For the 2008 Ninja ZX-10R, Kawasaki engineers aimed for an ideal superbike with engine and chassis performance capable of satisfying professional racers, combined with top-notch streetbike qualities for mainstream riders.

It's a delicate balance, but these aren't your average engineers. They've been directly involved in the development of every 600 and 1000cc supersport machine since the 2003 Ninja ZX-6R, plus Kawasaki's factory Superbike racing efforts, so they have the know-how to deliver the goods.

The result is an exceptionally communicative machine that provides the clean two-way rider and machine dialog demanded by professional racers. Placing the ZX-10R in the racing crucible and applying lessons from that unforgiving environment resulted in an ideal balance to satisfy the most demanding of riders.

Kawasaki engineers relied on the assistance of a professional Superbike rider to push the new ZX-10R's engine and frame components to the limits in actual competition. Parts that met with the racer's approval were then tried on the production test bike, tweaked, retested on the race bike and adjusted again. This process was repeated throughout the development cycle for the all-new 2008 Ninja ZX-10R.

2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Specifications

Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement: 998cc
Bore x stroke: 76.0 x 55.0mm
Maximum torque: TBD
Compression ratio: 12.7:1
Fuel injection: DFI with 43mm Keihin throttle bodies with oval sub-throttles, two injectors per cylinder
Ignition: TBD
Transmission: TBD
Final drive: TBD
Rake / trail: TBD
Front tire: 120/70 ZR17
Rear tire: 190/55 ZR17
Wheelbase: TBD
Front suspension / wheel travel: 43mm inverted fork with DLC coating, adjustable rebound and compression damping, spring preload adjustability and top-out springs / TBD
Rear suspension / wheel travel: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with top-out spring, stepless, dual-range (high/low-speed) compression damping, stepless rebound damping, fully adjustable spring preload / TBD
Front brakes: Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs with dual four-piston radial-mount calipers
Rear brakes: Single 220mm petal disc with single-piston aluminum caliper