SS Kawasaki ZX-8R: What the ZX-7R could have been…

This ZX-8R is Super Streetbike mag's vision of a modern-day ZX-7R...

The ZXR750 and ZX-7R are two of our all-time favourite Kawasakis here at Faster and Faster. And the guys at Super Streetbike also seem to like those now-defunct Kaw 750s, because they’ve dreamt up this ZX-8R, which is their vision of how the ZX-7R could have evolved. (Though if you look closely, you'll agree that Super Streetbike's ZX-8R seems to have been "inspired" by PB's ZX-8R, which we featured here!)

Anyway, SS say their ZX-8R would be fitted with Kawasaki’s 636cc inline-four, bored out to 800cc, with a power output of 150bhp at the rear wheel. The exhaust would be a four-into-two system, with pipe exiting from the bellypan and the other below the tail-unit. The chassis would be from the ZX-6R, with wheels and USD front fork from the Ducati 1098.

The SS ZX-8R, with its single seat, also gets a fully-adjustable Ohlins monoshock from the 1098, ZX-10R fuel tank, Z1000 headlamp, a fairing that’s a mix of Honda RCV, KTM RC8 and the ZX-7R, and a tail unit from the Honda NR750! Dry weight is expected to be a bit less than 170 kilos.

We think the original ZX-7R was much better looking than this fantasy ZX-8R, though we quite love the idea of an updated version of the old seven, with an 800cc, 150bhp engine. Wonder what Scott Russell would think of it…

And if Kawasaki can build the ZX-8R, why can't Yamaha have an R8?
Pic: PB mag forum