2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
One of the most anticipated sportbikes of 2011 is undoubtedly the Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja. But in mid-December, Kawasaki put a proactive-sales hold on the bike, reporting valve issues at "unique" riding conditions, such as being on the track.
Now the good times can roll again, as that hold is expected to be lifted in late January, according to Kawasaki.
Kawasaki said that the ZX-10R was placed on a sales hold due to a surging of the intake valve spring when operated at racetrack speeds. The motorcycle manufacture said the surge could cause the intake valve to improperly seat, which would result in poor engine performance.
During this hold on the ZX-10R, Kawasaki will replace the camshaft, valve springs and spring retainers to prevent this valve surging without affecting engine performance.
The 2011 liter-bike is new-from-the-ground-up with the 2011 Ninja ZX-10R press release stating that the 1000cc motorcycle goes beyond newer, faster, lighter and better by offering the most advanced traction-control system in all of production motorcycling, the MotoGP-derived S-KTRC system.
The Sport-Kawaski Traction Control crunches numbers from a variety of parameters and sensors including wheel speed and slip, engine rpm, throttle position, and acceleration could be the issue.
Kawasaki under took an intense data gathering and analysis to develop the complex software that is buried in the new ZX-10R Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and feed by additional lightweight speed sensors located on each wheel.
The 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R has an MSRP of $13,799, and is available in Lime Green or Flat Ebony.
