Fasta
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted August 19, 2005 03:55 PM
Another proud ZX10 owner
Hi everyone,
I'm new to the forum so I thought I'd just post a quick hello and introduce myself.
I got my ZX10 two weeks ago and its been a near religious experience for me (read on).
I'm 30 and live in Cape Town (South Africa). I work for an international software company as a programmer (I'm definitely not the Dilbert type). During the week I commute with Godzilla (my nickname for this monster bike) and during the weekend I've been exploring some of the many wine farm surrounds and mountain passes our city has to offer.
My ZX10 (green) is pretty much standard except for a tinted MRA racing screen and a HyperPro steering damper. Its only done 550km (340 miles) now and I've opted to take the middle road with regards to breaking her in; I'm sure the topic has been discussed to death so I'll avoid going into this.
What makes owning the ZX10 particularly special for me is that this is my first bike. Yes, you can blink now. I do have some riding experience from my teens, mostly off road, but the liter road bike experience is all new to me. I'd lie if I said that I did not have second thoughts about buying it, but something just "clicked" between me and the ZX10 from the start...hard to explain but the bike *felt* right for me.
At 4000-6500 rpm, riding around town and at *legal* highway speeds I feel very at home on the bike and not once had the impression that the bike is getting wild or out of control. I've ridden in strong winds both on the highway and in a mountain pass, in heavy rain, through potholes, a diesel spill...I'm beginning to think that Murphy has taken a special interest in me.  In short, I am surprised about just how easy this bike is to ride if you remain focused and give it lots and lots of respect. Perhaps a loose statement for me to make not really having any experience to compare it to something like a SV650 (around town), but from all of the press and forum comments I was half expecting it to be an animal, popping out-of-control wheelies when pulling away from traffic lights etc. etc. - not the case. I'm sure once you start hitting 9000 rpm+ the bike's personality will change quite a bit, but the point is that it behaves really well in the lower revs. Even though the throttle and power is a little like an ON/OFF switch, you get used to this very quickly and I have come to appreciate the predictable power delivery.
There is no doubt in my mind that this bike can get you into a lot of trouble (read kill you) if you do not use oodles of good judgment, especially the judgment that controls your right wrist. Ze bike is way-way-way more capable than my skill allows me to drive at this point in time, so in my opinion the primary challenge for a rider on this bike is to admit to their *real* skill level. I can see this being a problem for riders with intermediate skills actually, guys that have been riding for a while but are not particularly good...I guess there's a certain expectation of what more experience rider should be able to handle on a wicked bike as capable as this one. Because I start out from scratch, I don't have any pressure to prove anything; everyone is half expecting me to kill myself on this bike anyway, so all that I need to do is to keep a cool and focused head, and enjoy the fact that by staying alive everyone will automatically be extremely impressed.
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Currently:
2007 ZX-14 (stock)
2007 ZX-6 (stock)
Before:
2 x 2006 ZX10-R (stock)
2006 GSX-R1000 K6 (Yoshi + PC)
2005 ZX10-R (HyperPro damper)
2007 Versys (stock)
  
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Editor
Administrator
Posts: 914
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posted August 19, 2005 10:00 PM
welcome!
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ikezixxer
Expert Class
Posts: 268
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posted August 20, 2005 12:56 PM
Well put...I felt the same way. My first real bike ever was at the ripe age of 23. I got a cbr600f4 and people were saying wow, that is too much bike. The bike has 4k miles, exhaust/intake, jetted, and -1 front, +4 rear...A very fast bike I must say, I spent quite a bit of time racing my buddy with a 954rr with -1 front. We would ride neck and neck roll-ons and 1st-6th gear. Just trying to explain that I in escence had a liter bike as a first bike since it was lighter and just as powerful. I used the same judgement and did fine. For those that trully know their calling and you know what you have the capability of doing, then follow your good judgement. If you feel like you might not be able to handle whatever it is you are considering buying, then dont buy it.
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted August 20, 2005 01:43 PM
Welcome, It sounds like you have the bike pretty much under control. The dirt riding helps immensely. Remember survival is the key here. Remember on the street that people will do the stupidest thing possible. Have multiple escape routes ready in any situation. On those lonely twisty roads pick a 24" swath of road and if you can't stay in it, you are going to fast. If you can't see around a corner stay all the way to the right. If you can see, then a better line can be had. The road is full of hazards, gravel, oil, sand, Ford parts. Harley parts. And mostly they live in the center between the wheel tracks. The wheel tracks are usually where most of the traction exists. Food for thought.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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