2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Review | MC Commute

The 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is a highly capable machine that is ready for both street and racetrack flogging. Flexibility in the Kawasaki’s engine performance and a superb chassis balance makes for an enjoyable riding experience, while aggressive ergonomics and race inspiration beg for hardcore ripping. This bike will make you rethink the middleweight supersport category.

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It’s an awesome, almost nostalgic feeling to destroy apexes and burn tires on Southern California’s Palomar Mountain aboard the 2020 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R—a modern-day middleweight supersport that once ruled the heyday race-inspired sportbikes. But settling into the slog on Interstate 5 and meandering through traffic while returning to the Motorcyclist offices, this supersport proved so much more enticing than just a back-road ripper.

There’s no doubt that the Ninja ZX-6R is inspired by Kawasaki’s racing heritage, as seen through an aggressive chassis, high-spec components, and sharp styling, but Kawasaki has tuned it to pack usable street potential.

The Ninja ZX-6R is powered by Team Green’s stroked 636cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four engine, which has been engineered to deliver a broader torque curve and offer more flexibility than the typical supersport. In fact, prior to testing, we ran the Kawasaki on our in-house Dynojet 250i dyno where it recorded a peak 109.7 hp at 13,400 rpm and 45.4 pound-feet of torque at 11,000 rpm.

For reference, the last time we ran the super-popular Yamaha YZF-R6 on the dyno, it produced 100.4 hp at 13,700 rpm and 42.4 pound-feet of torque at 10,000 rpm. They are similar peak numbers, but it’s important to note the Kawasaki’s superior torque from idle to redline and a more powerful midrange. At 8,000 rpm, the Ninja ZX-6R pumps out roughly 14 hp and 10 pounds of torque more than the Yamaha.

This translates to a punchy midrange performance and more flexible gear selection than the typical 599cc supersport competition in everyday riding scenarios. At low-to-mid rpm, the Kawasaki confidently pulls away from stoplights without issue and doesn’t require screaming-high revs to meander around town. Turning the throttle of the ZX-6R offers an incredibly smooth initial throttle response, while a heavy fist will squirt off corner exits in arm-tugging superport style, which is aided by the wheelspin-mitigating, three-level (plus off) Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) for performance and safety. Add the OE-fitted electronic quickshifter and the Kawasaki quickly rips through its well-spaced, six-speed transmission to sportbike euphoria.

The ZX-6R’s chassis is impressive too. The Kawasaki pairs a relatively low, measured 432-pound wet weight with aggressive supersport geometry for a confidence-inspiring ride while hustling through the canyons. It’s nimble and smashes side-to-side transitions with little effort, and offers impressive feedback through the showroom-stock Bridgestone S22 tires at maximum lean angles. But it’s also notably stable. Suspension action from the Showa Big Piston fork and shock is pleasant, offering a balance of big-hit support and small-bump compliance. The Ninja ZX-6R floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.

Commuting through the urban environment, the Ninja shows its supersport colors. The rider triangle is aggressive, as expected. Footpeg position is raised up and pushed back in an athletic stance, which is great for using leg strength to position the Kawasaki where you want it. That means the position is cramped for the long haul and, paired with a stiff seat cushion, grows uncomfortable in a few miles. Likewise, the race-inspired handlebar positions create excess pressure on the wrists during commutes.

Regardless, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is a highly capable machine that is ready for both street and racetrack flogging. Flexibility in the Kawasaki’s engine performance and a superb chassis balance makes for an enjoyable riding experience, while aggressive ergonomics and race inspiration beg for hardcore ripping. This bike will make you rethink the middleweight supersport category.

My vote is for 636cc supersports from every manufacturer, please.

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Videography/edit: Bert Beltran
Photography: Jeff Allen

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