You might think that with three WSB titles in a row in the bag, Kawasaki would be resting on its laurels a bit with the ZX-10R. But for 2018, the guys in green have a new offering - an SE edition of the ZX-10R, which features new Showa semi-active electronic suspension, forged aluminium Marchesini rims and a full up- and down-quickshifter. Previously, you had to buy the super-rare ZX-10RR homologation bike to get the autoblipping quickshifter (or have your ECU flashed by Woolich Racing…)
The suspension is all new from Showa, and the Japanese firm reckons it’s the fastest-reacting suspension setup around. Rather than having small electric stepper motors turning conventional adjuster screws, it uses solenoids inside the suspension to adjust damping, and can react to changes in just one millisecond. Woo!
The motor is as you were, so just the wearisome 210bhp at full chat with ram-air. Yawn. Weight is also pretty much the same - it’s actually 2kg heavier overall, the leccy suspension adding some mass, and the rims taking some away. Of course, there’s flash paint and graphics, so people know you’ve spent the extra couple of grand (ish) on the posh one. Price is tbc, expect more on that by the end of the week.
Kawasaki is keeping the RR model on sale - it has the different cylinder head and forged rims, so that keeps the homologation going for the 10. This SE edition is, essentially, a fancier road bike option rather than a homologation special for racing.