2006 Kawasaki ZX-10R thoughts

phobiaphobe · 12-02-2005, 1:06 PM

They've added centre-up pipes, some flywheel weight, a damper, and made some changes to improve stability at the expense of some extra weight. So basically they're trying to get closer to the 1000RR?

allred · 12-02-2005, 1:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

I still think it's awful looking.

Me too, the ZX10 is the ugliest liter bike out there. Right now I would choose the Gixxer, then the CBR1000RR, then I would go to a Hyabusa before I would look at a 10. My

TraumaOne · 12-02-2005, 4:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allred

Me too, the ZX10 is the ugliest liter bike out there. Right now I would choose the Gixxer, then the CBR1000RR, then I would go to a Hyabusa before I would look at a 10. My

Yeah, I guess I shouldn't ask why the hell they made the Suzuki and Honda's so ugly... It is all in the eye of the beholder...

My preference is the R1 is the best looking followed by the ZX, then the Suzuki and far on down is the CBR.

Correct me if I am out of date but doesn't the ZX still make the most horsepower of any sport-bike? I guess the zx14 will make more but other than that?

allred · 12-02-2005, 4:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraumaOne

Yeah, I guess I shouldn't ask why the hell they made the Suzuki and Honda's so ugly... It is all in the eye of the beholder...

My preference is the R1 is the best looking followed by the ZX, then the Suzuki and far on down is the CBR.

Correct me if I am out of date but doesn't the ZX still make the most horsepower of any sport-bike? I guess the zx14 will make more but other than that?

Yep, hard to please everyone, and each to his own. If we all liked the same thing everything would look the same.

Re: the ZX10 having the most HP.....well of the liter sportbikes, yes, I think so, but there are several Hyabusa/ZX14 types with more BHP, but are in a slightly different catagory of course.

TraumaOne · 12-02-2005, 4:41 PM

I'm going back and looking at the 2006 CBR... I guess it is the right hand side that I seee the most in pictures and it is not attractive. The left side looks better, less exposed engine case I guess. I wish they would move towards integrated signals as well. *sigh* I really will have to look at all of them in person and sit on them. Then likely just go with which one strikes my fancy.

TraumaOne · 12-02-2005, 4:44 PM

So is it the rear that most of you don't like?

phobiaphobe · 12-02-2005, 4:46 PM

I like the rear other than the exhaust and heat shields. I think they did a good job with the 05 6R exhaust though... way cleaner.

allred · 12-02-2005, 4:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraumaOne

I'm going back and looking at the 2006 CBR... I guess it is the right hand side that I seee the most in pictures and it is not attractive. The left side looks better, less exposed engine case I guess. I wish they would move towards integrated signals as well. *sigh* I really will have to look at all of them in person and sit on them. Then likely just go with which one strikes my fancy.

See, I don't like the R1 because of the increasingly exposed engine....i.e. fairing gets smaller and smaller each year. And now they are doing the same with the CBR. Plus I didn't like the way the CBR1000 had that narrower gas tank. But, once again you can't please everyone. Have you checked out the Gixxer, I was looking at a red one in the local dealers and it looks bitching.
Plus, you have to be careful about selecting a bike based on BHP figures. We all know that any and all of these bikes have more than enough horsepower for 99% of the riders out there. It has been said many times that the Honda may not have the most horsepower but is the best "functioning" bike, and has the best build quality. But, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Suzuki, Yamaha or Kawasaki either.

TraumaOne · 12-02-2005, 5:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allred

See, I don't like the R1 because of the increasingly exposed engine....i.e. fairing gets smaller and smaller each year. And now they are doing the same with the CBR. Plus I didn't like the way the CBR1000 had that narrower gas tank. But, once again you can't please everyone. Have you checked out the Gixxer, I was looking at a red one in the local dealers and it looks bitching.
Plus, you have to be careful about selecting a bike based on BHP figures. We all know that any and all of these bikes have more than enough horsepower for 99% of the riders out there. It has been said many times that the Honda may not have the most horsepower but is the best "functioning" bike, and has the best build quality. But, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Suzuki, Yamaha or Kawasaki either.

Yeah, I agree... You really can't judge a way a bike looks until you see it in person. And then you have to sit on it to see if it "fits". No joke about the HP numbers... I was just throwing that out. I mean I am fairly sure thta the ZX10 ('05 anyway) made more HP than the Hayabusa... I'd say that is plenty. It would be hard to go wrong with any of them I think. Probably most important is just the impact it has on you.

allred · 12-02-2005, 5:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraumaOne

Probably most important is just the impact it has on you.

