Product description
The R Designation Equals More Race Winning Power and More Refinement for the Ultimate Open-Class Sportbike
Its gotta be ugly competing against the ZX-14 year after year. When it arrived on the big-bore sportbike stage in 2006, the big Ninja blew everyones minds owners, journalists and competitors with its incredible thrust, sport-tourer comfort, agile handling and aerodynamic full-coverage bodywork. Continuous refinement has kept the 14 a step ahead of the competition, all while filling enthusiasts face shields with wild, ear-to-ear grins.
Fortunately for Kawasaki fans (and unfortunately for the competition), theres no let up for 2012. Not only is the newly R-designated Ninja ZX-14R massively more powerful, its also almost entirely new, with more of the character, design excellence, and finesse youve come to expect from Team Green the company thats been building legendary open-class motorcycles for more than 40 years.
Big power delivered smoothly has always been a big Ninja hallmark, so the changes for 2012 begin in the new ZX-14Rs engine bay. First off, theres more displacement via a 4mm stroke increase; to 65mm (up from 61mm), with displacement now registering 1441cc (up from 1352cc). Combustion chamber shapes are newly optimized for 2012, and theyre surface-milled now, not cast. Intake ports are reshaped and polished for maximum flow while working in concert with longer and more durable intake valves. Yep, the new Ninja ZX-14R really does come ported right from the factory.
The camshafts working those valves are more radical, with increased lift and revised profiles, while a stronger cam chain and revised tensioning system maximize reliability at the stratospheric rpm levels this engine is capable of. Newly designed forged pistons with thinner crowns offer increased durability and less weight, and are cooled by a new oil-jet cooling system that pumps a continuous stream of lubricant at the underside of each piston. (Testing shows the engine runs considerably cooler with this system.) Theres more: Compression is up from last year; connecting rods have beefier small ends, and are made of a stronger material; crankshaft main journals are thicker, from 38 to 40mm; a new air-cleaner element is larger and thicker, with 10% more surface area and 40 percent more airflow capability; and transmission gears have been heat- and surface-treated to be even more durable and shift more smoothly.
Feeding this class dominating new engine is a revised fuel injection system that offers automatic idle adjustment and reduced emissions. Burned hydrocarbons exit through a heavily revised exhaust system with reshaped, larger-diameter tapered header pipes and larger-volume, reshaped mufflers, each with an advanced catalyzer to minimize emissions.
The benefits of all this hot-rodding are substantial, as theres more power virtually everywhere across the rev range. The increases are most profound in the mid-high rpm range, with notably stronger acceleration from 4,000 rpm onward. This translates into the sort of thrust riders can appreciate in a wide variety of situations, whether its powering up a freeway on-ramp to merge with fast-moving traffic or cruising along a deserted backroad on a sunny, Sunday-morning ride. On the ZX-14R, total domination is just a twist of the throttle away.
But the ZX-14Rs new engine is more than supremely powerful; theres plenty of polish and panache to go along with it. The engines dual gear-driven counterbalancer setup, for instance, has been optimized to work with the new mills longer-stroke dimensions and crankshaft changes. The result is smoother power across the rev range.
That power is more manageable than ever, too, thanks to the addition of a back-torque limiting slipper clutch assembly and a KTRC traction control and ignition management system that features three different riding modes full power, medium power and a third mode for low-traction (wet/slippery) conditions. The KTRC system is controlled by a bar-mounted toggle/push switch, and the systems effects can be monitored on a seven-segment bar graph in the cockpits LCD info-screen. The back-torque limiting clutch technology comes directly from the racetrack, and helps eliminate the wheel-hop and stability-eroding torque effects of energetic downshifting and braking while cornering, or during spirited or emergency stops. It also helps protect the bikes drive train, for optimum durability.
The result of all this refined and high-tech hot rodding is arguably the finest open-class streetbike engine ever built and an engine this capable needs a similarly competent chassis in which to live and thrive. The 2012 ZX-14R is up to the job, and then some. Kawasaki engineers strove to retain the previous ZX-14s light-handling and maneuverable demeanor, using the existing chassis design as a starting point for the new 14R and its increased power production. To maintain this sweet-handling character but also pump up the sportiness quotient, engineers modified more than half of the previous frames aluminum castings and forgings, all of which have different flex and rigidity characteristics than the parts they replace. So while the new alloy frame bears a distinct resemblance to the previous units over-the-engine, monocoque design, it is vastly different: stiffer in some places and unchanged in others, the net result forming an ideal balance for the bikes weight, power and cornering ability. In back, the swingarm is 10mm longer than before and features more gusseting to effectively match the new frames rigidity balance.
Front and rear suspension revisions help maintain this balancing act of wheel control, ride compliance and maneuverability. Both the 43mm fully adjustable inverted fork and multi-adjustable single shock have improved bottoming resistance and revised internal settings, while new lighter and beautifully machined 10-spoke wheels look great and reduce unsprung weight by a whopping 3.3 pounds, further aiding acceleration, handling and suspension action. The new ZX-14Rs triple disc brakes are updated, as well, with more rigid disc material and revised pads for powerful, fade-free stops and a progressive feel at the lever.
