Production 2000–2006 Class Sport bike | ||
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Parent company Kawasaki Heavy Industries Engine 1,199 cc (73.2 cu in) inline four | ||
The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R is a motorcycle in the Ninja sport bike series from the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki produced from 2000 until 2006. In those years the ZX-12R at 178 hp (133 kW) at low speed to 190 hp (140 kW) at high speed with ram-air intake,was the most powerful production motorcycle up to 2006 and the release of the ZX-14. It was known as a contender to be the fastest production motorcycle, and for its role in bringing to a truce the escalating competition to build a ever faster motorcycle. Its top speed of 187 mph made it the fastest production motorcycle for sale from 2000 to 2006.
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The ZX-12R has the distinction of only being called a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R and not called a ZZ-R1200. Unlike the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 also called a ZZ-R1100 and the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 also called a ZZ-R1400. A separate bike the ZZ-R1200 also called a ZX-12C, built from 2002 to 2005 was solely to have this model designation. It followed the ZX-11C and later model ZX-11D when it was discontinued after 2001, and this bike the ZZ-R1200 is more akin to the ZX-11/ZZ-R1100 and was its successor.
Top speed limited by agreement
From the first production ZX-12R, in the 2000 model year, its top speed was restricted by a motorcycle manufacturer gentlemen's agreement that was started in late 1999. This was due to a voluntary gentlemen's agreement that included BMW Motorrad and the Japanese manufacturers, amid fears of government regulation of motorcycle speeds mainly in Europe. Prior to the agreement, with rumors of going 200-mphKawasaki had planned a world press event to launch their answer to Suzuki's Hayabusa, but the event was abruptly cancelled, and instead the ZX-12R with a revised engine control unit that limited speed to about 300 km/h was released with no fanfare or comment by Kawasaki.
Performance
At its introduction the ZX-12R was Kawasaki's flagship sport bike and a competitor to the Suzuki Hayabusa. Handling and braking matched the power of the engine resulting in a motorcycle that was docile at low speeds and very easy to handle in heavy traffic, but had strong acceleration. The 1,199 cc (73.2 cu in) displacement engine generated 161.2 hp (120.2 kW) at the rear wheel. Cycle World tested the ZX-12R's 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) acceleration at 2.59 seconds. They found an electronically-limited top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h), a 60 to 0 mph (97 to 0 km/h) braking distance of 118 ft (36 m), and fuel economy of 32.1 mpg‑US (7.3 L/100 km; 38.6 mpg‑imp).
Innovation
While most sport bikes use an aluminum perimeter frame, the ZX-12R uses a unique monocoque aluminum frame. The very first use of this type of frame on a mass produced production motorcycle.This design surpasses the level of chassis strength and stiffness associated with conventional aluminum perimeter frames. Its intention was to make the bike narrower, and there by more aerodynamic. The design saves space by housing the battery and incorporating an efficient airbox and a cartridge-type air filter that easily slides into the frame. It was fuel injected with four Mikuni 46 mm throttle bodies and was Kawasaki's first fuel-injected sport bike since the 1981–1985 GPZ1100.
Model history
The 2002 model was updated with 140 changes. While some of those changes made the bike easier to launch, with a heavier crank and a reshaped flywheel and fuel mapping tweaks. It also lost 1.3 horsepower because of this vs. the 2000 and 2001 model. Revised suspension composed of stiffer springs in the forks and a softer spring on the shock. Cosmetic changes include sportier front fender and panels added to the inner fairing below the instruments and bars to make a more refined look. A massive ram-air intake scoop centrally located, protrudes from the fairing to take advantage of the higher air pressure, revised to be even more efficient. Because of this improvement it got back the 1.3 horsepower loss to keep its 190 hp (140 kW) at high speed with ram-air intake. Kawasaki have always been the master of ram-air as stated by MCNews.com.au. This intake is integrated into a wider and shorter front cowling which causes less drag on its aerodynamics from a jet aircraft, lowering the drag coefficient by one point from 33 to 32. The 2004 model got the addition of radial brakes and more fuel injection tweaks. The ZX-12R was discontinued in 2006 and followed by the ZX-14 (ZZR1400) the same year, also with a similar monocoque frame.