Definitely, you know when you can't sleep at night thinking about a particular bike then that it is the one for you. I just knew I had to get the 954 when it came out, it was just "so right". I haven't felt that way about the CBR1000, or any others yet, and was disappointed wheh Honda didn't reveal anything earthshattering for 2006. Still waiting for that V5!!!!

kawboy69 · 12-02-2005, 5:57 PM

Yes for you guys riding hondas ,yamaha and suzuki you would have to like the way the ass end looks because thats about all you all will be seeing of it.

just joking but no dout it does look fugly I think I will stick to my 04.

TraumaOne · 12-02-2005, 6:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allred

Still waiting for that V5!!!!

Oooh... yeah that would be nice...

If there was any indication it was coming out in '07 I could be persuaded to wait on my liter bike purchase... I could use a track 600 again

ndj · 12-02-2005, 7:04 PM

It's great that every year bike are (usually) a little better.

However, I can only laugh when they describe a new model as "completely new, phenomenally improved" with an engine that produces (for example) 2.3hp more at 13,500rpm and 0.5lbft torque at 11,500 than last year's model. They talk about those incremental changes as if you can really feel the difference. Suddenly last year's bike (one the reviewers couldn't think of enough superlatives to describe earlier) is now dog slow, overweight and underpowered by comparison. What bulls**t!

The other day I rode 140km on windy roads on a friend's 2004 GSXR1000 which is supposed to be far ahead of my 2003 954 in terms of power and handling and, quite honestly, I prefer the 954.

phobiaphobe · 12-02-2005, 7:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allred

...(I) was disappointed wheh Honda didn't reveal anything earthshattering for 2006. Still waiting for that V5!!!!

Big time. I was hoping for some new mind-blowing Interceptor. Might have even bought one.

allred · 12-02-2005, 7:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndj

It's great that every year bike are (usually) a little better.

However, I can only laugh when they describe a new model as "completely new, phenomenally improved" with an engine that produces (for example) 2.3hp more at 13,500rpm and 0.5lbft torque at 11,500 than last year's model. They talk about those incremental changes as if you can really feel the difference. Suddenly last year's bike (one the reviewers couldn't think of enough superlatives to describe earlier) is now dog slow, overweight and underpowered by comparison. What bulls**t!

The other day I rode 140km on windy roads on a friend's 2004 GSXR1000 which is supposed to be far ahead of my 2003 954 in terms of power and handling and, quite honestly, I prefer the 954.

Yes, it is refreshing to sometimes read an honest report where the writer admits that..."The Kawasaki has lots of power, and the Suzuki has plenty of low down torque, but the Honda was all-round best at everything and could turn the fastest lap due to being so managable in both power and handling characteristics". As I keep saying, I can't use the full potential of the power my 954 has now, why would I want another 40 hp????????

phobiaphobe · 12-02-2005, 7:22 PM

Cuz power is fun! Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death...

Why would you ride a 135 hp 954 when you probably couldn't use all the power of a 100hp 600rr?

phobiaphobe · 12-02-2005, 7:23 PM

Is that under-braced swingarm new? Hadn't noticed that before.

allred · 12-02-2005, 7:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Cuz power is fun! Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death...

Why would you ride a 135 hp 954 when you probably couldn't use all the power of a 100hp 600rr?

LOL....Good point!!! And if Honda brought out a really cool looking 200hp V5 I would buy it. I guess I'm a hypocrite!!!

Oh, and by the way, my thrill of speed has always overcome my fear of death....sometimes I wonder how I made it this far!

ndj · 12-02-2005, 7:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Cuz power is fun! Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death...

Why would you ride a 135 hp 954 when you probably couldn't use all the power of a 100hp 600rr?

'cos a 954 has grunt! 600's are gutless unless you rev the nuts off them!

asiliat · 12-02-2005, 8:49 PM

Okay, well I finally got to see the ZX-10R in person, and let me say that it's not as bad as most of the pix floating around.

In person, it is an imposing bike. The stance is nice and athletic, but it is now pretty portly, next to its competitors. I think this is a major negative on its part.

The heat shields/undertail exhaust isn't as bad as it appears, however, they do look cheap.... I don't know, not my fav that's for sure!

The dash. OMG! That dash is awesome. I love the way it lights up at night. I could stare at it all night long. I don't know how functional it is, but it's a gorgeous thing to look at. I'm trying to be nice here.

I'll upload all the pix I have of it once I get it sorted.

asiliat · 12-02-2005, 9:03 PM

I got about 8 decent shots of the bike.
http://snowcloud.net/daniello/gallery/2006-ninja-zx10r

TraumaOne · 12-02-2005, 9:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Big time. I was hoping for some new mind-blowing Interceptor. Might have even bought one.

That is why I bought the Sprint...

luvtolean · 12-02-2005, 9:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asiliat

I got about 8 decent shots of the bike.
http://snowcloud.net/daniello/gallery/2006-ninja-zx10r

Nice pics, thanks. Taken piecemeal, there are parts of the bike to like. I like the dash. I like the swingarm.

But as a whole, it just looks more ugly everytime I look at it.