Kawasaki Ups Its Game With 2019 Ninja ZX-10R Range

Kawasaki has revealed the latest iteration of the ZX-10R range which consists of the ZX-10R, ZX-10R SE and the ZX-10 RR. All three versions of the litre-class track tamers get a host of changes to make them lighter, faster and more powerful. The most significant change has to be the new ‘finger follower’ valve train that replaces the ‘bucket and shim’ system on the older bikes. The new setup has reduced the weight of the valve system by 20 per cent, while offering greater reliability at higher revs.

All three versions also get DLC (Diamond-like Carbon) coating on the cams to protect against wear and tear and increase the power and torque output. The Ninja ZX-10R now makes an additional 3PS and 1.4Nm to take the output to 203PS at 13,500rpm and 114.9Nm at 11,200 rpm. Additionally, all three versions get a red-coloured cylinder head to set them apart from their older versions.

In addition to the above mentioned changes, the Ninja ZX-10R SE now rides on fully-adjustable, electronically-actuated Showa Balance Free Front (BFF) forks and Balance Free Rear Cushion (BFRC lite) monoshock at the rear. It also features lightweight forged Marchesini wheels and self-healing paint that debuted with the 2019 Ninja H2 range. Read more about it here.

The ZX-10R and ZX-10RR, on the other hand, get fully-adjustable 43mm inverted front forks and horizontal back-link gas-charged rear monoshock. The single-seater RR variant is limited to only 500 units worldwide and uses exclusive Pankl lightweight titanium connecting rods, which not only save over 400g when compared to the standard rod set but also decreases the crankshaft moment of inertia by 5 per cent. The rods enable a 600rpm higher rev limit, increasing the power output to 204PS at 13,500rpm. The peak torque of 115.7Nm arrives at 11,500rpm. The motor makes 10PS extra with ram-air assist. The front and rear suspension have also been tuned accordingly. Like the SE, this variant also rolls on Marchesini wheels. All the three variants feature a bi-directional Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS) as standard.

Kawasaki also offers the Performance models of the three variants. These built-to-order machines come with a range of Kawasaki genuine accessories with factory warranty. The 2019 ZX-10R range rivals the likes of the Yamaha YZF-R1, R1M, Ducati Panigale V4, V4 S, V4 S Speciale, the Suzuki GSX-R1000, GSX-R1000R and the BMW S 1000 RR. Expect Kawasaki to launch all three versions in India soon.