Editor
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posted January 21, 2006 12:32 PM
 Edited By: Editor on 23 Jan 2006 08:19
Tested: Kawasaki's 2006 ZX-10R
 For two years I've enjoyed riding my Kawasaki ZX-10R. From the moment I sat on the bike two Februaries ago at KMC's facilities in Irvine, I knew that my love affair with my ZX-12R was over. The 2004 10R fit my 6'3 ½" frame like a glove. With all the power on tap I needed and a good 100lbs + shy of the weight of the 12, the 10R delivered the sportbike fix I had been looking for.
Some people might consider me to be an average to fast street rider, and others say I'm just another "Ricky Racer" from some obscure website. So, you might ask, what the heck am I doing here? I suppose it may be that because of Bikeland there are few things that go on in the motorcycling industry that don't pass across my electronic desk. I'm here because I represent you, Joe Average. I'm just some guy who loves to ride motorcycles.
Click here to download PDF (optimized) includes extras, photos and #'s on the bike.
Today I'm sitting in a room with 8 journalists. I won't say 9, because I don't include myself in that group. The journalists here are professionals. Me, I'm just some guy... just like you. I enjoy riding the streets, I've done a few track days, but by no means am I a professional rider. I'm certainly not a professional writer. I mean, come on... the sitting guy next to me just finished riding Rossi's bike... Me? I just finished doing the taking out the garbage, going to work and taking out the garbage, going to work.
I pinch myself to make sure this is real, and to mentally prepare myself for the solid waxing I'm positive I'm going to get as the pros prepare to kick my ass all around the racetrack. Most passed will surely be my title, but hey, at least it's going to be fun!
I love my 2004 ZX-10R. It's handling, though a little dicey at times, is pretty amazing. The power is there, and short of the front wheel recall, it's provided me with thousands of miles of pleasure. Time marches on, and no sooner was the 10R crowned King of the liter class, Suzuki came along and spoiled the party. The 2005 GSXR 1000 cleaned the 10R's clock, and pretty much every other bike out there. With consistent top place finishes in last year's AMA season, Suzuki sent Kawasaki back to the drawing board. I remember watching last year's race at Pike's peak, with a WFO Josh Hayes being passed like he was standing still by the GSXR.
Kawasaki's answer back is a totally redesigned 10R. The relaxed (for a supersportbike) seating position of the '04/'05 model is gone, and replaced by a more cramped, track-focused ride. This should have little effect on an average guy, but as a taller rider this really bummed me out. The pegs have been raised and the seat lowered, all part of the mass centralization concept employed by KHI's engineers.
KMC stresses that Kawasaki's new mantra is to focus on application specific bikes. They are no longer content with manufacturing streetable trackbikes, or trackable streebikes (if you catch my drift). According to KMC the all new (and it is all new) 2006 ZX-10R is a sharply focused track tool, complete with available factory race support and engine componentry for those with some more money to burn.
Styling wise KHI's newest liter bike is controversial. They eliminated what many (myself included) felt was a beautifully designed front end and replaced it with a fairing that incorporates two small teardrop shaped headlights, and a much larger ram air intake. Compare the front ends of the bikes side by each and you'll see just how radically changed the new 10R's bodywork is. Either you love this or hate this.
In North America the bike comes in 3 colors, Kawasaki Green, Black, and an Orange color with a slight pearl finish that makes you second guess if it might be Yellow. KMC insists the color is Yellow, "Solar Yellow" to be precise, but it looked pretty darn Orange to us. Out of the three colors offered, I found the black to be the be the best looking as it drew less attention to the larger spacing that now exists between the top of the headlights and the bottom of the windscreen.
Bikeland has the benefit of receiving support from three world renowned exhaust manufacturers, so it was a general cry of "they did what?" from the readership when the photos of the bike first hit this website. While other OEMs, including KHI, were moving onto shorter exhausts and bellypan systems, readers wondered why they were having an underseat exhaust showing up on a new model. I remember reading reports posted to Bikeland's ZX-10R section from more than one Bikeland member in 2004 that said that they were contacted by marketing research firms immediately after purchasing their '04 10Rs. The research firms asked new 2004 ZX-10R owners what they felt were loaded questions along the lines of "Don't you wish you had an underseat exhaust?" or "Wouldn't you prefer an underseat exhaust?" Fast forward to 2006 and now we have an undertail exhaust.
