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Sportbikes

2004Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R

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The 2004 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R is a sport-touring motorcycle that appeals to experienced riders seeking aggressive performance with everyday practicality. Powered by a liquid-cooled 899cc inline-four engine producing 144 horsepower, it delivers thrilling acceleration and high-speed capability. Known for its sharp handling and versatile nature, the ZX-9R excels both on spirited road rides and longer journeys.

Capacity: 899.0 ccm
Engine: In-line four, four-stroke
Gearbox: 6-speed
Dry weight: 186.0 kg
Seat height: 815 mm
Power: 144.0 HP (105.9 kW)

⇄ Compare with another bike ＋ Add to garage All model years

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail5%

Cornering85%

City riding55%

Daily riding55%

Touring60%

Two-up55%

Track82%

Best for: A sport-touring flagship that blends serious high-speed performance with a slightly more usable, less extreme riding position than a pure supersport bike.
Built for: Feels like a muscular, fast, and stable sport bike that rewards confident inputs with strong drive out of corners and a solid high-speed feel.
Not ideal for: Not the right choice for beginners, off-road use, or riders wanting a plush, upright, low-effort commuting experience.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

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Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 815mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 2004 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R, with a cramped knee angle of around 70 degrees and a forward-leaning riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 751-820 mm — Middle Ground →

Find bikes that fit your height →

Reliability & safety

Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaints

Bike Reliability

How the score works →

out of 100Good

The 2004 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 85.8% of the time, 4.6 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 68% of models.

All years of this model: 47 / 100 (average) from 45,555 tests.

85.8%Passed first time

8.0%Failed outright

6.2%Fixed during test

15,000Typical miles

3,460Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

0-10k

87.2%

10-20k

83.9%

20-30k

79%

30-40k

76.3%

40-50k

73.6%

50k+

75%

All years of this model.

Score by year first registered

199419951996199719982001200220032004

Against its rivals · ranks 6 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	Aprilia RSV 1000R	65 Good	10,445
2	Triumph Daytona 955I	63 Good	22,679
3	Yamaha YZF-R1	61 Good	206,988
4	Suzuki GSX-R1000	60 Good	138,388
5	Buell Firebolt XB9R	51 Average	2,721
6	Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R	47 Average	45,555

Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.

From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.