2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R

Kawasaki has been carefully crafting its popular Ninja lineup for decades, and the 2019 ZX-6R has received a number of upgrades to help it stand out from the competition on the motorcycle dealer’s showroom floor. This middleweight sportbike punches above its weight courtesy of a long-stroke 636cc inline-four, which offers more midrange torque than a typical 599cc supersport yet still spins to 16,000 rpm. An electronic quickshifter and a one-tooth-smaller countershaft sprocket were added for ’19 to help improve acceleration. The latest ZX-6R also wears new bodywork that is more clearly matched to its Ninja heritage, including the best-selling twin-cylinder Ninja 400. LED lighting, comfortable ergonomics, and forgiving suspension settings make for a motorcycle that is well-suited to life on the street.

The combination analog/digital gauge cluster has been updated too, and now features a nifty programmable shift light integrated within the tachometer needle. Rider safety aids, including three-way adjustable traction control and ABS, carry over, with the latter only available as an option. The ZX-6R is also one of the first sportbikes to wear Bridgestone’s updated and even more versatile Battlax S22 rubber as original equipment.

Likes: Broad power for a middleweight inline-four, cushy suspension

Dislikes: Dated powertrain and electronics package

Verdict: Well-rounded road and track performance at a great price

Cycle World sampled the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R at the US press launch in Las Vegas. A street ride on curvy mountain asphalt around Mount Charleston was followed by a day of lapping at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We came away from the experience impressed with the ZX-6R’s versatile performance and value-conscious MSRP.

2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R First Ride

2019 Kawasaki ZX-6R Debuts

2009 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R Review—From The Archives

The 2019 Kawasaki ZX-6R stands out from other middleweight sportbikes due in part to the additional displacement provided by its long-stroke 636cc engine. Current competition includes the MotoAmerica Supersport championship-winning Yamaha YZF-R6 and a pair of popular four-cylinder Suzukis, the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750.

2019 Yamaha YZF-R6

2019 Suzuki GSX-R600

2019 Suzuki GSX-R750

The 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is available in two colors—Pearl Storm Gray/Metallic Spark Black or Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Flat Spark Black—with antilock brakes (ABS) offered as a $1,000 upcharge. A special KRT edition ($1,200 premium) includes ABS and special racing paint and graphics.