Stanley Takagi from KHI in Japan told Bikeland that the dual undertail unit provided the space engineers needed for increased volume they required for the system. He told us that much discussion was involved in the decision process over choosing an undertail exhaust, and that there were power gains from the unit. He also stated that the choice of the dual undertail exhaust was partially for styling purposes, and that they felt it looked more aggressive than a single undertail unit. Additionally Russel Brenan of KMC in Irvine stated that the 4-2-1-2 undertail solved the problem of locating the new dual Euro-III emissions compliant catalytic converters, which now reside in the header. When asked why KHI had not gone with a bellypan type system found in their new 650 Ninja, we were told that they did not have the physical space to accommodate the new catalytic converters needed to meet new global emissions requirements with a bellypan system.
Takagi stated that in addition to the power and volume gains, the dual exhaust help integrate the new rounded aerodynamic tail section. The redesigned tail section is supported by an all-new cast subframe and is designed to make the 10R undraftable by eliminating the air pocket behind the bike.
When we weighed the 10R at Burnaby Kawasaki's showroom before I left for this trip, by our wet measurements the '06 unit weighed approximately 29 lbs more than the '05 version. KMC stated that there is only an 11 lb weight difference between the bikes dry. Their "dry measurement" is apparently wet, minus fuel. We are not sure where or how the difference in the figures factors in. I am sure more than one member of this site will take the time to confirm and correct the initial weight figures we came up with. We are curious.
All debating aside, even if the new 10R is slightly heavier and has an underseat exhaust, it is a faster machine, and much faster.
Don't be fooled by Internet smacktalk. This bike was specifically design to be on the racetrack. KMC and KHI worked extensively with the Haydens and with Doug Chandler to design the new 10R. It was with their input that the weight of the bike was relocated. The 2006 10R has a higher center of gravity and sports a larger rear tire than its predecessor.
Tommy Hayden told me that he felt the new bike was considerably better handling-wise than the older model. He felt that the older model's weight distribution and chassis made for unstable transitions in corners, and that the bike wheelied too easily, robbing it of the drive needed for better corner exit speeds. He felt that the new chassis was considerably better and had addressed the major handling issues that he felt was holding the bike back.
The way the bike delivers its power has been changed. When questioned, reps could not give me a rear wheel HP figure, but openly stated that the US model 2006 ZX-10R made 175PS and 184 with ram air (@ 11,500rpm). The power delivery is more linear and low-end and midrange torque has been increased. The new bike is far less wheelie prone as it puts more of its power to the ground.
This took some getting used to. The 2004 built power and allowed you to feed the throttle out the tight twisties with almost V-twin like performance similar to the Ducati I used to own. That attribute is gone. A steady hand to meter the smooth throttle brings the power on evenly. The flat spot and lurchy "hit" is gone.
In 2004 Bikeland tested the 10R on the road. It rained like the B'Jesus in the middle of our road ride, yet we still had an amazing time. KMC felt it best to introduce the '06 10R at a racetrack. They felt that you simply could not experience the power and handling capabilities of this bike riding it on the street. Everyone there agreed. We all wanted to keep our driver's licenses intact, so the track excursion was welcomed.
So now I find myself sitting in the paddock area of the California Speedway. I've never been to this track. In fact my track experience is very limited. Like I said, I'm just an average guy. I head out for our first morning session. Our group takes it slow. We need three full laps to bring the OEM Dunlop Qualifiers to temperature. Then we go. I chuckle in my helmet as I fly down the front straight and into the first chicanes.
There isn't much more to say about this next bit; a bit of a no-brainer... the Ohlins damper was great. They should've had this on the '04/'05.
KMC states that they have completely redesigned the transmission to address the shifting issues people complained about with the older bike. They also claim to have reworked the slipper clutch (I felt the original one was fine) and the '06 unit worked wonderfully. It saved my ass twice on two botched downshifts. I was way out of sync as I jammed it down through the gears at a buck forty.. a poorly (read late) timed handful of brake and the slipper clutch vacuumed up my horrible riding error. Without it I would've been on my ass!
