Kawasaki's Scintillating 600

KAWASAKI'S SCINTILLATING 600

KAWASAKI SEEMS SET TO turn up the wick on the boiling-hot 600cc class with the expected introduction of its ZX-6R, a sportbike more narrowly focused than the current ZX-6.

Sources in Japan and England say the motorcycle will hit the market in late 1995. Expect a new frame, and a retuned ram-air engine with more midrange and top-end power. All this sophistication could drive the 6R’s price somewhere above the range of Yamaha’s new YZF600, which retails for $6999.

Rob Muzzy, who leads Kawasaki’s U.S. and World Superbike teams, says he’s unaware of any plans for a ZX-6R. He adds, though, that such a bike would make sense. “As time goes on, you expect improvements and advancements,” he says. “It would be natural for Kawasaki to do something like that.”

Muzzy says such a bike would bring 750cc-level sophistication to the 600 class. “The 600s don’t approach the level of the 750s in standard form,” he says. “The ZX-6 isn’t the technical equal of the ZX-7 and even Yamaha’s new 600 isn’t at the level of the YZF750.”

Kawasaki’s domestic-market 400cc ZX-4 provides a hint of what might be coming, adds Muzzy. “The ZX-4, which has sold in Japan for a couple years, is very similar to the 750,” he says. “It’s not uncommon for 600s and larger bikes to be developed from the 400cc models you see in Japan.”

When the ZX-6R is seen around the world, it apparently won’t be the end of the line for the current ZX-6. Sources say that rather than trying to appeal to a broad range of riders with just one model, Kawasaki will make both bikes available. Such a move would not be unprecedented. Kawasaki currently offers the 600R alongside the ZX-6, and Yamaha has 600cc FZR and YZF models.

Robert Hough