Zx10r

**duckman** · 9th October 2003, 12:22

I'm sorry .. but I like it too. I dont know about the single front fork but at least it's something new.
Development must be allowed to continue and people have to take an open approach to new toys.

Just think what we might be riding in ten years.... hmmmmmm

**Cajun** · 9th October 2003, 12:22

i second you on that one aff-man

**aff-man** · 9th October 2003, 12:31

For those of you who live in a box ... *sigh*

and then ther is the sound

**duckman** · 9th October 2003, 12:40

Check out the sexy pair of legs in the background !!!

**750Y** · 9th October 2003, 12:41

I would concur with Cajun from a personal pereference perspective. The Yam & the Honda are BUTT Ugly. The Suzuki is the same familiar looking bike we've come to know and it's Well tested now. my pick's the Kawasaki even if it does look a tad rushed/incomplete. Just look at some of the finer details like the ugly 'set' valve pipe area which is exposed and the silly forward subframe covers below the seat ala R1. But what do looks matter anyway when you look at what these bikes are designed for? I think the jappas are all ugly with the exception of a couple bikes (R1 98-03 & ZX7R/R and a couple others like my personal fave, the blue 98 ZX9R). my last 5 jap bikes have been ugly. I don't know what it's like to walk into the shed and go "wow that's nice" except for a custom 65 triumph hardtail project i had a few years back. now that was something i could relate to and feel good about & when i looked at it i felt that feeling of pride i used to get from old cars. no plastic, anywhere to be seen.

**Cajun** · 9th October 2003, 12:45

750Y you are man after my own heart in some ways i love the zx7r/r, but not all japps are ugly, just alot are in the way the styling is going his not my cuppa tea

**wkid_one** · 9th October 2003, 20:01

I must confess that I am all for the entirely modern.

Everything below here is entirely opinion - so certain 'unnamed' forums members don't through their toys

I think the styling of the R1 and CBR has left Suzuki lacking that 'bike porn appeal'.

No denying the GSXRThou is a potent weapon from a mechanical and handling perspective, however it is dire need of viagra from an visual appeal angle.

The new ZX10R looks like they have a good mix of both looks and power (yet to be proven).

The 'clean arse' look with pipes under the seat - is more for the asthetic - 'look mum, you can see my bum' kinda look - whereby the rear end is cleaned up and the tyre is entirely visible.

However, it is also a clearance issue - with the mufflers getting larger (check out the old blue Titanium R1 Blunderbuss) - this is impinging on the clearance of the bikes - and therefore compromising rideability - or so I read

Also - it is a centre of gravity issue - big mufflers off one side of the bike - compromise the handling as one side is weighted ever so slightly more than the other - or so I read.

The lines of the bikes - well - look at cars? We used to have the roundded Taurus and Falcon - now these type of cars a more angular - vehicles like any accessory are subject to the 'fashion whims and fancies' of a global market.

I honestly hand on heart swear on a bible think that the 04 R1 is the mutts, followed by the CBR, then the Kwak. However some of the more exotic bikes from a looks perspective alone would shake that list up - eg Nera.

**Redstar** · 9th October 2003, 20:21

well if I squint at my 400 it could be a 10?

**750Y** · 10th October 2003, 08:33

quote from wkid_one: "'fashion whims and fancies' of a global market"

I think you hit it on the head there with regard to design cues following fashion trends across the world.(nz being tiny & really not featuring big in the market place). These new bikes really are amazing & they're sposed to look like they could line up at a sbk grid any day of the week. (The GSXR back in 85 started all this 'serious race replica' stuff. ) That's what the sportbike market is telling them(Japan,USA,Europe). As the styling changes i think the big difference this year is the manufacturers really seem to want to showcase the technology that's going into these bikes. Maybe that's why the fairings don't do a full cover up job and the exhaust moves up, in part, to show the package better etc. I think the R1 and Honda & Kawasaki have a far more progressive look as opposed to the Suzuki which hasn't changed all that much for a couple years. The ZX10R is a really interesting machine with the frame alone being different to other bikes, It's sort of a cross between the old backbone sytle frame and the new cradle twin spar style. Also Kawasaki have a racing history & i think they've tried really hard to put out a bike capable of meeting the competition which has been thrashing them for a couple years now. Can't wait to read the '04 1k shootout.

**Motoracer** · 10th October 2003, 09:53

I would feel more safe with an under seat rear muffler because its one less thing to worry about if the bike goes sliding accross the road/track by it self on the side (the side where the exhaust pipe would have been traditionally).