The brakes on the bike are vastly improved. Gone is the vague feeling many members complained about. The new radial pump master cylinder gives the brakes firm and immediate grab.
My first two sessions were pretty bad. I was all over the track and having Tommy and Roger fly past me in midcorner certainly didn't help my confidence. I watched what they were doing and checked out their lines, and was determined to do a little better.
After lunch we returned to the track and had a chance to try out Dunlop's latest Sportmax GP track tires. Grip was up enormously. Cornering was much easier, but the bike felt squirrelly down the straights with the stickier rubber, and several riders complained about it. Its turns out that Kawasaki used up all of the 55 series Dunlops testing at Autopolis, so we had to run a 50 series. KMC states that Dunlop will make a specific track tire to fit this bike.
Paying attention to Tommy's lines helped. With some practice and a few more laps under my belt I managed to keep a few riders off my tail for the next few sessions. I sucked, but not as badly as I thought I did.
The highlight of my day was a bit of personal training from Doug Chandler. I talked to Doug about my lack of confidence on some of the corners and he offered to take me out, give me some pointers and show me some lines. After Doug following me for three laps, it was my turn to keep up to the Superbike Champion. What a difference it made! It was an amazing experience. My lap times got faster and I hung with him as best I could. When he got tired of training me, he left me in the dust and took of to play with the Haydens. Amazing to watch these guys with a front seat view back it into almost every corner spitting rubber off the spinning tires. It is really humbling. It makes you realize just how fast a pro rider is. And remember.. these guys were riding OEM ZX-10Rs, complete with mirrors and turn signals. It was too cool!
Later that night, on the way to dinner, Doug and I talked about motorcycling, and Kerry Bryant. Doug told me about how Kerry T-Boned a cow after losing a game of chicken (the cow won). I told him about Bikeland's ride with Kerry on the 2004 ZX-10R. The rainstorm. Papa smurf.
It seems so long ago. This is what it's come to. They reworked a ridiculously fast bike and made it even faster. It's easier to ride. It isn't intimidating in the least. The power on tap is incredible and it's handling is much better than the previous bike.
KMC told us that they were listening to what YOU have to say. Performance wise, I couldn't agree more. Their engineers have seemed to address almost every complaint filed online in Bikeland's forums. From worm~hole's "Read my lips... Large easy to read analogue tach and a digital speedo" to Redelk's brake complaints. From complaints about shifting, handling, the clutch, the levers, the twitchy steering, they've covered every base.
Aesthetically, they seem to have gone their own route. Certainly the changes they made to aesthetics (and I'll include the exhaust in the aesthetic section) have been questioned by most people who frequent the forums. I'll leave the final decision up to you, the consumer. You have to decide if you like the looks of this bike. I cant decide that for you. I can only tell you how it rides. That's no mystery. The bike is a 10 for performance. The rest is up to you.
The million-dollar question is, should you keep your old 10R or should you trade up? The honest answer is "I don't know". If you're a taller rider like myself, trading might not make sense if you plan on using the bike as a commuter or a street/canyon carver. For short trips it's fine, but the cramped ergos will need a fix. I'm sure the aftermarket will solve this pretty quickly. Dropping the pegs an inch will work wonders for a tall guy's knees.
In the performance category, without a doubt, the '06 beats the older models. If you're racing, you'll need to upgrade, or prepare to be passed. If you spend most of your riding time hanging out at Starbucks then I suppose you'll need to trade too. For the latest and greatest, the underseat exhaust should be good for posing value if nothing else.
There you have it. Handling, performance? Kicks ass. Looks? You're on your own. I like the black one.
For those of you into #'s, download the PDF here....
Source: Bikeland.org
Photos: Bikeland.org and Brian J. Nelson
   
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k bryant
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posted January 21, 2006 01:47 PM
Really excellent read.
