By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R KRT (MY2018) vs BMW S 1000 RR (K67)
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R KRT vs BMW S 1000 RR: which one to buy for the riding you do.
You'll hold the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R KRT's throttle wide and wait, because it's saving its wildest surge for the top of the tach. The BMW S 1000 RR's grip hooks into a fat midrange much earlier. At road speeds, it's already pulling.
So which one do you buy?
The S 1000 RR has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
A touch ahead: S 1000 RR
The S 1000 RR nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Most of that is better suspension and a sportier chassis. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
Racetrack use
Nose ahead: S 1000 RR
On a closed course, the S 1000 RR edges ahead. What tips it: more suspension adjustment and stronger brakes. Not by enough to settle it.
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: S 1000 RR
For the ride to work, the S 1000 RR noses ahead. It's down to lighter steering. Don't let that alone make the call.
Which one's the smarter buy
Value's a wash
At these used prices, neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Ninja ZX-10R KRT
At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Ninja ZX-10R KRT's twin-spar aluminum frame turns in sharply and keeps its line through long, fast sweepers. There's real feedback through the fork. On a broken public road, there's little give in the stiff suspension, and a bump kicks straight up through the seat and the high pegs. It's screaming hardest right up near redline.
Nils rode the Ninja ZX-10R KRT in the Eifel in 2018 (NastyNils Testride).
S 1000 RR
At 434 lb (197 kg) wet, the S 1000 RR sits on the light side of the superbike pack, and it doesn't put up a fight between bends. Dynamic and Race modes can make the fueling snatchy at very low rpm, and it's worst in stop-and-go traffic. The bar turns the nose in at corner entry without any push or fall-in. Leaned over, it tracks true.
Nils rode the S 1000 RR in Andalusia in 2019 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The S 1000 RR has the lower wet weight: 434 lb (197 kg) vs 456 lb (207 kg).
- Launch Control: standard on the Ninja ZX-10R KRT, option on the S 1000 RR.
- TFT Display: standard on the S 1000 RR, not offered on the Ninja ZX-10R KRT.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not built for this
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
On running costs, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Ninja ZX-10R KRT
What owners say
Strengths
- Ferocious top-end power
- Precise, track-focused chassis
- Race-derived electronics package
Trade-offs
- Cramped and aggressive riding position
S 1000 RR
What owners say
Strengths
- Broad, ShiftCam-flattened powerband
- Comprehensive IMU-based electronics package
- Flickable, neutral chassis
- Modern, high-resolution TFT dashboard
Trade-offs
- Cramped ergonomics for taller riders
- Fueling abruptness at very low rpm in Dynamic/Race modes
- Mirror visibility is limited
- Optional equipment can quickly inflate the price
- Heat from underslung exhaust at low speed
Known problems to check before you buy
Ninja ZX-10R KRT
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
S 1000 RR
- Brake recall — front brake caliper fluid leak (NHTSA 20V-476) Recall 20V476000 BMW recalled certain 2020 S 1000 RR units because the front brake calipers could leak brake fluid when parked, lowering reservoir volume and reducing braking performance; dealers replaced the affected calipers under warranty.
- Cam chain tensioner noise / wear on early MY2019–2020 units Some early K67 units exhibit a rattling noise at cold start and intermittent during operation, traced to the cam chain tensioner. BMW issued updated tensioner parts in service campaigns.
- Sidestand switch failure causing intermittent no-start The sidestand safety switch can fail or get fouled, leading to the bike refusing to start or cutting out at idle. Replacement of the switch resolves the issue.
- Chain adjuster bolt corrosion / seizing Owners in wet climates report the chain tensioner bolts corroding and becoming difficult to adjust without heat or penetrating lubricant.
- TFT display brightness / readability complaints in direct sunlight Some owners report the 6.5-inch TFT becoming difficult to read in direct sunlight at certain viewing angles, particularly on earlier MY units before software updates.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 6-year-old Ninja ZX-10R KRT with a 6-year-old S 1000 RR.
- Ninja ZX-10R KRT
- about $11,300
- S 1000 RR
- about $11,700
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Ninja ZX-10R KRT | S 1000 RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.9 in (835 mm) | 32.4 in (824 mm) |
| Wet weight | 456 lb (207 kg) | 434 lb (197 kg) |
| Ninja ZX-10R KRT | S 1000 RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 998 cc | 999 cc |
| Power | 200 hp (147 kW) | 207 hp (152 kW) |
| Peak power at | 13,000 rpm | 13,500 rpm |
| Torque | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) | 83 lb-ft (113 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 11,500 rpm | 11,000 rpm |
| Ninja ZX-10R KRT | S 1000 RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 4.4 US gal (16.5 L) |
| Ninja ZX-10R KRT | S 1000 RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 56.7 in (1440 mm) | 57.4 in (1457 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Ninja ZX-10R KRT | S 1000 RR | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Control | Standard | Option |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
