KAWASAKI

While the new ZX-10R may look pretty similar to the outgoing model, there's a wealth of changes to the engine, chassis, suspension, fairing, electronics, brakes and exhaust. The new 200bhp Ninja is, say Kawasaki, the closest thing to a factory superbike that the firm have ever produced. The engine benefits from a completely new cylinder head and a crank that has lost 20% of its mass, allowing the engine to spin-up faster thanks to reduced inertia. That means stronger acceleration, faster deceleration and a cut in gyroscopic effect that will help with cornering. The new cylinder head was designed with feedback from the WSB team and features redesigned intake and exit ports, larger diameter exhaust valves with all the valves now made from titanium, and revised cam profiles for great valve overlap. The pistons are shorter and lighter, and the airbox is now two litres larger while the ram air intake has been moved further forward for greater efficiency. New titanium exhaust header pipes are matched to those of the racing bike, and the larger silencer is now titanium not stainless steel and is lighter too. The chassis changes aren't as extensive as those in the engine, but the head tube mounting is now 7.5mm nearer the rider which helps place more weight over the front wheel for better stability and turn in. The bike also gets the latest electronic control systems based around the Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which calculates its assistance based on lean angle, pitch and yaw, plus acceleration and braking. It also boasts Sport-Kawasaki TR action Control, Kawasaki Launch Control Mode, Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System, Kawasaki Quick Shifter and Kawasaki Engine Brake Control. The bike also has an Ohlins electronic steering damper and a new power mode selection. The suspension gains Showa's Balance Free Front Fork and Balance Free Rear Cushion shock, but no semiactive assistance. Braking comes from Brembo's top-of-the-range M50 cast aluminium and radially mounted calipers biting twin 330mm discs. And for those who wanted a different look, Kawasaki say they largely, and deliberately, left the aesthetics alone to concentrate on performance - and MCN tests suggest they've got that just right.

Highlights Power 207bhp @ 13,000rpm Weight 206kg Seat height 835mm Power 207bhp@10,000rpm Weight 268kg Seat height 800mm Power 13.8bhp@9000rpm Weight 182kg Seat height 775mmZ1000 SUGOMI | £10,749Power 140bhp @ 10,000rpm Weight 221kg Seat height 815mm The Z1000 ‘Sugomi Edition’ gets Candy Crimson Red (burgundy) anodising to the fork legs, and the same colour finding its way onto the rear seat cowl, nose cowl, tank top cover and wheel rim tape, and a carbon Akrapovic exhaust end can.Z800 SUGOMI | £8349Power 111bhp @ 10,200rpm Weight 229kg Seat height 834mmJust like its more muscular stablemate, the Z800 also gets a ‘Sugomi Edition’, using the same Candy Crimson red to highlight the pillion seat, tank details, rad covers, wheel stripes and fork legs. It too ditches the stock exhaust in favour itemofofaneaterAkrapoviccarbonitem.