Servicing your bike? You’ll need a ZX6R workshop manual…
Kawasaki ZX6R Ninja Specs…..
The Kawasaki ZX6-R Ninja (F1, F2 and F3 models) was a fully faired sports bike produced in the UK in the UK between 1995 and 1998. The ZX6R F was very similar in style to the ZX9R Ninja released in 1994 and used the same ram air intake system (a system that was originally developed for the ZZR1100 in 1990)
The ZX6R F had 100bhp and a claimed 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds. It was replaced in 1998 by the ZX6R G model.
Basic model info… |
|
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Kawasaki |
| Model: | ZX6R F |
| CC: | 599cc |
| Engine type: | Inline 4 cylinder (4 stroke) |
| Years in production: | 1995 to 1998 |
| Frame number: | Started – ZX600F—- |
| Kawasaki model code: | ZX600F |
| Style of bike: | Sports bike (fully faired) |
| Insurance: | Group 14 (of 17) – Insurance qoutes going up every year? Save money at Confused.com |
| Replaced by: | ZX6R G Ninja |
Looking for ZX6R Ninja parts? Buy ZX6R Ninja spares on Amazon…
Side view of a 1997 Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja.
A little bit about the Kawasaki ZX6-R F Ninja…
Models and years (in the UK) |
|
|---|---|
| ZX-6R Ninja F1 (January 1995 to November 1995)… | |
| Model: | ZX600-F1 |
| Frame number started: | ZX600F-000001—- |
| Description: | 599cc Supersport bike with monoshock rear suspension, box section rear swing arm, 41mm cartridge style front forks, lightweight aluminium frame, full race fairing with 2 air duct inlets under the single front headlight, ‘Ninja’ logo on the tailpiece, ‘ZX-6R’ logo on the front fairing and 2 piece race pad style seat. |
| Available colours: | Green/white or purple/red |
| Cost new: | £6595 for an ‘M’ reg model and £6825 for an ‘N’ reg model |
| ZX-6R Ninja F2 (December 1995 to October 1996)… | |
| Model: | ZX600-F2 |
| Frame number started: | ZX600F-017001—- |
| Description: | Same as above model but with new graphics. |
| Available colours: | Green/white (with an all green belly pan) or ebony/grey |
| Cost new: | £7195 for an ‘N’ reg model and £7195 for a ‘P’ reg model |
| ZX-6R Ninja F3 (November 1996 to February 1998)… | |
| Model: | ZX600-F3 |
| Frame number started: | ZX600F-030001—- |
| Description: | Same as above model but with a slightly modified exhaust. |
| Available colours: | Red, green or galaxy silver |
| Cost new: | £7195 for an ‘P’ reg model and £7195 for a ‘R’ reg model |
1997 (‘R’ reg) Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja with the twin air inlets under the headlight.
