Ninja ZX-6R (MY2024)

Kawasaki builds this one around a 636 cc inline-four, and the extra displacement pays off where riders actually live: 51 lb-ft at 10,800 rpm, with the full 124 hp arriving at 13,000 for anyone willing to chase the top of the tach. The chassis follows the same logic. Adjustable fork and shock at both ends, an upshift quickshifter, a color TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, and a rider-aid set of ABS, traction control and ride modes that stays straightforward instead of clever. This is the middleweight supersport that spends its budget on the parts you feel.

On the road it rewards commitment. The riding position is a genuine sportbike stance, the 32.7 in (830 mm) seat is tall, and at 434 lb (197 kg) wet it feels lean without feeling flimsy. Riders who work twisty pavement hard, or who spend weekends on a closed circuit, get the most out of it. Anyone shopping for a relaxed all-rounder is looking at the wrong bike. The honest caveat is paperwork: units built between April 2023 and April 2025 fall under a safety recall for over-torqued crankshaft bolts, which can damage the number five bushing and seize the engine. Confirm the work is done before you ride it.