1,441cc's. Nine-second quarter miles off the showroom floor. Welcome the new 2012 Kawasaki ZX-14R.
Kawasaki went back to the drawing board to improve upon what has been touted as the most powerful production motorcycle ever built (though BMW's S1000R, the Yamaha V-Max and soon the Ducati Panigale could challenge that claim).
For starters, they added the 'R' designation, Kawi's identification that this is a racing model (like the previous versions weren't already!).
The engine was entirely revamped and features a massive list of upgrades including a longer 65mm stroke, surface-milled (not cast) combustion chambers, improved intake ports and more durable intake valves, meaning you don't have to get the heads ported - it's done for you already. Camshafts are more radical, redesigned pistons feature oil-jet cooling and a 12.3:1 compression ratio. Kawasaki also noted that connecting rods are now beefier, crankshaft main journals are thicker, and airflow capability is improved by 40%. The fuel injection and exhaust systems have also been revamped for 2012.
The transmission gears have been heat- and surface-treated for durability and smoother shifting, while a race-bred slipper clutch and KTRC (Kawi's traction control) have the task of safely applying all that power to the road or track. The KTRC system will have three modes adjusted by bar-mounted switch and can be monitored on the cockpit's LCD info screen.
Frame, suspension, brakes and bodywork ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifll got upgrades as well, giving the 14 a well-deserved, front-to-back upgrade (the bike has been relatively unchanged since 2006).
This bike was invented for the drag strip, but is becoming more versatile thanks to some of these upgrades. And anyone who's been astride a 14 knows that it's one of the most comfortable sportbikes to ride, period.
Click the link below for a cool (albeit disputable) video of drag racing legend Rickey Gadson racing the ZX-14R against its arch nemesis, the Suzuki Hayabusa on the dragstrip.
http://ninja14r.kawasaki.com/?cm_mmc=MY12NinjaZX14R-_-KMCPromo-_-HomepageBucket-_-Microsite#details/videos/24
