Kawasaki’s 2021 ZX-10 RR and ZX- 10 R revealed!

Date posted on November 24, 2020
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The street version of new Kawasaki ZX-10RR racebike first revealed by the Kawasaki SBK Racing Team during a two-day test at the Circuito de Jerez has now been officially unveiled by Kawasaki. It is the bike it hopes will continue Jonathan Rea’s six year winning streak in WSBK competition.

The ZX-10R’s front end so far has been the most radical and controversial. It’s been developed for on-track performance. Despite lacking winglets that many of its rivals now have, there are aerodynamic surfaces hidden behind the panels either side of the headlights, creating 17% more downforce than the previous design. The nose is claimed to reduce overall drag despite being less pointy than its predecessor, with a taller screen to let riders tuck in better.

Other detail changes are as follows:

– new smaller headlights are now full-LED units that weigh 450g less than the old bike’s halogen lights.

– reshaped ram-air intake that’s actually smaller than before but just as effective as the old design in boosting the engine’s performance at speed.

– riding position is to improve both comfort and control.

– The taller screen gives better wind protection,

– bars are straighter and 10mm further forward than before to give more leverage.

– A steeper slant to the rider’s seat encourages a tucked-in riding position, as do 5mm higher footpegs.

– a new engine oil cooler.

– new exhaust, which includes revised header pipes, a repositioned catalytic converter, a smaller collector box and longer silencer.

– additional weight from 206kg to 207kg (wet) for both the R and RR.

– a larger rear sprocket – 41t instead of 39t – and shorter ratios for 1st, 2nd and 3rd for improve acceleration.

– swingarm pivot of the base ZX-10R is moved down by a 1 mmto improve corner exit performance.

– 8mm longer swingarm

– fork offset is increased by 2mm

– increase in wheelbase of 10mm – from 1440mm to 1450mm – to improve stability and move the bike’s weight distribution fractionally more over the front wheel.

– Showa BFF forks with softer springs,
wider lower triple clamps and revised outer fork tubes.

– Showa BFRC Rear shock is with stiffer spring and softer compression and rebound damping.

– cruise control system

– 4.3in TFT dash that allows two display modes and can tie to your smartphone via Bluetooth to transmit vehicle and riding log information to Kawasaki’s Rideology app, as well as displaying call and mail notifications on the dash.

Peak power and torque figures have yet to be officially announced, but power is expected to be unchanged at 203PS (149.3kW) for the ZX-10R, achieved at a slightly lower 13,200rpm instead of the previous 13,500rpm.

The race homologation-special ZX-10RR – a limited-production model with just 500 due to be made – gets more significant engine changes including a higher rev limit set at 14,700 instead of 14,200rpm.

The ZX-10RR gets:
– new camshafts
– new valve springs
– new Pankl pistons (each 20g lighter) with one fewer piston rings, shorter skirts to reduce friction and DLC-coated piston pins.
– shorter intake funnels to move performance higher up the rev range.
– adjustable swing arm pivot
– Marchesini wheels
– single-seat bodywork.

The ZX-10R is expected to be available by the middle of 2021. While the ZX-10RR will start to reach customers much sooner next in December 2020 for race team preparations.