Modern-day sportbikes, such as the Yamaha YZF-R1, are super fast. That being said, true blue enthusiasts still remain adamant that there’s just something about the raw performance of old-school sportbikes with no electronic leash around their necks, such as the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R.

Can’t pick a side of your own? Well, let this drag race between a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R and a Yamaha YZF-R1 help you make up your mind.

The Competitors

The first contender in this race is the motorcycle responsible for the 299kmph (186mph) speed restriction, the almighty Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R. With its 1,199cc inline-four engine, the then-flagship Ninja put out 178 horsepower and 101 pound-feet while weighing 545 pounds (wet).

The bike featured here though isn’t stock and has been specifically prepped up for drag racing as evident by the extended swingarm, free-flow exhaust, and aftermarket bodywork.

Waving the modern sportbike flag is the Yamaha YZF-R1. This right here is a 2014 model which made 182 horsepower and 85 pound-feet from its 998cc, four-cylinder engine and weighed 454 pounds (wet).

There aren’t any major updates to the bike apart from what looks like a full-system Akrapovic exhaust.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R vs Yamaha YZF-R1 Drag Race

Without further ado, let’s get to the drag race.

As soon as the lights go green, the Yamaha R1 rider nails the reaction time, getting an early jump over the Kawasaki. However, that lead was short-lived because once the ZX-12R, with its looong swingarm, got going, it managed to put its power down far more efficiently than the wheelie-ing R1.

Ultimately, this helped the Ninja ZX-12R fly past the R1, giving it the win by nearly 1.5 seconds.

Check out their quarter-mile times below:


Bike

Time

Speed

Yamaha R1

11.274s

138mph

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R

9.893s

148mph


What Did We Learn?

Well, we can’t really conclude that the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R is simply faster than the YZF-R1 because it did have a few noteworthy modifications done to it. Plus, the R1 rider was struggling with wheelies, so clearly the R1 can still go much faster, even in its stock form.

Nevertheless, there are no two ways to it that the Ninja ZX-12R in terms of pure performance is still fast as ever and right up there with modern sportbikes.