| Engine and gearbox stuff… | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 599 cc (36.55 cubic inches) |
| Engine type: | Inline four cylinder, four-stroke |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Cylinder firing order: | 1 – 2 – 4 – 3 |
| Power: | 105.00 HP (76.6 kw) @ 12500 RPM |
| Torque: | 65.00 Nm (6.6 kgf-m or 47.9 ft.lbs) @ 10000 RPM |
| Top speed: | 161.6 mph….Ish! (260.0 km/h) |
| Bore x stroke: | 66 x 43 |
| Clearance between piston ring and cylinder bore: | 0.040mm (when new) to 0.072mm (max clearance) |
| Valves per cylinder: | 4 (16 valves in total) |
| Inlet valve clearance (with cold engine): | 0.15mm to 0.24mm |
| Exhaust valve clearance (with cold engine): | 0.22mm to 0.31mm |
| Cam shafts: | Double overhead cams (DOHC) |
| Fuel type: | Petrol (suitable for unleaded petrol) |
| Engine oil capacity: | 3.6 litres |
| Oil pressure: | 1.2 to 1.8 bar |
| Recommended engine oil: | 10w40 Semi synthetic |
| Engine oil filter capacity: | 0.2 litres |
| Oil filter: | Hiflo HF303 / Champion F306 |
| Oil change interval: | 5000km or 12 months |
| Cooling system: | Liquid cooled |
| Cooling system capacity: | 2.1 litres |
| Cooling system change interval: | Change every 30,000km or 24 months |
| Gearbox: | 6 speed (1st gear down, 2 to 6 gears up. Neutral between 1st and 2nd gear) |
| Clutch: | Wet, multi plate type clutch |
| Clutch part no: | EBC CK4503 (plates) and EBC CSK56 (springs) |
|
|
| Final drive stuff… | |
|---|---|
| Final drive: | chain |
| Chain length: | 106 links (note: some parts books list 108 links!) |
| Chain pitch: | 525 |
| Free play: | 35 to 40mm |
| Front sprocket: | 15 |
| Rear sprocket: | 40 |
| Fuel and carb stuff… | |
|---|---|
| Fuel type: | Petrol (suitable for unleaded petrol) |
| Recommended fuel: | 4 stroke / 95 octane |
| Carb: | Keihin CVKD36 (x 4) |
| Idle speed: | 1050rpm (+/- 50rpm) |
1997 (‘R’ reg) Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja engine (599cc, inline 4 cylinder).
| Suspension, brakes and wheel stuff… | |
|---|---|
| Front brakes: | Twin (dual) discs |
| Front brake caliper: | Tokico 4 pot caliper |
| Front disc part numbers: | EBC MD4008LS (left disc) and MD4008RS (right disc) |
| Front brake pad part number: | EBC FA158 |
| Rear brake: | Single disc |
| Rear brake caliper: | Tokico 1 (single) pot caliper |
| Rear disc part number: | EBC MD4023 |
| Rear brake pad part number: | EBC FA192 |
| Recommended brake fluid: | DOT 4 brake fluid |
| Brake fluid change interval: | Check every 5,000km and change every 20,000km or 24 months |
| Front wheel: | 3 Spoke cast |
| Front tyre size: | 120/60-17 |
| Front tyre pressure: | 36psi |
| Rear wheel: | 3 spoke cast |
| Rear tyre size: | 160/60-17 |
| Rear tyre pressure: | 42psi |
| Front suspension: | 41mm Telescopic forks |
| Stanchion diameter: | 41mm |
| Recommended fork oil: | Medium – 10w Fork oil |
| Fork oil capacity: | 377 to 385 cm3 |
| Fork oil change interval: | 30,000 km or 24 months |
1997 (‘R’ reg) Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja rear/side view.
| Weights ‘n measures… | |
|---|---|
| Dry weight: | 182 kg (401.2 pounds) |
| Power/weight ratio: | 0.5769 HP/kg |
| Seat height: | 810 mm (31.9 inches) |
| Wheelbase: | 1400mm |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 18 litres |
1997 (‘R’ reg) Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja clocks.
| Electrical stuff… | |
|---|---|
| Starter: | Electric starter motor |
| System voltage: | 12 volts |
| Max alternator output: | 24amps at 8000rpm |
| Regulated voltage: | 15 volts (regulator / rectifier) |
| Voltage capacity: | 12volts / 10amps |
| Battery: | YTX12-BS / CTX12-BS / DTX12-BS |
| Ignition type: | Electronic CDI (part no: 211191433 and J4T054717715) |
| Spark controlled by: | 4 x coil |
| Spark plug: | NGK CR9E / Denso U27ESR-N / Champion G59C |
| Spark plug gaps: | NGK 0.7 to 0.8mm / Denso 0.7 to 0.8mm / Champion 0.6mm |
| Ignition timing (BTDC): | 12.5 degrees at 1050rpm |
| Max ignition advance: | 35 degrees at 5000rpm |
Front view of a 1997 (‘R’ reg) Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja engine.
