Kawasaki launched their brand new Ninja ZX-14R , the fastest accelerating motorcycle on the planet, “massively more powerful” is what Kawasaki says, but when it came down to actual numbers, Kawasaki didn’t say, until now. According to the Kawasaki Europe website, the big Ninja puts out 197.4 horsepower and 119.9 foot pounds of torque. With ram air, it’s 207.2 horsepower.
Why the numbers were released is open to speculation, but with all of the coverage of the big Ducati twin putting out 195 horsepower, Kawasaki may have been under pressure to say something, or maybe they just decided it was the right thing to do, or maybe for those who obsess over numbers it was really important, or maybe their lawyers were having coffee away from the office.
What’s interesting is that 1441 cc of inline 4 cylinder engine beats the 1199 cc twin by 2 horsepower, until the ram air kicks in. It leads the Ducati in the torque department by 22 foot pounds which helps produce that “unrivaled acceleration” as their website puts it.
Of course, these two machines are very different and the big Kawasaki will probably be more pleasant to ride in everyday use while the Ducati will be the track weapon of choice. In the real world beyond charts and numbers, about one percent of those buying either machine will be able to make use of more than a fraction of that power and their customers come from different markets, but still, the comparison is interesting.
Link: Kawasaki Europe
Hawk says
WOW
Motorcycling’s answer to the Veron?
GuitarSlinger says
Nothing is comparable to the VeryGoneWrong in the M/C world or otherwise . And Thank God for it .
Nope ….. it seems from what all I’m reading , the big Kawa is more the ZR1 Corvette ( Exotic Killing performance at an approachable price tag ) of motorcycling than Veyron .
Thure says
Comparatively speaking, if the 1441cc Kwak “only” puts out 2 more horses than the 1200cc v twin, then there has got to be room for improvements on the Kawasaki. I.e. expect good gains from remapping, exhaust, and bigger cams. Maybe there is an easy 225hp to be got from that. Not that I could ever use that, but nice to know.
Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says
True, there’s probably room to grow with the Kawasaki, but the Ducati can probably do better as well, in both cases, you get more power and lose some street manners. Of course, there’s that patent we just talked about just the other day, so Kawasaki has an easy boost ready to go.
You have to figure, though, the Ducati must be more on the bleeding edge to be pushing those numbers so the ultimate potential of each should tilt toward the Kawasaki, on displacement alone, if nothing else.
Jim Schaible says
Not many years ago, to control this kind of power your name had to be Kenny Roberts or Mike Hailwood. Now, anyone with the money can walk off the street and ride it away with every expectation of getting back home. I can’t wait to see an18-year-old wearing shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops on his new ZX, screaming down the freeway at 170, the front wheel a foot off the road, with his bikini-clad girlfriend hunched over his back. Since the beginning of motorcycles, the argument has raged over how much is too much.The issue never will be settled, but this machine is sure to add fuel to the flames.
But it is a technological toure de force. That kind of power from 1.4 naturally-aspirated liters in a streetable, manageable, engine is nothing short of incredible.
GuitarSlinger says
If I may in reply to Mr Schaible’s comment of ” how much is too much ”
To quote the venerable automotive sage of old : Stroker McGurk ;
” Too much power is never enough ”
Having said that though , the picture Mr Schaible presents of the 18 year old Hipster in Flip Flops and shorts w/bikini clad girlfriend on the back at 170 mph is more than a bit disturbing , as well as a potential prelude to an Emergency Room full of said riders in pieces to be repaired .
So maybe Ol’ Stroker was wrong . Maybe we’ve gone beyond too much horsepower for general consumption . If the automotive world is any indicator we’ve well and good surpassed it , what with all the ” More Money Than Brains ” exotic car owners lately trashing their multi $$$$$$$ toys left and right over the last 18 months .
Thure says
You can go too fast on almost anything, wearing nothing more than a bikini. The big question is if you crash or not. If anything this Kwak is easy to ride,stable and predictable. Back in the day BMW volunteered a 100hp limit, that was a joke, look at them today.
In my opinion you can only do so much to guard your product against idiots.
Bluegrass says
Well, I was just thinking about this very subject earlier today, how much is to much? In past when you wanted this kind of power, you had to build it yourself. Because you were making more power than the engineering specifications, your ride wasn’t going to be anything resembling reliable, you had to maintain it on your own. And if you’re going to take the time and effort to build something, you might as well learn how to operate it, right? This kept a lot of people away from powerful machines.
But now you can get far more powerful machines, that are reliable, from several manufacturers, with a warranty. These even factory trained technician s to help you keep it on the road. These days all it takes is deep pockets to play speed racer.
Yeti2bikes says
All that power is nice, but my question is how does it handle? Is it just a straight line rocket or can you rip up some corners too? Personally I’d rather be cornering so I’m willing to sacrifice a little of the raw power for handling… Of course if you can have both.
Hawk says
Jim, thinking about your point of the unprepared kid with the less prepared GF, may I pass on a true happening?
