blueford
Needs a job
Posts: 2984
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posted November 22, 2005 04:17 PM
quote:
In any case, I will try to post the MCN article when it comes up.
Thanks Tren, that would be cool and some good points made with our English friend, I gave him a break because they're over in Iraq otherwise I would have put a sticky wicket in his bloody noodle sideways. 
  
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted November 22, 2005 04:38 PM
noodle bracket 
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted November 22, 2005 09:40 PM
 Edited By: beansbaxter on 22 Nov 2005 21:40
how did you translate that?
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bovinespongiformencephalo
Pro
variant Kreutzfeldt-Jakob
Posts: 1060
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posted November 23, 2005 08:07 AM
Congenital lowered? Sounds like an Appalachian drag bike.
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supra5677
Pro
Posts: 1279
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posted November 23, 2005 09:06 AM
Okay guys 175 p.s. on the 04-05 zx10r equals about 154-155 rwhp on a dyno jet 150 dyno.
183 p.s. equals 161-162 horsepowe on a dyno jet 150 dyno.. This comes out to be about right. Take the p.s. scale and mulitply by .88 for drive train loss. At Fast Lines Cycles in Fremont CA all the 04-05 zx10r are making 154-155 on his dyno. ZX12r are making between 152-157. So basically the 06 zx10r will be making 5-7 more horsepower than before....
supra
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Shortcircuit
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted November 23, 2005 09:28 AM
2006 ZX-10R track test (it's a bit long & I have not got time to pick the good stuff from the waffle) enjoy:
'KAWASAKI is back in the game, with the most hardcore version of the ZX-10R yet. The tweaks they've made mean it's faster than a GSX-R1000 K5 in a straight line and just as nimble through the bends. It will out- corner an R1 and leave a FireBlade for dust. And after our exclusive two-day test at Kawasaki's Japanese test track, we can exclusively reveal the ZX-10R will make a better road bike than the old one, too.
IS IT AS GOOD AS A GSX-R1000?
WHETHER it's as competent an all- rounder as the GSX-Rl000, I'm not completely convinced. But I'd say it's definitely more exciting than the Gixer. The bike grabs hold of you, rockets you forward at a pace that gets you shouting obscenities inside your helmet and then flicks you through the next set of bends while laughing at your meagre abilities.
And compared to the old ZX-10R, the suspension is more supple, it has got an Ohlins steering damper as standard to calm down the lively front end, it turns ridiculously quickly and the power delivery is much friendlier than the snappy old version. Well, as friendly as a track-focused 183bhp road bike can be.
It will bite you back if you get too silly that's part of the thrill of trying to master a 175kg, 183bhp motorcycle but it's definitely easier to ride fast than the old bike. In fact, so much so that Kawasaki claims it's two seconds a lap faster than the old model on the same track. And in this game, two seconds is a lifetime.
ISN'T IT JUST A NEW FAIRING?
NO, it more than just a new set of clothes. Underneath that bodywork is pretty much an all-new bike. New motor, new chassis, new swing arm, new clocks, new shock, new fork internals. It's got improved ram-air, new injectors, new throttle bodies, new tyres. It's much more than just a ZX-1OR with a new fairing. It's nearly perfect and that's definitely not something I was prepared to say about the old bike.
OK, so all that comes at a price. I'm not talking about a financial penal at £8800 it is very competitively pitched against rival 1000cc fours. No, the problem is that, although Kawasaki have made the hike better in every conceivable way when it comes to riding, it's not exactly a stunner when you first see it. But after two days with the hike it definitely started to grow on me. When I saw it at the NEC Show, I wanted to hate it. The tiny headlights seemed impossibly small and reminded me of Danger Mouse's sidekick. But parked up in the sunshine at the amazing Autopolis race track in Japan, it looked purposeful aggressive, even.
My opinion has changed completely, and now I really like the look of it from the front, at least. But at the rear, the twin under seat pipes are big and bulky and don't fit flush with the neat under tray.
