This hypersport nameplate was introduced for the 2000 model year as Kawasaki’s new flagship Ninja, developed to challenge the top end of the open-class sportbike segment. Kawasaki’s own history materials identify the 2000 release as the debut of the model, and company archive content notes it was the first production Kawasaki to use a monocoque aluminum frame. The bike quickly became known for its combination of big-displacement performance and advanced chassis design, and it occupied a prominent place in the brand’s Ninja lineup during the early 2000s. Kawasaki accessory listings show model-year coverage from 2000 through 2005 in the U.S. market, while Kawasaki owner-center documentation also identifies a 2006 European version, indicating the nameplate’s final model year. The model was then discontinued, with no separate later revival under the same nameplate.
MODEL HISTORY