2024 Kawasaki Ninja ZX

Jul 18, 2023

Comes loaded with a new design, features, and the same juicy 636cc powerhouse

The Ninja ZX-6R has been an integral part of Kawasaki's roster since 1995. In all these years, it's undergone several updates, all of which made it one of the finest supersport screamers money could buy regardless of the decade. But its last update came in 2019, and the 6R feels a tad aged in the ongoing decade, especially against the new breed of feature-loaded mid-capacity sports bikes. To counter that, Team Green has now taken the wraps off the 2024 Ninja ZX-6R, overhauled with a bevy of updates from head to toe. More importantly, this shows just how serious the Japanese giant is about internal combustion motorcycles and inline-four mills. Let's dive in.

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As suggested by leaked patents in Japan, the ZX-6R has a refreshed design for 2024. Up top, it features an all-new LED split-headlight, never-seen-before on a Kawasaki Ninja. It features LED projectors in each of its eyes, ripe with what Team Green calls "mono-focused LED technology". This is housed inside new, radical fairings which brings a bit of Ninja ZX-10R flavor to the mix. The tail end, meanwhile, carries forward the identical LED light, now partnered by LED blinkers. To no one's surprise, you also get new color options, namely Pearl Robotic White (with red wheels), Metallic Flat Spark Black, and the KRT livery (inspired by WSBK).

What about features, you ask? Well, the supersport finally bids adieu to its semi-digital instrument cluster in favor of Kawasaki's staple 4.3-inch TFT. This comes laden with smartphone connectivity (via the Rideology app) that lets you view phone notifications on the dash and vice-versa.

Also part of the package is a set of new electronic rider aids. These include four riding modes (Sport, Road, Rain, or Manual), three modes of traction control, and two power modes. An up-only quickshifter is standard too–a bummer considering a bi-directional unit is the new norm. Anyway, not much has changed ergonomically. The 6R is still committed as ever, thanks to the low clip-on handlebars, rear-set footrests, and a 32.7-inch seat height. There are no changes to the rake (23.5 degrees) and trail (4 inches) either.

The biggest talking point about the 2024 Ninja ZX-6R is its powerhouse. In a time when inline-four engines are rarer than ever (due to emission norms), Kawasaki has stuck to its guns and updated the 636cc, four-cylinder mill. It has loads of internal changes (revised cam profiles, intake funnels, headers, collectors), which help it produce a maximum of 127 horsepower (with RAM air in action), albeit at 13,000 RPM (500 lower than the ‘23 model). These also make it compliant with European norms–a feat no other supersport scream has achieved in the last five years. Talk about exclusivity!

We’re yet to find out the peak performance of the US-spec 6R, though, and we hope it doesn't meet the same fate as the severely underpowered ZX-4RR. If there's no drop in power, the supersport will be the most powerful sub-700cc sports bike. The 2023 Honda CBR600RR and Aprilia RS660 both have considerably lower peak outputs at ~115-HP and 100-HP, respectively, while only the 2023 Suzuki GSX-R600 manages upwards of 120-HP.

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Under all this, the ZX-6R continues to feature an aluminum perimeter chassis. It's sprung on upside-down 41 mm Showa SFF-BP forks and gas-charged Uni-Trak monoshock, both fully adjustable and clamped onto 17-inch wheels. But you’ll have added confidence now, since these hoops wear Pirelli Rosso IV rubber and house new dual 310 mm disc brakes/single 220 mm rotor (F/R). Since this isn't too different, the ground clearance (5.1 inches) and curb weight (430 pounds) both remain identical. Same goes for the 55.1-inch wheelbase.

Thanks to the updates, Kawasaki USA has priced the new ZX-6R from $11,299, which goes up to $12,299 for the ABS variant. This is $600 more than the outgoing starting MSRP, but the supersport is nowhere near the "expensive" side of things. We say this because the base MSRP is still lower than the now-dated $11,699 Suzuki GSX-R600 and the $12,099 Honda CBR600RR. It even undercuts the Aprilia RS660 by a decent $200. So all things considered, the ZX-6R's position remains as it is in the market, with an unmatched power-to-price ratio, now bettered by added features and sexier looks.

Punya is an avid motorcyclist who's always up for a ride to the canyons or the racetrack. He insists his riding skills are better than his writing skills, even though he's worked with some world-renowned automotive websites.