For sport bike lovers, the 90s was an exciting time, with every manufacturer throwing a sport model into the mix. For Kawasaki, it was always about the Ninja, back then the Ninja nameplate meant something and wasn’t just a marketing buzz-word.
Only the cream of the crop got to wear the coveted badge, usually emblazoned across the side of the motorcycle in true 90s color orgy fashion. Even today, the bikes in their original colors look more bold than the current machines with aftermarket decals, it was a, well, colorful time. In many ways, the ZX-7R defined the period, it was all 90s.
10
The Ninja Name Still Meant Something
Today, the Ninja nameplate is found on just about every sporty-looking bike they have in their rather extensive range, from the anemic beginner-friendly 300s to the sport touring ZX-14.
It is in our opinion overused, back in the 90s it truly meant this was their best effort at a sport bike. It meant the bike was fast, not only in a straight line but around the bends too.
9
Not Exactly Best In Class
Back when it was launched as a new model in 1996, it plainly wasn’t a new model, but rather an updated and improved ZXR750 (pictured above) with new fairings.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just meant that their main competitor of the time had a leg up on them. Suzuki launched the all new GSX-R750, which was both lighter and more powerful than the Kawa.
8
Still Incredibly Fast
With a top end of 167 mph, it was a fast motorcycle. In fact, with a combination of emissions restrictions and a more diverse range of motorcycles this is still an incredibly fast bike.
It also has a shorter stroke than a lot of the other inline-4 bikes and accelerates faster and harder, making it an absolute joy to ride on the back roads.
7
Primarily A Road Bike
While it seems like even today all sport bikes have either got some form of limited track edition or are just straight up designed for the track, this machine wasn’t.
It was designed for the road, not a bad thing at all considering this is what most of us would actually want to use it for, or at least the place we would spend most of our time.
6
Not A Track Weapon
It was an older platform by now, the engine was a stressed member of the frame, and it wasn’t the lightest machine even when it came out.
Although it could keep up with the other similar bikes on the road, it couldn’t hold a candle to them on track. If you are looking for a budget track day bike, look elsewhere.
5
More Grunt Than The Competition
Strangely, breaking away from what we are used to from modern Kawasaki bikes, its main strength was its mid-range.
While the competition would wheeze waiting for the revs to pick up, the Ninja revved fast and hard, making it one of the better sport bikes to ride through the twisties or a road course.
4
Best (Or Worst) Dressed
The 90s was certainly a colorful decade, so you will either love or hate the bikes from this era and their outlandish paintwork straight from the factory.
If you want an original example you better be on the “love it” side of the fence, because no matter which color Kawa you find, it is certainly a stand out of the crowd kind of bike.
3
Minimal Maintenance
It is a fairly simple bike to work on with infinitely less electronics than new bikes and even less than comparable bikes of the time that were starting to experiment with early EFI systems.
It was an older, simpler platform that made a little less power, but no less fun. It is however a cheaper bike that will often get treated like a cheap bike, by owners who have a laissez-faire attitude towards maintenance. So it is best to confirm when and how often the bike was serviced, if it feels a bit rough it probably hasn’t had an easy life.
2
Ram-Air And Carbs
It might seem obvious, but some people just don’t have it in them to check this. It has huge scoops, that can swallow (according to their marketing) enough air to keep a small plane in flight.
So needless to say it will swallow a bunch of other stuff too, stuff that can indeed make it past filters and end up clogging jets. Without this system working right, the bike will feel sluggish, in some cases it will just need some carb cleaner while others might need a couple of carbs to be rebuilt.
1
A 90s Icon
It is the quintessential 90s Ninja and embodies everything great about the Kawasaki brand, it is truly affordable fun and should stay that way for years to come.
It has a decent aftermarket and the fact that they are still fairly simple to run make them an attractive option, it still has over 100 horsepower and no ABS or any form of rider safety, so it is not something you should consider if you are buying your first bike.
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