Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Gets New Colors for 2012

The Ninja is one of the most popular designations in the motorcycle industry, and the characteristic lime green color is like a trademark for the Kawasaki brand. Of the entire current Ninja family, the middleweight brother has taken center stage in many wet dreams.

The Z6-R Ninja was most recently revised in 2009, when it received a large amount of upgrades and tweaks.

Unfortunately, for the 2012 model year, fans of the middleweight Ninja hoping for a new generation that would blow the competitors’ minds away, will be disappointed: Kawasaki announced today the bike will only get updated colors and graphics.

So no power increase and no redesigned styling elements for the 600cc supersport Ninja. Well, at least the characteristic green is still in the picture... it just gets a different placement on the body.

For those who can’t see those ‘new colors and graphics’ at first glance, we have inserted two photos: one of the 2012 ZX-6R, and a second one with the current scheme that lasts since 2009, for the sake of comparison.

No striking visual changes, right? Well let us stretch the obvious: the MotoGP / WSBK-like graphics are featured for the first time on a Kawasaki production bike; the Ninja name is now placed on the fuel tank, while the Kawasaki name has moved to the side fairings. Also, the denomination '600' replaces the previous 'ZX-6R' logo.

In fact, the new paint scheme sort of reminds of the ZX-6R Performance Edition released by Kawasaki last year. However, that version came with an Akrapovic silencer, double bubble screen, rear seat cowl plus tank and knee pads.