Kawasaki’s middleweight supersport nameplate first appeared for the 1995 model year, launching as part of the Ninja family with a clear focus on track-capable performance in a road-legal package. It quickly became one of the brand’s core sportbike offerings, and Kawasaki has continued to evolve it through several major updates rather than replacing the nameplate outright. Official Kawasaki materials identify later milestones including the 1998 ‘G’ model, a full redesign for the early-2000s era, and the 2009 model’s move to larger displacement for stronger real-world performance. More recent factory releases show the model continuing through 2019 and beyond with updated styling, electronics, and chassis refinement. The nameplate has remained in continuous production, making it a long-running staple of Kawasaki’s supersport lineup and a favorite among riders who want a sharper, more focused machine than a standard middleweight sportbike.
MODEL HISTORY