2009 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 Review

Introduction

Kawasaki’s strategy for the 2009 Ninja ZX-14 is as simple, but as demanding as they get. To begin with, the inline four, DOHC, four-valve per cylinder engine is as light, compact and as silent as possible despite the fact that it displaces 1,352cc. Being ram air inducted, digitally fuel injected and gear-driven balanced, this develops 154 Nm at 7,500 rpm and 203 hp at 9,500 rpm so being competitive was clearly a priority. Meeting Euro III regulations was prior too from the logical reason that people won’t buy a bike which they’re not allowed to ride.

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14

The biggest Ninja’s main advantage is that although being massive, it is designed to handle like a much smaller and versatile motorcycle and all the chassis components back up this impressive attitude in a way we just couldn’t possibly anticipate. Weight saving was a good point to start from so the monocoque frame features as much aluminum elements as possible while still offering proper resistance. The suspensions (43mm cartridge type front fork and bottom-link Uni-Trak rear) have been tuned for extreme sport riding so apart from the performance brake package, there really isn’t much to ask from the Ninja ZX-14, but carefully wait for it to deliver the unexpected.

Stylistically, this bike offers not many reasons to be impressed even though the bodywork was designed basing on results from wind tunnel testing. So was it always that way?

History

1Kawasaki-NinjaZX14-2006

Yes, pretty much. When first introduced back in 2006 both as a replacement for the ZX-12R and a more powerful competitor for the Suzuki Hayabusa, the Ninja ZX-14 was based on the same recipe as currently. The engine was the same and it got fuel injection from the very first year of fabrication and the chassis was as light as possible while giving a new meaning to sharp handling for the class, of course. 2006 colors were Passion Red, Ebony, and Candy Thunder Blue.

The only thing that this bike really needed to stand out each and every year after was a new color range and nothing more. So in 2007 it featured the Diablo Black, Candy Plasma Blue, and Special Edition Pearl Crystal White coloring while 2008 brought the Metallic Midnight Sapphire Blue, Atomic Silver, and Special Edition Metallic Flat Spark Black/Metallic Persimmon Red.

Competition

2009 Suzuki Hayabusa

The only “thing” shadowing ZX-14’s success during the years was the Suzuki GSX-R1300 Hayabusa, but Kawasaki had assumed this possibility ever since deciding to create and launch their alternative to Suzuki’s ultimate sports motorcycle. In 2009, the situation is still the same as the Hayabusa is more potent and better looking than ever before. But while the Busa is THE most aggressive ride you get on two-wheels, the Ninja has sport-touring credentials too so it falls a little more behind in this comparison too.

Exterior

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14 Monster Energy

We did mentioned before that the bike was literally designed in the wind tunnel, but it seems that Kawasaki designers try their best in dissolving any form of visual attraction that the sport bike lineup still may have exerted and the 2009 ZX-14 is probably the most conclusive proof of this fact.

Being a massive motorcycle, the Kawasaki ZX-14 should have at least featured less eccentric colors in an attempt to make it look sinuous. But, despite its size, it is being painted Candy Lime Green, Flat Super Black and Kawasaki even introduces two special edition colors, Candy Burnt Orange and Metallic Diablo Black. Add a pair of claws marks on the last color scheme and you’ll come up with the 2009 Kawasaki ZX-14 Monster Energy. That’s just not the way of getting better looking than the notorious Suzuki Hayabusa, but at least it keeps the prices low.

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Test Ride

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14

Us here at TopSpeed like to consider the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 an unsacrificing superbike from a series of simple reasons: first, it’s not a killer for the back, arms and legs, like all other superbikes are, the engine is an enormous power and torque provider and it handles like a rare thing on the market if we consider the 566.7 lbs wet weight. So riding this thing almost feels like a spoil as ever since the 2006 launch, the bike has evolved into a more efficient way of exploiting the impressive potential.

Power now kicks in at significantly lower rpm levels so the Ninja ZX-14 hasn’t lost the drag bike velleities, but even improved those with this retuning. The first gear and a gradually, but fully opened throttle combination results into an unbelievable head start compared to all other traffic participants, but in second gear is where this engine likes being revved most and we sure enjoyed finding this out. All that weight seems lost as the mph increase and power seems like never ending. Not being sure if going all the way up to that sixth gear and keeping that same throttle pace would have helped at proving anything else than the judicial system in this country works, we took it easier and enjoyed the ride as shifting up.

