KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE Ninja® ZX™-6R Monster Energy®

For riders looking to shock and awe their rivals, Kawasaki’s sinister looking 2009 Ninja® ZX™-6R Monster Energy® Special Edition motorcycle is the weapon of choice. Dressed in all black, it promises a cranked-up heart rate for anyone with a pulse, thanks to the black bodywork, frame and wheels; highlighted by an aggressive Monster Energy graphics package.
To truly push the envelope, a rider needs a calm yet responsive sportbike with precision control feel and confidence-inspiring manners. That machine is perfectly embodied by the new 2009 Ninja® ZX™-6R. Thanks to an extensive overhaul by the Kawasaki engineers; weight shaving, improving mass centralization, refining engine and chassis behavior, adding a revolutionary front fork design; the new leaner, more precise Ninja ZX-6R delivers the elusive calm and confident handling that top racers need.

Fine-tuning the chassis and tightening its mass centralization resulted in lighter handling to make it even easier to tip this ZX-6R into a corner. To optimize front-rear rigidity balance, the engineers revised frame stiffness around the swingarm pivot and the rear engine mounts. The engine was rotated around the output shaft to offer a steeper cylinder bank angle and raise its CG by 16mm. A new exhaust layout with a short side muffler lowers the weight previously located under the seat and an exhaust pre-chamber further contributes to the new ZX-6R’s mass centralization

The new Ninja ZX-6R’s leaner physique is fundamental to its lighter handling. Both the engine and chassis were evaluated to reduce weight. The intake resonator box and supports for the instrument panel and mirrors are now unitized with the enlarged –to optimize intake volume – Ram Air duct, contributing to weight savings and improving rigidity. New camshafts are now made of lighter SCM, and lightweight magnesium replaces aluminum for the engine covers. Revised internal gears – transmission, oil pump and starter – are lighter without compromising strength. Adjusting several mounting plates and the coolant reservoir locations helped shave additional weight.

Handling wasn’t the only area of improvement on the new Ninja ZX-6R; its lighter engine received a host of changes focused on delivering precise throttle control and increased performance, particularly in the mid-range. A smoother power delivery was achieved through better combustion efficiency. The changes include; adding cylindrical guides to the top of the airbox to better guide the fuel charge into the intake funnels, increasing the distance between the main and sub-throttles by 10mm to reduce inlet turbulence, revised cylinder porting to improve cylinder filling and increasing secondary coil current in the ignition coils.

Specs
Engine Type Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement 599 cc
Bore x Stroke 67.0 x 42.5mm
Compression Ratio 13.3:1
Fuel Injection DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles, two injectors per throttle body
Ignition TCBI with digital advance
Transmission 6-Speed
Final Drive X-Ring Chain
Rake/Trail 24 deg / 4.0 in.
Frame type Aluminum perimeter
Front Tire Size 120/70-ZR17
Rear Tire Size 180/55-ZR17
Wheelbase 55.1 in.
Front Suspension / wheel travel 41 mm inverted Showa Big Piston Front fork with top-out springs, stepless compression and rebound damping, fully-adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® with gas-charged shock, top-out spring and pillow ball upper mount, dual-range (high/low-speed) stepless compression damping, 25-way adjustable rebound damping, fully-adjustable spring preload / 5.2 in.
Front Brake Type Dual 300mm petal rotors with dual radial-mounted, four-piston, four-pad calipers
Rear Brake Type Single 220mm petal rotor with single-piston caliper
Fuel Tank Capacity 4.5 gal.
Seat Height 32.3 in.
Curb Weight 421.2 lbs.
Color Metallic Diablo Black with special Monster Energy® graphics