Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11

Ninja ZX-11

Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Also called	ZZ-R1100
Predecessor	ZX-10
Successor	ZZ-R1200/ZX-12R
Class	Sport bike or sport tourer
Engine	1,052 cc (64.2 cu in) 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled
Top speed	176 mph (283 km/h)[1][2]
Power	134.4 hp (100.2 kW) (rear wheel) [3] 145 bhp (108 kW) @ 10,500 rpm (claimed)[4]
Torque	78.8 lb·ft (106.8 N·m) (rear wheel)[5]80.0 lb·ft (108.5 N·m)@ 8,000 rpm (claimed)[2]
Transmission	6 speed
Weight	549 lb (249 kg)[2] (dry) 603 lb (274 kg)[5] (wet)
Fuel consumption	42.7 mpg-US (5.51 L/100 km; 51.3 mpg-imp)[5]

1992 Kawasaki ZX-11 C Model

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 (or ZZ-R1100) is a motorcycle that was produced from 1990 to 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 to 1993 while the D-model ran from 1993 to 2001. The ZX-10 was the predecessor of the ZX-11 Ninja.

Competition for fastest production motorcycle

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, when it was surpassed by the 1996 Honda CBR1100XX.^[5][6][7][8] 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 ZX-11 also had a ram air induction system.^[4][6] The 1992 model saw a Ram-air intake^[9] the very first on any production motorcycle model. The 1997 ZX-11's quarter mile time was 10.43 seconds at 131.39 mph (211.45 km/h).^[5]

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. European governments threatened to ban high speed motorcycles, leading Kawasaki to de-tune the ZX-12R prior to its release.^{[4][10][11][12][13]} Starting at the very end of 1999, a gentlemen's agreement between larger European and Japanese manufacturers has limited production motorcycle top speeds to 300 km/h (186 mph),^[4][10][1]

In 2002 the Kawasaki ZZ-R1200 was released, which is a sport tourer and more akin to the ZX-11.

Notes

1. Burns, John (April 2, 2012), "Fifty Years of "Do You Have Any Idea How Fast You Were Going?" A brief history of Ludicrous Speed", Cycle World, Archived from the original on April 7, 2012, retrieved November 5, 2012
2. Burns, John (December 24, 2013). "30 Years of Ninjas: 1984 GPz900 Ninja to 1990 ZX-11!". Cycle World. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
3. "2002 Kawasaki ZZR1200 Motorcycle Test". Motorcyclist. February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
4. Ker, Rod (2007), Classic Japanese Motorcycle Guide, Sparkford, UK: Haynes Publishing, pp. 226–227, 230, ISBN 184425335X
5. "Performance Index '10" (PDF), Motorcycle Consumer News (Bowtie Magazines), 2010, retrieved 2011-02-14
6. Brown, Roland (2006), The Ultimate History of Fast Motorcycles, Bath, UK: Parragon, pp. 214–215, ISBN 1-4054-7303-7
7. Holmstrom, Darwin (2001), The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles (2nd ed.), Alpha Books, p. 346, ISBN 0-02-864258-9
8. Hunt, Phil; McKay, Malcolm; Wilson, Hugo; Robinson, James (2012), Duckworth, Mick, ed., Motorcycle: The Definitive Visual History, DK Publishing, Penguin Group, p. 193, ISBN 978-1-46540-088-8Duckworth says the ZZ-R1100 became the fastest production bike in 1994, not 1990. Need to follow up and clarify.
9. "Ram Air: Test". Sport Rider. October 1999. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
10. Brown, Roland (2 October 1999), "200mph superbike has its makers scared; [1F Edition]", The Times (London, UK: News Corporation), p. 53, ISSN 0140-0460
11. Boule, Joe (21 July 2000), "Putting the brakes on big bikes: Kawasaki backs off 300 km/h barrier amid rumours of a speed cap; [Final Edition]", Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario: James Orban), p. C.1.FRO, ISSN 0839-3222
12. Cole, Bernard (14 March 1999), "High-speed fears over superbikes. [Early Edition]", Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, UK: Trinity Mirror), p. 6, ISSN 0039-5242
13. Richardson, Mark (3 July 1999), "Adrenalin rush should not be a prelude to death; Young novices and fast bikes don't mix; [1 Edition]", Toronto Star (Toronto, Ontario: B.H. Honderich), p. 1, ISSN 0319-0781