Motorcycle specifications KawasakiZX-6R 600 1997 Threat to the 7 and a half... and others

Kawasaki has always been able to develop sporty models with character, with that little something extra that makes it the spiciest of the Japanese 4. Already present in the turbulent 600-sport category with its ZZR, the brand must now contend with the veritable worms that are the FZR and CBR. The ZZR is now too sporty to secure a place in this new arena, and will continue its career in a more on-road register. The ZX-6R is ready for its revenge, and is already full of promise!

a name that smells of gunpowder... a 7R cousin forged in Endurance and Superbike racing... modern, striking technical solutions... The Kawa doesn't come to amuse the gallery, but to eat vibrancy and performance. The recipe: light alloy, low weight, incisive geometry, and an engine that loves to rev, rev, and rev.
Very compact, the new 599 cm3 4-cylinder is more super-square than the ZZR's mill. With dimensions of 66 x 43.8 mm, the piston bore is 2 mm wider and the stroke 2.8 mm shorter. In the mood for high revs? You bet! And with the addition of the Twin Ram Air forced-air system plus 36 mm carburetors, the power just begs to be gorged with speed.
Kawa has given this mill an architecture similar to that of the 400 and 750, with the timing drive on the right-hand side of the cylinder, and the engine-makers have taken a serious look at internal friction. The result is something to smile about for the 6R: 105 horsepower through the mill, and around 14,000 rpm. Moral: since the appearance of the CBR 600 and the kicking of this new ZX-6R, 600s are no longer a laughing matter. A special French anecdote to underline the advent of this increasingly virulent category: this medium-displacement sports bike has to go through the throttle to be homologated in France. You'll see that one day, there won't be any more 750s, just 600s and big sportbikes, as technology sharpens these new missiles.
The '96 model improves certain parts: stiffened pistons, reinforced cylinder heads, reinforced crankcases and improved lubrication.

so there's plenty of horsepower to go around. But what about the chassis? No need to worry. Already, in terms of dynamics, it's a world away from the ZZR. Fifteen kilos less, that's something. The ZX-6R is claimed to weigh 182 kilos dry and 205 wet. That puts it in the featherweight category. What's more, the manufacturer has adopted an almost aggressive geometry: a short wheelbase of 1,415 mm, a column angle stretched to 24°, and a headroom of just 85 mm give it a striking liveliness. It's enough to make you dizzy as it spurts from corner to corner. All this on a new double-spar frame, in aluminum please. In 1996, the walls thickened by half a millimeter. And don't doubt the efficiency of the brakes if you're feeling optimistic. At the bottom of its 41 mm fork, the little Ninja has to warm up its 300 mm discs with 4-piston opposed calipers. In 96, the fork's tubes are a millimeter thicker.
Sporty but not too exclusive, the ZX-6R bends your knees with its high footpegs, but doesn't smash the rider too much with its half-guidelines set at a reasonable alitude. The wide range of possible settings lets you fine-tune its sportiness: the fork and shock absorber can be fine-tuned for compression, rebound and preload. To further refine the liveliness of the chassis on the racetrack, without affecting the settings of the rear unit, the latter is equipped with a system for modifying the bike's attitude.

clearly, Kawasaki has created a time-trial sportbike with the impertinence of a small-time hitter that's going to cause trouble for its neighbors. Both engine and chassis are ready for battle. It's a pity that the rear frame can't be dismantled and that the swingarm is so plain. Protection, while not catastrophic, is also sporty. Forget about that, though, when the 4-cylinder Kawasaki unleashes its raging power and thrills.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos