With two WSB champs on their team, including Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, and near domination this year (by Rea), Kawasaki is hardly resting on its laurels. We gave you all the details regarding the 2016 ZX-10R ABS in an earlier article, but the following video released by Kawasaki drives home just how impressive the changes are to this new superbike.
Standard color scheme (Metallic Matte Carbon Gray) for 2016 ZX-10R ABS (U.S. model)
See more of MD’s great photography:
Launch control, pin the throttle and dump the clutch…now that just may get me into trouble leaving the stop lights 😉
Does this shut off one cylinder at low rpms, like the WSBK bikes?
Get thee to the track!
And jesus wept… I should have kept my gamma. Ah, the range of genuine accessories, I’m waiting for the KHI engineered onahole jacked directly into the ECU, the 11th axis! Yes, stiffer crank I’m quite sure.
snore!
Kawi really does need to ditch the stickers. Way too many silly-looking, needless stickers. Totally cheapens the aesthetic.
Let the design speak for itself. Paint the thing solid red, black, blue, and, of course, Kawi green. Slap a discreet ‘ZX-10R’ on the main fairing and maybe a second one on the tail section, in a non-childish, non-anime font. One ‘Ninja’ logo, on each side of the tank.
Done.
Otherwise, this bike looks to have R1 specs, perhaps with a bit more rwhp and better suspension. Crazy overkill for the street, and massive pride of ownership.
Well, except for the stupid stickers.
Looks like MD added a pic of the subtle satin black version. Much more tasteful.
Yep, a definite improvement.
I enjoy the 20-90mph range less than 90-170mph where one presumes this bike shines.
From the “audio” effects sound track (don’t call that “music”) and the graphics treatment, one suspects Kawasaki’s target demographic is about thirty years junior the Yamaha R1 demographic.
Yamaha’s R1 sets the style benchmark for this genre. Kawasaki: fail, retread from late 70s ZX-6 Ninja.
Of course. Lets just play “Sweet Home Alabama” while the guy is narrating. I guess you dont like Dubstep
Late ’70s ZX-6, huh? Typo, I’m hoping?
Regardless, the ZX-10R certainly has a younger demographic than the newer R1 (R1S notwithstanding), and the graphics and styling reflect that.
I actually really like the ZX-10R’s shape. But I do have to agree, as a lover of the late ’80s ZX-7 graphics and colors, the past few years, Kawasaki hasn’t seemed to really try to compliment the bike’s shape, as opposed to obfuscate it. The 10R has always looked good in solid colors; not quite sure why they went from those schemes in ’04 through ’09 or so, to the current “way too much going on” aesthetic.
Wow.
Oh to have lots of money and live near a track…this would be a great option
I am a long time R1 rider, we R1 eh!and I never thought I would say this but thank you Kawi. Thank you for this new bike and thank you too Dirck for this article. I hope some others will agree. I sure needed a break from the mess that is moto gp. Again thank you.
I’m sure its an incredible performer, still they could have been a little more ambitious in the styling department….
Wow! Now we have great modern supersport offerings with bleeding edge technology from from BMW, Ducati, Aprilia, Yamaha and Kawasaki. Suzuki and Honda are standing on the sidelines with their pants down around their ankles.
I realize that being a smaller company Suzuki is still getting back on it’s feet after the recession, but Honda? They seem more concerned with making futuristic looking scooters and baggers.
Honda ain’t the Honda of yore. CRX? Ha. Interceptor? Ride this bloated pig. Sigh.
Honda sells plenty of CBR’s but they’re more concerned with motos people buy in larger numbers (PCX scooters, NC700, CB500 & 250/300). Hypersports bikes are cool to look at, but they’re not a good business.
I demand a more fanatic comment, I suggest asking for a lighter, powerful and cheaper CBR with enduro and cafe racer option.
I understand you can get all that with a Hyosung.
The 2016 shootouts will be interesting. They’re going to have to raise the skill level of the test riders to really test the new bikes! Ummm Hayden, Spies… you guys need a job?
In a really cool turn, I have seen Doug Chandler and Jason Pridmore taking part in various sportbike tests recently. Having world class roadracers contributing is a great feature!
It really is interesting in that in this age even above average riders are incapable of evaluating these 200 hp motorcycles. It takes professional level riders to tell if this one really handles, stops, corners, or brakes better than that one, yet the dealerships are stuck with selling them to whomever walks in with the cash or credit regardless of skill level.
Enjoy it while you can… The Free Market has been dying from 1000 cuts for years
It will be interesting to see how Kawasaki’s electronics package measures up against Yamaha’s much vaunted system. Hard to tell from the video, but the rider interface does not really seem as clear and intuitive as Yamaha’s. On another note, what I wouldn’t give to see some retro elements like dual round headlights of the late 80’s ZX7 reintroduced to the Ninja styling. The ZXR is easily the ugliest of the literbike crop, and this year’s rendition continues that tradition.
Kawasaki must have bought a couple dozen KHI tanker loads of that green paint lol
it’s how they roll… err… “sail”… err… roll.
Looks like it’s gonna be a monster 🙂