They're also heavy, and Kawasaki say they're the main reason why the bike is 5kg heavier than the old model. But all this is for two good reasons aerodynamics and exhaust emissions.
Kawasaki claim they've gone all-out to make this bike 'the number one performer on the circuit'. To help them achieve this, they wanted better aerodynamics, and claim the results of the slick new fairing and pipes give the equivalent of 9bhp of power when the bike's doing 174mph.
Swapping the massive silencer from the old hike for two pipes also gave the engineers the space to hide two massive catalytic converters and meet strict Euro 3
emissions laws, while matching the power of the old motor. Plus, they cause less high- speed turbulence. They would be tucked in further, but the Euro-pleasing cats generate so much heat they'd literally melt the bodywork if they were any closer.
During final testing, Kawasaki experimented by swapping the exhaust with one from the previous model and found it released an extra 5bhp. Unfortunately, it would never have passed the tight emission regulations, but it gives some idea of the potential power gains to be had.
This bike's looks will be debated in pubs for years. But screw the looks ride it and you'll forgive it.
IS IT REALLY THAT GOOD?
I'm the first journalist in the world to ride the new ZX 10R, on the number one bike, and the first journalist to ever ride round Kawasaki's new test track, Autopolis. Thankfully, the firm's test rider Shigaru Yamahashita leads me 'at a gentle pace, letting the speciallydeveloped Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier tyres warm up, and gives me a chance to get my head round the track's 11 righthand and nine lefthand corners.
I settle into the bike's radical riding position bum up high, bars down low and only a short distance between you and the headstock. The pegs feel high and the fairing's narrow at the front. The plastic keeps the cold morning wind off me without any buffeting. Tucked in behind the screen, I notice the new clocks (owners complained they couldn't read the old ones). They're better but not quite in the right position to read the speedo unless your head's right down behind the screen. They're trick, though. Turn the key off and the speedo disappears; turn it back on and the speedo is projected from the side of the clocks so it appears to be floating in midair. There's the usual tacho with a 13000rpm redline, a shift light, fuel light, two trips, a clock and a lap timer. After three laps, Yamahashita lets me past. Now I'm on my own. This is one of the best times to learn about a bike. If it can get you round an unknown, highly technical circuit quickly, it must be good. It doesn't let me down.
The first thing I notice about the new engine is how clean the fuel injection is. I really can't fault it no jerkiness, no delay. Just the right amount of power how you want it, when you want it.
The motor is claimed to make the same amount of torque (maximum 85 ftlb @ 9500rpm) as the ZXRR MotoGP bike in the first three gears, and I can believe that. though it's not quite as strong down below as a GSX R 1000, there's very little between them.
The power curve is much more linear than the rapid fire, hang-on for grim death delivery of the old bike. Roll the throttle on at 3000rpm and it pulls cleanly with perfect fuelling, then there's a stronger hit from 8000rpm . After that, it just builds and builds.
The engine revs so much faster than the old bike that the shift light is flashing before you notice then you're on the 13000rpm rev limiter. It is staggeringly fast. Faster than a GSXR 1000.
The unit criticism I'd level at the engine is that its lost, a bit of its raw ram air howl but that's the fault of the bureaucrats, not Kawasaki's engineers.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE REALLY ON IT?
WE get on it during the third track session and the hike really starts to make sense. The harder you ride it, the more it likes it. The brakes are phenomenal. Brake later than you dare, squeeze some more and it responds. There's a little waggle from the tail is the forks disc and tile back end goes light. But on the brakes it's the most stable bike in its class.
This is partly down to moving the bike's weight more to the rear by moving the steering head forward and increasing the steering head angle.
