Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11

Ninja ZX-11

Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Predecessor	ZX-10
Successor	ZZ-R1200/ZX-12R
Class	Sport Tourer
Engine	1052 cc 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled
Top speed	169 mph (272 km/h)
Power	108 kW (147 PS) @ 10,500 rpm[citation needed] 92 kW (125 PS) @ 9,500 rpm (UK)[citation needed] 68 kW (92 PS) @ 8,500 rpm (Sweden)[citation needed]
Torque	110 N·m @ 8,500 rpm[citation needed] 86 N·m (8.8 kgf·m, 63.7 ft·lbf) @ 4,500 rpm (Sweden)[citation needed]
Transmission	6 speed

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 (or ZZ-R1100) was produced from 1990–2001. It was marketed as the ZX-11 Ninja in North America and the ZZ-R1100 in the rest of the world. The C-model ran from 1990-1993 while the D-model ran from 1993-2001. The Ninja ZX-10 was the predecessor of the ZX-11 Ninja.

1992 Kawasaki ZX-11 C Model

With a record top speed of 169–175 mph (272–282 km/h) the ZX-11 was the fastest production motorcycle for six years, from its introduction in 1990 through 1995, until it was surpassed by the 1996 Honda CBR1100XX. When the bike was introduced in 1990, the nearest production bike top speed was 16 km/h (9.9 mph) slower and it belonged to the ZX-10, the bike that Kawasaki was replacing with the ZX-11. The 1997 ZX-11's quarter mile time was 10.43 seconds at 131.39 mph (211.45 km/h). The ZX-11 was also the first production bike to be have a ram air induction system.

The 1999 CBR1100XX Blackbird was reengineered to include ram air like the ZX11, but Honda also added fuel injection, which raised the 1997 and 1998 CBR's 135 hp (101 kW),^{[citation needed]} to 164 hp (122 kW)^{[citation needed]} in 1999 and the top end to 186 mph (299 km/h),^{[citation needed]} but by that time, a new bike came on the scene, the 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa, which beat the 1999 Blackbird by 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph),^{[citation needed]} with stock times in the mid 190's. In 2001, The world's fastest production motorcycle superbike wars were over, with the Hayabusa the last champion. Since 2000, a gentlemen's agreement between manufacturers has limited production motorcycle top speeds to 300 km/h (186 mph).

In 2000 the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R was introduced. The ZX-12 was designed to be more of a pure sportbike. It was much anticipated since the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa held the title for fastest production bike when it was introduced in 1999. Pre-production ZX-12R models were tested in Japan and were indeed faster than the Hayabusa,^{[citation needed]} but European governments threatened to ban it altogether,^{[citation needed]} leading Kawasaki to de-tune the ZX-12R prior to its release. Consequently the ZX-12R failed to de-throne the Hayabusa as top speed king, though terminal speeds for both models were very close.^{[citation needed]} In 2002 the Kawasaki ZZR1200 was released which is a sport tourer and more akin to the ZX-11.

Notes

Records
Preceded by Bimota YB6 EXUP	Fastest production motorcycle 1990–1995	Succeeded by Honda CBR1100XX