Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R (2006-2007) - Review & Buying Guide

The 2006-2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R will always be remembered as the ‘difficult second album’ in the Ninja family’s history – which is a great shame as it is actually a very good machine. However, sadly for this particular Ninja, back in the day it suffered from bad publicity and therefore poor sales due to a touch lethargic handling and a bit of a lardy look. So what went wrong?

After the wild and slightly uncontrollable original Ninja ZX-10R, Kawasaki decided to make the second generation (the D model) less aggressive. This shouldn’t have been an issue but unfortunately, this decision coincided with new emissions regulations. In order to meet the regs, Kawasaki were forced to stick two huge underseat pipes on the Ninja, giving it a fat back end that aligned with its new slightly muted handling, earned it the (pretty unfair it has to be said...) nickname ‘the wheelbarrow’. In an age of the outstanding Suzuki GSX-R1000 K5/6, Yamaha YZF-R1 and Honda Fireblade, the Ninja went from being the feistiest (which is exactly what Ninja fans wanted) to the least desirable litre sportsbike overnight. Sales bombed and despite various incentives such as free Akrapovic end cans, not to mention Chris Walker winning a WSB race on one, the second generation of Ninja never really recovered from its tarnished reputation. But that was then and now with prices low and its faults fairly easy and cheap to fix, the 2006/2007 Ninja ZX-10R makes for a superb used buy.

Pros & Cons

2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - Prices

Back in the day the Ninja cost £8800, however a lot were discounted and also loads had carbon Akrapovič exhausts fitted as standard to tempt buyers. Nowadays you can find a Ninja for as little as £3500, which is an absolute steal however it will be showing a mid-to-high-20,000 mile reading on its speedo. Up your budget to £4000 and you can find a bike that hasn’t yet crossed over 20,000 miles, which is the area to aim for. Minters go for £4500-£5000 in private sales with dealers asking for a top-end of £5500, however this is pretty optimistic. Set a budget of £5000 to buy the bike and update it with some quality parts and you will have a great machine.

2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - Engine & Performance

The inline four is effectively the same as the original Ninja ZX-10R uses however in the D model Kawasaki engineered in a bit of refinement through a heavier crank and tweaked fuel-injection system in an effort to make it less aggressive. A far more predictable engine to use, the D model is a delight to ride on the road and while still delivering in terms of performance and thrills, it does so with less of a brutal and snatchy feeling. And when you are riding a bike with a genuine rear wheel power figure that is touching 170bhp and no traction control, predictability in a throttle is a very good thing... But is it exciting?

Detractors of the D will say its engine’s more refined nature makes it dull to ride, which isn’t fair. If you want some thrills you can always tweak the gearing (stock is 17/40 but 17/41 and 16/42 are common changes) but realistically, get it set up by a professional and matched to a set of free-flowing end cans and a high-flow air filter and it is a great motor. Also, well as releasing a few extra bhp, lighter cans actually improve the Ninja’s handling (more on this later) as they take a chunk of weight held high up on the bike away.

When buying used, the Ninja’s engine is hardly stressed by road riders but there are a few things to be wary of. Duff stators are fairly common, so check the voltage over the pairs of wires leading out of it using a multimeter and if it isn’t looking happy, change it before any possible spikes can cause electrical issues. The reg/rec is also quite fragile but is a simple thing to replace and the valve-clearance check is at a slightly odd 15,000-mile intervals with minor services required every 7500 miles. It is also worth knowing that Kawasaki recommend that the coolant should be changed every three years alongside the radiator hose and O-ring, the brake fluid swapped every two years, the fuel hoses replaced every four years and the air filter changed every 12,000 miles.