I was on the operating table, awake, having my second knee replacement done. Since I couldn’t see what was happening (a “blood spatter” curtain), I was chatting with the anethesiologist …. about motorcycles. Between the sawing and hammering, the surgeon piped up to ask, “I was wondering about those leather suits that you guys wear?”
I went on about risk and how if you were going to engage in that type of riding, how the leathers saved your hide, etc. To which he replied, “Oh, I always thought they were such a great idea because all the parts came into the OR at the same time.”
Perspective ….
Steve says
How about doing the same thing Yamaha did wne they used 1/4 of an R1 with thier moto 250? About 50 hoursepower for a 360cc single ? Now yer talkin!
john says
Great idea. I was thinking of a ZX-14R though, a smaller 4 cyl.
mxs says
250 of an R1 engine, what’s that??? FZR250 has not beein in production for a loooong time. Are you talking about moto3 spec bike???
Otherwise, you are making too much sense for the current breed of manufacturers. They will just not make a small cc peppy bike. They will not ….
J. Smith says
250 of an R1 you say? Go check out the wr250 from yamaha.
Its got the cylinder from the R1 and high tech (titanium valves, efi etc) and is affordable.
It does put out only 32 hp. But its the way it delivers them that impresses me most. Of course, removing all the restriction stuff (of which this bike has a lot) and with a remap you can probably reach a good 45 hp
Claymore says
I saw a couple of kids like that the other day. Stupid, stupid, stupid – even on a slow bike. A 200 hp bike sounds like fun though.
WRXr says
Nice!
Cut the engine in half and make it a 700 with 100+ Hp. That would more than satisfy me.
Bruce says
Nice idea, but why bother? My 3-cyl Triumph Daytona already makes what, like 125hp? from 675cc’s. With an EASY 10 more to be had with minimal mods, perhaps 20ish with not too much effort.
Anyone know what a WSS-spec Daytona is making? I’d be very curious how the hp-per-cc stacks up against the ZX-14.
Fwiw – mine is bone-stock and I’m very satisfied ( 40-year rider).
I could be VERY happy with a (bone-stock) ZX-14 for a 2-up super-sport-tourer, maybe with hard panniers & tail trunk…
OMMAG says
The 200hp benchmark is easy with liter bike and up… this Kaw is way under it’s potential and it strikes me that Kawasaki is just playing a marketing game with the numbers.
Personally … I’ve never been completely satisified with any bike’s performance … but in my 50s now … not as likely to open the taps very often or for very long. Still …. I’d be tempted on this big Kaw.
Walt says
My 2000 Triumph Sprint cranks out in the neighborhood of 100 hp, half as much as this bike, yet I’ve never wrung it out through the gears. I like my license too much, I guess. The Kaw and Duc are impressive as engineering achievements, but they produce twice as much unneeded power. Six times as much as my 32 Harley 74.
Sick Cylinder says
Strange that Kawasaki are claiming the same power figure for the ZX14 that they claimed when they released the ZX10R which was two bhp more than BMW were claiming for their S1000R – must be marketing time again! .
I wonder if the new Kawasaki will be as far under the claim as the ZX10R was? and whether the Ducati will over perform on the dyno like the BMW did (during a test by MCN).
On a personal note, I think a light good handling bike with about 80bhp makes a lot more sense than a 1400 qith 197.4bhp.
Bruce says
Ditto – but 125 (solid 100ish at the tarmac) is just a bit better… just a little more oomph at the top end for those occasional times when you need it (“want it” really…) 😉
john says
I think when Kawi sees people want to buy a 250 hp bike, and governments and insurers do not prevent it, they will build it. They are not constrained by engineering limits.
Just add cubic inches (and RPMs) and package it right. No problem.
Aussie Dave says
It’s nice to have all that power and torque handy. If you’re like me and are getting a bit older and absent minded about changing gears up and down, this is perfect!
I can pull up at the lights, forgetting I’m still in 4th or 5th gear, and still take off without stalling!
I wonder how it takes off in 6th? Hmmm.
Better go test ride one when it gets here in two weeks to see.
todd says
It’s funny that Kawasaki probably sells at least 30 Ninja 250’s for every ZX14. That’s about the ratio I see out on the road. People buy the 250 because it’s the same company that makes the 1400 but like the price tag and economy of the 250 better.
I’ve found that I’m just as fast on a 50hp bike as I am on a 150hp bike, sometimes faster. I don’t drag race and I don’t brag so this bike isn’t for me. For those that are impressed with numbers, though, I can see the appeal.
-todd
Donnie says
Dear Kawasaki:
1441cc 4-cylinder + ZR1100 Zephyr-styled chassis = instant sale from me.
Call it the Zephyr 1400. Not since the Z1300 have we had a naked Kawasaki with a massive engine. The ZRX1100 and ZRX1200 are awesome bikes; that said, I’d love to see the Zephyr rehashed with this engine.
RetroCraig says
TOTALLY agree!
