Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11
Encyclopedia
The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11/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 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10 was the predecessor of the ZX-11 Ninja.
The bike held the crown of "The World's Fastest Production Bike" for six years, with a record top speed of 169 mile per hour. When the bike was introduced in 1990, the nearest production bike top speed was 16 km/h (10 mph) slower and it belonged to the ZX-10, the bike that Kawasaki was replacing with the ZX-11. The 11's quarter mile time was clocked at 10.25 seconds at 135 mph (217 km/h) by a popular motorcycle periodical in 1994. The ZX-11 was also the first production bike to be fitted with 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, to 164 hp in 1999 and the top end to 186 mph (83.1 m/s), 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 (12.4 mph), 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 gentleman's agreement
between manufacturers has limited production motorcycle top speeds to 300 km/h (186.4 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, but European governments threatened to ban it altogether, 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. In 2002 the Kawasaki ZZR1200 was released which is a sport tourer and more akin to the ZX-11.
The C-model ran from 1990-1993 while the D-model ran from 1993-2001. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10 was the predecessor of the ZX-11 Ninja.
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, to 164 hp in 1999 and the top end to 186 mph (83.1 m/s), 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 (12.4 mph), 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 gentleman's agreement
Gentlemen's agreement
A gentlemen's agreement is an informal agreement between two or more parties. It may be written, oral, or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or through mutually beneficial etiquette. The essence of a gentlemen's agreement is that it relies upon the honor of the parties...
between manufacturers has limited production motorcycle top speeds to 300 km/h (186.4 mph).
In 2000 the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R
The ZX-12R is a sport bike that was made from 2000 to 2006 by Kawasaki. It was known as a contender to be the fastest production motorcycle, and for its role in bringing to a truce the escalating competition to build a faster motorcycle....
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, but European governments threatened to ban it altogether, 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. In 2002 the Kawasaki ZZR1200 was released which is a sport tourer and more akin to the ZX-11.