Green Blur

This piece is all about spending a few days with a true-blue (or, in this case, green) supersport

- Joshua Varghese

THERE ARE AS MANY AS THREE motorcycles from the current line-up of WorldSSP race machines that are sold in India but only one of them is an in-line four: the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. Most of our time with this Ninja went by in a green blur but here are the things that stood out for us.

Among the other 600s in the supersport class, the ZX-6R possesses the largest displacement. Its engine is a 636-cc, 16-valve, DOHC, in-line four that has a compression ratio of 12.9:1 and a 15,000-rpm red-line. It develops 124 hp (129 hp with ram air) at 13,000 rpm and a peak torque of 69 Nm at 10,800 rpm. If we are comparing spec-sheet data, then this model is not as powerful as the previous generation and, I must say, I have not ridden that motorcycle, but having tested the latest model, it is evident that this one is not to be taken lightly. Those who have ridden litre-class motorcycles may find the performance more usable in comparison but for everyone else, the 6R is a force to be reckoned with.

The engine is a screamer and the exhaust note is addictive. It sings through each gear with intent and delivers the full supersport experience. I must point out that at 198 kilograms, it is almost as heavy as a litre-class motorcycle, so the power-toweight ratio is nothing extraordinary but it does accelerate with zest. Revs build up freely and rapidly with the engine coming alive properly in the upper reaches of the power-band. Which means, to enjoy this motorcycle to its full potential, it has to be ridden fast. Considering that 0-100 km/h is dismissed in less than five seconds and it is capable of doing it in first gear, this is a quick machine but it is easier to use to its full potential than a 1,000-cc superbike.

That said, to fully enjoy the ZX-6R, a rider needs skill, physical fitness, and the ability to focus. This is not a machine that appreciates sloppy thinking when it is singing through its four-into-one exhaust past 10,000 rpm.