Kawasaki Tomcat ZX-10
The Ninja ZX-10 (also called ZX-10 "Tomcat") was a sport motorcycle manufactured by Kawasaki Motorcycles between 1988 and 1990,[3] part of the Kawasaki Ninja line. With a top speed of 165 miles per hour (266 km/h), it was the fastest production motorcycle in 1988.[4]
 | |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine |
|---|---|
| Also called | ZX-10 Tomcat |
| Parent company | Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
| Production | 1988–1990 |
| Predecessor | GPZ1000RX |
| Successor | Ninja ZX-11 |
| Class | Sportbike |
| Engine | 997 cc (60.8 cu in) four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 16-valve DOHC, inline-four 36 mm semi-downdraft CV carburetors |
| Bore / stroke | 74 mm × 58 mm (2.9 in × 2.3 in) |
| Compression ratio | 11.0:1 |
| Top speed | 269 km/h (167 mph)[1] |
| Power | 101 kW (135 hp) @ 10,000 rpm (claimed)[1] |
| Torque | 75 lb⋅ft (102 N⋅m) @ 9,000 rpm (claimed)[1] |
| Frame type | Aluminum perimeter |
| Brakes | Twin-piston radial |
| Tires | Front: 17" Rear: 18" |
| Rake, trail | 26.5°, 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Wheelbase | 1,490 mm (58.7 in) |
| Dimensions | H: 790 mm (31 in) |
| Weight | 245 kg (541 lb)[2] (dry) |
| Fuel capacity | 21 l; 4.6 imp gal (5.5 US gal) |
| Fuel consumption | 42 mpg‑US (5.6 L/100 km; 50 mpg‑imp)[1] |
Design
The ZX-10 replaced the GPZ1000RX as the flagship sportbike from Kawasaki.[5]
The engine was designed after its predecessor's, with the same displacement but 36 mm semi-downdraft CV carburetors and a narrower valve angle. Engine internals were altered: Compression ratio was raised to 11.0:1; lighter pistons and bigger valves were used.[5]
It had Kawasaki's first aluminum perimeter frame, a design which has since become standard.[2]
Aerodynamics were claimed to be better than the outgoing models.[5]
See also
- Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, a Ninja sportbike produced starting in 2004
References
- "Superbike Comparison Test", Cycle World, Newport Beach, California: Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., pp. 27–41, September 1988, ISSN 0011-4286
- John Burns (December 14, 2013), "30 Years of Ninjas: 1984 GPZ900 Ninja to 1990 ZX-11!", Cycle World
- ZX-10 1000 TOMCAT 1990 (in French), motoplanete.com, October 26, 2010
- John Burns (April 2, 2012), "Fifty years of "Do you have any idea how fast you were going?": A brief history of Ludicrous Speed", Cycle World, archived from the original on April 7, 2012
- Rupert Paul (February 1988), "ART ATTACK - first run on Kawasaki's ZX-10", Performance Bikes
External links
Media related to Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10 at Wikimedia Commons
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kawasaki GPZ1000RX (Ninja 1000R) |
Fastest production motorcycle 1988–19891 |
Succeeded by Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 |
| Notes and references | ||
| 1. Precedence per Burns, Cycle World 2012 | ||