2002 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R, The cleanest beast you will ever find! - The 1984 Kawasaki NINJA 900R was the world’s first production 16-valve, liquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder motorcycle, and it was also the world’s first stock motorcycle to exceed 150 mph when evaluated under timed track conditions, putting Kawasaki at the forefront of the next generation of motorcycles. For 2002, Kawasaki continues to extend its performance heritage with the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R. Combining Open-class performance and real-world versatility, the newest ZX-9R delivers improved engine response, sharper handling, and updated styling in a trim, 404 lb. chassis. The heart of the ZX-9R is its lightweight, all-aluminum cylinder block, with electroplated lining for wear resistance and superior heat dispersion. The cylinder head itself is shaped to provide a high compression ratio, while the cam timing and profile are designed for abundant torque across the rev range. For 2002, Kawasaki paid particular attention to lower-rpm performance. Engineers increased crank mass by 10 percent by adding material to the crank webs, and decreased the size of the flywheel. Additionally, the flywheel cover is now aluminum instead of magnesium so that it can be more easily modified for racing applications.