When i jumpled off my 2006 ZX14 and decided to get a naked bike, I had to go for the B-King. Although that Suz is an awesome bike, I would have preferred to keep a Kawasaki in my garage instead. Come on Kawasaki, let’s get it on!
Phil says
Not one person has thought this through: All of the big names motorcycle manufactures could produce bikes doing 300mph if they really wanted to… but they can’t. The reason for this is legislation!!!
All it takes is one crazy person to get caught doing some silly speed that ends up in the national news, or someone to have a fatality caused by speed on a bike like this that catches a eye of a tabloid reporter , and the government will jump on irresponsibly bike makers and like a rash and hey presto it’ll become law can’t have bikes that put out this and put out that….even though cars do, and the people that drive these exotics are nowhere near as skilled as a biker.
No one takes a blind bit of notice about a Veyron crashing at high speed but if a biker does it…..that’s different…people will cry “they should be banned”… no one will ever scream “ban the porsche”, banned the Ferrari” and get debated in the parliament. but bikes are always on the limit
I’m all for more speed and bigger No’s but we as a group have to tread carefully.
Another Steve says
I’m planning on trading in my SV1000s for a Triumph Street Triple. As I’ve gotten older, I realized that I don’t need that much displacement and the sport bike riding position just isn’t very comfortable.
I still dream of those excessive HP numbers and the higher ones make me giggle, but it’s just too much for the vast majority of riders. Doesn’t stop people from buying them though.
Hooligan says
Good plan. The Street is an amazing bike with one of the great modern engines. 96 bhp of power everywhere. Get the R version.
mxs says
The manufacturers just don’t get it, do they?
Wouldn’t you prefer lighter and less powerful bike on any given day?
I forgot, there’s this unprecedented acceleration, used by 1% of buyers (which is really really low number in case of this bike) who end up doing a day at a local drag strip ….. good luck Kawasaki, sounds like you will need it.
akaacount says
I think the emphasis is on “having it” as opposed to “using it” for people who buy hypersports
phil says
Akaacount is right.
Mxs it’s called self control. The manufacturers know exactly what we want
but they have to balance want against other aspects.
Would you say you wanted a less powerful car aswell???
Kevin says
Even though this bike produces only 2hp more, I heard, due to its torque, it feels like endless power and acceleration compared to a sportbike.
With all this HP wars you need an article on the 2012 MV Agusta F4RR. Claimed 201hp.
Max says
then again..
look at the motoczysz c1 – 990cc and 220+hp claimed.. back in 07
Hooligan says
The motoczysz never actually worked though did it?
Tim says
does anyone really think that the outcome will be much different falling off at 170mph wearing flip flops, jeans and a bikini clad girlfriend vs the latest from Dainese, alpinestars or whatever?
Maybe at 40mph, maybe even at 60, but 100+
really>
Bjorn says
Tim, Even cheap leathers will protect you at 60 mph; I proved that a few weeks ago on my way home.
Damien Cudlin binned the GP11 Ducati on turn 3 (fastest corner of the track) at Philip Island today doing 150 mph and walked away (albeit sore) from the incident because he had good gear.
If you hit a stationary object at speed nothing much will help, but leathers will save your skin in a slide down the road. Really.
Tim says
Also. I am disappointed it isn’t supercharged after they went to the trouble of patenting it and everything….
scritch says
Power and speed it may have, but it will never be fast enough to outrun its ugliness.
Vinnie Dee says
Typical corporate BS to get grown men to squeal like little girls at a Justin Beiber concert for bragging rights until the next “fastest” bike comes along.
Quote from Gizmag”
The whole “fastest” thing is now getting beyond a joke, even with the normally squeaky clean integrity Kawasaki applies to its claims. Across its press statements and web sites, Kawasaki is claiming the following for this bike “the World’s Most Powerful Sports Bike” (from the press release headline), the “most powerful production motorcycle engine ever” (from the press release), and “the fastest production motorcycle on the planet.”
For starters, it is not “the World’s Most Powerful Sports Bike” because there are thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of more powerful sports bikes in the world.
Even putting the word “production” in the statement is open to contention because the definition of production is hardly specific enough, and as you can see below, to say that safely, given the current crop of mega-beasties, means the new ZX-14R has to be putting out a LOT more than 200 horsepower at the crank. Rumour suggests that Kawasaki are talking 210 bhp at the crank for the ZX-14R.
joe says
The fastest production bike of the last century was the 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa,and that will probably be the last.The restictions placed on later model motorcycles by insurance company’s and governments will restrict the top speeds regarless of HP numbers.
Hooligan says
It may do 5,000,000 miles an hour but it rusts quicker.
Graham says
The ZX10r didn’t come under on power, it just had to be restricted here in the U.S, stock Euro-spec models make 180+ horsepower, This 14r is an amazing machine, I havoc no doubt it makes this much power, 1st gen 14s(06-07) made 169-175hp at the wheel, my ’07 makes 171hp has 48,000 miles, and I still get compliments on how good she looks, Food woke Kawasaki, I look forward to seeing what Suzuki responds with,