The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R is a motorcycle in the Ninja sport bike series from Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki, produced from 1994 until 2003. There were five model incarnations across two basic designs. In Kawasaki's chronology the 9Rs connect to the ZX900 (Ninja, which in many markets was sold as GPZ900R) as the type number corresponding to frame numbers was ZX900A, ZX900B and ZX900C. This definition is practical to note as the last version of the B-model is disguised as a C-model (caused by a change in outer design which the oncoming C-model inherited). Introduction Kawasaki developed the model in response to Honda's introduction of the CBR900RR Fireblade for the 1992 model year, ten years after the first 900cc Ninja. By 1992 there were no bikes in the 900cc class until Honda introduced the Fireblade, and following Honda, Kawasaki introduced the ZX-9R at the Paris Motor Show in September of 1992. Though based on the ZX-7, when development of the ZX-9R was done, only the swing arm of the original was left. The engine also was developed from that of the ZX-7, but the two engines shared only a few parts. The Fireblade packaged a 900 cc engine into a 750 cc sport bike chassis. It combined big-bore power with sport bike handling, but, crucially, it also pioneered meticulous attention to weight-saving design. The Fireblade not only outpowered the 750's, it was also significantly lighter. This was the detail overlooked or underappreciated by Kawasaki when they set out to build their Fireblade-beater. In building the first ZX-9R, Kawasaki combined their class-leading big-bore, the ZZR1100, with their class-leading 750, the ZXR750, rather than commit to an entirely new design. The result was a big motorcycle; despite weight-saving measures like magnesium engine covers, its quoted dry weight was , almost heavier than the Fireblade. It made around , between 10 and more than the Fireblade, but this advantage in power could not make up for its size, weight and reduced agility. Rather than be a direct competitor, the ZX-9R was retained as a more stable and more comfortable alternative to the Honda, with more straight-line speed. Model history ZX900B (1994) and ZX900B2 (1995) The first ZX-9R could be seen as a ZXR750 incorporating a number of ZZ-R1100 design features. The wheels - three-spoke cast aluminium alloy 3.5-inch x 17-inch front and 5.5-inch x 17-inch rear -, the front forks - fully adjustable 43 mm