2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R road test and pictures

Kawasaki’s 2009 ZX-6R Ninja pictures above Faslane Submarine Base.

More pictures in the gallery here.

Green means go has never applied more to any other range of bikes than Kawasaki and the new ZX-6R doesn’t let you forget it.
It’s rev counter from 8 to 16,000rpm has a distinctive green band running around it and if you keep the revs in that area it’s all go.
Not a great deal happens under eight grand like most of the bikes in the SuperSport class but get the motor spinning and it takes off.
The Ninja is all new and the engine has had a major overhaul to put it right at the sharp end of the SuperSport missiles.
It’s 599cc inline four engine has been completely redesigned and features double bore velocity stacks at two different lengths to allow more grunt in the mid and high rev ranges.
New piston profiles and reduced tension piston rings help cut mechanical losses and revised cam chain guides also reduce friction.
Weight has been shed from cams, covers, pumps and just about every area of the engine all the while making it more usable.
Along with the many alterations to the chassis and ancillary components the ’09 ZX-6R is a massive 10kg lighter than it’s predecessor.
Chuck a leg over it and it’s new narrower seat and 815mm height make it more comfortable straight away and more accessible for shorter riders.
The bars are now closer to the rider and turned in slightly too while the pegs are high.
My 5’10” frame is immediately put into a full on racing tuck on the move but the saddle is comfy enough and as long as you’re on the move the wind blast keeps the weight off your wrists – in town it’s hard work though.
The Zx-6R was the first production motorbike to make use of Showa’s Big Piston Forks which use a main piston almost twice the size of conventional forks.
Grab a handful of front anchor and the twin callipers bite the 300mm petal discs hard but the new forks mean initial dive is minimal and the front end is much more controllable under very heavy braking.
I found the new front end took a bit of getting used to and if you’re ham-fisted with the brake the back end will go airborne with little prompting.
On track I’d imagine the Showa BPF will really come into their own allowing much later braking.
They’re good on the road too and the ride quality for such a focused bike is great.
It’s hard to pick out any particular part of the bike for special praise because it’s such a complete package.
The new engine is a stonker though and once you get it in the sweet spot between 8 and 16K it’s bonkers good fun.
There’s a massive rush of power from 12K onwards and the front goes very light in the first three gears.
Thankfully a top of the range Ohlins steering damper is fitted and proves it’s worth on choppier roads.
The 6R is available in a range of striking colours including Diablo Black and Candy Surf Blue but let’s be honest, if you’re gonna get a Ninja, there’s only one colour to go for and it’s green.

Tech Spec:
Make/Model: Kawasaki ZX-6R
Price: £7,899
Top speed: 160mph
0-100mph: 6 seconds
Economy: 40mpg
Insurance Group: 15
Rivals: Yamaha YZF-R6, Suzuki GSX-R600 K9.

Ducati Monster 1100S road test

To see more pictures visit Scottish Biker gallery.

Ducati’s Monster 1100S is everything you would expect an Italian thoroughbred to be.
Graceful, elegant and terrifically fast – looking every bit as sleek at a standstill outside your favourite café as it is tearing along a fast A road.
And it’s great looks and the amazing sound from it’s Desmodomic engine mean wherever you go the 1100S is guaranteed to turn heads.
The Monster range has been a top seller for years now and Ducati are hoping the 1100S will be as big a smash in the showrooms as it’s smaller sibbling.
The machine uses the same frame as the 696, the best selling Monster ever in Britain.
The most obvious difference, apart from the bigger engine is the use on the 1100 version of a gorgeous single-sided swing arm – it’s trademark Ducati and makes the big Monster really stand out from the crowd.
Connecting the swing arm to the frame is an Ohlins monoshock which is fully adjustable and up front there’s gorgeous Ohlins 43mm USD forks which have a fashionable TiN coating.
Braking is taken care of by twin 320mm discs and 4-piston radially mounted calipers – taken straight off the 848 Superbike.
The engine uses the same top end as the barking mad Hypermotard and Multistrada but with new, lighter crankcases.
With 95bhp to play with from the 1100cc L-twin engine some might decide to go for the much more powerful Streetfighter.
But the way that 95bhp is delivered means big fun is guaranteed.
There’s masses of grunt under the 6000rpm peak torque figure.
The seating position is typical Monster, aggressive but very comfy and angled forward slightly so you’re leaning into the wind.
Ducati reckon the Monster1100S will be used mostly in towns and on short journeys which is a terrible shame.
Get it onto a good country road and all the terrific elements come together to make for a thrilling ride.
Leave the braking late and chuck the 168kg Ducati on it’s ear, get on the gas and use the creamy smooth drive to fire you out the other side.
If you get your line wrong the Ohlins suspension and lack of mass let you change it without any fuss.
It’s addictive, grin inducing fun and the action is accompanied by a glorious Termignoni enhanced soundtrack.
Where the 696 is revvy and hyperactive the 1100S is more relaxed but every bit as involving and enjoyable.
The build quality is typically very high and whether you go for the matte black, flame red or my favourite, the silver with red frame you won’t be disappointed with the deep lustre of the paintwork.
Complaints are few but the small 15 litre fuel tank means you’ll need to plan longer journeys in advance and the suspension is a bit too tight for bumpier roads.
It might be a monster by name but there’s nothing scary about the new 1100S – apart from how much fun you can have on it.

