2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R And ZX-14R First Look Preview

Last week we looked at Kawasaki’s hypersport motorcycles returning for the 2021 model year, and now we’re going to have a peek at some of the offerings in the sportbike segment. The popular Ninja ZX-6R and ZX-14R both return to the lineup in 2021 with all the adrenaline appeal they offered in 2020. Notably absent from Kawasaki’s roundup returning model announcement is the ZX-10R, which was largely untouched in 2020. Kawasaki plans to unveil its major model changes on November 23, and we expect to see more news on the literbike then.

Middleweight sportbikes often don’t get the same update love these days that their larger siblings do, but the ZX-6R did receive a refresh for 2019. That’s basically yesterday for the segment, so it’s no surprise that the 2021 ZX-6R is light on revisions.

The ZX-6R is a strong platform for both track and road riders, thanks to its relatively wide powerband. The 636cc inline-four performs well from the midrange up, and additional elements like the Kawasaki Quick Shifter, engine power modes, and traction control give riders a convenient way to tailor its performance. The aluminum perimeter frame and fully adjustable Showa suspension hardware front and rear provide a responsive feel, particularly suited to comfort on the road.

Nissin brake components provide stopping power front and back, and the ZX-6R can be outfitted with Kawasaki’s advanced KIBS antilock braking package too.

Pricing did change however, with the MSRP going up $200 from 2020 pricing. The 2021 Ninja ZX-6R sans ABS will cost you $10,199 while the ZX-6R ABS KRT Edition will cost $11,499. Colorways for the non-ABS include Pearl Nightshade Teal/Metallic Spark Black as well as a Pearl Crystal White/Pearl Storm Gray/Ebony option. The KRT with ABS model will come in Lime Green/Ebony/Pearl Blizzard White.

Kawasaki’s ZX-14R, the large-and-in-charge quarter-mile killer and touring companion, also returns with a $200 bump to its MSRP for 2021, pricing at $15,199. It will be dressed in a Pearl Storm Gray/Metallic Diablo Black colorway.

The 1,441cc inline-four sits comfortably inside a monocoque aluminum frame, and its output is managed by adjustable power modes and Kawasaki Traction Control. Fully adjustable suspension allows you to dial the ride for straight-line supremacy or long hours in the saddle, and Brembo braking hardware (similar to that used on Kawasaki’s H2 line of bikes) brings the 591-pound machine to a stop.

This machine may be overdue for an update (its last major overhaul coming in 2012), but even if its LCD dash and predictable, though aerodynamically dialed, bodywork are a little dated, the ZX-14R retains its beastly appeal as a two-wheeled rocket in 2021.