Table of contents

• Second hand advice Kawasaki ZX-9R Evergreen
• Market overview – Kawasaki ZX-9R
• Reader’s Experience – Kawasaki ZX-9R
• Specifications – Kawasaki ZX-9R

Jahn

counselor

Used purchase

Second hand advice Kawasaki ZX-9R

Second hand advice Kawasaki ZX-9R
Evergreen

With the ZX-9R, released in 1994, Kawasaki is now poaching in the third generation very successfully in the supersport profession. The agony of evergreen choice for buyers.

Peter Limmert

05/16/2001

Green mean ?? green and mean ??, the nickname for Kawasaki racing machines in America because of their typical light green war paint, also sums up the image of the production model ZX-9R. No tester since 1994 who did not certify the super athlete, nicknamed Ninja, an animalistic character. Depending on the mentality with a shudder or light to moderate admiration.
The hissing intake noise, the sturdy suspension and the powerful thump of the engine in the upper third of the speed are even more pronounced from the second generation, which came onto the market in 1998. The fact that the lines cannot quite keep up with this melange of excessive properties obviously doesn’t bother fans of the model range, as the sales figures show. Around 6500 customers of the 1998 ZX-9R are satisfied. This factory-designated ZX900-C / D model is to date the best-selling and also the most frequently used model in Germany, which is why the focus of the second-hand advice is also on this version.
Whereby exactly this first facelifted variant of the 9R has a problem. When braking hard, especially on bumpy ground, the telescopic fork begins to flutter. The amazing thing about the phenomenon of resonance oscillation is that it occurs in very different ways depending on the test machine. The spectrum ranges from minor to pronounced. Critical ZX-9R customers even go so far as to judge the seriousness and credibility of Kawasaki dealers by how willing they are to confirm the existence of this problem. Kawasaki Germany responded to the criticism of the 2000 model and retrofitted the front brake with brake pads that act more gently. This actually minimizes the flutter, but sporty late brakes now complain that the stoppers are less effective.
The seating position with the handlebar halves clamped on above the fork bridge proves to be surprisingly civil for a super athlete. Even shorter people quickly feel at home in this workplace, in the lower and middle speed range the engine still pushes gently but firmly. From around 7500 rpm, however, the thrust becomes so powerful that the pilot’s pulse rate involuntarily begins to increase. The melange of increasingly insane hissing intake noise in connection with the sonorous exhaust noises and the hurricane-like wind noises has something intoxicating.
In addition, a six-piston brake system that can be adjusted wonderfully with two fingers. Careful, just don’t get cocky now. The 143 hp of the open version catapults the Ninja from zero to 100 km / h in 3.2 seconds, the speedometer then shows more than 290 km / h, which corresponds to around 280 in real terms. The tightly tuned chassis reveals no weaknesses even at high speeds on the autobahn. Nothing wobbles. And the ZX-9R also shows little tendency to stand up when braking in an inclined position.
Fortunately, the high-performance engine is considered to be relatively durable despite its brute power development. As far as MOTORRAD is aware, six-digit mileage has not yet been achieved, but the expectation of many ZX-9R drivers to survive this without an expensive engine overhaul is justified. In the 50,000-kilometer long-distance test carried out by the MOTORRAD sister magazine PS, there were no defects on the exhaust system apart from a manifold torn at the welding point in the collector’s area. Cylinders, pistons, camshafts, gears and even the clutch parts showed only minor signs of wear after the test loads. After dismantling the engine, only the bearing seats of the gearbox turned out to be over, a connecting rod eye and the piston pin showed minor scuffing marks.
Good to know for those interested in buying a used product: With the Ninja it can happen that the water pump leaks and leaks. So take a look inside the underside of the fairing for any tell-tale coolant. Whether only the cover seal is over or the water pump wheel has to be inspected. In any case, the entire unit costs almost 200 marks. In addition, the gasoline pump sometimes makes problems. If the sprinter does not start off quickly during the test drive, the cause is clear. It can be traded. For a new petrol pump you have to shell out over 350 marks, not including working hours.
Speaking of test drive: the somewhat rough transmission? Upshifting requires strength, downshifting requires concentrated determination? is normal. You should be careful if the third gear usually jumps out while pulling or if the required flow of power for the precise rushing through a curve does not occur between fourth and fifth gear, i.e. you end up between the gears. This is actually a guarantee case. If that has already expired: Stay away from the purchase, a gearbox repair quickly turns the cheap bargain into an overpaid problem.
Interested parties who are looking for an open model with a nominal 143 hp and stand in front of the 98 hp variant need not shy away from it. 80 percent of the ninja have full power, but officially the super sports car was delivered throttled in 1998. The increase in strength can be achieved easily. Simply by removing four small brass bushings that are inserted into the throttle slide, the additional 45 hp can be generated. Super athlete drivers who are not yet quite experienced should know that the considerable increase in performance only occurs from around 7000 rpm. Below that, both performance variants accelerate roughly the same.
Drivers with a tight budget might choose the first version, built between 1994 and 1997 inclusive. But it is important to know that this ZX-9R has little in common with the two following variants apart from the name. The engine has more stroke, is not quite as explosive, the model weighs a good 30 kilograms more. If you decide on the first year of the Ninja, you should choose a machine built from 1996 onwards if possible, as the athlete was equipped with Tokyko’s six-piston brake calipers for the first time from then on.
There are also differences between the 1998 and 2000 models ?? the new engine has more torque and vibrates less due to the partially elastic suspension, the chassis offers more suspension comfort. However, the seating position on the older Ninja is more comfortable because the handlebars are positioned 20 millimeters higher. The main disadvantage for used buyers is that the younger model with less mileage is always around 2000 marks more expensive on average.
Last but not least, a tip for everyone who absolutely wants a brand new Ninja, built in 1998: At the parallel import ZTK, phone 0 51 93/9 64 301, it is available for around 18,000 marks. Evergreen blooms. Still.

