The 2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R has been homologated for AMA Pro Racing, making it eligible for the Daytona Sportbike and Supersport classes for 2013. The news comes as a bit of a surprise as those classes typically consist of Inline Four racebikes with a displacement smaller than 600cc.

The new Ninja ZX-6R immediately carries a displacement advantage over its I-4 competition in the class such as the Honda CBR600R, Suzuki GSX-R600 and Yamaha YZF-R6. Also eligible in those classes are the Ducati 848 (a Twin) and the Triumph Daytona 675 which uses a three-cylinder engine. The 636 will carry a weight penalty however, facing a minimum weight of 375 pounds compared to 355 pounds for the sub-600cc bikes.

The last time Kawasaki had a 636cc Ninja, it produced a 599cc  ZX-6RR for competition purposes. Kawasaki did the same this time for Japan, introducing a limited production run of the 599cc Ninja ZX-6R because the 636cc version did not qualify for its domestic racing program. The AMA has decided this wasn’t necessary and gave the new, larger Ninja approval.

The 2013 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R will also be eligible for various classes in the WERA, CCS, AFM, MRA, CVMA, CMRA and UtahSBA championships. Continue Reading »

When Kawasaki announced it was upping the engine displacement for the Ninja ZX-6R to 636cc, the immediate question on many Team Green fans’ minds was what it would mean for the company’s supersport racing efforts. Kenan Sofuloglu won the 2012 World Supersport Championship on a Kawasaki ZX-6R, but under the regulations, he may not be allowed to defend his title next season on the 2013 model as homologation requirements in Supersport racing series limit Inline-Fours to displacements smaller than 600cc.

Fear not however, as Kawasaki will be producing a special version of the ZX-6R with an engine displacement of 599cc, the same as the 2012 version. When Kawasaki last produced a 636cc ZX-6R from 2003-2006, it also produced a 599cc ZX-6RR for racing purposes. The 2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R racing homologation special will be available in Japan for a price of 898,000 yen (US$11,240). Continue Reading »

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A spreadsheet from the United States Environmental Protection Agency listing 2013 motorcycle certification data includes information about new an all-new Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the Ninja 400R, while also confirming reports the new ZX-6R will return to a 636cc engine displacement.

Appearing on the EPA’s spreadsheet doesn’t necessarily mean these models will be introduced to the U.S. market however. The Kawasaki Ninja 400R was included in a similar document for 2012 but was never introduced. The 2013 document does not include a Ninja 250 (pictured above) which was recently updated for other markets, so it is likely to be replaced by the new Ninja 300.

According to the EPA document, the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 will be powered by a fuel-injected 296cc four-valve twin-cylinder engine. Power is listed at 29 kW (which translates to 39hp) at 11,000 rpm.The documents lists both an ABS and a non-ABS version. Continue Reading »