Kawasaki India launches the Ninja ZX-10RR

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is an a awesome motorcycle and at around Rs 17 lakh (give or take a few thousand) ex-showroom, is pretty good value for money too. Does that mean the new RR spec-ed bike that was launched this week, is outrageously over priced? In fact, the pricing begs the question, why is the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR priced at such a premium over the ZX-10R?

It’s super exclusive

Only 500 units of this near race-spec bike will be sold globally. Begs the question, why has it even been launched here? One of only two reasons come to the mind. Someone in India has actually bought one or Kawasaki wants the attention a bike like this inevitably garners. Or perhaps for both reasons.

Reworked engine

The cylinder head of the standard ZX-10R has been redesigned to give clearance for high lift cam’s while the crankcase has been reinforced for high rigidity. The tappets are also coated with a material that Kawasaki is calling DLC (diamond like carbon). These are all technologies that have been lifted straight off Kawasaki’s WSBK pits.

New Quickshifter

While the close ratio cassette type gearbox of the ZX-10R has been retained, the ZX-10RR gets a race ECU as standard fitment. This means both clutchless upshifts and downshifts are now possible since the engine revs are now matched automatically.

New wheels and tyres

In its ZX-10RR guise this litre-class manic Kwacker gets a tasty pair of 17-inch seven spoke forged aluminium Marchesini wheels shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres as standard kit.

As for the rest of the bike, it’s still the gorgeously balanced ZX-10R. We can’t wait to get our hands on it and tell you if it’s worth that Rs 21.9 lakh. Kawasaki India, hope you’re listening.