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Market overview – Kawasaki ZX-9R

Under the name Ninja ZX-9R, Kawasaki has offered three generations since 1994. The first until 1997, which today is hardly in demand due to its heavy weight, but is sold very cheaply. The second was offered from 1998 to 2000. The current ZX-9R is still rare and very expensive when used. The Schwacke list noted: year of construction 1994 (58200 kilometers) 6800 marks; 1995 (49,800 kilometers) 7,550 marks; 1996 (41,400 kilometers) 8,550 marks; 1997 (33,000 kilometers) 9800 marks; 1998 (24,600 kilometers) 11,250 marks; 1999 (16,200 kilometers) 12,500 marks; 2000 (7800 kilometers) 14,250 marks. Strong competition: the CBR 900 RR, similar in length to the Ninja and also in the third generation on the market. Less popular: the Suzuki RF 900 R, which is still brand new (almost 16,000 marks) in parallel imports.

Reader’s Experience – Kawasaki ZX-9R

With my ZX-9R, built in 1999, I have covered 21,000 kilometers without any problems and I am enthusiastic about handling, performance and seating position. Kevlarflex cables from Micron, K were installed&N filter, MR footrest system and a rear wheel cover from MPR. I recently converted the tires back to Bridgestone BT 56 SS. They are clearly superior to the Michelin Pilot Sport and the original Michelin TX 15/25 tires in terms of handling. The only criticism: poor clear coat in the area of ​​the tank and the paint quality of the rims.Thomas Jung, BonnOur Ninja from 1995 has covered 24,000 kilometers so far. At 20,000 a new water pump was due, otherwise no defects. Accessories: Remus silencer, MRA spoiler screen and a Scottoiler. I have test-driven the two successor models of the ZX-9R, and I’m sticking to mine. My wife (1.54 centimeters) does not sit badly on the back for a sports machine.Gerhard Tilgner, Hanover When I sat on the machine for the first time in 1999, I believed that the developer must have thought of me: It fit like a glove. The six-piston brake system is a piece of cake. The gearbox is trickier. The gears must be pushed in vigorously so as not to land between gears four and five. It’s not a pleasure to suddenly spin around a fast corner without propulsion. The subject of spark plug connectors is annoying. A cylinder can fail when the air is humid. The sealing sets of the spark plug caps / coils were leaking. The induction jackets on plugs one and four were already very badly rusted, which indicates water ingress. I came across the same problem on the web (www.zx9r.de): Harry Kraft, Babensham

Specifications – Kawasaki ZX-9R

Kawasaki ZX-9RTechnical dataMotorWater-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder actuated by bucket tappets, Keihin constant pressure carburetor, 0 40 mm, uncontrolled catalytic converter and secondary air system, contactless transistor ignition, displacement 899 kW (143 hp, rated output 105 hp ) at 11000 rpm, six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain, electric starter. Chassis bridge frame made of aluminum profiles, telescopic fork, standpipe diameter 46 mm, with adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum profiles, central spring strut with lever system, with adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, double disc brake with six-piston calipers and floating brake discs at the front, 0 296 mm, rear disc brake, 220 mm, cast light alloy wheels, spring travel front / rear 120/130 mm. Dimensions and weightsSeat height 800 mmTank capacity 19 litersWeight fully fueled 211 kgService -Intervals every 6000 km test values ​​maximum speed solo 281 km / hAcceleration 0-100 km / h solo 3.2 secondsConsumption 6.9 litersFuel super & Drehzalmesser unit 1217 Mark headlight unit 577 Mark fork tube 364 Mark fender front 199 Mark front wheel 898 Mark silencer 1780 MarkKrummeranlage 1095 Mark tank, lacquered 1580 Mark frame completely 2613 MarkVerkelidungsoberteil 914 MarkJe side panel 658 MarkVerschleibteileKettenkit 313 Mark brake pads, one set 64 MarkKupplungsreibscheiben 213 Mark front brake disc 431 Mark air filter 41 Mark oil filter 21 Mark four throttle slide 787 Mark water pump 199 MarksPetrol pump 354 MarkStrengths and weaknessesStrengthsStrong, solid engineSpecial stability undercarriageSuggested intake noise see box on page xxx.

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