Open class bikes can be really hard to evaluate. Especially based on the level of rider expertise to exploit their intended design purpose. When I ride Fontana on whatever I happen to be on, I don't seem to go much slower or faster (relatively)regardless of the brand. The only changes I note, is the effort required to lap at a given pace. Some are easier (CBR1000, GSXR1000), some are harder (ZX10 '04/05). I think the only relative points are how a given person feels on a given model. And you most definetly can't ignore ergo's and styling in the equation when making a purchase of a streetbike. It is important to most people. For myself, it's not at the top of the list, but I do consider it.
Oh, and about me, Doug, and the T-Boned cow.... Doug should have mentioned that he was behind me when it happened (we were out moto crossing with his brother Kurty). Operative phrase - "behind me". Taking on a 1000 lb heffer is//was pretty silly..... But when you're racing, you take chances sometimes....  . He did really have a great front row seat to the event. I was out cold after the T-Bone and don't recall much about it.... All I remember is waking up, looking up, and seeing/hearing Doug and Kurty laughing there asses off..... I have to admit, it probably looked pretty neat.
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magzx12r
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posted January 21, 2006 02:07 PM
This is a good write-up. However, I disagree with the following statement:
"The 2005 GSXR 1000 cleaned the 10R's clock, and pretty much every other bike out there"
These bikes were very close in performance off the showroom floor. If you are strictly talking about racing, the GSXR-1K did have better results than the ZX-10R, but they had more factory support also. Hopefully, the '06 ZX-10R will do better on the track.
____________
Mark
'03 ZX-12R
'12 1199S
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CrotchRocket
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posted January 21, 2006 02:07 PM
Yeah, nice story...I know that was a few days in the making!!!
I really like the ' 06 ZX10, wish I had the $$$ to get it and the ZX14!!!
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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GUNNER
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posted January 21, 2006 04:11 PM
SHIT!!!!!!!!! This is going to cost me another 10 Grand again this year. Why did I read this shit? WHY? Oh WHY!
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andy
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posted January 21, 2006 04:31 PM
You sure you're aren't a writer? 
This artice was well writen, it almost makes me want to go further into debt and buy an '06.
And what of the heifer, did she make it out alive?
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k bryant
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posted January 21, 2006 06:59 PM
Edited By: k bryant on 21 Jan 2006 19:00
According the Doug, the Heifer went flying off this ridge, then got up and ran away with the other stampeding Herd. We were coast racing down this grade. I hit it at about 40 mph. I have no idea on how much force that would have been on impact. It folded the handlebars back into the gas tank and bent the front end & wheel pretty good. I impacted at it's shoulder and rag-dolled over it for about 50 feet.
40mph, 30 degree grade, 400 lbs or so of CR500 & me.... Who can figure that one out?
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redelk
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posted January 21, 2006 07:00 PM
Great read. Could easily give a 04/05 owner the "itch".
The devil is in the details. Just like when they put the oval throttle pulley on the B model 12R. Minor detail, but major change in throttle feel. You throw in a lot of "minor details" and you get something like the '06 10R.
I now refuse to ride '06 on the grounds that I'd be back to eating Raman noodles for a year.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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teebo7
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posted January 21, 2006 07:03 PM
It'd be worth it redelk!! lol
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warbird
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posted January 21, 2006 07:04 PM
Great write up fish.............very well written. I like the honesty. You could write for a motorcycle mag no sweat.! 
____________
I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
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thundermonkey
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posted January 21, 2006 10:04 PM
+1
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GUNNER
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posted January 21, 2006 10:19 PM
All of this would have been so much better if Kawasaki would have done it a month ago. As it turns out people are taking delivery of new 06's all over the country already. The timing is a little weak  And best of all some of the specs are still so secret that the new owner's didn't even have them when they picked up their new ride. Why has Kawasaki handled this release in such a mannor?
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fish_antlers
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posted January 21, 2006 10:21 PM
Gunner...
All the specs are in the PDF version of the writeup...
I'm not sure why they spilt up the press intros the way they did, but they did...
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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GUNNER
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posted January 21, 2006 10:30 PM
I seen over at 10R.net some guy in GA took delivery already of his 06 either today or yesterday. So they're already out here on the East Coast. I'm sure I'll see one sometime this week since the local dealer here is one of the biggest Kawasaki dealers in the U.S. They may already have one I haven't been out there since Tuesday.
