Fighting Fire with Fire: 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 Challenges Hayabusa, Claims "Quickest and Most Powerful" Title
The battle for supersport supremacy is escalating, and Kawasaki has responded to Suzuki's redesigned Hayabusa with a battle cry of their own: a souped up Ninja ZX-14. The ZX-14's lines may be familiar, but 2008's changes are underneath the skin, and include a switch to a die cast (versus gravity cast) chassis, for greater lightness. Revised fuel injection, porting, and exhaust boost horsepower and torque throughout the powerband, and in order to comply with noise regulations, new piston profiles and a urethane insulation sheet inside the magnesium chain make the 1,352cc inline-4 quieter.
The revised engine meets Euro-III emissions regulations thanks to the addition of a third honeycomb catalyzer, and though Kawasaki hasn't published horsepower or torque figures, their press release does christen the ZX-14 "the world's quickest and most powerful production motorcycle." The biggest, newest Ninja can be had for $11,699, or $11,999 for the Metallic Flat Spark Black / Metallic Persimmon Red Special Edition configuration seen here.
Pictures of the 2008 ZX-15 are scarce, but we've got the official product shots and more detailed technical information in our 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 photo gallery.
Stay tuned for more news on the 2008 Kawasaki lineup as it develops.
Photo © Kawasaki
Comments
Great…some more fodder for the “Sport Bikes are killers” crowd…
Just as the press and various uneducated groups are screaming that sport bikes are dangerous, Kawasaki tosses a can of fuel on the “We’ve got the fastest bike in the world” fire.
The industry should by, now be smart enough to see what this sort of adverstising does for our csport - and their PR.
Nice bike….but…is it worth it?
Unfortunately, this is what a large number of buyers/prospective buyers in this market are looking for. Marketing proclaimations, slogans and spec-sheet supremacy.
Nothing said about rider skill, responsibility, advanced rider training as prerequisites to ownership of such bikes.
Bike companies are in the business of selling bikes and in order to sell more of these bikes you have to be seen as better than your competitors offerings
It’s the American way, the faster and bigger the better.
This is true… witness the power cruiser. 1600, 1800, 2000, 2300, small or big block V8.
Don’t get me wrong guys…I know exactly how the industry works…I’ve been in it for 30 years. I’m also a graduate of the school of “Too much HP is almost enough”. It’s just a shame that the industry and sport doesn’t exercise a little PR common sense and good community relations when making noise about $20k bikes that will suck the paint off $250,000 cars.
They say timing is everything…..the timing on this one could be a .44 calibre hole in Kawasaki’s foot. (Not that I care about the green machine per se…I work for Honda and I can’t wait for the ‘08 1000RR), but it hurts everyone and brings us 1 step closer to regulated engine output, or insurance costs that will bury all of us.
Imagine the day when 50 or 60 hp is it…..
Its a good thing that Kawasaki and Suzuki is competing for the big bore title again. Where is Yamaha and Honda?