| Servicing stuff… | |
|---|---|
| If your new to servicing or unsure, either ask a friend to help or get a ZX6R Ninja workshop manual… | |
| Engine oil change: | |
| Oil change interval: | 5000km (3107 miles) or 12 months |
| Engine oil capacity: | 3.6 litres |
| Engine oil filter capacity: | 0.2 litres |
| Recommended engine oil: | 10w40 Semi synthetic |
|
|
| Oil filter: | Hiflo HF303 / Champion F306 |
| Air filter: | |
| Air filter: | Kawasaki part no: 11013-1240 / Hiflo HFA2603 |
| Spark plugs: | |
| Spark plug: | 4 x NGK CR9E / Denso U27ESR-N / Champion G59C |
| Cooling system: | |
| Cooling system: | Liquid cooled |
| Cooling system capacity: | 2.1 litres |
| Cooling system change interval: | Change every 30,000km (18645 miles) or 24 months |
| Brake fluid: | |
| Recommended brake fluid: | DOT 4 brake fluid |
| Brake fluid change interval: | Check every 5,000km (3106 miles) and change every 20,000km (12427 miles) or 24 months |
| Front forks: | |
| Recommended fork oil: | Medium – 10w Fork oil |
| Fork oil capacity: | 377 to 385 cm3 |
| Fork oil change interval: | 30,000km (18641 miles) or 24 months |
| Fork seals (US): | ZX6R fork seals |
| Fork seals (UK): | ZX6R fork seals |
| Chain drive | |
| Final drive chain frequency: | Now repeat after me…..’I MUST LUBE MY CHAIN LITTLE AND OFTEN!!’ 🙂 |
| Useful tightening torques… | |
|---|---|
| Cylinder head (1st stage): | M10 bolts, 49nm |
| Cylinder head (2nd stage): | M6 bolts, 12nm |
| Cam cover: | 10nm |
| Magneto / flywheel: | 110nm |
| Crankshaft sprocket: | 125nm |
| Clutch hub: | 130nm |
| Spark plug: | 13nm |
| Front wheel spindle: | 110nm |
| Front wheel spindle clamp (the ones in the fork leg): | 20nm |
| Rear wheel spindle: | 110nm |
1997 (‘R’ reg) Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja side and rear view with Micron exhaust system.
Useless stuff…
When the Kwak ZX6R Ninja was launched in 1995, it was the 1st middle weight sports bike since the 1992 Suzuki GSXR600 to have an aluminium frame and was capable of going from 0 to 60mph in 3.6 seconds!
Majority of the parts were the same on the Kawasaki ZX6-R Ninja F1, F2 and F3 models (released in the UK from Jan 95 to Feb 98) except for a few colour and graphic changes on the bodywork and the exhaust was slightly different on the F3 model.
1997 (‘R’ reg) Kawasaki ZX6R F3 Ninja rear shock absorber.
Buying advice…
Not much to worry about with the ZX6R F as they were fairly bulletproof! Obviously, as with all sports bikes, avoid ex race bikes as they will have been hammered, also check ‘collar and cuffs’ match (frame number on the bike and logbook) as these were fairly popular amongst bike thieves and look for crash damage (although the bike was fairly strong and could take a bit of a knock!).
Fuel components can give odd problems so check for leaks etc and, if the bike is still running the original exhaust downpipes budget for a new set as most of the original exhaust headers will have fallen foul of the old rust devil by now, mainly due to the fact the original downpipes were mild steel (brand new Motad ZX6R Ninja Stainless Steel Headers are available, but baby, they AIN’T cheap!!)
Kawasaki ZX6R Ninja F3 spares…..
Sources / Thanks to…
EBCBrakesDirect.com
ZX6R article on Wikipedia
If you’ve got any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below 🙂
Disclaimer: The information on this page is correct to the best of our knowledge. But the info should NOT be taken as 100% accurate as we can, occasionally make mistakes!
for the bike
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