Kawasaki GPZ900R
The Kawasaki GPZ900R (also known as the ZX900A or Ninja 900) is a motorcycle that was manufactured by Kawasaki from 1984 to 2003. It is the earliest member of the Ninja family of sport bikes. The 1984 GPZ900R (or ZX900A-1) was a revolutionary design that became the immediate predecessor of the modern-day sport bike. Developed in secret over six years, it was Kawasaki's and the world's first 16-valve liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder motorcycle engine.
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Motorcycle & Engine Company |
|---|---|
| Also called | Kawasaki Ninja 900 |
| Parent company | Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
| Production | 1984–2003 |
| Successor | Kawasaki GPZ1000RX Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R |
| Class | Sport bike |
| Engine | 908 cc (55.4 cu in), 4-stroke, transverse 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve-per-cylinder |
| Bore / stroke | 72.5 mm × 55 mm (2.85 in × 2.17 in) |
| Top speed | 151 mph (243 km/h) 158 mph (254 km/h) |
| Power | 115 bhp (86 kW) @ 9,500 rpm (1986) 108 bhp (81 kW) @ 9,500 rpm (1990 Europe) 100 bhp (75 kW) @ 9,500 rpm (1990 Europe) 89 bhp (66 kW) @ 9,000 rpm (1986 Japan) |
| Torque | 85 N⋅m (63 lb⋅ft) @ 8,500 rpm 83 N⋅m (61 lb⋅ft) @ 8,500 rpm (Europe) 72 N⋅m (53 lb⋅ft) @ 6,500 rpm (Japan) |
| Transmission | 6-speed constant mesh, return shift. Wet multi-disc clutch. Chain drive. |
| Suspension | Front: telescopic fork, air Rear: Uni-Trak, air shock |
| Brakes | Front: dual disc Rear: single disc |
| Tires | Tubeless 120/80-16 (front) (A1 - A6) 130/80-18 (rear) (A1 - A6) 120/70-17 (front) (A7-A8) 150/70-18 (rear) (A7 - A8) |
| Rake, trail | 29°, 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Wheelbase | 1,495 mm (58.9 in) |
| Dimensions | L: 2,200 mm (87 in) W: 750 mm (30 in) H: 1,215 mm (47.8 in) |
| Seat height | 780 mm (31 in) |
| Weight | 228 kg (503 lb) 249 kg (549 lb) (Europe) 234 kg (516 lb) (Europe) (dry) |
| Fuel capacity | 22 L (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal) Reserve: 4 L (0.88 imp gal; 1.1 US gal) |
| Related | Kawasaki GPZ1000RX Kawasaki GPZ750R |
The 908 cc four-cylinder engine delivered 115 bhp (86 kW), allowing the bike to reach speeds of 151 mph (243 km/h), making it the first stock road bike to exceed 150 mph (240 km/h).
Prior to its design, Kawasaki envisioned producing a sub-liter engine that would be the successor to the Z1. Although its steel frame, 16-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, air suspension, and anti-dive forks were fairly standard at that time, the narrow, compact engine was mounted lower in the frame, allowing it to take Japanese superbike performance to a new level. Six months after being unveiled to the press in December 1983, dealers entered three works GPZ900R bikes in the Isle of Man Production TT finishing in first and second places.