KAWASAKI Ninja ZX-12R (2002-2003) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R was a motorcycle in the Ninja sports bike series made by the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer from 2000 to 2006 and featured a 1,199cc engine that delivered 178 hp at low speed and 190 hp at high-speed thanks to its ram-air intake system.

The bike played a big role in bringing a truce to the escalating competition of building the fastest production motorcycle in the world, which resulted in speed-limited versions that were part of a gentlemen's agreement between motorcycle manufacturers that lasted until 2007 when MV Agusta F4R came to life.

Compared to other motorcycles that used an aluminum perimeter frame, the Kawasaki ZX-6R packed a unique monocoque aluminum frame, which was a first on mass-production motorcycles, designed to make the bike narrower and more aerodynamic.

For suspension, the bike packed a 43 mm 12-way adjustable rebound and 12-way adjustable damping upside-down cartridge fork on the front that provided 120 mm of wheel travel and a piggyback shock absorber on the rear with adjustable spring preload, 18-way adjustable rebound, and 20-way adjustable damping that offered 123 mm of wheel travel.

As for braking performance, the model packed two 320 mm discs squeezed by two six-piston calipers on the front and a 230 mm disc with a two-piston caliper on the rear wheel.

In the performance department, the 2003 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R had its heartbeat set by a 1,199cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 178 hp at 10,500 rpm and 134 Nm (99 lb-ft) of torque at 7,500 rpm.