Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R

Kawasaki

ZX-9R
Manufacturer	Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Production period	1994 to 2003
class	motorcycle
design type	Superbike
Motor data
Type : 4-cylinder four-stroke in - line engine DOHC 16 valves Mixture preparation : Carburettor, 4 Keihin equal pressure carburettors with 40 mm passage Cooling : Liquid cooling Starting system : Electric starter Ignition system : Digital ignition system
Displacement (cm³)	899
Power (kW / PS )	102-105 / 139-143
Torque ( N m )	96-101 at from 9000 to 9200 min ^-1

transmission	6-speed
Brakes	front: perforated double disc brake 320 mm, floating bearing rear: perforated single disc brake 230
Seat height (cm)	80-81.5
Empty weight (kg)	183–215 (dry)
Previous model	Kawasaki GPZ900R
successor	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R was a motorcycle in the superbikes category from the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki . It was built from 1994 to 2003 and replaced by the ZX-10R in 2004 . The two smaller series ZX-6R and ZX-7R existed parallel to it . Kawasaki developed the Ninja ZX-9R in response to the introduction of the Honda CBR900RR "Fireblade" in 1992. The internal type designation is ZX9xxX depending on the model year. With this model, the gap between the 750 cc super sports bikes and the (in terms of displacement) much larger 1100 cc sports tourers was closed. In all models it was provided with the Ram Air air inlet and was available in the “Lime Green” typical of the “Ninja” series.

Series

ZX-900B (1994-1997)

The first ZX-9R can be seen as a mixture of the ZXR750 and the ZZR 1100 , because the wheels (3-spoke aluminum rims in 3.5 × 17 at the front and 5.5 × 17 at the rear), the front fork and the rear aluminum box-profile swing arm were taken directly from the 750. The handlebar stubs are, however, attached above the fork bridge, which ensures a more upright and less sporty seating position than the lighter ZX-7R introduced in 1996 and should therefore be a little more comfortable for longer tours. The ZZ-R and ZXR750 also had the 4-piston brake system from Tokico and the 320 mm double disc brake. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h was specified as 3.5 seconds for the unthrottled variant.

The aluminum perimeter frame was made from welded aluminum profiles, a cast steering head, a tubular steel motor mount and a screwed subframe as well as some cast parts. The position of the driver's seat has also been shifted in favor of the more comfortable seating position known from the ZZR 1100.

The 899 cc engine was only offered as a throttled version with 74 kW (100 hp) when it was launched in Germany in 1994, although the international version had 102 kW (139 hp) (later also available in Germany). The list price was 19,900 DM and at the beginning the machine was only offered in the colors silver-black-sea green and silver-black-red. The crankcase, clutch and gearbox were carried over from the ZXR750, while longer stroke, an enlarged bore and a larger cylinder block were necessary for the higher displacement. The outside of the cylinder head was very similar to that of the ZXR750, but rocker arms were used for the valve control as in the ZZR 1100 instead of direct control in the 750 series. The four Keihin carburetors were supplied with fresh air through a 10-liter airbox below the fuel tank and the dual ram air air inlet, with the intake openings below the main headlight and the airflow through ducts on the steering head over the frame to the air filter housing was directed.

ZX-900C (1998-1999)

From the 1998 model year there was a new ZX-9R. The clutch was converted from hydraulic actuation to a Bowden cable- controlled solution. The alternator was no longer placed behind the cylinders, but in the usual place for motorcycles at the left end of the crankshaft and a balance shaft was dispensed with. The valve rocker arms have been replaced by direct actuation by the camshaft. The cylinder head was adapted for the fully electronic ignition coils, which were new at the time, so that the electronic ignition used up to now could be replaced with high-voltage cables. The engine now had a Hall sensor on the exhaust camshaft, which is normally required in connection with direct petrol injection . As the ZX-9R was still equipped with carburettors, this sensor was not necessary and one could have concluded that Kawasaki had planned to use direct injection in the future of the model, but this was until the introduction of the Z1000 in 2003, the was equipped with a drilled out ZX-9R engine, not implemented. The frame has been lightened by the steel engine mounts, the subframe and the rear height adjustment. Swingarm, wheels, brake discs, the front suspension fork and the rear shock absorber have also been modified, with all components becoming lighter without losing performance. In return, the motorcycle was equipped with pillion grab handles and the wheelbase was shortened by 25 mm to 1415 mm.

All changes meant that the new ZX-9R weighed less with a full tank than the previous model when dry.

Visually, the ZX900C has retained the round appearance of the ZX900B, although the waistline has been slimmer and the panels are a bit smaller. As a result of the changed wheelbase and the redesigned engine, the tank volume and the position of the tank in relation to the driver also changed.

ZX-900E (2000-2001)

With the ZX900E model, a completely new design was introduced, in which a double headlight and a separate Ram Air air intake replaced the previous exterior of the C model.

The engine gained minimal power by increasing the compression, with the main focus being on improving the chassis and tuning the handling. For this purpose, the torsional stiffness was increased by reinforced connections between the engine and the frame, so that the engine played a decisive role in the stiffness of the motorcycle.

The swing arm and wheel axles have also been redesigned for increased rigidity, the fork has been shortened to optimize weight and the mount for the rear shock absorber has been redesigned so that a height adjustment could be integrated.

ZX-900F (2002-2003)

The revision for the F-model included a new rear fairing, a one-piece front fender, the omission of the pillion passenger grab handles and the H-shaped mirror bracket that was present on the B / C / E models. Technically, the swing arm has been reinforced (allegedly 20% more stable) and the rear shock absorber has been provided with a lateral expansion tank. The 4-piston brake system for the front wheel came from Nissin in this generation. Slight engine revisions included, among other things, the reintroduction of the carburettors from the B / C models and an adapted crankshaft including flywheel to improve the response and torque at low and medium speeds.

In 2004 production of the ZX-9R was discontinued and replaced by the Kawasaki ZX-10R .

Rear view of the Ninja ZX-900B
Ninja ZX-900C
Ninja ZX-900E
Ninja ZX-900F

Technical specifications

model	1994 (B) *	1998 (C)	2000 (E)	2002 (F)
engine	4-cylinder four-stroke in - line engine , DOHC , 4 valves per cylinder
Displacement	899 cm ³
Bore × stroke	73.0 mm × 53.7 mm	75.0mm × 50.9mm
compression	11.5: 1		12.2: 1
power	102 kW (139 hp) at 10,500 min ^-1	105 kW (143 hp) at 11,000 min ^-1	106 kW (144 hp) at 11,000 min ^-1
Torque	96 Nm at 9000 min ^-1	101 Nm at 9000 min ^-1	101 Nm at 10,500 min ^-1
length	2085 mm	2050 mm		2065 mm
width	725 mm	720 mm	730 mm
height	1165 mm	1155 mm
Seat height	800 mm	810 mm		815 mm
Ground clearance	125 mm	160 mm
wheelbase	1440 mm	1415 mm
Empty weight	215 kg	183 kg (dry weight)		186 kg (dry weight)
Tank capacity	20.0 l	19.0 l
wheel size	Front: 120/70-ZR17 Rear: 180/55-ZR17	Front: 120/70-ZR17 (58W) Rear: 180/55-ZR17 (73W)	Front: 120/70-ZR17 (58W) Rear: 190/50-ZR17 (73W)

Initially not for the German market, the variant in this country was reduced to 72/74 kW and 79 Nm due to the cheaper insurance.

literature

Ian Falloon: The Kawasaki Story. Heel Verlag, 1st edition 2001. ISBN 3-89365-924-2 .

Web links