Tech Spec.
Make/Model: Ducati Monster 1100S
Price: £7,800
Top Speed: 120mph
0-100mph: 9 seconds
Economy: 40mph
Insurance Group: 14
Rivals: Aprilia Tiono R, Kawasaki Z1000

For more information visit Ducati Glasgow.

GSX-R Trophy opens up to Gixxer owners

If you are a Suzuki GSX-R600 owner who has always wanted to race now is your chance as the R&G Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 Trophy is opening up to more riders.

If you already own a stock GSX-R K6, K7, K8 or K9 then you are welcome to join the GSX-R Trophy Championship which still has ten rounds to run, one of which supports the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park on the 27th-28th June.

All new entrants will need to take their bike to their local Suzuki dealer to have their registration form signed but this won’t incur a cost to the rider or the dealer. The bike will then need to be prepared as per the championship conditions.

(NB: Any K7, K8 or K9 road bike will void any existing warranty if it is raced)

If you have never raced and need a licence that will be provided for free, as will a CTC course and free membership of the Darley Moor Road Racing Club.

Once that has been achieved all you need to do is pay your entry fee of £175 per round and buy tyres at £175 per set and you are ready to go racing.

Finally, you will need to pay a fully refundable Bond of £900, which you get back IN FULL (subject to championship conditions) when you complete the final round of the series. See championship conditions for full details.

The next round of the R&G Racing Suzuki GSX-R Trophy is on the 24th May at Snetterton so there is plenty of time to get your bike and licence organised and get racing.

For more information on the R&G Racing Suzuki GSX-R Trophy, Terms & Conditions and Championship Regulations, and to down load a Championship Registration form, visit www.gsxrtrophy.co.uk or contact the ACU Road Race Dept on 01788 566406 or Rowena@acu.org.uk

R&G Racing is a specialist in crash protection products so for your nearest R&G Racing dealer, contact 01420 521100 or visit www.rg-racing.com.

For more information on Suzuki please visit www.suzuki-gb.co.uk.

Arrow SX Dry waterproof race boot

FORMA’s Arrow SX Dry race boots offer riders all of the benefits of a top-flight Italian race boot with the functionality of a reliable waterproof liner and the reassurance of the CE-mark.

FORMA is one of only a handful of manufacturers committed to producing boots that are CE-certified to the EN13634 standard for motorcycle boots. The Arrow SX boot has a leather upper reinforced by replaceable plastic protection for the calf and ankle. There is a double protective Velcro and zip closure to ensure a watertight fit and the replaceable toe sliders are anti-spark magnesium.

Waterproofing is assured thanks to a Drytex® tubular lining. The sole has a TPU Dual Flex and anti-shock EVA midsole that protects the instep but allows flexibility for the ball of the foot.

Forma Arrow SX Dry boots are produced in sizes 7-13 in black or white & cost£149.95. For more info call Planet Knox on 01900 825825 or click on www.planet.knox.com/formabootsuk

Skidmarx Double Bubble screen & headlight cover for Yamaha YZF125R

Manufactured at the Skidmarx factory in Weymouth using 3mm acrylic, the YZF125R double bubble screen is designed to enhance the aerodynamics of the bike and significantly increases the size of the air pocket behind the screen, giving the rider much greater protection at speed.

Available in clear and tinted options, both priced £49.95 each – coloured versions are also available for a £6 surcharge – the YZF125R double bubble fits uses the existing mounting points and fasteners; no drilling or expensive fitting kits are required. A standard version is also available at £39.95.

Completing the package is a matching set of headlight covers priced at £19.50 and are available in clear, tinted and coloured versions.

Call Skidmarx on 01305 780808 or visit www.skidmarx.co.uk for details of these, and other road and racing products.

Acumen CL10 remote chain oiler kit

Acumen has developed a remote kit for their ‘intelligent’ chain oiler. Normally the can of chain lube screws onto the solenoid, which squirts it through a tube and onto the chain, and both would be mounted out of sight under the seat. However this ingenious new kit contains everything required to mount the solenoid and lube elsewhere on the bike, either together or separately.