Let the slipper clutch take tile torture of fast down changes (now slicker thanks to a revised linkage) and pitch it in on its side right onto the footrest hero blob. The steeper steering geometry and taller profile 190/55 x 17 rear tyre make it turn rapidly. Want to trail the brakes in to the corner? No problem. Prefer to get your
braking done in a straight line then get it turned? It'll do whatever you choose. Get on the gas as early as you dare and it drives clean and hard from corner to corner. The suspension is softer than the old bike and is much more forgiving. I)rive it hard out of a corner and the rear squats just enough to let you feel what the rear shock and the tyre are doing without wheelying. Quite a feat on a bike this short with this much power. Pay off is a rather lively front end over crests but a couple of extra clicks on the Ohlins steering damper sorts it out.
After lunch the tyres are changed to stickier Dunlop D209s. The suspension is tweaked to suit - slightly stiffer on tile front. It transforms the bike again.
Where the footrests scraped occasionally before, now they're buried in the bends. But where the front could feel a little loose if you needed to tighten up your line on a late apex corner, on the new setting and new tyres it lets you get away with murder. The standard tyres will be great on the road but it needs a stickier tyre like the D209 for the track.
I switch the lap timer on and go out to see what the bike and I can do together. Kawasaki's test riders can lap Autopolis in 2m 07s on the old ZX10R. They're down to 2m 04s on the new hike.
I exit the last corner hard oil the gas in second. The bike digs in, howls and I shift just before the 13000rpm. By the end of the straight I'm doing 175mph in fifth. As I brake for the first corner, thinking I'm on it, another ZX-10R peels up the inside of me. I follow him and as we brake for a 90o right hander, then I see his name on his leathers. It's former World Superbike champion Doug Polen. If ever you want to see a ZX-10R being ridden properly fast, Doug Polen is the perfect master of this craft.
I trip the lap timer and it shows 2m 7.35s. Polen has clocked a 2m 5s lap. But he's been riding ZX-10Rs here during development work for the past year.
Kawasaki has turned the ZX-10R from the world's most evil bike into one that you can get on and go fast easily and quickly while barely getting flustered. It's not for beginners, but if you want a thrill the ZX-10R's about as good as it gets.
Sadly we didn't get the chance to ride it on the road, but I'm convinced all the changes will make it a better road bike, possibly even the best road going sports bike. I can't wait to get it head-to head with the new Blade, RI and GSX-R1000 to see if they hit their ultimate goal of being number one on the trick. It's going to be a serious fight and you'll read it here first.'
Rake 24.5 deg
Trail 102mm
Seat height 825mm
Wheelbase 1390mm
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Current '03 GPZ500S, '95 GPZ1100S
Previous: '84 Z1100R (Lime Green), '88 GPZ1000RX
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted November 23, 2005 09:36 AM
That is pretty impressive. (In particular I mean the improvement in lap time.)
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thundermonkey
Novice Class
Posts: 61
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posted November 23, 2005 09:46 AM
I kind of like the characteristics of the evil old 10 it's rawness is what turned me on to it but I am also ready to see Hayden kick some ass on the new 10 seems that's what kawasaki's got on their mind to seems like a much better track bike.GO GET'EM HAYDEN
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philmy3rdleg
Expert Class
Posts: 209
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posted November 23, 2005 10:09 AM
85ftlb@9500 ? That's cool.
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blueford
Needs a job
Posts: 2984
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posted November 23, 2005 10:10 AM
Sounds awesome thanks for posting. I'm saving my pennies.
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ZXRaven
Novice Class
Posts: 34
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posted November 23, 2005 11:47 AM
Sounds great! I can't wait next year SBK,BSB,AMA etc. races...
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zxhoya
Zone Head
Posts: 631
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posted November 23, 2005 05:28 PM
Bow down to the engineers at Kaw. Maybe they know what thier doing, purpose over looks. Imagine what the after market will provide, especially in the exhaust area. Look out!
