Kawasaki ZX-12R Ninja
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Kawasaki had long owned the 'fastest motorcycle' crown with its ZZ-R1100, until Honda's Blackbird then Suzuki's Hayabusa moved the class on. The ZX-12R Ninja was Kawasaki's response. An all-new design, it uses a unique monocoque frame, together with a 142kW (190bhp) engine, the most powerful up to 2005. The chassis is aimed at speed: the frame is narrower than a twin-spar design, and houses the airbox and battery, saving space elsewhere. Aerodynamic bodywork is dominated by a massive ram-air scoop, and huge mirrors, small canard wings on the lower fairing and cast spoilers on the forks help the ZX-12R to a top speed of 299km/h (186mph). It is also more sporty than the Hayabusa or Blackbird. After more than a half century of building high-performance aircraft, Kawasaki knows a lot about aerodynamics. Those little winglets that look like canards at the front of the fairing encourage laminar airflow at high speeds. For maximum efficiency, the Ram Air duct is centrally located at the area of highest pressure. This is a bike for those who have experience and seek the ultimate in terms of design and performance. The sleek lines of the most powerful Ninja ever belie the technology that lays beneath. At peak power the dual throttle body, fuel injected motor produces 190ps with Ram Air driven through a six speed gearbox to the massive 200 section rear tyre. Radial mounted front brake calipers demonstrate that this machine is as much about control as it is performance. And the Kawasaki immobiliser system fitted as standard shows thieves that the ZX-12R rider is serious about owning the ultimate expression of Ninja power and control.
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