All Trials – The Ninja sharpened her blade! – It goes and it comes back …

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The Ninja sharpened her blade !

All Trials - The Ninja sharpened her blade! - It goes and it comes back ...

In 2009 the ZX-6R loudly proclaimed its desire to return to business in the Supersport category! Site therefore subjected him to an archi-complete program: road, track, city, duo and even a racing retest at the hands of a pro pilot.. Yum !

It goes and it comes back…

The ZX-6R 2009 technical side

For 2009, the ZX-6R is lighter by no less than 10 kg! High revs not only on the chassis, but also on the engine: magnesium housings appear, while among other things, the camshafts are 400 g lighter and the gearbox gears 170 g. Yes, all the same! More compact, the 599 cc mill sees its compression ratio increase to 13: 1 and its power climb to 128 hp at 14,000 rpm (134 hp with forced air). The torque peaks at 66.7 Nm at 11,800 rpm, forcing in practice to whip the beast.

On the chassis side, the engine’s center of gravity has been raised by 16 mm and the steering column by 10 mm to improve cornering entry and the feeling of the front tire, already favored by a caster angle from 25 to 24 °. The 1400 mm wheelbase promotes agility, as does the full weight, which happily drops below the 200 kg (191 kg) mark. First to adopt it, the Zak ‘releases a 41mm Showa fork with big piston BPF which also equips the new GSX-R 1000. Compared to a traditional fork, the diameter of the piston is almost doubled (37 mm against 20 approximately), which would almost multiply "by four the action surface of the oil contained in the fork"Says Kawa. The damping pressure would thus be reduced, without reducing the damping force..

The compression and rebound settings migrate to the top of the fork tubes, while the preload is at the base. At the rear, the shock absorber is obviously fully adjustable whether in compression (slow and fast), in rebound (25 positions!) And in preload.

To brake everything, the ZX-6R adopts 300 mm discs clamped by radial four-piston calipers, actuated by an equally radial master cylinder. Racing at heart, the ZX-6R is adorned with an easily adjustable Ohlins steering damper, a torque limiter clutch and a removable cassette gearbox.

Launched in the mid-90s, the ZX-6R saga has experienced many changes of trajectory over the years. Versatile in its infancy, the Green then radicalized to follow the sporting frenzy initiated by its Japanese neighbors. Shaken by this rivalry, Akashi’s firm even sometimes got its feet in the carpet while trying to make the big difference between performance on the track and daily pleasure..

Iconoclastic, the Supersport will thus cub an additional 36 cc – from the 2002 to 2005 vintage – and will reach the must of sporting exclusivity in 2003, with a light front end combined with an aggressive engine which will make the bike very – too – demanding for the rider. . Therefore, the following developments will reverse and the Zak ‘will gentrify in 2005, then in 2007 … while its rivals have plunged back into the exclusive at all costs, Yamaha R6 in the lead !

Hollow and victim of a flagrant overweight, the ZX-6R 2007 will thus suffer the law of its anorexic rivals, despite the excellent feeling provided by its front axle. Frustrated, the Green will suffer in silence, eyeing enviously on the size 36 of the Yamaha R6, Honda 600 CBR and other Triumph 675 Daytona, while waiting to be able to say goodbye to her small 40 of waistline…

Stung, Akashi’s engineers therefore subjected the new Ninja to a drastic diet: no more bulges and clumsy lines, the 2009 ZX-6R returns to its billhook-cut features, heralding great sporting ambitions! Lightened by 10 kg – including three just on the engine – and visually much more aggressive, the Green is also very proud to claim a complete overhaul of its cycle part and its engine (see box opposite).

To return to the contact of the girlfriends, the 6R claims 191 kg all full facts and an increase in power of three horses (128 hp without forced air), in particular thanks to intake vents with two different diameters which would improve the filling of the mill. Admittedly, it still gives back a good handful of kilos to its rivals (seven to the Honda CBR 600 and six to the Yamaha R6), but the effort is commendable and the Greens are also announcing a lot of work done on the centralization of the masses.

The configuration of the exhaust has, for example, been revised: after the fashion of the pot under the saddle, the short and bulky silencer now goes to the side. A happy change which contributes to the general lightening of the line of the motorcycle, much sexier with its rear part tapered upwards. This takes full advantage of the new rear loop of the frame – very narrow -, made of two pieces of die-cast aluminum..

Finally, the only "problem" with this reloking is the very marked resemblance with the brand’s hypersportive: whether from the front or the rear, the two motorcycles are modeled on the same mold! If it will benefit – perhaps – to strengthen the aura of the younger, owners of ZX-10R may appreciate moderately…

That being said, let’s not sulk our pleasure: posed on the Ecuyers circuit alongside sumptuous sports cars – which will give us the track for a few sessions, thanks to the kindness of the site owners – the Green has not to be ashamed (!) of its forms in front of Ferraris or other Lamborghinis! In detail, the 300 mm petal discs – pinched by radial calipers – produce their little effect, as does the new Olhins steering damper, the generously dimensioned frame members and the swingarm similar to that of the ZX-10R..

The black color of the chassis and engine, the finely chiseled "Ninja" wording on the high-perched passenger seat and the rear brake fluid reservoir guard also reflect a desire to seduce, even if the Zak ‘does not offer again the degree of finish of an R6 or a Daytona.

Thus, its owner will surely be exasperated to see oxidized brake discs on a motorcycle cumulating less than 5,000 km, the imposing silencer already marked by occasional friction of boots and some frame welds not really glop….

In the same vein, the side "gas plant" released by the accelerator cables weighs down the right stalk a bit, while some will regret that the classy chrome surround of the meter was not renewed in 2009 … The white background of the new dashboard contrasts more or less with the bright colors of the tachometer: green from 8,000 to 16,500 rpm, red beyond, the ZX-6R announces the color !

Rather complete, the dashboard does not deny the general impression oriented "track": gear engaged, chrono and shift-light respond to this alongside the time, engine temperature, usual warning lights and the very practical trip se automatically triggering once the motorcycle is in reserve !

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