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fish_antlers
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posted January 21, 2006 10:36 PM
Apparently they are shipping right now!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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GUNNER
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posted January 21, 2006 10:48 PM
Apparently so this guy posted pics of one in a Law Mower trailor hitched to his truck sitting in his driveway. So while it was being press released it was also hitting the loading docs all over the country. Just seems like the press release should have been a few weeks before the public release. I guess it don't matter.
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fish_antlers
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posted January 21, 2006 10:57 PM
Edited By: fish_antlers on 22 Jan 2006 00:04
They had the world "press launch" months ago in Japan at Autopolis. They only invite a few superstar riders from the major print mags who go there, ride the bikes and then write for the print mags. The print mags take months to print up and distribute, so around the approx time the mags hit the stands, they do an intro for the rest of the US media..
The idea being they want to be fair so no one "scoops" anyone else.
I agree that it would be better to get the info sooner...
I suppose they are trying to walk a fine line and keep everyone happy.
Also I am not 100% sure that the bikes tested back then were the same bikes we tested. Ours were production models as the bikes are now being shipped. Japan press launch had pre-pro models methinks.
Because of the intro I attended you'll now see other publications with reviews. My group included Superbikeplanet etc etc so maybe that give you a bit of insight into how these things work.
BTW the Superbikeplanet rider is an awesome guy, and very fast on the track.
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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Simple Simon
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posted January 22, 2006 06:30 AM
Did they change the ratio for first gear? That is probably my biggest complaint about my '05. It is geared too high. The CBR954 that I had would tear up my 10 off of the line.
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fish_antlers
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posted January 22, 2006 08:18 AM
once again, download the PDF version of the review... at the end of the document the full specs for the bike are included.
You can see for yourself.
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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andy
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posted January 22, 2006 09:18 AM
quote:
According the Doug, the Heifer went flying off this ridge, then got up and ran away with the other stampeding Herd. We were coast racing down this grade. I hit it at about 40 mph. I have no idea on how much force that would have been on impact. It folded the handlebars back into the gas tank and bent the front end & wheel pretty good. I impacted at it's shoulder and rag-dolled over it for about 50 feet.
40mph, 30 degree grade, 400 lbs or so of CR500 & me.... Who can figure that one out?
LOL That's one sturdy side of beef.
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bovinespongiformencephalo
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posted January 22, 2006 04:05 PM
Edited By: bovinespongiformencephalo on 22 Jan 2006 16:07
There was a guy that hit a cow on the very bottom of Palomar. He ended up covered head to toe in cowshit. Somebody gave him a roll of paper towels but it wasn't much help. Even the cow thought that was funny.
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NinjaNick
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posted January 22, 2006 08:04 PM
I gotta point this out, since you're a writer:
2nd paragraph from the start...
Some people might consider me to be an average to fast street rider, and others say I'm just another "Ricky Racer" from some obscure website. So, you might ask, what they(THE SHOULD GO HERE INSTEAD OF THEY) heck am I doing here? I suppose it may be that because of Bikeland there are few things that go on in the motorcycling industry that don't pass across my electronic desk. I'm here because I represent you, Joe Average. I'm just some guy who loves to ride motorcycles.
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fish_antlers
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posted January 22, 2006 08:27 PM
Edited By: fish_antlers on 22 Jan 2006 20:52
i'm no professional!
thanks for pointing out the typo!
Cheers! corrected!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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zxhoya
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posted January 23, 2006 02:12 AM
Hey Fish, how about the undertail exhaust? Did it warm your buns?
____________
''The angle of my dangle is inversely proportional to the heat of my meat'' Will Ferrell
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fish_antlers
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posted January 23, 2006 06:40 AM
actually, surprisingly not at all. Mind you the test was at the track, not on the street so there was no time sitting at traffic lights etc to give a comparison.
I have notes on all of the changes they made in comparison to the 05 (mechanical etc) but I just havent gotten around to posting them.
I'm hoping that one of the other riders (hopefully superbikeplanet) will be out with a review soon so they can bridge the gap for the people who are hardcore racers.
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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