Gary J
09-05-2006, 04:53 PM
The move from a Kawasaki ’04 ZX-10R, to a new ’06 version of the same model (about a week ago) was not something I’d planned. A twist of mechanical fate on the ‘04, forced the hand.
Honestly I have to say, that the ’06 version ZX-10R’s introduction earlier this year had not stimulated a lot of interest on my part. The external changes that I saw in the pictures and in person, far from wowed me, and as such didn’t produce any new-bike envy over the very clean ’04 model that was already tucked away in my garage. The magazine test reports (FWIW) were a bit mixed, with some final impressions implying that the ’06 bike had slipped a notch or two down the ladder, from its predecessor (the ‘04/’05 design).
Based on the combination of my satisfaction with the ’04, the less than amazing exterior changes, and the media reports, the ’06 ZX-10R’s release quickly came-and-went in my realm of interest. This rise and fall of interest seemed to parallel that of most of the motorcycle community as well. This “new” offering in the liter class, from Kawasaki, seemed to have faded quickly from conversations, and also found itself not exactly flying off the showroom floors (once the new-bike intro hype had passed).
For the moment, in this post, I’ll keep it brief and just hit the highlights (I may do a more detailed follow-up personal-eval in a subsequent post, if time permits).
Let me start out by encapsulating the whole experience/impression in one phrase: “THIS BIKE IS AWESOME!!!”
The first 400 miles I spent bonding with the new bike was done over the course of three days, on the street. One day of highway commuting, one day of casual backroad riding with friends, and one last day in the twisties to cap off the bike’s final break-in period. Though any street riding (at least on a sane level) on a bike like the ZX-10R barely begins to tap in to its potential, I had already seen HUGE differences in the civility of the two versions (’04 vs. ’06). Though the ’06 ZX-10R still exceeds the performance level of my personal choice for regular street riding activities, it was vastly improved in being a machine that could actually be happily lived with (by most experienced riders) in the real world environment of public road use.
Most noticeably improved areas, over the ’04, in order of significance (in my opinion):
1) Major change (“smoothness”) in the rate of power delivery to the rear wheel (like a 160HP “electric” motor)
2) Elimination of the harsh “high-speed” Compression damping, on forks and shock, that resulted in chatter over bumps
3) Correctly matched (softer) rear shock spring, for an average weight rider (’04 was best for a 220lb+ rider)
4) Buttery smooth, precise gear shifting engagement, with zero missed-shifts, from the upgraded transmission
5) Chassis/swingarm changes resulting in huge improvement in traction/grip at rear tire, when rolling power on
6) Greatly improved overall stability, under hard acceleration/high-speed
7) Factory installed Ohlins fully-adjustable steering damper
8) Radial brake master cylinder, producing reduced lever fade over sustained sessions of hard trail braking (at the track)
This last weekend was the maiden voyage for the bike, getting off of the street, and onto the track. The combination of 3 consecutive days, and over 500 track miles, provided lots of opportunity to achieve full “bonding” by the end of the weekend. The quantitative value (lap times, ease of going fast) of the improved in ‘06 items (listed above), shined through. The combination of the bike’s ability to allow me to cut some respectable lap times; and do so without even a hint of a single heartbeat raising “moment” over the course of all those track miles, speaks volumes of just how good the ’06 ZX-10R really is, despite being in near-stock/street form (tires).
Of course, the "accidental" crossed-up, power wheelies ... from 2nd through 3rd gear, coming out of the last corner (Turn 15) leading onto the front straight, were pretty fun on the new 10R too! ;)
In closing; “Thanks Kawasaki Engineering, ya’ done good in ‘06!”
Gary J
Honestly I have to say, that the ’06 version ZX-10R’s introduction earlier this year had not stimulated a lot of interest on my part. The external changes that I saw in the pictures and in person, far from wowed me, and as such didn’t produce any new-bike envy over the very clean ’04 model that was already tucked away in my garage. The magazine test reports (FWIW) were a bit mixed, with some final impressions implying that the ’06 bike had slipped a notch or two down the ladder, from its predecessor (the ‘04/’05 design).
Based on the combination of my satisfaction with the ’04, the less than amazing exterior changes, and the media reports, the ’06 ZX-10R’s release quickly came-and-went in my realm of interest. This rise and fall of interest seemed to parallel that of most of the motorcycle community as well. This “new” offering in the liter class, from Kawasaki, seemed to have faded quickly from conversations, and also found itself not exactly flying off the showroom floors (once the new-bike intro hype had passed).
For the moment, in this post, I’ll keep it brief and just hit the highlights (I may do a more detailed follow-up personal-eval in a subsequent post, if time permits).
Let me start out by encapsulating the whole experience/impression in one phrase: “THIS BIKE IS AWESOME!!!”
The first 400 miles I spent bonding with the new bike was done over the course of three days, on the street. One day of highway commuting, one day of casual backroad riding with friends, and one last day in the twisties to cap off the bike’s final break-in period. Though any street riding (at least on a sane level) on a bike like the ZX-10R barely begins to tap in to its potential, I had already seen HUGE differences in the civility of the two versions (’04 vs. ’06). Though the ’06 ZX-10R still exceeds the performance level of my personal choice for regular street riding activities, it was vastly improved in being a machine that could actually be happily lived with (by most experienced riders) in the real world environment of public road use.
Most noticeably improved areas, over the ’04, in order of significance (in my opinion):
1) Major change (“smoothness”) in the rate of power delivery to the rear wheel (like a 160HP “electric” motor)
2) Elimination of the harsh “high-speed” Compression damping, on forks and shock, that resulted in chatter over bumps
3) Correctly matched (softer) rear shock spring, for an average weight rider (’04 was best for a 220lb+ rider)
4) Buttery smooth, precise gear shifting engagement, with zero missed-shifts, from the upgraded transmission
5) Chassis/swingarm changes resulting in huge improvement in traction/grip at rear tire, when rolling power on
6) Greatly improved overall stability, under hard acceleration/high-speed
7) Factory installed Ohlins fully-adjustable steering damper
8) Radial brake master cylinder, producing reduced lever fade over sustained sessions of hard trail braking (at the track)
This last weekend was the maiden voyage for the bike, getting off of the street, and onto the track. The combination of 3 consecutive days, and over 500 track miles, provided lots of opportunity to achieve full “bonding” by the end of the weekend. The quantitative value (lap times, ease of going fast) of the improved in ‘06 items (listed above), shined through. The combination of the bike’s ability to allow me to cut some respectable lap times; and do so without even a hint of a single heartbeat raising “moment” over the course of all those track miles, speaks volumes of just how good the ’06 ZX-10R really is, despite being in near-stock/street form (tires).
Of course, the "accidental" crossed-up, power wheelies ... from 2nd through 3rd gear, coming out of the last corner (Turn 15) leading onto the front straight, were pretty fun on the new 10R too! ;)
In closing; “Thanks Kawasaki Engineering, ya’ done good in ‘06!”
Gary J