Sportsbikes

Engine Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16 valve DOHC inline 4
Bore x Stroke 79 x 58 mm
Displacement, 1137 cc
Compression ratio 11:1
Fuel 91 octane unleaded gasoline
Carburetors 42 mm slanted flat-slide CV x 4
Max. Power 121 kW (164 HP) @ 10,000 rpm
Max. Torque 124 N·m @ 7,250 rpm
Ignition Computer-controlled digital transistorised with electronic advance
Starter Electric
Transmission 6-speed close ratio gearbox
Final drive 17 tooth front sprocket, 45 tooth sprocket (US) 530-110 ‘O’-ring sealed chain
Dimensions (LxWxH) 2,160 x 720 x 1,170 mm
Wheelbase 1,490 mm
Seat height 810 mm
Ground clearance 130 mm
Fuel tank Capacity 23 L, including 4 L reserve
Wheels Hollow-section triple-spoke cast
Tires front Bridgestone BT 57 – 120/70 ZR17 Radial
Rear Bridgestone BT 57 – 180/55 ZR17 Radial
Suspension front 43 mm HMAS Cartridge-type fork, 120 mm travel
Suspension rear Pro-link HMAS with gas-charged damper, rebound adjustable 120 mm travel
Brakes front Linked Braking System, 310 mm dual disks with “dual combined” three-piston calipers
Brakes rear Linked Braking System, 256 mm single disk with three-piston caliper
Dry weight 223 kg (491 lb)

Kawasaki Motors Racing was the European subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which is located in Netherlands. It is responsible for managing the racing activities of the MotoGP team and any other motorcycle racing activities Kawasaki may enter in the future.

The subsidiary was setup in 2007 as a result of the Japanese manufacturer’s recent necessary split from Harald Eckl. The reason for the split was Eckl’s involvement with a competitor’s MotoGP activities, which forced Kawasaki to terminate the relationship immediately. For the first time since Kawasaki returned to the premier class of motorcycle racing, the team became a complete ‘in house’ factory team.

In 2003 the Kawasaki Racing Team was formed after Kawasaki had developed their new 990cc ZX-RR bike throughout 2002 and raced it in the last race of the 2002 MotoGP season. Harald Eckl was made team manager with the team being based in Germany. It wasn’t until 2004 that Kawasaki had two riders – Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano, who raced for the entire season. Nakano placed 3rd in Japan that year achieving Kawasaki’s first podium finish in MotoGP.