With their bikes dominating the WSBK championships, we can see the direct impact of this on their street products. With the integration of technology and electronics from their motorsport experience, they have continuously pushed the limits for better handling and a thrilling ride experience along with ground-breaking technology catering to the rider’s needs.

One such addition is the semi-active suspension unit that the folks from Kawasaki have equipped their new 2018 ZX-10R variant. Suffixed as 'SE', the bike sits right in the middle of the 'R' and the 'RR', and is ready to slay the competition.

Developed by Showa, the new Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS) will be the first such thing fancying a Kawasaki motorcycle, or any motorcycle in its segment for that matter.

Attached to the 43mm Balanced Free Fork (BFF), this semi-active electronic damper electronically adjusts the amount of damping after calculating the vehicle's speed and modulation every millisecond. It does so via a stroke sensor and a solenoid valve with direct actuation rather than using step-motors or pilot valves.

It communicates using the bike's IMU and ECU both and can be customizable through the three riding modes - Road, Track, and Manual. The Manual mode is what allows 15 levels of tuning for the rebound and compression circuits, adjustable via the dash.

Some fancy stuff there.

Apart from that wizardry, the SE also gets a bi-directional quick shifter for clutchless gear actions for aggressive riding situations above 2500 rpm. It also gets bestowed with the top-of-the-line 7-spoke Marchesini forged wheels that are lighter than the standard 3-spoke alloys used on the ZX-10R.

The powertrain and the electronic system are all carried forward from the current crop of ZX-10Rs'. The inline four, 998cc motor pumps out 197hp of power (207hp with a ram air input) and 83.3 lb.-ft of torque. Launch control, Traction control, ride by wire, power modes, ABS are all in full attendance.

The SE is only available in this pure-stealth Metallic Flat Spark Black/Metallic Matte Graphite Gray. Being a Kawa, you get green accents of course. Pricing and availability are TBD.

Reference

Honda CBR1000RR SP

Suzuki GSX-R 1000R

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR