi berkenaan.

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  • The Kawasaki ZX-10R has been dominating the WSBK Championship.

  • It has been built with winning the championship from the outset.

  • The 2018 Ninja ZX-10RR revealed at EICMA seeks to continue the dominance.

There’s much to learn from the cut-throat world of racing. Almost every modern-day technology on a motorcycle available to the public was trickled down from racing. That applies not only to sportbikes and race replicas but also to all types of motorcycles from the tyres up.

Motorcycle frames, chassis, engine power delivery, materials, and the way they look, were born out of the necessity to trump the competition in races and ultimately championships.

There are two premier racing classes in the racing world, namely MotoGP and World Superbike.

The motorcycles that race in MotoGP are thoroughbred prototypes, meaning they do not share similarities with motorcycles that are available to the buying public, although the technologies may soon find their way to road-going models.

The World Superbike Championship (WSBK) on the other hand, is production based. But what does that mean?

Being production-based means the machines racing around the world on weekends must be based on bikes that are available to you and I when we visit the bike shop. To be eligible for WSBK competition, the manufacturer must produce a certain amount of motorcycles similar to the one they’d be campaigning with – this process is called “homologation”. The minimum number of homologation models to be produced depends on the total output of the manufacturer – the bigger they are, the more homologation models they have to produce.

1993 ZXR-750RR

Hence, the limited edition race replicas or in Kawasaki’s case, the “RR.” Kawasaki has been producing the RR-spec models since the ZXR750RR in 1989 (Click here for our article on iconic Kawasaki motorcycles.)

1989 ZXR-750RR

While the racebikes aren’t 100% stock, they are much closer to production machines than one might think, since they have to conform to certain stipulations laid out by WSBK. Among them: Frame design and dimensions (therefore chassis dimensions such as rake, trail and wheelbase), the engine’s cylinders’ dimensions, throttle body size, and bodywork dimensions and look must not be altered.

Thus, in order for their bikes to be competitive on the track, manufacturers must create homologation specials that are already imbued with high performance – or shall we say, ready to race. Think of the difference between the standard ZX-10R and ZX-10RR Racing and you get the picture.

2017 ZX-10RR

It’s not only customers who reap the enjoyment of these engineering marvels. Because it truly goes both way as they are also beneficial to the riders too.

Kawasaki has won the World Superbike Championship five times times, including four in the last five years (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, plus the first in 1993).

Scott Russel

Kawasaki for one is a manufacturer who’s never afraid to push engineering boundaries.

Tom Syke’s 2013 championship-winning ZX-10RR had actually been carried over from 2011. The 2013 model is well-known for its exceptionally linear power delivery, great handling, good ergonomics and advanced K-STRIC traction control electronic package. That meant Sykes and co had something good to work on from the beginning. The ZX-10RR’s 998cc was in fact so good that Colin Edwards’ CRT MotoGP team used it in 2013 MotoGP season.

Tom Sykes in Donington Park, 2013

Sykes was close to defending his title in 2014, but ultimately losing out to Sylvain Guintoli by an agonizing six points due to a single retirement in Malaysia.

The 2015 Ninja ZX-10R wasn’t changed much in terms of hardware, testament to how well it was designed from the outset. It was this year that Jonathan Rea won his first WSBK crown, in his first full season on a Kawasaki. Rea amassed a total of 548 points at season’s end, 132 more than the next rider, Chaz Davies on the Ducati.

Jonathan Rea, 2015

Kawasaki revamped the Ninja ZX-10R in 2016, after taking cues from both factory riders Rea and Sykes. Project leader, Yoshimoto Matsuda even said that his team wasn’t looking at the aesthetics so much as improving the bike’s mechanicals.

The engine had gone on to develop 197 bhp, while weight was reduced to 205 kg. The crankshaft and primary gear were lightened to reduce inertia. The steering head was moved 7.5mm closer to the rider for better control. The swingarm was elongated by 15.8mm to put more weight on the front wheel and reduce wheelies. Both the steering head angle and swingarm pivot are adjustable.

2016 Ninja ZX-10R

Rea went on to dominate the 2016 season and successfully defend his title.

Jonathan Rea, 2015

For 2017, Kawasaki brought back the Ninja ZX-10RR in Winter Test black and single seat. The biggest change was to the engine, where the new cylinder head was designed to readily accept the high lift cams in the race kit. Only 500 units were built.

2017 Ninja ZX-10RR

On the track, Rea decimated the field to win his third successive title, to become only the second rider to have achieved the feat.

Jonathan Rea at Assen, 2017

Kawasaki has also revealed the 2018 Ninja ZX-10RR during EICMA (complete with snowflake logos). Again, because the bike is already so good, almost no changes were made except for cosmetic ones. Will Rea and Sykes dominate again in 2018? It’ll be unwise to bet against them.

2018 Ninja ZX-10RR

That’s the main appeal of the Kawasaki ZX-10RR, as it’s made to dominate on the track from the time it went out of the factory’s doors. As such, customers will get their hands on the best sportbike in the world.

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