2015 Kawasaki 30th Anniversary Ninja ZX-6R ABS/ZX-6R - First Look

The Ninja celebrates 30 years with a special new anniversary paint scheme.

The 636 version of Kawasaki's ZX-6R returned after a two-year absence for 2013, and received a comprehensive makeover including the displacement increase to 636cc. We lauded the move, as that seemingly minor bump in displacement from 599cc to 636ccc transformed a good streetbike into a great one. We’ll never complain about extra power and torque.

For 2015, Kawasaki has left the excellent-performing ZX-6R pretty much alone. But, as Kawasaki has done with the ZX-6R's ZX-10R stablemate, the company wanted to acknowledge the bike's 30-year history with a special commemorative edition.

Thus, we now get the 30th Anniversary Ninja ZX-6R ABS ($12,999) shown here, a Lime Green/Pearl Stardust White motorcycle featuring green pinstripe decals on the wheels and 30th Anniversary badges on the fairing. The ABS model is also available in Metallic Matte Carbon Gray/Flat Ebony for $300 less. For those who choose to forgo ABS, the same two color options are available on the standard ZX-6R, which is priced at $11,999 for the 30th Anniversary model or $11,699 for the standard bike in Metallic Matte Carbon Gray/Flat Ebony.

Key features on the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R ABS include: three-mode traction control; two engine power modes (Full and Low); a Showa Big Piston Fork; “Supersport-grade” ABS; Nissin radial-mount front brake calipers; a slipper clutch, a lightweight twin-spar aluminum frame; and an analog-style tachometer complemented by an LCD information screen.

SPECIFICATIONS
|2015 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R ABS 30th Anniversary
ENGINE|Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
DISPLACEMENT|636cc
BORE & STROKE|67.0 x 45.1mm
COMPRESSION RATIO|12.9:1
FUEL SYSTEM|EFI (4) 38mm Keihin throttle bodies
IGNITION|TCBI with digital advance
TRANSMISSION|Six-speed
FINAL DRIVE|520 series sealed chain
RAKE / TRAIL|23.5º / 4.0 in.
FRAME TYPE|Aluminum perimeter
FRONT TIRE|120/70ZR-17
REAR TIRE|180/55ZR-17
WHEELBASE|54.9 in.
FRONT SUSPENSION / WHEEL TRAVEL|41mm inverted Showa SFF-BP fork with top-out springs, stepless compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in.
REAR SUSPENSION / WHEEL TRAVEL|Bottom-link Uni-Trak with gas-charged shock, stepless compression damping adjustment, 25-way adjustable rebound damping, fully adjustable spring preload / 5.3 in.
FRONT BRAKES|Dual 310mm petal-style rotors with dual radial-mount, Nissin four-piston, monobloc calipers and KIBS ABS
REAR BRAKES|Single 220mm petal-style rotor with single-piston caliper and KIBS ABS
OVERALL LENGTH|82.1 in.
OVERALL WIDTH|27.8 in.
OVERALL HEIGHT|43.9 in.
SEAT HEIGHT|32.7 in.
CURB WEIGHT|428 lb.
FUEL CAPACITY|4.5 gal.
COLOR CHOICES|Lime Green/Pearl Stardust White, Metallic Matte Carbon Gray/Flat Ebony
MSRP|$11,699 (ZX-6R), $11,999 (ZX-6R 30th), $12,699 (ZX-6R ABS), $12,999 (ZX-6R ABS 30th)

Studio front 3/4 right-side view.

Studio left-side view.

Studio right-side view.

Front brake.

Overhead cockpit view.

30th Anniversary graphics.

Tail section.

Stripped overhead view.

Front wheel / forks.

Throttle bodies.

Engine photo #1

Engine photo #2