Kawasaki ZX-9R
Sports-tourer or not, the zx-9R will hit a genuine 170mph”
You've got to feel sorry for the poor old Ninja. When Kawasaki sluggishly responded to the Fire-Blade and released the ZX-9R, it immediately flopped like a floppy flaccid thing. And then came the R1 and GSX-R...
Even this later C1 model was too heavy, too big and didn’t handle. It's no surprise that there’s been no magic cure for it 20 years on...
But the ZX-9R isn’t here for mockery and pure chastisement because it’s morphed into a respected sports-tourer over the years. Granted, the big bus is the fattest, slowest and least sporty of the quartet – and will probably be out-cornered by a horse – but it’s still eager in the right hands. And besides, it’s bloody cheap.
Its size is unmistakable. Laid out in front of you is a Boeing 747 of a cockpit, comfy, roomy with a relaxed riding position. Beneath you, rubber pegs. Rubber pegs! Those pegs and pillion grab rails set the tone for the 9R’s ball's in attitude.
Sports-tourer or not, the ZX-9R boasts some seriously sizeable speed and will hit a genuine 170mph. Thanks to a cable-fed clutch, launching one in a traffic light GP will see a three second 0-60 time too – lots of weight planting it to the Tarmac and a lengthy wheelbase aiding a getaway. Crack the throttle in the lower half of the rev range and you’ll be rewarded with heaps of torque. Expect to see around 120bhp and decent wheelies as a by-product.
Perfectly upright, the 9R feels bloody fast (especially when you have to think about stopping the old girl), but the whole delivery is linear and packs few surprises, though it can feel a little lumpy at low revs. Ed, the greatest ZX-9R owner on earth, has fluked the slightly rich carb set-up on this bike. This,
accompanied by the Viper can, knocks out a mischievous sounding crackle on the overrun – we thought a full on British Superbike had ventured to meet us when Big Ed turned up...
Regardless of carburation, the big bus is renowned for a lumpy bottom-end and running like a pig at low speeds. But find a less confined space and the ZX-9R is more than a match for the others here.
In comparison with the 'Blade, R1 and Gixer K1, the ZX-9R is/was a barge, but its size, weight and comfortable posture have some benefits. It’ll suit heftier pilots and the wife/mistress would choose the Kawasaki for its pillion perch (but that doesn’t win FB tests). Mid-corner stability is exceptional – so long as the pegs aren’t carving patterns into the road, which is quite likely. Each end of the bike can be subjected to large amounts of weight transfer without too much protest, but if you’re ultimately attempting a pace worthy of hassling the other three on test, it ain't going to end nicely because things get kinda squirrelly.
That said, it steers well between mediocre lean angles and belittles its, ahem, claimed 190 kilo dry weight. The fully adjustable suspension is on the soft side of saggy, but it’s also well damped and the adjustment works. This makes for epic road holding at sensible speeds and decent bump management beyond.
While building momentum isn’t an issue on the ZX-9, putting a halt to it certainly is. Braking is an area that could be vastly improved. Braided lines and a pad upgrade would be on the list here. The Tokico six pots look impressive but struggle to anchor the Ninja’s mass at serious speeds...