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| 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R |
When passion and technology merge, great literbikes are born — including the 2012 Ninja® ZX™-10R. Overhauled just last year, the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R bristles with the newest technology, including Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control, elevating it above all others in its class. Kawasaki engineers created an engine that produces an astounding amount of horsepower, yet maintains the realibility Kawasaki is known for. All of this technology only enhances the already incredible speed and intense feeling a rider gets while aboard a ZX-10R.
Kawasaki have released pics and specs of the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and the new bike looks pretty hot. The 2012-spec bike gets traction control and ABS (optional), and both of these are supposed to be ‘intelligent’ systems that ‘allow optimum wheelspin while enhancing rider control.
Sophisticated and customizable Kawasaki Sports traction using the riders harness and exploit ZX-10R mix of power and incredible handling. The system is called the traction control Kawasaki Sport, or S-KTRC. Only the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, high performance, which raises the ZX on the open class sport bikes. About the ZX-10R’s ‘Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control’ (S-KTRC) system, Kawasaki claim it’s a ‘highly sophisticated electronic system based on actual Kawasaki MotoGP experience that’s designed to maximize forward motion by allowing racers to ride closer to the edge of traction. The system crunches a wide range of data, including throttle position, wheel speed, engine rpm, wheel slippage and acceleration, with help from a speed sensor fitted to each wheel. The quickest acceleration requires a certain amount of wheel slippage, so to optimize traction, S-KTRC actually allows for optimum wheelspin.’
The S-KTRC system offers three different modes of operation, which riders can select according to surface conditions, rider preference and skill level: Level 1 for max-grip track use, Level 2 for intermediate use, and Level 3 for slippery conditions. An LCD graph on the instrument cluster displays how much electronic intervention is occurring in real time and a thumb switch on the left handlebar pod allows simple, on-the-go mode changes.
The Engine has not undergone significant changes and still generate power of 200.1 PS at 13,000 rpm with a torque peak at 114,3 Nm at 11,500 rpm. Chassis geometry offers excellent stability and handling quickness. The front end geometry – with rake at 25 degrees and trail at 107mm (4.21 in.) – allows light, quick handling and complements the engine’s controllable power and the frame and swingarm’s flex characteristics.
Highly advanced suspension at both ends helps as well. Up front is a 43mm open-class version of the Big Piston Fork (BPF). Featuring a piston design nearly twice the size of a conventional cartridge fork, the BPF offers smooth action, less stiction, light weight and enhanced damping performance on the compression and rebound circuits. This compliance results in more control and feedback for the rider – just what you need when carving through a rippled sweeper at your local track or negotiating a decreasing-radius corner on your favorite backroad.
Suspension duties on the ZX-10R are handled by a Horizontal Back-Link design that positions the shock and linkage above the swingarm. Benefits include mass centralization, good road holding, compliance and stability, smooth action in the mid-stroke and good overall feedback. The fully adjustable shock features a piggyback reservoir and dual-range (low- and high-speed) compression damping.
Most of the above sounds interesting and we’re sure the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is one smoking-hot superbike.
2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Specifications/Technical Details
MSRP Price: $13,999.00 USD
ENGINE- Type 4-stroke, In-Line Four
- Displacement 998cc
- Bore and Stroke 76.0 x 55.0 mm
- Cooling Liquid
- Compression Ratio 13.0:1
- Valve System DOHC, 16 valves (4 valves per cylinder)
- Fuel System DFI with 47 mm Keihin throttle bodies with oval sub-throttles, two injectors per cylinder
- Ignition Digital TCBI with S-KTRC (Sport-Kawasaki TRaction Control)
- Lubrication Forced lubrication, wet sump with oil cooler
DRIVETRAIN- Transmission 6-speed cassette, with positive neutral finder
- Final Drive Sealed Chain
- Primary Reduction Ratio 1.681 (79/47)
- Gear Ratio: 1st 2.600 (39/15)
- Gear Ratio: 2nd 2.053 (39/19)
- Gear Ratio: 3rd 1.737 (33/19)
- Gear Ratio: 4th 1.571 (33/21)
- Gear Ratio: 6th 1.348 (31/23)
- Clutch Wet multi-disc, manual
FRAME- Type Twin spar, cast aluminium
- Wheel Travel: Front 120 mm (4.7 in.)
- Tire: Front 120/70-ZR17
- Wheel Travel: Rear 140 mm (5.5 in.)
- Tire: Rear 190/55-ZR17
- Caster (Rake) 25º
- Trail 107 mm (4.2 in.)
- Steering Angle (Left/Right) 27º/27º
SUSPENSION- Suspnsion, Front 43 mm inverted Showa Big Piston front fork with top-out springs, stepless compression and rebound damping, fully-adjustable spring preload
- Suspension, Rear Horizontal Back-link with gas-charged shock, piggyback reservoir and top-out spring, stepless, dual-range (high/low speed) compression damping, stepless rebound damping, fully adjustable spring preload
BRAKES- Front: Type Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs, 10-button aluminium rotor carrier
- Front: Calipers Dual radial-mount, opposed 4-piston
- Rear: Type Single 220 mm petal disc
- Rear: Calipers Single-bore pin-slide, aluminium piston
DIMENSIONS- Overall Length 2,075 mm (81.7 in.)
- Overall Width 715 mm (28.0 in.)
- Overall Height 1,115 mm (43.9 in.)
- Wheelbase 1,425 mm (56.1 in.)
- Ground Clearance 135 mm (5.3 in.)
- Seat Height 813 mm (32.0 in.)
- Curb Mass** 198 kg (436.3 lbs.)
- Fuel Capacity 17 litres (3.7 gal.)
- Fuel Consumption 5.8 L/100 km (49 MPG)
- ** Includes all necessary materials and fluids to operate correctly, full tank of fuel (more than 90% of capacity) and tool kit (if supplied)
PERFORMANCE- Maximum Power‡ 131.7 kW {179.1 PS} @ 11,000 rpm
- Maximum Power with Ram Air‡ 138.3 kW {188.0 PS} @ 11,000 rpm
- Maximum Torque‡ 112 N.m {11.4 kgf.m} @ 11,500 rpm
- ‡ Power / Torque figures measured at the crankshaft.
DETAILS- MSRP Price:$13,999.00 USD
- Colours Lime Green / Metallic Spark Black, Passion Red / Metallic Spark Black
- Warranty 12 months warranty
