Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11
1996 ZZ-R1100 D
ManufacturerKawasaki motorcycles
Also calledZZ-R1100
Parent companyKawasaki Heavy Industries
Production1989–2001
PredecessorZX-10
SuccessorZZ-R1200 (ZX-12C)
ClassSport bike
Engine1,052 cc (64.2 cu in) four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 16-valve DOHC, inline-four
Bore / stroke76 mm × 58 mm (3.0 in × 2.3 in)
Top speed283 km/h (176 mph)[1][2]
Power134.4 hp (100.2 kW) (rear wheel) [3] 145 bhp (108 kW) @ 10,500 rpm (claimed)[4]
Torque78.8 lb⋅ft (106.8 N⋅m) (rear wheel)[5]80.0 lb⋅ft (108.5 N⋅m)@ 8,000 rpm (claimed)[2]
Transmission6-speed manual, chain-drive
Weight249 kg (549 lb)[2] (dry)
274 kg (603 lb)[5] (wet)
Fuel consumption5.51 L/100 km; 51.3 mpg‑imp (42.7 mpg‑US)[5]
1992 Kawasaki ZX-11 C Model

The ZZ-R1100 or ZX-11 is a sport bike in Kawasaki's Ninja series made from 1989 to 2001, as the successor to the 1988–1990 Tomcat ZX-10. With a top speed of 272–283 km/h (169–176 mph), it was the fastest production motorcycle from its introduction until 1996, surpassed by the 270–290 km/h (170–180 mph) Honda CBR1100XX. 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 1989 to 1993 while the D-model ran from 1993 to 2001, when it was replaced by the ZZ-R1200 (ZX-12C) 2002-2005

Competition for fastest production motorcycle

With a record top speed of 272–283 km/h (169–176 mph) the ZX-11 was the fastest production motorcycle for six years, from its introduction in 1989 through 1995, when it was surpassed by the 1996 Honda CBR1100XX.[5][6][7][8] When the bike was introduced in 1989, the nearest production bike top speed was 16 km/h (9.9 mph) slower and it belonged to the ZX-10, the bike that Kawasaki was replacing with the ZX-11. The ZX-11 also had a ram air induction system.[4][6] The 1989 ZX-11 C1 model got a ram-air intake, the very first on any production motorcycle.[9][10] The 1997 ZX-11's quarter mile time was 10.43 seconds at 211.45 km/h (131.39 mph).[5]

In 2000 the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R was introduced. The ZX-12R 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. European governments threatened to ban high speed motorcycles, leading Kawasaki to de-tune the ZX-12R prior to its release.[4][11][12][13][14] Starting at the very end of 1999, a gentlemen's agreement between larger European and Japanese manufacturers has limited production motorcycle top speeds to 300 km/h (186 mph),[4][11][1]

In 2002 the Kawasaki ZZ-R1200 was released, which is a sport tourer and more akin to the ZX-11.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Burns, John (April 2, 2012), "Fifty Years of "Do You Have Any Idea How Fast You Were Going?" A brief history of Ludicrous Speed", Cycle World, archived from the original on April 7, 2012, retrieved November 5, 2012((citation)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c Burns, John (December 24, 2013). "30 Years of Ninjas: 1984 GPz900 Ninja to 1990 ZX-11!". Cycle World. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  3. ^ "2002 Kawasaki ZZR1200 Motorcycle Test". Motorcyclist. February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Ker, Rod (2007), Classic Japanese Motorcycle Guide, Sparkford, UK: Haynes Publishing, pp. 226–227, 230, ISBN 978-1844253357
  5. ^ a b c d e "Performance Index '10" (PDF), Motorcycle Consumer News, Bowtie Magazines, 2010, archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15, retrieved 2011-02-14
  6. ^ a b Brown, Roland (2006), The Ultimate History of Fast Motorcycles, Bath, UK: Parragon, pp. 214–215, ISBN 1-4054-7303-7
  7. ^ Holmstrom, Darwin (2001), The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles (2nd ed.), Alpha Books, p. 346, ISBN 0-02-864258-9
  8. ^ Hunt, Phil; McKay, Malcolm; Wilson, Hugo; Robinson, James (2012), Duckworth, Mick (ed.), Motorcycle: The Definitive Visual History, DK Publishing, Penguin Group, p. 193, ISBN 978-1-46540-088-8Duckworth says the ZZ-R1100 became the fastest production bike in 1994, not 1990. Need to follow up and clarify.((citation)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  9. ^ Burns, John (December 24, 2013). "30 Years of Ninjas: 1984 GPz900 Ninja to 1990 ZX-11!". Cycle World. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  10. ^ "Ram Air: Test". Sport Rider. October 1999. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Brown, Roland (2 October 1999), "200mph superbike has its makers scared", The Times (1F ed.), London, UK: News Corporation, p. 53, ISSN 0140-0460
  12. ^ Boule, Joe (21 July 2000), "Putting the brakes on big bikes: Kawasaki backs off 300 km/h barrier amid rumours of a speed cap; [Final Edition]", Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario: James Orban, p. C.1.FRO, ISSN 0839-3222
  13. ^ Cole, Bernard (14 March 1999), "High-speed fears over superbikes. [Early Edition]", Sunday Mercury, Birmingham, UK: Trinity Mirror, p. 6, ISSN 0039-5242
  14. ^ Richardson, Mark (3 July 1999), "Adrenalin rush should not be a prelude to death; Young novices and fast bikes don't mix", Toronto Star (1st ed.), Toronto, Ontario: B.H. Honderich, p. 1, ISSN 0319-0781
Records Preceded byBimota YB6 EXUP Fastest production motorcycle 1990–1996 Succeeded byHonda CBR1100XX
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