/ Featured Article
Here’s why the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R is the perfect entry-level track weapon
This quarter-liter inline-four sportbike is truly in a class of its own.
Sporty, performance-focused motorcycles have long been a favorite among Filipino motorcycle fans. Sportbikes are immensely popular for a variety of reasons, including their styling, performance, and even their exhaust note, perpetuated by the world of racing. A sportbike like the Kawasaki ZX-6R may produce a lot of power, but not all riders can handle it.
Fortunately,Kawasaki also produces a truly track-focused motorcycle that is less terrifying than the ZX-6R while still providing riders who are serious about track riding with the ideal equipment to hone their racing abilities on the race track. The inline-four, quarter-liter sportbike used by Team Green is none other than the Kawasaki ZX-25R. Find out why this bike is the ideal entry-level track weapon by reading on.
An engine in a league of its own
You might laugh when you learn that the Kawasaki ZX-25R's engine is only 250cc in size, but you'll be shocked to learn that it boasts a lot of power—51 horsepower to be specific. Despite having a much smaller engine, it has more power than the Honda CBR500R or even its own stablemate, the Ninja 400.
As you can see, the ZX-25R is powered by an inline-four engine that growls like a banshee at its highest revs. The Kawasaki ZX-25R sounds like a purebred racing machine when it is revved up to a breathtaking 15,500 rpm, and its exhaust note alone is more than enough to draw attention everywhere you go.
Sublime chassis
The ZX-25R was created to provide uncompromising handling on the race track, unlike the other Ninjas in Kawasaki's lineup (namely, the Ninja 400 and Ninja 650). As a result, it has high-quality foundations, including a rear monoshock and adjustable inverted front forks. With this arrangement, the rider can adjust the suspension settings according on the track's conditions, his or her own preferences, and the type of riding they intend to undertake.
On the ZX-25R, the braking hardware has also been upgraded. Although it only has one front rotor, the radially mounted caliper it has makes for sharper brake feel, which is essential when aiming to reduce lap times by milliseconds. The engine serves as a stressed part in the ZX-25R's lightweight chassis structure. This has the dual benefits of greatly reducing weight and boosting stiffness, which is advantageous particularly in a racing context.
The goldilocks zone of performance
The Ninja ZX-25R is powered by a modest 250cc inline-four, as was previously mentioned. Despite the fact that 51 horsepower is a respectable level of power for a bike this small, it actually isn't enough to cause much trouble for even inexperienced riders, especially on the race track. The bike's peaky power output results in a relatively linear power delivery to the rear wheel, making terrifying disasters like rear wheel slides and high sides unlikely to occur.
The ZX-25R is a great starting point for those who want to eventually move up to the larger ZX-branded Ninjas. It provides access to approachable inline-four performance in a genuine race-bred package for aspiring racers and track riding enthusiasts.
Adequate safety nets
When it comes to pure technology, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R is by no means a ground-breaking vehicle. It does, however, have the standard set of electronic rider aids you'd anticipate from a machine geared toward performance. Should you ever find yourself pushing the bike beyond your capabilities, dual-channel ABS and Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) are available.
The bike's LCD multi-information instrument display allows users to toggle all of these features. Additionally, Kawasaki has given the ZX-25R two selectable power modes: one for everyday street use and the other for performance-oriented riding, which unleashes the full potential of the engine.
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