Motorcycle "Kawasaki Ninja 600" (Kawasaki Ninja): specifications, description, reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The Japanese motorcycle "Kawasaki Ninja 600" was produced at the factories of Kawasaki Motorcycles from 1985 to 1995 and was intended for road racing. The machine has pronounced signs of a racing car, and a powerful engine that allows you to reach speeds of up to 280 kilometers per hour leaves no doubt about the outstanding technical characteristics of a fast bike.

Competition

The creators of the "Kawasaki Ninja 600" set themselves the goal of designing a motorcycle that would have significant sprinting potential. The competition in the world of racing and sports bikes is consistently high, and although the Kawasaki brand is considered dominant in many respects, it has long been breathing down the back of its head with Italian sprint models like Aprilia Tuono or German sportbikes from BMW Motorrad with two-cylinder boxer engines that at the right moment, they are able to double the speed in races on the circuit and still not fly off the track.

Weight Loss

Nevertheless, the task was completed, and in 1985 the "Kawasaki Ninja 600" went intomass production. The beginning was successful, and the developers were already celebrating the victory. However, if the first batches of cars showed good test results, it soon became clear that the Kawasaki Ninja 600 motorcycles were too heavy on turns, and this is a serious drawback for a racing car, fraught with unpredictable consequences. Without stopping the conveyor, Kawasaki engineers developed a program to gradually reduce the weight of the sportbike, while trying to place the center of gravity of the structure as low as possible. The results became noticeable immediately. The dry weight of the motorcycle has decreased from 192 to 180 kilograms. "Kawasaki Ninja" (600cc) has acquired the necessary maneuverability and stability in tight turns.

In addition to the unprecedented low weight, the bike has a responsive steering feature that is usually found only in light bikes with engines up to 125cc. In a word, perfect racing cars began to roll off the factory assembly line, which could guarantee the athlete a high place on the podium. Nevertheless, the engineering corps of the Kawasaki concern did not stop there and continued to improve the Kawasaki Ninja 600 model.

Optimization process

The next task for the developers was to achieve maximum harmony between the three positions that define the main parameters of the motorcycle. This is the landing of an athlete, ease of control and engine dynamics. In the road racing mode, the driver must sit in the saddle like a glove. Any movement, even for severalmillimeters, will inevitably disrupt the usual course of driving a motorcycle, speed will be lost, and after this, a prize.

The shape of the seat has been optimized, the cushion has been made stiffer, the rear suspension swingarm has been retracted slightly, resulting in a more stable seating position. Now the shocks of the rear wheel did not reach the rider, he was not thrown up on every bump, his hands merged into one with the steering wheel, and the accelerator handle made it possible to keep in touch with the motorcycle at the level of complete understanding.

External data

The exterior of the Kawasaki Ninja 600 has a solid feel to it. The slightly "humped" contours of the fuel tank indicate a willingness to support the rider at the moment of the highest speeds, when he needs to duck and lie down on the gas tank to minimize air resistance. The whole look of the sportbike gives the impression of swiftness, it seems that it is about to take off.

The contours of the body parts are perfect, without the slightest tension linked to other parts of the motorcycle body. Harmony is seen in everything. The restrained growl of the engine leaves no doubt that the sportbike is able to leave all other racers far behind.

The front of the motorcycle is equipped with two powerful headlights, the air intake of the Ram Air system is placed in the center below. The front direction indicators are integrated into the front fairing, while the cone-shaped rear indicators are mounted on brackets. The stoplight is high up and very visible.

The instrument panel is digital, consisting of a speedometer, tachometer, gear shift sensor, stopwatch, odometer and a set of indicator lights.

The muffler is a complex chrome-plated module with perforation along the edge of the bell. Some motorcycles were equipped with direct-flow exhaust devices.

"Kawasaki Ninja 600" specifications

Dimensional and weight parameters:

• motorcycle length - 2065mm;
• height along the saddle line - 830 mm;
• width - 685 mm;
• wheelbase - 1385 mm;
• ground clearance, clearance - 135 mm;
• motorcycle dry weight 180kg;
• gas tank capacity - 18 liters;
• fuel reserve - 3.5 liters;
• fuel consumption - for every 100 kilometers 6.2 liters;
• curb weight - 200 kg;
• maximum load - 189 kg.

Powerplant

Motorcycle-mounted engine, 4-stroke, petrol:

• number of cylinders - 4;
• cylinder diameter - 67 mm;
• stroke - 42.5mm;
• number of valves per cylinder - 4;
• total cylinder displacement - 599 cc;
• power - Keihin brand injector, 38mm inlet port;
• cooling - water;
• ignition - electronic, non-contact;
• maximum power - 128 hp With. at 14000 rpm;
• torque - 67 Nm at 13500 rpm.

Transmission -six-speed cassette transmission with foot lever shifting. The clutch is sliding, multi-disc.

Chassis

Motorcycle equipped with extended travel shock absorbers:

• front suspension - reverse design telescopic fork, offset standard, chainstay diameter - 39 mm;
• rear suspension - articulated pendulum with two hydraulic shock absorbers and damper springs;
• drive transmission of rotation to the rear wheel - chain, open type;
• brakes on both wheels - disc, ventilated, four-cylinder calipers; front disc diameter 310 mm, rear disc diameter 220 mm;
• front tire size 120/70ZR17;
• rear tire, size - 180/55ZR17;

Cost

The Kawasaki Ninja 600 model, the price of which is formed taking into account the year of manufacture and technical condition, can be estimated on average from 100 to 450 thousand rubles. A new motorcycle costs 615 and a half thousand in ruble terms.

Successors

In 1995, the Ninja 600 was replaced by the updated Kawasaki ZX-6R model, which was equipped with a more powerful motor and a new frame design cast in aluminum. The ZX-6R was successfully produced until 2001, and then its modernization began.

The exceptional driving performance of the Kawasaki ZX-6R model was fully manifested at the World Championship under the auspices of"Supersport" when Australian rider Andrew Pitt took the title in the 600cc motorcycle class.

Customer Reviews

The owners of the "Ninja 600" model and subsequent modifications are athletes who cut through high-speed autobahns, or racers of a highway-ring format. Both of them speak about motorcycles of the Kawasaki brand in enthusiastic tones. The dynamic engine allows the car to pick up speed of 100 kilometers per hour from the start in 3.8 seconds. After that, the rider decides whether to stay in this low-speed mode or turn the throttle and go to a speed of 280 km/h.

No one has been able to realize the full potential of Kawasaki yet. Riders, having covered the distance, say that there is a feeling of potential not being used to the end. The motorcycle handles the road superbly, easily passes sharp turns, never falls over and does not skid.