posted February 02, 2008 02:41 PM
Edited By: stevewfl on 2 Feb 2008 14:45
Onboard 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R What I expect to see a lot more of regarding the 2008 ZX10 and it's competitors for '08
posted February 02, 2008 04:39 PM
Edited By: stevewfl on 2 Feb 2008 16:41
wow I throw some bait from a motorcycle mag test and no takers?
anyway, the R1 got a 1 second start. and although it finished a couple of bike lengths ahead, it still was only "one second", if that much even, ahead at the end considering the speeds and its jump.
so of course the R1 didn't beat the ZX10.
BUT - as I've been suspecting, the 2008 ZX10 is not the "ultra badd azz bike" that so many Kawasaki worshippers have been expecting or it'd have blasted past the competitor like "nothing to it" on the way to the 189 MPH litre bike speed limiter.
The ZX10 is bad to the bone with 8-10 more or so HP (to be determnined), but true super0bike performance must factor in aerodynamics/body, tires, suspension, brakes, etc.
And as I have been suggesting, I think the litre bikes are going to all be so close again in '08 as they were in '07. And look out for the Honda, I think the money they sunk into that redesign puts it back in the game if not on top of the others.
*** and again I'm not brand loyal, just realistic. The Kawi is (as always) a bad mammer-jammer and I'll own another 1 day soon enough***
posted February 02, 2008 06:05 PM
what the hell are you talking about?
do you smoke crack.......
and why would you buy a kawasaki when you seem to really like the honda? i mean you really really like the honda..... as a matter of fact 90% of your post are about the honda... strange as if your looking for some type of approval.....
quote:what the hell are you talking about?
do you smoke crack.......
and why would you buy a kawasaki when you seem to really like the honda? i mean you really really like the honda..... as a matter of fact 90% of your post are about the honda... strange as if your looking for some type of approval.....
crack huh....exactly what are YOU talking about? I just purchased a '08 Yamaha LMFAO
I just think the Honda stands a chance for '08. We'll see huh?
And dude just an FYI heads up, I buy all the brands, I'm not brand loyal. Actually I've owned more Kawasaki's than anything else to date.
posted February 03, 2008 03:47 AM
steve you need some help
Anyway this video, as we all discussed in other places long time ago, proves nothing because start was not the same, it was not even and so on... lets wait and see for more shootout's. Never the less, 08 R1 is also fast, faster than Honda for sure...so no big surprise here. Those 8 hp will always vanish in the wrong hands, as was in this case.
posted February 03, 2008 07:44 AM
What it proves is the ZXZ10 didn't just "own" the competitor. Ya I agree...this video proves nothing. I was just saying I expect to see a lot more of these soon enough, although I expect the ZX10 to rule the "straight line".
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
posted February 03, 2008 12:42 PM
We will see, we will see.......
It won't be as fast as 1000cc vs 600cc ! There is only 8rwhp difference between these two bikes! But then again, little by little and we have 200hp superbikes available for everyone
posted February 03, 2008 02:13 PM
I was watching the new CBR going around the one local track here and the rear wheel kept locking as if there was no slipper clutch! The rear wheel kept shuddering and battling to maintain the speed of the surface compared to the bike. It was the weirdest thing. needless to say I wasn't impressed.
The CBR in real life looks awkward... looks like it stands very tall and is very very short. Could just be an illusion. I was with my buddy at the track and he is a Honda fan like you've never seen and he said he wouldn't be seen dead on that bike. Made me giggle...
Steve I don't think the zx10 will only be classed as a straight line bike. This model is going to handle just as well as the CBR and in some respects I think it will out class it. number 1 the zx10 always has and will always have a better slipper clutch. brakes on the zx10 will be better thanks to the new design of the calipers whereas the CBR only got similar calipers to what the 10 had last year. (I don't quite get this cos they both Tokico.) I know the Tokico's on the CBR are a new monoblock design... but the zx10's Tokicos I believe will out perform. (cos they look better :P) zx10's in the past have always had incredible front end feel and have been rated higher than even the gixxers. The zx10 has never actually had bad handling as you say... but it always has been a bit squirly under braking and tipping it into the corner... that sure as heck doesn't mean it's going to hold slower corner speed. It does mean tho that a rider with less experience will not be as quick on the 10. When I had my '05 zx10 it was always on rails and I felt it handled better than my buddies 1000's including the blade at that time. Like I said the front was always incredible in the corners. The '06 shape 10 was apparently better at turning into the corners but still had that mid corner rigidity.