This was the time when the chassis’s sweetness was unveiled and of course we enjoyed that as well. On curvey roads, the biggest Ninja doesn’t lose the sporty character. The bike leans confidently from side to side and at no time the bike’s weight (which, if it is to be less demanding, isn’t that much) felt like more than the chassis could deal with. The suspensions add on to that stable feel during cornering and the rear end is sure to remain stable as opening the throttle when going out of corners and into an apparently never ending straight. That’s when I just couldn’t abstain myself and rolled on the throttle in third gear just to show that big nose the day’s blue sky. This lifts easily and it’s even easier to be kept there for as long as the conditions allow it.

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14

All of the fast rounds as well as the highway riding time helped us see how the bike’s design works efficiently to provide not just good aerodynamics, but proper wind protection. That’s something that riders expect from the Ninja ZX-14 as the bike is mainly bought for unveiling more of that touring side compared to the Hayabusa. The riding position is even better than we’d expect from a bike in this category, allowing us to empty two tanks of gas and still feel ready to ride.

This is a bike providing a hard to get over safety feel from all points of view. Due to the impressive dimensions of their machinery, riders feel safer on their ride and the 31.5 inches seat height brings the comfort of knowing that parking lot maneuvering, for example, won’t result in scratched paint and a lost mirror due to the fact that you weren’t able to flatfoot the ground and keep the bike upright. But there’s really much more to it than this. The pair of 310mm front petal discs with dual radial-mounted four-piston calipers and the 250mm rear petal disc with twin-piston calipers work brilliantly together and provide all of the stopping power needed while the front forks can easily manage with that and keep the bike feeling safe virtually at all times.

Overall, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 is a blast to ride; one that doesn’t sacrifice comfort and wind protection so we can safely say it meets the purpose of it being created beautifully.

Price

Depending on the choice that riders make between the Standard and Special Edition model, the MSRP starts at $12,099 for the first mentioned and $12,399 for the second mentioned, which is anyway much less than Hayabusa’s $13,199.

Conclusion

Born on the speedway, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 retains the drag bike aptitudes and improves the rest. Handling is now sweeter, comfort as well while the engine has a much more adequate for street use power curve, in conclusion, everything the bike needs in order to be called an upgraded model.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Engine and Transmission

Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valve per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement: 1,352cc
Bore x stroke: 84.0 x 61.0mm
Maximum torque: 154 N/m 15.7 kgf/m 113.6 lb-ft @ 7,500 rpm
Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Fuel system: DFI® with four 44mm Mikuni throttle bodies
Ignition: TCBI with Digital Advance
Transmission: Six speed
Final drive: X-Ring chain

Chassis and Dimensions

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14

Rake / trail: 23 degrees / 94 mm
Front Tire: 120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire: 190/50 ZR17
Wheelbase: 57.5 in.
Front suspension / wheel travel: 43mm inverted cartridge fork with adjustable preload, 13-way compression and 11-way rebound damping adjustment / 4.6 in.
Rear suspension / wheel travel: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® and gas-charged shock with adjustable preload, stepless rebound and compression damping adjustments, adjustable ride height / 4.8 in.
Front Brakes: Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs with dual radial-mounted four-piston calipers
Rear Brakes: Single 250mm petal disc with twin-piston caliper
Overall length: 85.4 in.
Overall width: 29.9 in.
Overall height: 46.1 in.
Ground clearance: 4.9 in.
Seat height: 31.5 in.
Curb weight: 566.7 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 5.8 gal.

Features

2009 Kawasaki ZX-14

1,352cc Four-Cylinder, DOHC Engine

Exhaust

Ram Air Induction

Digital Fuel Injection

Digital Ignition

Radial Pump Clutch Master Cylinder

Next-Generation Monocoque Aluminum Frame

Suspension

Radial Mounted Petal Front Disc Brakes

Wind Tunnel-Designed Bodywork

Full Instrumentation