Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX SE Shows Off Track Chops at Donington Park
Editor’s note: This article, written by Emma Franklin, originally appeared on MotorCycleNews.com and is republished here with permission for the benefit of American Sport Touring readers.
Ninja is a name synonymous with performance, yet as I queue in the Donington Park pitlane surrounded by Panigales and track-prepped R1s, the 1100SX SE is starting to feel like a big, green fish out of water.
After my recent revelation that the riding position is actually not all that sporty, combined with memories of the last time I rode a sports-tourer on track (Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT, and how much of an understeering handful it was), I wasn’t holding out much hope.
Ninja vs Craner
I was wrong, very wrong. Powering out on to Donington’s wonderfully smooth surface, gliding on the Ninja’s equally mellifluous power delivery, the first tip into the right-hander at Redgate feels a little awkward; that up-tall perch and those high-mounted bars causing a feeling of disconnection from the front end. But as we progress around the lap, slowly building speed as well as heat into the tyres, I begin to dial in.
That Showa front end, so impressive on the road, continues to dazzle and creates precision, ease of turning and oodles of confidence. Despite the Ninja’s all-up weight of 235kg, there’s little resistance when flicking through the high-speed downhill left of Craner curves, wide bars helping to lever the Kawasaki onto its side.
Agile and Stable
Engine engorged by its extra 56cc, the midrange swell is devastatingly effective at bbwwarping out of bends. But what makes it utterly intoxicating is that power is so accessible. The throttle response and smooth delivery combine to give an overwhelming sensation of rear traction.
Winding on the power, shortshifting uphill through Schwantz curve to McLeans and the Ninja’s stability and rear-end control are the next to shine. The sports-tourer remains super stable whether it’s upright, mid corner or powering through an exit. The Öhlins S46 shock provides both control and composure, and means the Ninja never once runs wide on exit.
With the chassis shining as we slice through Donington’s sinews, the last big test is yet to come: hard braking at the end of Starkey’s Straight for the Foggy Esses. Thanks to Kawasaki’s Intelligent Braking System (KIBS, or cornering ABS to you and me) I’d visions of the Ninja sailing past braking markers as the ABS did what it thought was best. But once again, the Ninja surprises, with no detectable ABS intrusion.
In fact, the only blot on the Ninja’s circuit-surfing CV is the peg position. Toes and pegs touch down before knees, meaning Jorge Martin-levels of hang-off are required to help hustle it around with maximum efficiency. Good job the dash records your maximum lean angle for posterity – 52° on a sports-tourer, I’ll take that.
A couple of Small Niggles
In readiness for the SX SE’s track debut I fitted a pair of Michelin Power GP2s. They don’t need warmers and got up to temp after about two laps of chilly Donington.
About Donington Park: Located in Leicestershire, England, Donington Park is one of the UK’s most storied racing circuits. Its 2.5-mile (4.0-kilometer) layout combines fast, flowing corners and dramatic elevation changes that test both rider skill and machine handling.
Reprinted with permission from MotorCycleNews.com.
by Emma Franklin
Emma Franklin is an Editor at MotorCycleNews.com, where she brings nearly two decades of experience writing for many of the UK’s leading motorcycle publications. A lifelong rider and former club racer, she’s known for her hands-on approach and consumer-focused reporting that cuts through marketing hype to uncover how motorcycles truly perform on the road and track.
Did we hit the mark?
Tap thumps up or thumbs down to send your comments to the editor.
Your feedback helps improve American Sport Touring. We do not use your information for any other purpose.
Please read our Privacy Policy.
