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For Kawasaki’s new World Supersport rider Joan Lascorz the endless wait is over. And if you, dear reader, have ordered a new Kawasaki ZX-6R you will also be able to go pick up the keys at a dealer in the next couple of days.
The 2009 ZX-6R is lighter, more powerful and sharper than last year’s weapon – the one that took South African Supersport Champion Dane Hellyer to twelve wins and seven further podiums from 20 starts in national championship racing in 2008.
This new machine also boasts Showa’s new Big Piston Front forks – the first production motorcycle ever to do so. These allow the oil to act on an almost four-times larger surface area than conventional forks, offering better control of damping while needing considerably less unsprung weight. That’s good news for Lascorz and for you.
For the 2009 model year, the frame has been completely revised to improve rigidity and raise the center of gravity, allowing quicker steering and sharper handling. More contact with the bike means better feedback, which is why the fuel tank has been freshly sculpted increase the link between man and machine.
Tucked away inside the stylish fairing is a lighter, stronger 94.1 kW humdinger of an engine that’s been fettled to deliver precise throttle control and increased performance, particularly in the midrange. With RAM Air, max power is upped to 98.5kW and the red line at a mighty 14 000r/min.
New cams, pistons and valve gear collaborate with ultra-low friction engine internal coatings and low-tension piston rings as well as revised cam chain guides to make sure frictional losses are minimal.
Kawasaki tells us that much of the 10kg weight saving of the new bike was brought about by lightening engine components. The camshafts (now made of SCM) save nearly half a kilogram, and lightweight magnesium engine covers trim the weight by 610g.
Noise-reducing pads inside the engine covers can be removed to whittle the bike down by a further 340g if you’re a stickler for performance and aren’t too phased by quietness.
Other components affected that have been shaved down for reduced weight are a newer, slimmer sub frame, a lighter throttle case, a lightweight rear flap stay, and a new fairing focused on lightness and aerodynamic efficiency.
The new Kawasaki ZX-6R has already shown great potential in Europe, where it set the quickest lap time in the three-day World Supersport pre-season test session at Portimao in Portugal at the end of January. Attendance by top teams from Honda, Suzuki and Triumph meant the Kawasaki’s performance was keenly monitored to see just what could be expected in ’09.
“Obviously the bike is competitive, even if we have work to do to get the set-up 100%,” said Lascorz. “I think we have a good chance because Sofuoglu, for example knows his team and his bike very well. It is all new for us but we’re already at more or less the same level.”
The 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R will be available at your nearest Kawasaki dealer in the next few days. Pricing starts at R119 995.00.
The 2009 ZX-6R is lighter, more powerful and sharper than last year’s weapon – the one that took South African Supersport Champion Dane Hellyer to twelve wins and seven further podiums from 20 starts in national championship racing in 2008.
This new machine also boasts Showa’s new Big Piston Front forks – the first production motorcycle ever to do so. These allow the oil to act on an almost four-times larger surface area than conventional forks, offering better control of damping while needing considerably less unsprung weight. That’s good news for Lascorz and for you.
For the 2009 model year, the frame has been completely revised to improve rigidity and raise the center of gravity, allowing quicker steering and sharper handling. More contact with the bike means better feedback, which is why the fuel tank has been freshly sculpted increase the link between man and machine.
Tucked away inside the stylish fairing is a lighter, stronger 94.1 kW humdinger of an engine that’s been fettled to deliver precise throttle control and increased performance, particularly in the midrange. With RAM Air, max power is upped to 98.5kW and the red line at a mighty 14 000r/min.
New cams, pistons and valve gear collaborate with ultra-low friction engine internal coatings and low-tension piston rings as well as revised cam chain guides to make sure frictional losses are minimal.
Kawasaki tells us that much of the 10kg weight saving of the new bike was brought about by lightening engine components. The camshafts (now made of SCM) save nearly half a kilogram, and lightweight magnesium engine covers trim the weight by 610g.
Noise-reducing pads inside the engine covers can be removed to whittle the bike down by a further 340g if you’re a stickler for performance and aren’t too phased by quietness.
Other components affected that have been shaved down for reduced weight are a newer, slimmer sub frame, a lighter throttle case, a lightweight rear flap stay, and a new fairing focused on lightness and aerodynamic efficiency.
The new Kawasaki ZX-6R has already shown great potential in Europe, where it set the quickest lap time in the three-day World Supersport pre-season test session at Portimao in Portugal at the end of January. Attendance by top teams from Honda, Suzuki and Triumph meant the Kawasaki’s performance was keenly monitored to see just what could be expected in ’09.
“Obviously the bike is competitive, even if we have work to do to get the set-up 100%,” said Lascorz. “I think we have a good chance because Sofuoglu, for example knows his team and his bike very well. It is all new for us but we’re already at more or less the same level.”
The 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R will be available at your nearest Kawasaki dealer in the next few days. Pricing starts at R119 995.00.