Of course, with this much top-shelf performance, you also have to look good. Dynamic styling has been a Kawasaki hallmark since the days of H1s, H2s and Z-1s, so its only fitting that this latest addition to a long line of sportbikes looks the part, with new bodywork tip-to-tail honoring the imposing, angular and flowing shapes that have made recent Ninjas some of the most attractive sportbikes in existence. The nose is especially imposing, with a more aggressive nose fitted with a quad-headlight assembly and a large ram-air duct stuffing cool atmosphere into the intake system. The traditional 4-fin theme along the fairings sides has a more pronounced 3D design this year, while great effort was expended to hide hooks and fasteners as much as possible. The bikes tail section is especially well-sculpted, with faired-in turn signals and a cool rear seat cowl standard on all U.S.-spec models boosting aesthetic performance.
The body package offers functional benefits as well as aesthetic ones. The reshaped seat, for instance, offers more thigh support and makes it easier for vertically challenged riders to reach the ground. The bodyworks venting system is better at extracting heated air from the engine bay and away from the rider and passenger.
The new ZX-14s instruments and controls have been reworked as well, with a newly finished gauge cluster and a new multi-function switch on the left handlebar that handles all system functions; you can toggle the LCD screen using the upper/lower buttons, and easily scroll through fuel consumption, remaining range, battery voltage, external temperature, traction control, etc., choosing and adjusting functions using the select button in the center of the toggle switch. Theres even an eco indicator on the LCD screen that lets riders know when theyre getting maximum economy and fuel mileage.
The end result of all this technology and all these features is a dominating open-class ride a supremely smooth, powerful and refined sporting motorcycle thatll gladly go anywhere theres asphalt and do it with an uncanny level of competence. High-aggression Sunday-morning rides? No worries. Two-up along the coast for the weekend? Easy. Commuting to and from work? Simple. Weekend bracket racing at the local dragstrip? Cake.
See? Its difficult to compete with an open-classer this good at so many things. Its a fact our competition knows all too well.
Authentic Kawasaki Accessories are available through Kawasaki dealers.
Engine
Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valve per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement
1,441 cc
Bore x Stroke
84.0 x 65.0 mm
Compression Ratio
12.3:1
Fuel System
DFI with four 44mm Mikuni throttle bodies
Ignition
TCBI with Digital Advance
Transmission
Six-Speed
Final Drive
X-Ring Chain
Rake/Trail
23 degrees / 3.7 in.
Front Tire Size
120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire Size
190/50 ZR17
Wheelbase
58.3 in.
Front Suspension / wheel travel
43mm inverted cartridge fork with adjustable preload, 18-way compression and 15-way rebound damping adjustment / 4.6 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel
Bottom-link Uni-Trak and gas-charged shock with adjustable preload, stepless rebound and compression damping adjustments, adjustable ride height / 4.9 in.
Front Brakes
Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs with dual radial-mounted four-piston calipers
Rear Brakes
Single 250mm petal disc with twin-piston caliper
Overall length
85.4 in.
Overall width
30.3 in.
Overall height
46.1 in.
Ground clearance
4.9 in.
Seat Height
31.5 in.
Curb Weight
584.3 lbs.
Fuel Capacity
5.8 gal
Color
Metallic Spark Black, Candy Surf Blue, Golden Blazed Green with special graphics (SE)
Warranty
12 months
Good Times Protection Plan
12, 24, 36 or 48 months
Engine
Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valve per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement
1,441 cc
Bore x Stroke
84.0 x 65.0 mm
Compression Ratio
12.3:1
Fuel System
DFI with four 44mm Mikuni throttle bodies
Ignition
TCBI with Digital Advance
Transmission
Six-Speed
Final Drive
X-Ring Chain
Rake/Trail
23 degrees / 3.7 in.
Front Tire Size
120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire Size
190/50 ZR17
Wheelbase
58.3 in.
Front Suspension / wheel travel
43mm inverted cartridge fork with adjustable preload, 18-way compression and 15-way rebound damping adjustment / 4.6 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel
Bottom-link Uni-Trak and gas-charged shock with adjustable preload, stepless rebound and compression damping adjustments, adjustable ride height / 4.9 in.
Front Brakes
Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs with dual radial-mounted four-piston calipers
Rear Brakes
Single 250mm petal disc with twin-piston caliper
Overall length
85.4 in.
Overall width
30.3 in.
Overall height
46.1 in.
Ground clearance
4.9 in.
Seat Height
31.5 in.
Curb Weight
584.3 lbs.
Fuel Capacity
5.8 gal
Color
Metallic Spark Black, Candy Surf Blue, Golden Blazed Green with special graphics (SE)
Warranty
12 months
Good Times Protection Plan
12, 24, 36 or 48 months
Tags: 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, Beartooth Kawasaki, Kawasaki, Kawasaki Ninja
