+ Click to Enlarge HOT STUFF: These are Kawasaki's first pictures of the 2005 ZX-6R and ZX-6RR, with strong styling cues from the current ZX-RR MotoGP machine.

August 27, 2004

Kawasaki has released the first details and pictures of its 2005 ZX-6R and ZX6RR sport middleweights and they've been updated enough to be regarded almost as new models.

KHI claims 80kW from the 636cc motor, which has a bore and stroke of 68 x 43.8mm and a 12.9:1 compression ratio, and all moving components have been lightened to let it rev faster.

The engine has a new cylinder head with bigger inlet and exhaust valves and revised cams. The pistons are also new, the crankshaft has been strengthened and rebalanced and there's a deeper sump served by a redesigned oil pump to lessen the effects of prolonged wheelies.

Do you know how to spell "hooligan tool"?

The ZX-6RR homologation special uses a 67 x 42.5mm bore and stroke to keep its capacity under 600 (it's 599.36cc!) with a stratospheric compression ratio of 13.5:1.

Each bike has fuel injection with new oval throttle bodies (to add intake area without increasing the width of the throttle body bank) with nominal bores of 38mm and two injectors per cylinder. They're fed from a larger air box with a re-designed ram-air system

For 2005 the 636 also gets the slipper clutch (back torque limiter to you, Cyril) that was standard on the 2004 6RR.

The gearboxes have been revised for (Kawasaki claims) "improved durability and smoother shifting". The 636 has a taller third gear and the ratios in the RR are now similar to those in the 2004 race kit.

The redesigned alloy twin-spar frame has an even shorter wheelbase than the current model (this thing is going to be tiny!) and the swing-arm pivot has been moved forward to accommodate the new, longer swing-arm.

The swing-arm is braced and the rear suspension linkage ratio has been changed.

Together with revised settings for the totally tuneable shock, this is claimed to provide "more linear action, improved ride quality and track performance" from the rear wheel.

The front suspension has fully adjustable, 41mm upside-downies with top-out springs (the Marzocchi forks on my 1981 Ducati Pantah had top-out springs so what's the fuss, Gus?) while the front brakes have four-piston radial-mount callipers on petal discs – even the dinky little rear brake has a 220mm wavy-profile platter.

The new seat and 22-litre fuel tank have reduced the distance between the handlebars and the foot pegs to allow a riding position closer to that of the class-leading ZX-10R – and I can vouch for that bike's ergonomics.

Both bikes' fairings have been redesigned – not surprisingly, there are strong styling cues from the current ZX-RR MotoGP machine – and for the first time on a Kawasaki the tailpipes are under the seat, like Ducati's 916.

KHI's media release trumpets the new 600s as "the most aerodynamically efficient sports bikes Kawasaki has ever created - even more streamlined than the leading-edge ZX-10R".

Kawasaki SA says the bikes will be here in October; they'll give prices then.

motoring.co.za's Dave Abrahams has offered to bring one down to Cape Town from Gauteng; we'll let you know if he gets it right!

Go back 

Useful TOOLS

Email this article       Print this article       Search Prices       Repayment Calculator       Set as homepage

Free NEWSLETTER

The latest motoring news - 3 times a week. Preview Sign up

+ Click to Enlarge

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Kawasaki hopes that this is the view of its new ZX-6R that its competitors will mostly be seeing.