All Tests – Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R review: more difficult for 2016 – The new Ninja attacks Sepang

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Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R test: sweeter for 2016

All Tests - Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R review: more difficult for 2016 - The new Ninja attacks Sepang

To stay at the top of the Superbike category after its first WSBK constructor title, Kawasaki is launching a deeply revamped 2016 Ninja ZX-10R that Site was able to test on the Sepang circuit (Malaysia). Try: on the attack !

The New Ninja Attacking Sepang

Scorching sun, oppressive heat, suffocating humidity … The driving conditions are particularly trying and yet, Site has a smile at the end of his first session on the circuit riding the 2016 ZX-10R (see our). There are two reasons for this.

MNC is first of all delighted to be back on the magnificent Malaysian track, made up of two long straights, superb – very – fast curves and tight and uneven hairpins. An exceptional playground for testing a Superbike !

The second reason, let’s face it right away, is the quality of the work accomplished by the Kawasaki Heavy Industries development team and its official WSBK team: their new machine is extremely pleasant to drive..

In just five minutes – and that’s no way to put it, after just two laps! -, the Ninja allows its pilot to concentrate only on its trajectories. The site may have the Sepang layout well in mind – thank you PlayStation 4! -, it takes a little time to acclimatize.

The width of the track is confusing and gives the unpleasant impression of passing too slowly in most curves. In an attempt to compensate, MNC takes revenge by wringing copiously the right handle !

We note on this occasion that the injection butterflies are perfectly managed by the new electronics – which we will come back to. Both considerate and prompt, opening the throttle scrupulously respects the pilot’s wishes.

When cut, the throttle is not as transparent. The slight jerk it generates is however quickly integrated and does not modify the trajectory of the machine, even when the pilot hesitates several times in a single but long blind curve….

Under these conditions, we also appreciate the arrival in 2016 of engine brake control. Set to "Light" by the Kawasaki staff on our test machine, the KEBC (Kawasaki Engine Brake Control) allows the reaction of the Ninja to be tempered..

For pilots who prefer to have more response during deceleration phases, it is of course possible to deactivate this assistance. Thus, Kawasaki thinks of those who dread putting a brake on the angle and prefer to use the engine brake to tighten their trajectory.

Pilots who are apprehensive about having to go around when exiting a corner can rest assured: by staying low in the laps, they are sure to benefit from gentle pick-ups that will not surprise the rear tire. The more seasoned bikers will even find that the Ninja lacks a bit of niaque…

Under 5000 rpm, the acceleration is not impressive. Kawasaki may well have shortened the gear ratios (from 2nd to 6th), MNC quickly understands that to effectively get out of the pins, especially the n ° 9 uphill, it is imperative to shift into first.

During the lunch break, Yoshimoto Matsuda nevertheless assures us that his engine is fuller than that of the last R1. "At around 6000 rev / min, the Yamaha engine is the victim of a hollow whose purpose is to pass noise standards", reports the" project leader "Kawasaki, curves of torque and power in support.

"On our ZX-10R, the beams of the frame act as sound boxes, which limits the noise level at the intake and allows better filling the low and mid-range", continues Matsuda San. The latter does not hide that the S1000RR is stronger, but he still wonders how the German engineers could have done…

In fact, the Kawasaki engine does indeed seem a little fuller than that of the Yamaha at mid-range, but does not benefit from the sensational revival of the 4-cylinder crossplane past 7500 rpm. It also seems less beefy than that of the BMW.

Linear at first, the revving of the Akashi mill has the advantage of making the bike perfectly usable and – almost – suitable for driving on open roads. But on a closed circuit, we naturally prefer to hit higher in the laps…

Unchanged from the previous model, the dashboard is still dominated by its large LED tachometer which clearly distinguishes the two zones: orange LED at 8000 rpm, red LED beyond…

It’s over 9000 !

But it’s by going above 9000 rpm that the ZX-10R really raises the tone. In a straight line, the Kawa then pulls seriously on the arms and only stops with the intervention of the breaker, 4500 turns higher. In the turns, she asks her pilot to hold on tight…

During its second and third morning sessions, Site realizes that you shouldn’t hesitate to wiggle your hips well so as not to end up in the vibrators (and beyond!) When exiting the curve. The pilot must show his Ninja who is the leader !

Proof that the ZX-10R made MNC work – and vice versa: at the end of the day, the soles of the feet end up heating up – especially on the right side in Sepang – by pressing on the footrests. The rest of the body suffers less from the strain and from the weather conditions.

Likewise, if the engine seems to handle the heat well, the tires taste good. The original equipment will undoubtedly be sufficient for occasional outings in Carole, but in intensive use in Sepang, the do not perform miracles..

The front tire steers the Kawasaki perfectly, makes it plunge quickly into the corners and guides it serenely even in bumpy parts, but the rear tire lets go after five laps in the Malaysian furnace, from the first session..

For the following sessions, Kawasaki therefore equips us with slick tires. The Kawasaki gains a little in agility when entering a curve and when changing angles, and especially gains a lot in stability when exiting a curve..

Unperturbed – unperturbed by MNC in any case – the big black sausage better transmits power to the ground. The Ninja sits more firmly on its rear axle and its driver agrees to accelerate earlier and harder than with sculpted rubbers..

Concretely, Site gains nearly 20 km / h at the exit of the third corner: the speedometer displays a little more than 200 km / h when the motorcycle launches into the next small stretch. Kawabunga !

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