Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Production	2000–2006
Successor	Ninja ZX-14
Class	Sport bike
Engine	1,199 cc (73.2 cu in) inline four
Top speed	185.8–187 mph (299.0–300.9 km/h)[1][2][3]
Power	161.2 hp (120.2 kW) (rear wheel)[1]
Torque	91.2 lb·ft (123.7 N·m) (rear wheel)[1]
Weight	545 lb (247 kg)[1] (wet)
Fuel consumption	32.1 mpg-US (7.3 L/100 km; 38.6 mpg-imp) [1]

The Kawasaki 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.

At its introduction the ZX-12R was Kawasaki's flagship sport bike and a competitor to the Suzuki Hayabusa. It was a fuel injected (four 46 mm throttle bodies) 1,199 cc (73.2 cu in) hyper sport motorcycle, generating 161.2 horsepower (120.2 kW) at the rear wheel,^[1] although power figures differ with MCN quoting 178 bhp in their top ten engines test.^[4] Handling and braking match the power of the engine resulting in a motorcycle that was docile at low speeds and very easy to handle in heavy traffic, but had strong acceleration.

From the first production ZX-12R, in the 2000 model year, its top speed was restricted by a motorcycle manufacturer gentlemen's agreement.^[1][2][3] This was due to a voluntary gentlemen's agreement that included BMW Motorrad and the Japanese manufacturers, amid fears of government regulation of motorcycle speeds mainly in Europe.^[2]

The ZX-12R was discontinued in 2006 and followed by the ZX-14 (ZZR1400) in the same year.

Notes