Kawasaki Ninja ZX-7R explained

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-7R
Aka:1989 to 1995 ZXR-750 - ZXR-750R
1989 to 1995 US ZX-7 - ZX-7R
1996 to 2003 ZX-7R - ZX-7RR
Manufacturer:Kawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Company
Parent Company:Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Production:1989-2003
Predecessor:GPX750R
Class:Sport bike
Engine:748cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 16-valve DOHC, inline-four
Bore Stroke:73mm44.7mm
Compression:11.5:1
Top Speed:NaNmph[1]
Power:NaNhp (rear wheel)
@ 11,500 rpm
Torque:NaNlbft (rear wheel)
@ 9,000 rpm
Frame:Aluminum twin-spar
Suspension:Front: adjustable 43 mm inverted cartridge fork
Rear: Uni-Trak (monoshock) swingarm
Brakes:Front: twin 320mm semi-floating front discs with Tokico six-piston calipers
Rear: 230mm disc with twin-piston opposed caliper.
Tires:120/70ZR17, 190/50ZR17
Rake Trail:25.0°, 3.9inches
Wheelbase:56.5inches
Seat Height:30.9inches
Dry Weight:460lb[2]
Wet Weight:NaNlb[3]
Fuel Capacity:4.8gal
Oil Capacity:3.8USqt
Related:Kawasaki ZXR250
Kawasaki ZXR400
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-7R was a motorcycle in the Ninja sport bike series from the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki produced from 1989 until 2003. It remained largely unchanged through its production. Kawasaki used inverted forks starting in 1991, added ram air using a single tube, and in 1996, twin tube ram air and Tokico six piston brakes and fully adjustable suspension.From 1989 through 1995 in the US market, Kawasaki called the ZXR-750 and ZXR-750R the ZX-7 and ZX-7R respectively. Starting from 1996 Kawasaki dropped the ZXR name worldwide and the former ZXR-750 was now ZX-7R and the limited edition homologation special ZXR-750R/ZX-7R started in 1991 was now ZX-7RR.[4]

Overview

The ZX-7R has a 749 cc in-line four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.

The frame used on the ZX-7R is a lightweight aluminum twin-spar item, designed using computer-aided design to optimize strength. The rear subframe was constructed using steel, providing enough strength for a pillion passenger.

The swingarm used largely the same fabrication techniques to produce a hollow cast and pressed aluminum alloy hybrid swingarm, and the Uni-Trak rear suspension system features a predominantly lightweight alloy and aluminum construction. The Uni-Trak system was designed to provide a progressively stiffer damping and spring rate under compression. The rear suspension unit is fully adjustable in terms of damping, preload and compression.

The front suspension found on the ZX-7R comprises a fully adjustable 8-way compression and 12-way rebound 43 mm inverted cartridge fork.

Front brakes are 320 mm semi-floating front discs and Tokico six-piston calipers. Rear brakes feature a 230 mm disc with a twin-piston opposed caliper.

The ZX-7RR differs from the road model with an adjustable head-stock angle, swing arm pivot, additional increased adjustability 28-way compression and 13-way rebound to the front and 14-way rebound for the rear suspension, ten more than the R model, a solo cowl with a different aluminum subframe, and 41 mm flat-slide carburetors versus the 38mm on the base R model. It also has a close ratio gear-box fitted as standard and a crankshaft flywheel that is heavier and Nissin front brake calipers.[1] [5]

Cycle World recorded a time of 10.82 seconds at .[2]

Racing

The ZX-7RR was raced, winning 12 AMA superbike championships. Kawasaki's Road Racing team riders were Eric Bostrom, Doug Chandler and Scott Russell. Doug Toland won the 1993 Endurance FIM World Championship. Andreas Hofmann won the 1997 Macau Grand Prix.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1996 Kawasaki ZX-7R . . March 1996 . 43–48 .
  2. Web site: Superbikes With Soul: Classic vs. Modern Superbike Comparison Test. Ienatsch . Nick . Cycle World. October 29, 2016. May 27, 2013 .
  3. Web site: Sportbike Weights and Measurements. Sport Rider. September 18, 2016. August 23, 2011. February 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180223171220/https://www.sportrider.com/tech/sportbike-weights-and-measurements. dead.
  4. Web site: Bike Icon: Kawasaki ZXR750 . Shippey . Mark . Visor Down. April 19, 2017. October 10, 2010 .
  5. Web site: SR Archive: Kawasaki Zx-7RR Road Test Review. Kunitsugu. Kent. Sport Rider. April 19, 2017. January 4, 2017. January 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113110950/http://www.sportrider.com/sr-archive-kawasaki-zx-7rr-road-test-review#page-2//. dead.