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''The angle of my dangle is inversely proportional to the heat of my meat'' Will Ferrell
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Shortcircuit
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted November 30, 2005 04:52 AM
Full UK spec on '06 ZX-10R confirmed
http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/product.asp?Id=3400D20BEE0&Sub=4
USA, etc., to follow I guess
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Current '03 GPZ500S, '95 GPZ1100S
Previous: '84 Z1100R (Lime Green), '88 GPZ1000RX
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trenace
Needs a job
Posts: 3056
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posted November 30, 2005 11:51 AM
Edited By: trenace on 30 Nov 2005 11:52
Thanks!
I guess the most relevant facts of interest are:
Dry weight 175 kg (385 lb.) Reportedly the new exhaust adds weight, so it may represent an area for really great weight savings.
175 PS (172.6 SAE hp) without Ram Air, 184 PS (181.5 SAE hp) with Ram Air. Again, the new exhaust reportedly costs quite a bit of power, so it may represent an area for really great improvement.
Compression ratio: 12.7 to 1
Wheelbase 54.7"
Rake and trail: 24.5 degrees, 102 mm (yet it is reported to turn super quickly)
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ikezixxer
Expert Class
Posts: 268
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posted November 30, 2005 12:28 PM
well i hope they solved the problem of wheelying...because i dont know about ya'll but my shit wheelies every damn time i hit the gas. It is hard to use power when the wheelbase is so short and there isnt a little more weight being moved to the front and the swingarm is a little short and not linked high enough to the body of the bike. All those things make a difference. I can only use to much of my bike cause when I exit corners it lifts and on takeoffs it lifts...or for passing someone...even just on the highway when we do roll-ons, the guys who ride busa's just slam the throttle and away they go. Whereas I need to control it too much. I mean I still beat them, but I wish I new the possibilities of just slamming it the way they do? Anyone here have their bike slammed down an inch or two and have an extended swingarm? What's it feel like to wrap on the throttle? I have ridden a 636 and it was so much fun just rapping on the throttle at any point pretty much. It was so hard to lift off of torque alone, whereas the zx10r lifts off torque every damn time.
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Simple Simon
Novice Class
Posts: 94
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posted November 30, 2005 04:35 PM
Quote:
During final testing, Kawasaki experimented by swapping the exhaust with one from the previous model and found it released an extra 5bhp.
I wonder what all is involved in putting the old exhaust on the 06. That would be neat if you can just bolt it on. I find that hard to believe though especially to hook up the exhaust valve. If it can easily be done though I can see where there might be a lot of 06's with 05 exhaust. It would make the bike look better and run better.
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Don't show your stupidity, wear a helmet.
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Rayoss
Parking Attendant
Posts: 5
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posted December 14, 2006 02:44 AM
What a LOAD OF SHIT !!!!!!! The ZX10 in Australia is the worst handling, Poorest Braking, Gutless in the Bottom End Heap of SHITE !!!!! The thing wants to Stand Up in Corners and is a Fucken Pig to keep in LINE !!!!!!!!! I bought one and tried to Race it in 'A' grade but having to change all the suspension and Braking System cost a fortune !!!! So i sold it and Bought the best Handling Litre Bike of the LOT !!!!!!! FIREBLADE .........responds best to Mods than any other bike and has HONDAS number one Build Quality !!!!!!!!!!!
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salsa1
Needs a life
Posts: 5971
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posted December 14, 2006 06:12 AM
Responding to a year old post....besides not being able to ride...Thats life...lol
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Salsa1
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zxhoya
Zone Head
Posts: 631
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posted December 14, 2006 01:03 PM
..................Priceless!
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''The angle of my dangle is inversely proportional to the heat of my meat'' Will Ferrell
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pete7r
Novice Class
Posts: 72
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posted December 15, 2006 05:24 AM
sigh.. internet TURNIP
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Molly
Parking Attendant
Posts: 18
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posted January 08, 2007 01:20 PM
I really enjoyed that little exchange.
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It's what women's knees were made for.
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