Big news coming in from Japan, more precisely from Autopolis racetrack, where Kawasaki is letting some lucky few journalists test their new track and road weapon, the Ninja ZX-10R. The superbike that is getting Kawasaki so many records in World Superbike championship, will be getting a few new tricks to make her more competitive and also more exclusive.
For 2019 the Ninja ZX-10R will see an increase in power and a new set of graphics.
As for the power, the Ninja will feature a new engine, which differentiates itself by the use of red cylinder heads. Inside them there’s a new valve actuation system that uses finger followers, reducing the valve train mass by a massive 20%. This has allowed Kawasaki engineers to get a bit more power from the inline-four engine, 3 hp to be precise, with the engine now reaching the 204hp mark, while the more exclusive and track ready ZX-10RR version gets an extra 600 rpm rev limit.
Speaking of versions, Kawasaki will maintain the current layout of three versions: the base Ninja ZX-10R with mechanical suspensions, the up-spec Ninja ZX-10R SE that uses electronic suspension units and lighter wheels, and the limited production ZX-10RR, also with mechanical suspensions but with lighter Marchesini wheels and Pankl titanium con-rods. The RR is built in limited production numbers, and Kawasaki will only build 500 of them for the whole world!
All ZX-10R’s will get as standard a new quickshift for upshifts and downshifts, and the new graphics are matched with a new type of paint, that we’ve already know from the Ninja H2 and H2 SX, that according to Kawasaki has self-healing capabilities.
The new Ninja ZX-10R’s are expected to hit Kawasaki dealerships by the end of the year.