Like its liter-bike compatriot, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R gets a special 30th Anniversary livery upgrade for 2015. Like the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, the changes to the ZX-6R are only skin deep, and meant to celebrate the Ninja’s 30 years of being on the market. Accordingly, the 30th Anniversary changes include the following for the Kawasaki ZX-6R:
- A special 30th Anniversary Ninja ZX-6R ABS model features Lime Green/Pearl Stardust White paint, green pinstripe decals on the wheels, and 30th Anniversary badges on each side of the fairing
- The standard Ninja ZX-6R model is available Metallic Matte Carbon Gray/Flat Ebony
That special 30th anniversary exclusivity will cost you an extra $300 over the regular model, and if you want Kawasaki’s anti-locking brakes system (ABS), be prepared to shell out another $1,000 for it.
For Team Green fans though, we imagine the $11,999 30th Anniversary Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is worth the extra dough ($12,999 for the 30th Anniversary Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R ABS model), considering all the uber-aggressive green livery you get. That being said, the ZX-6R has always been a stout supersport machine, especially now with its 636cc “cheater” motor.
Because of that displacement bump, we suppose we have to call the ZX-6R a true middleweight machine, which are always fun for the track enthusiasts. To that end, Kawasaki has fitted its latest KTRC traction control system, the same generation system that’s found on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, meaning the ZX-6R has Kawasaki’s latest electronics package.
The Kawasaki ZX-6R’s three-mode traction control unit is more sophisticated than the one found on the ZX-10R (dubbed the S-KTRC). Mode 1 offers maximum racetrack performance, Mode 2 offers a sporty street performance, while Mode 3 virtually eliminates wheelspin, and is designed for slippery surfaces. The KTRC system on the 2015 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R can be fully disengaged, as well.
Mode 1 & 2 are the same as what is found on the ZX-10R, while Mode 3 comes from the ZX-14R. The 2015 Kawasaki’s ZX-6R’s KTRC Mode 1 and Mode 2 prioritize maximum forward acceleration by predicting when available traction is about to be compromised, and then initiating KTRC intervention before slippage exceeds the optimum acceleration range.
Kawasaki says that this minimizes how much power must be reduced from the engine to improve or restore rear-wheel traction, while also helping to provide maximum forward drive. Mode 1 & Mode 2 only use ignition timing to regulate the engine’s power output.
The ZX-6R’s Mode 3 uses the same logic and control method as Mode 1 and Mode 2, but instead uses ignition timing, fuel delivery, and the intake tract’s sub-throttles for traction management.
Owners can also select between “full” and “low” engine power outputs, using a toggle on the left clip-on. In “low” mode, the same low-rpm power output is provided, but power beings to be limited as the rpm rises into the midrange and then offers only 80% of the engine’s maximum power. “Low” mode also delivers a softer throttle response.
Source: Kawasaki
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