Hondas handle well there is no doubt, but they are always set up very conservative and judging from comments from tests so far the 10 handles well too... I don't think that the blade will out handle the 10... not on your life... not stock to stock! We can't consider race teams here or even power up kits...
Local magazines here have placed the zx10 at the top of the pile already. No questions asked. Better engine, better brakes and better handling. More aggressive. I was actually quite shocked at the track day today that the most common bike in the paddock was a Kawasaki, 6 or 10 with honda a close 2nd.
I think the zx10 will appeal to more journalists when given the choice. There is something addictive about the 10 over the CBR.
In WSBK I think the honda will be a close 2nd to Ducati. But only because the Ten Kate team is so good at getting the best out of their bikes. And the Duke has the bike displacement advantage this season until the organizers figure out that they'll need to restrict them more. PSG-1 I don't think have what it takes to get their bikes to the top even with the factories support. They also don't have the riders to get the job done. Although in Supersport they now have Walker riding for them... so I'm expecting the zx6 to take wins this year. Hey but the zx6 won the championship in AMA... proving I think again that its more team and package based rather than only bike based.
As for that video.... I don't know... I don't even think they were racing or the guy at the back wasn't trying very hard or not very good. A couple times there I was like er... what you doing dude. I agree that with the 1000 class a single bike could NEVER demolish the opposition... its far closer than that. And to rate a single bike better than another is actually just nit picking. Like saying one bike has better brakes than the other... rubbish they all have hot brakes. But I don't say the 10 will be a straight line king... cos its going to handle just as well as the honda.
I know I've just gone on about how the zx10 will be good at this and that, but there is actually no way to tell which bike is better cos that is actually going to fall down to the customer and what they want. I myself want a bike with character and I like the aggression of the Kawis. Other people will want what say Yamaha have to offer. I guess that's what keeps them all in business. And I guess that's also why the manufacturers always make bikes different from the others and with certain traits to them.
Honda won't blitz the competition... and the zx10 is going to appeal to the journos (I suppose some journos might pick the Honda cos they so taken aback by the CBR's change :P)... so this is going to be tight.
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By the time you read this, I'll be gone!
posted February 03, 2008 02:45 PM
"Steve I don't think the zx10 will only be classed as a straight line bike. This model is going to handle just as well as the CBR and in some respects I think it will out class it."
you may be right and I may eat serious crow but I don't like the taste of that bird! :P
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
posted February 06, 2008 07:37 AM
I was just surprised how that R1 pulled the zx10 from about 100mph on up! Granted the guy riding was mercilessly hitting the rev limiter, but on that zero to 188 run against the R1 he didnt appear to hit it, and the R1 still pulled him quite a bit. BUT- the 10 seemed to have better brakes and more lean angle than the R1... Wow thats a change, eh? You guys can talk about how great one versus the other is in cornering, but in reality adjustable rearsets and properly set up suspension will nullify any significant differences there. But what has always urked me was getting passed on the straights after I just did the hard work in the corners. I know how to late break pass someone who is slower in the corners, but damn I hate having to do it because my bike didnt have enough oomph to keep them behind me on the straights! I'd rather test myself with the faster guys ahead of me than play dodge with a slower rider on a faster bike, know what I mean?
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
posted February 06, 2008 11:12 AM
indeed, and agreed....
faster riders are much safer to race with than slow ones on fast bikes.....!
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
posted February 06, 2008 02:06 PM
I like 'em all too and each of them has more performance poitential then I could ever use on a track/twisties and I enjoying racing.
But for the sake of debate in this forum I just can't go with that ZX10 !!! :P
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
posted February 07, 2008 09:53 AM
yeah, to be honest? Historically I've been a owner of Kawasaki's who really respected the Gixxer's and wanted a Yamaha for the track. Not much of that has changed over the last 20 years!
BUT: If I had $14k or so right now to buy a liter class bike for the twisties/track? Hands down, it would be the 1098 Ducati. It will ALWAYS be in style, looks badass right now, and is a V-twin with 150+ hp. Tell me where that goes wrong? lol
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
posted February 07, 2008 11:19 AM
Edited By: Sticks_n_Stones on 7 Feb 2008 11:20
"Like a rottweiler on a football .... LOL" Maybe so, but that football loses!
And, if I can fit comfortably enough on my TL1000R, then the 1098 shouldnt be a problem. Just add heli risers and I'm good. As long as I dont have to go far... then its all smooth fast sailing on my 14 of course!
Oh yeah, the 1098 is quite a few steps up in reliability from there past wrecks they made. And being a track day/secondary bike, I can wait for parts if I dump it. (probably cant afford those parts though lol)
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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posted February 02, 2008 02:41 PM
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