05 ZX10R for pussies?

[Gremlin]

the 05 turned in real well.

the damper makes it behave eh

the downside of its quick turn in was that it was twitchy. Sure, it would drop into corners brilliantly, but at 250 on a bumpy road in full crouch, its still trying to wheelie.

Yes... the damper is considered the very first mod you should make... quite a few people, back when it was launched found out the hard way, and never got to fit one. Probably like the first R1's that got the nickname widowmaker, and the zx10 was just that bit more crazy

What do you think of the 09?

The zx10 was all new for 08, so 09 will have minor revisions. I haven't ridden either... gone away from sportsbikes now... I can go faster and have more fun on naked bikes

edit: aaaaaaalmost beat Al that time

[Gremlin]

From what I've heard, the 08 is definately an improvement over the 06/07. Handles a lot better and the brakes are a lot better.
Once a PCIII and pipe are added, it wakes the bike up in the midrange and gives it a wicked top-end.

I would definately go for a 10 before a Blade. Bigbossman was selling one a while back, definately a good deal...

*mutters* it cheats... Al keeps adding more...

pc3 and pipe help just about any bike... the 04/05 zx10 was also much better with an 05 zx6r radial front brake set up... some even used zx14 gear, but come on... you could put it on its nose, back wheel wanting to chat to the front... how much more do you need?

Depends tho Al, which someone should have, the guy seems to have a zxr250... errr... I would say avoid the whole thou category... coming from a 250 your brain simply can't compute whats happening on the thou, it does accelerate faster than you can think.

[AlBundy]

*mutters* it cheats... Al keeps adding more...

pc3 and pipe help just about any bike... the 04/05 zx10 was also much better with an 05 zx6r radial front brake set up... some even used zx14 gear, but come on... you could put it on its nose, back wheel wanting to chat to the front... how much more do you need?

Depends tho Al, which someone should have, the guy seems to have a zxr250... errr... I would say avoid the whole thou category... coming from a 250 your brain simply can't compute whats happening on the thou, it does accelerate faster than you can think.

True that a pipe and PC will help most bikes...

As for the brakes, I've spoken to a few guys who ride/rode them at the track. After a good session, the levers would inevitably touch the bars, not a good feeling.

As you stated, the later ZX6 and ZX14 calipers are a direct fit, with HUGE difference in operation.

Mmmm, yeah, NO! I'd NOT advise going from a 250 to a 1000... It's the torque that'll get you every time... Just swapping recently with another bike to try, it was VERY interesting the differences in perception of speed and how easily a litre bike gets speed going...
On the 690, whack it open in 1st, the front comes up, drops down and I'm at around 50kph.... On the 1000, same thing but at 150kph.... MINDBLOWING to say the least...

EDIT: Must spread rep before giving more... Was funny though...

[Gremlin]

As for the brakes, I've spoken to a few guys who ride/rode them at the track. After a good session, the levers would inevitably touch the bars, not a good feeling.

As you stated, the later ZX6 and ZX14 calipers are a direct fit, with HUGE difference in operation.

I took my 04 zx10 to the track once (taupo full track). Brake bleed on the Friday, rode down on Saturday, track on Sunday. Despite the zx6r radial lever gear, braided lines etc, the pads and fluid were obviously not up the task, blued the discs and even the lunch break didn't help much in getting back some lever travel. Needed another bleed during the week.

Yes... devil said my zx10 wheelied very well... 180+, still pawing the air and he hadn't quite finished the motorway on ramp... Remind me why I let him borrow it?

[wbks]

What do you think of the looks though? On the Kawasaki site it has black lights in some pics and normal in the others. Tinted lights or something? Its got a nice paint scheme in the limited edition version, too.

[wbks]

Never said i was going, im just interested in bikes whether or not i can ride them aha. I would go to a zx10r next year when i get my full but insurance would kill me after the bike and my dad...

[AlBundy]

What do you think of the looks though? On the Kawasaki site it has black lights in some pics and normal in the others. Tinted lights or something? Its got a nice paint scheme in the limited edition version, too.

Looks are a subjective thing.

Bike are kinda like women, not everyone has the same taste... If you like it, who cares what others think. A ZX10R in any form isn't exactly a fat chick, so you don't have to worry about your mates finding out...

Have you seen my motard? Only a face a mother could love, as they say... But I like it...

[AlBundy]

I took my 04 zx10 to the track once (taupo full track). Brake bleed on the Friday, rode down on Saturday, track on Sunday. Despite the zx6r radial lever gear, braided lines etc, the pads and fluid were obviously not up the task, blued the discs and even the lunch break didn't help much in getting back some lever travel. Needed another bleed during the week.

Yes... devil said my zx10 wheelied very well... 180+, still pawing the air and he hadn't quite finished the motorway on ramp... Remind me why I let him borrow it?

From what I was told, the 06/07 had a split pad arrangement. The 14 has a single pad setup. Also the pistons were different, one being ally and the other steel.
Not sure how much is true but everyone apparently swears by the 14 setup.

I was actually chatting to a mechanic the other day about brakes. He was discussing Triumphs but thought it could be the same thing. He was saying they have a square seal in the calipers, which deforms when the brakes are applied, as opposed to slides along the bore. The result being the piston always gets sucked back. This in turn means you always get a lot of play in the lever before you feel the pressure build.

Valid theory I thought... Don't know if the 10's have the same setup.

[wbks]

You guys think if I rolled up in a borrowed flashy car looking all rich strait off my R licence they would let me take a new zx10r for a test ride?
I would be careful of course

[AlBundy]

You guys think if I rolled up in a borrowed flashy car looking all rich strait off my R licence they would let me take a new zx10r for a test ride?
I would be careful of course

If they are anything like the dealers here, not a chance in Hell...

The only dealer that does demos are KTM...

[wbks]

I should think they would at least let me demo a new zx6 or something?

[AlBundy]

I should think they would at least let me demo a new zx6 or something?

I suppose it depends on the dealer and the relationship you have with them...

Carver seems to do pretty well with the amount of bikes he gets to ride... You may want to ask for advice...

[wbks]

I suppose it depends on the dealer and the relationship you have with them...

Carver seems to do pretty well with the amount of bikes he gets to ride... You may want to ask for advice...

Thats gotta be BS if any of the owners ever visit this site

[R6_kid:Me]

i rode the 05 ZX10R today...

Tamed it with ease!

supposed to be a bonkers bike with semi shit handling...
i found it handled great, apart from having a few slides when cranked.
sidewinder was on the back, and he loved it.
big long wheelies is what this bike does well.
nice engine, good handling, nothing mental though
my DRZ400SM was more nutty at speed.
so much hype over nothing.

i would buy one, no question

the rear tire had rubber peeling off it everywhere, the dampener was wound right up...

cool bike, no doubt

The 05 is the 'ladies' version. You want to ride an 03 with a full race pipe + air filter that's been tuned, TRE, and without the steering damper.

[Gremlin]

Yeh, sorry Al, way off base, just about every dealership puts on demos of the main bikes...

I know a dealer who very cautiously let out a brand new tuono to someone who wanted one (didn't have a demo, and no intention of making one, as it costs), as they were very serious about buying, and thought, ok, if it seals the deal... I rode it with about 70km on the clock... and yes... it was sold to the buyer.

As to the Q re can you take anything out on your R (ie 250cc+), pretty much a chance in hell... you are not licensed to ride it, ins could quite possibly be declined to the shop as you couldn't ride it etc.

Al, not sure on pad arrangement... for me, you could lift the back under braking, so why would you need the brakes being even stronger? Key is longevity... so perhaps, I guess, if you use them less they would last longer... meh...