Kawasaki lost me after 13 yrs of riding Ninjas. they just don´t have a finger on the pulse of sport bikers hearts. I have had a new kaw for the last thee years I´ve rode Kaws and in 2000 I went to the Yamaha side. I then became an EX-Kaw boy after 13yrs. Too heavy,too slow (yes to slow, and Poor quality: one frame replaced, and 3 entire front ends. Suzuki may be their only hope. as for the ZX-9 it´s a dinosure in the sporting world of the cutting edge.