[citation needed] The fairing was revamped, but it retained a similar design for the headlight, air intakes and windscreen.

An all digital instrument panel was also introduced and a larger ram-air intake inlet moved to the center over the headlight, running through the headstock.

The aluminum frame was now painted flat black, fairings were more round, and integrated turn signals were used (euro model).

In following with what their competitors had already been doing, Kawasaki's new engine featured a stacked gear arrangement in which the crankshaft, primary drive and countershaft are placed in a triangular format for a shorter, more compact powerplant.

By using a former 125 cc Grand Prix racer as the ZX-6R's chief development rider, Tomomi Manako, Kawasaki claims a focus has been put on track usage.

Frame, swingarm, suspension, brakes, and body were completely redesigned and the bike shares very few parts from the previous model.

The greatest changes for 2009 were the redesign of the exhaust, now carried low and not requiring the thick under-seat construction of 2008 and especially the introduction of the Showa Big Piston Fork (BPF)[5] suspension for a more progressive brake-dive.

New double bore intake funnels features two available heights which gives performance upgrades in both high and low engine speeds.

While the tail is identical to the one in the 2009-2012 model, it features new front and side fairings, new dash, new frame, new Showa BPF-SFF front suspension, Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) with three modes (sport, city and rain) as standard equipment, and Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS) available as option.

According to the manufacturer, this asymmetric design provides a reduction of the friction inside the fork, significant mass loss and more friendly response of suspension.

The bike meets the Euro 5 emission standards, with yet another slight reduction of horsepower compared to the previous model.

The ABS has been updated and a redesigned stock exhaust system along with a new front twin headlamp, and for the first time it features a color TFT LCD dashboard.