Acumen even produce anodised alloy sleeves in a range of exciting colours to fit over the exposed chain lube can to make an attractive feature of it. Driven by the motorcycle’s speedometer, the CL10 automatically pumps out more chain lube the faster the bike is ridden and uses a PTFE-based lubricant that acts like regular chain spray. Riders control the rate of flow from a handlebar-mounted display unit, so they can alter the intervals at which lube is squirted to suit the conditions.

This remote mounting kit comes with the required adaptors for the can and solenoid, with low-loss tubing to connect the can to the solenoid should you wish to mount them in separate locations, anodised alloy mounting bracket and stainless steel mounting screws. The bracket can be bolted to the motorcycle or attached to the frame tubes using silver cable ties provided in the kit. The Acumen CL10 intelligent chain oiler sells for £99.99 inc. VAT; the remote kit retails for £49.99 and alloy sleeves cost £49.99.

Advice & Sales: 0870 240 3257 www.acumen-electronics.co.uk

R1200RT Limited Edition now available

Back in Black – R1200RT LE gives punters a £450 saving.

BMW Motorrad has announced the launch of a limited edition version of it’s R1200RT. Just 200 models, all in sapphire black metallic colour with matching black top box, ASC (Automatic Stability Control) and Tyre Pressure Control comes as part of the Limited Edition package as an enhancement to the current SE model specification.

The R1200RT LE is now available in BMW Motorrad Dealerships priced at £12,495, which represents a £450 saving compared to specifying the £12,125 SE model with the three extra factory options detailed above.

UK Specification of the R 1200 RT LE includes factory options

• ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment)
• Cruise Control
• ASC (Automatic Stability Control)
• Tyre Pressure Control
• Colour Coded Top Box
• On Board Computer
• Seat Heating
• Heated Grips
• Additional Power Socket
• White Indicator Lenses
• Chrome Exhaust

For more information on the R 1200 RT LE please contact your local BMW Motorrad dealership by visiting www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk or calling the customer service line on: 0800 777 15

Yamaha adds two cruisers to ‘No Worries’ finance deal

Following on from Yamaha’s No Worries finance promotion being enhanced and extended, the firm has added both 2008 and 2009 variant XVS1300A and XV1900 models to the campaign.
Extended until the 6th of May and enhanced with the addition of up to 36 months at 0%, the addition of these two Yamaha cruisers means that these customers can now take full advantage of Yamaha’s easy terms, getting themselves out on the street for the Spring.
Yamaha? No worries.

For more information call Alan Duffus Motorcycles on 01592 264135 or check out their website here.

For full terms and conditions and more details, talk to your authorised Yamaha dealer or click onto our website www.yamaha-motor.co.uk.

Scooters Get “The Boot” with Piaggio top cases

Piaggio has produces a range of tailor made top cases that give scooters a boot. Fitting neatly behind the passenger seat, a top case from the Piaggio range provides a neat solution for safely and securely carrying items that can’t always be stowed in the under seat compartment.

Made from injection moulded plastic with a lockable lid, top cases range in size from 28-litres for smaller scooters, such as Piaggio’s 50cc Zip, up to the commodious 46-litre case, complete with a passenger back-rest, designed for the 400cc Xevo super scooter. Whether it’s a briefcase, lap-top, a bit of shopping picked up on the way home, or even a helmet in case you’re picking up a passenger, genuine Piaggio top cases are the ideal solution.

Easily fitted using the tailor made kits, prices for Piaggio top cases start at £49.99 for the 28-litre option, (plus fitting kit £37.38) up to £259 (including rack and backrest pad) for the Xevo’s 46-litre version. All prices include VAT.

Available from Piaggio dealers nationwide or call 0117 972 5552 for more information.

Amor ruled out of inaugural MotoSix Nations Championship

Amor-some…Keith in action.

Falkirk flyer Keith Amor has been ruled out of this weekends inaugural MotoSix Nations Championship at Donington Park.
The event sees solo and sidecar teams from Scotland, N. Ireland, Eire, the Isle of Man, Wales and England race at the Leicestershire circuit to see which nation is quickest.
Amor had been hoping to spearhead Scotland’s team and regain some lost pride after our dismal result in this year’s Rugby Six Nations.
But the roads supremo suffered a huge 100+ mph crash in Spain at the start of the month and another crash in Ireland just last weekend at the Mondello Masters event.
Amor said: “I came together with another racer in Spain and ended up high-siding the bike at over 100mph. I came down head-first but luckily I was going so fast and was so high I missed the track and landed in the gravel trap.
“I came down on my head and right shoulder and eventually stopped when I hit the tyre wall.
“I’m really gutted about being ruled out of the MotoSix Nations but I’ll have to do what the doctors say.
Amor will be back in action in a couple of weeks time when the Road Racing calendar kicks off on 24th and 25th April for the Cookstown 100 Road Races.