2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R race bike unveiled

The ninja is back! Kawasaki has released latest images of its contender for the 2011 World Superbike Championship — the ZX10R. After lingering at the back of the grid in recent years, Kawasaki is putting in an all-out effort to haul the machine back to the podium, maybe even to the top step.

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R

In a break from tradition, and with its intentions clear, this is the first time Kawasaki has designed and produced a bike intended for use by an official team in the series. The traditional route being a bike produced first for road/stock use and then modified and buffed up for race duty.
Also boosting the team’s chances at next year’s championships is the full support and cooperation of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which is determined to restore glory to the brand.

Photo: The 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Race team owner Paul bird said: “We want to get the brand back to the front of the grid. We’ve got members in the team from six nationalities with engineers and technicians from MotoGP, F1 and WRC and they all eat sleep and breathe motorbike racing. It was a massive honour for me when we got the deal to run the factory team and now its time to repay Kawasaki for their faith. We need to work hard and hit the ground running but we’ll be on the rostrum next year guaranteed and we want to win races.”
While full details of the monster will be released on October 5 at the official launch during the Cologne auto show in Germany, the pictures speak a thousand laps, and many a detail can be gleaned off them.
The first thing obvious is that this as an all-new, next-generation Ninja. The bike features a total design overhaul with a radical upside down swing arm and top mounted link. The most noteworthy change is of course, the bike’s powerplant. The engine looks smaller and more compact than the current ZX-10. Expect Kawasaki to retain its current the dual fuel-injector system. But whether this will be paired up with a ride-by-wire system is unknown. A true ride-by-wire system allows the rider more control and frees up the power to flow more freely to the wheels.
While it is also possible to integrate a VVT (variable valve timing) mechanism with the existing engine, we don’t expect Kawasaki to go that way. In a sport where diminutive riders look to knock off mere grams from their body weight, and with the team making the intentions clear this early on, a VVT system might prove disadvantageous due to the additional weight.

After years of being saddled with a monocoque design, the pictures reveal a more conventional aluminum frame holding the engine in. The long swingarms seen should also help the riders with improved stability and handling while lowering the bike’s center of gravity.
The images clearly show a, ahem, Showa forks and shock units and brakes are by industry leader Brembo. While this would not be the first Kawasaki to feature ABS, this certainly is the first time it does so on one of their race bikes — bringing it in line with the top-of-the-line and now class-leading BMW S1000RR.
While it is impossible to guess the beast’s electronic brains from the pictures available, expect traction control as it already features in Kawasaki’s 1400GTR and the S1000RR.
In the looks department, the pictures show a much smaller and compacter frame than the current model with a highly angular, wedge-like front end. A smaller frame also means less distance between the wheels, making the bike quicker through the bends.
The Ninja is currently being tested at the Suzuka racetrack in Japan and its first public outing will be at France’s Magny Cours circuit during the post-season test.
So will the Ninja evolve into a Zen master? Watch this space to find out.