2026?Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Preview  | Rider Journal

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, which has received seven World Superbike titles, has been up to date for 2026 with sharper styling, new winglets, new options, and updates to the chassis geometry and suspension settings.

The general look of the bike has been revised, highlighted by the brand new winglets and headlights. Kawasaki claims that the winglets enhance downforce by 25%. The fairing has been redesigned for a sharper look, and it has extra floor space than the earlier mannequin.

The brand new headlights are a compact hybrid projector/reflector system. Low beams include a mono-focus LED projector, and the excessive beams and place lamps have deep-set reflectors.

Kawasaki claims the downforce produced by the brand new winglets was a consideration within the chassis updates. To enhance rear-wheel traction, the swingarm pivot place was raised by 2mm. The 43mm Showa Steadiness Free Entrance Fork has a stronger decrease triple clamp and extra inflexible fork outer tubes, and the fork top has been barely diminished to create a much less forward-leaning stance. Damping settings have additionally been up to date. The Showa Steadiness Free Rear Cushion shock will get revised rear linkage elements, and the spring fee has been tuned, together with up to date damping settings. An adjustable Öhlins steering damper is customary.

The instrumentation has been up to date with a bigger 5-inch TFT show. The TFT provides auto-adjusting brightness, white and black modes, and two show choices. Kind 1 is for avenue use, whereas Kind 2 is designed for the monitor with a bar-style tach and a lap timer. Riders can join their Ninja ZX-10R to Rideology, Kawasaki’s app, to entry navigation, name and message notifications, a driving log, automobile knowledge, and extra.

The Ninja ZX-10R provides three experience modes (Sport, Street, and Rain) and 4 user-customizable modes (Rider 1-4). Additionally included is the Kawasaki Fast Shifter, the Cornering Administration Perform, Sport Kawasaki Traction Management (5 modes), launch management (three modes), engine brake management, three energy modes, and digital cruise management.

The bike stays powered by the 998cc inline-4, with updates to offer cleaner emissions. Its brakes and wheels additionally return unchanged. Twin Brembo M50 monoblock radial 4-piston calipers pinch 330mm discs up entrance, and rear braking is dealt with by a 1-piston caliper and 220mm disc. The earlier Bridgestone Battlax RS11 tires have been changed with Bridgestone Battlax RS12 tires.

The race-ready Ninja ZX-10RR options the removing of consumption funnels within the airbox, titanium connecting rods by Pankl, lighter weight pistons, one much less piston ring than the usual mannequin, titanium coating on the outer floor of the fork’s interior tubes, and Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tires.

The 2026 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R will likely be obtainable in Lime Inexperienced/Blue 24 or Metallic Matte Graphenesteel Grey/Metallic Spark Black/Pearl Storm Grey, and the mannequin with ABS is out there in the identical colour choices. The ZX-10RR ABS will likely be obtainable in Lime Inexperienced. Pricing has not but been introduced.

Go to the Kawasaki web site for extra data.

Try extra new bikes in Rider’s 2026 Bike Consumers Information