2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R- Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

Let’s be honest, back-to-back with the original and third-generation Ninja, the second generation is a bit lazy-handling. It’s not horrific but it takes more effort to get it towards an apex, however the benefit is that once there, it tends to ride with more stability than the older model, helped by its Öhlins steering damper (which would have been more than welcome on the original!!!). There are a few things you can do to improve the Ninja’s agility and while some owners go for fitting a 190/50 rear tyre, this isn’t the best route and instead stick with the 190/55 spec it is designed for and instead concentrate on the suspension and weight distribution.

A fork re-valve and ideally a new shock set-up by a professional transform the Ninja and it can be made just as sporty-feeling as the original bike. Dumping the heavy OE cans for lighter aftermarket units removes a stack of high-up weight, again helping its handling, and then all you are left with it’s the poor brakes, which benefit from braided lines and ideally a new master cylinder and fresh high-friction pads. Some owners fit brake calipers from the ZZR1400 but this isn’t really recommended. Do all this and the Ninja is a very good handling bike with much more stability over bumps than the original.

In the used market, the chassis is strong but you need to be aware of crash damage, when the head bearings were last regreased (it should be every 7500 miles) and also if the suspension linkage is nicely greased and moving freely.

2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - Comfort & Economy

The Ninja is a mid-2000s sportsbike and while it isn’t as extreme as modern litres bikes such as the R1 or Blade, it is still pretty hardcore. The bars are low, the pegs high and unlike on some other machines, they is no adjustability in peg height available as standard. You can cover distances on it, especially with a double-bubble screen fitted and maybe rearsets, but it’s a sportsbike at the end of the day and it’s designed to rip around a track on, not tour Europe with a pillion on the back. And yes, it’s predictably horrible for pillions.

When it comes to economy, the Ninja is a touch thirsty and 45mpg seems to be about average. That gives you a range of around 170 miles but realistically, the fuel warning light will illuminate at about 130 miles and by 150 you need to start getting a bit twitchy.

2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - Equipment

Kawasaki did introduce traction control (of sorts...) to the third generation of Ninja before the fourth generation went all-in but the second generation was left completely lacking. There is no ABS, TC, power modes or anything – you don’t even get a gear indicator or fuel gauge! The only ‘tech’ as such is an immobiliser, which is hardly cutting-edge...

When it comes to accessories, Kawasaki sold a pillion seat cover that was colour-matched to the bike alongside Akrapovic road-legal carbon end cans, a paddock stand and a few other bits and bobs. Most owners will have by now fitted braided lines, nearly every bike has a set of aftermarket cans fitted (ask for the originals) and crash protection, sticker kits, stubby levers and taller screens are also very prevalent. Kawasaki owners tend to bling their bikes up so expect a smattering of modifications. With this in mind, always be wary of what might have been taken off! It is worth asking the owner if parts have been removed. And never trust a sticker, look carefully around it and feel it to see if it is hiding any damage behind!

2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - Rivals

The Ninja was released at the height of hostilities between the big four Japanese rivals in the litre sportsbike class, so its natural rivals are the known players.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 (2005-2006) | Price: £4000-£6000

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Power/Torque

178bhp / 87lb-ft

Weight

166kg (dry)

Yamaha YZF-R1 (2004-2008) | Price: £4000-£5500

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Power/Torque

174bhp / 79lb-ft

Weight

185kg (wet)

Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade (2004-2007) | Price: £4000-£5000

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Power/Torque

172bhp / 84.9lb-ft

Weight

205kg (wet)

2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - Verdict

The D-model Ninja ZX-10R is a bike that having gained an unwelcome reputation has failed to shake it off, which is a great shame. Armed with a suspension upgrade, the correct tyre sizes fitted, new brake lines and ideally a bit of dyno work, it is easily transformed from a nearly-there to a wonderful litre bike with bags of spirit and a storming engine. Yes, it’s not as wild or thrilling as the original Ninja ZX-10R model, but by the same token thanks to an Öhlins steering damper and calmer chassis, it is a lot less likely to fire you into a hedge! If you want a bargain litre sportsbike that is easily made even better, this is the one to buy.

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2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - Technical Specification

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