KAWASAKI ZX-6R (2002-2003) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2003, Kawasaki launched the ZX-6R motorcycle with new upgrades and a bump in displacement from 599 to 636cc thanks to a two mm larger bore. Besides that, the bike featured lightweight forged pistons, a fuel injection system, and a close-ratio transmission that enhanced the performance.

The bike came with a new pressed-aluminum perimeter frame and an extruded aluminum swingarm, a class-leading 41 mm inverted fork on the front and a Uni-Trak piggy-back shock absorber on the rear, super-wide 17 inches rims with Z-rated radial tires, and a MotoGP-inspired bodywork.

Some major updates were made for weight reduction, such as composite chrome-plated cylinders, new cooling passages mounted inside the engine, new camshaft profiles with smaller slotted sprockets, a lighter and more compact radiator, and a lighter frame.

As a first on a production motorcycle, the ZX-6R featured radially-mounted four-piston calipers with 300 mm discs on the front and a 220 mm disc with an improved single-piston caliper on the rear wheel.

The 2003 Kawasaki ZX-6R motorcycle took its thrust from a 636cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 118 hp with a peak at 12,500 rpm and 69 Nm (51 lb-ft) of torque available at 12,000 rpm.

All the power was converted into speed by a six-speed manual transmission that spun the rear wheel to a top speed of 262 kph (163 mph).