Motorcycle specifications Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ZX-10R SE 2019 Sport à la carte

It's been a while since Kawa raised the power limit on its 10R missile. Regularly improved in small steps, the current version of the Ninja receives an engine optimization for 2019 that will not go unnoticed by mechanical enthusiasts. If you manage to peek behind the radiator, you'll see a beautiful red cylinder head cover. For a dose of tuning? Not at all. This means that the 4-cylinder engine benefits from a redesigned cylinder head with finger-guided valve timing. As a result, the block is able to rev more, and boast more power. Three more horsepower at 500 rpm, with a maximum of 203 horsepower at 13,500 rpm. A little more torque too, with 1/10th of a mkg more. Want even more performance? The cylinder head can now be fitted with the meaner camshafts of the racing kit.

As the Ninja's top-of-the-range counterpart, this edition needed premium features. This year, we've added self-repairing paint to certain parts of the bodywork, similar to that recently introduced on the 1000 H2. The tank and its sub-panels are covered. Not enough to erase scratches made by keys or coins, but enough to heal minor scratches.
It's an interesting contrast to the 10R, which continues to sharpen its teeth and offer powerful experiences on both track and road.

Driving a big sports car on the road has always required a great deal of composure to exploit its full potential without becoming over-committed. Recent advances in electronics have made it possible to delegate part of the job. Like most hypersports bikes, the Kawasaki ZX-10R has its own big package of chips and silicon: traction control, driving modes, engine braking control, launch control, multi-axis inertial unit, ABS, etc.... We can go even further, especially to improve driving conditions on the road. And that's the mission of the ZX-10 R SE with its pilot-controlled suspension.

Self-reflecting damping is one of the great assets of modern machines. It's a relief to leave the tools in the garage and easily adjust the settings. This ZX-10R introduces Kawa's first semi-active system, known as KECS (Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension). With this, the Superbike Ninja will be able to read the road, adjust in real time and offer a feeling and efficiency welcome to road riders. But how does it work?
The Akashi-based manufacturer worked with Showa to develop this technology. First, they took most of the components from the excellent BFFF cartridge fork and BFRC shock absorber. Then, to graft the brains of an ultra-fast controlled damping system and transform it all with highly reactive technology.
In concrete terms, every millisecond, sensors integrated into the fork and shock absorber inform the KECS control unit of travel speed and compression. To complete the picture, every 10 milliseconds the inertial unit provides information on the machine's acceleration or deceleration. The KECS acts on this data, activating solenoid valves to adjust compression and rebound in a fraction of a second. A blink of an eye is at best 1 hundredth of a second. The control valves on the 10R SE are 10 times faster, thanks to single-stage direct control. Reaction time is given as 1 ms, much faster than stepper motors or double-stage pilot valves. So, depending on the road profile and the bike's dynamics, the damping reacts even faster than a human nerve impulse.

As humans, we don't always get up in the same mood. Driving is no different. It's best to adapt. To accommodate this, KECS offers 3 damping modes. ROAD, with a softer type of damping; TRACK, for firmer damping; and MANUAL, where the rider determines his or her basic settings according to 15 levels of compression and rebound damping. The electronics and sensors then react according to the rider's preferences. The settings have been adapted to the mill's new power.

Proud of its adaptive suspension, the ZX-10R SE is nonetheless discreet, with a black-grey color scheme reminiscent of that of the former ZX-10RR (the 'Winter Tests' deco). In fact, it's not afraid to steal its Marchesini forged aluminum wheels and Up&Down shifter. A few touches of green and a special SE plate on the top of the tank identify this electronically enhanced bike. On the scales, the SE weighs in at a paltry 2 kilos more. On the engine side, the cavalry is still present with its big 203 in the 4-cylinder, offering its best at high revs.

The ZX-10R family is now available in 3 models. Standard (KRT) for high-caliber riders, RR for competition riders, and SE for auto-reactive damping. A way to tease the R1M and Fireblade SP. You won't get Öhlins, but you'll get faster control response. And for a very different price. The ZX-10R SE will still cost around 5,000 euros more than the basic version.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos