I wanna 10!

[Kristy]

Hi guys, are there any girls out there who ride the zx10r? I'm on P's at present and can't wait to upgrade to a faster bike, currently ride zx2r. I really love the 10's but some people think it's too aggressive???

[Stereo]

Hi guys, are there any girls out there who ride the zx10r? I'm on P's at present and can't wait to upgrade to a faster bike, currently ride zx2r. I really love the 10's but some people think it's too aggressive???

I have a 10. To be honest with you, I would recommend you spend some time on a 6 first. You seriously wont regret it...

[robracer]

mmm yes that would be a great suggestion..... the 10 is verry potent no matter how subdued you think you will ride it the simple fact is that the bike you are currently on has just a small fraction of the power on tap that a 10 has & no matter how confident you are with your riding it would be a shock to the system.
Get out there & test ride the 6 & I am sure you will be satisified with what is on offer ... both Cath & Collette have em & to date have been verry happy with what the 6 has to offer the step up approach has so much going for it

[Kristy]

Ok thanks guys. I do plan to test ride a number of bikes, just have such a soft spot for the 10. Will try the 6 though. How does the weight of the 6oo compare to the 10?

[photomike666]

mathmatically, the 10r is 20% heavier and 30% more powerful than the 6. the 250 is 70% of the 10s weight and 21 times less powerful! The six is a great stepping stone, and the lower weight and smaller geometry make for a very agile bike. I liked my 600 so much I kept it as a track bike when I got the 10!

[I-K]

Hi guys, are there any girls out there who ride the zx10r? I'm on P's at present and can't wait to upgrade to a faster bike, currently ride zx2r. I really love the 10's but some people think it's too aggressive???

Part of being one of these rugged individualists known as bike riders is understanding that people who try to give you advice are quite often full of shit... and seeing how it's my turn at the bowl, shove over, everyone.

While new sportsbikes look da shiznit in the garage and over at the bowser while you're inside the servo paying for fuel, they come with a paranoia about theft (probably not *that* much of a worry in Castlemaine), and stack damage. If you drop a new sportsbike, the only cheap fix is the one involving gaffer tape, and insurance is unlikely to be cheap, especially for a n00b. You'll have too much of an investment clamped between your knees to really relax and get on with the job of getting your head around this whole riding-a-big-bike thing.

When I jumped onto a shop-fresh R1 with not-quite-two-years of riding experience back in the day, I wasn't going "OMFG! I'm scared to whack the throttle open because I won't be able to control the bike and it'll kill me," but "I really can't afford to drop this."

So, before dropping every cent you have on a bike you'll worry too much about crashing, consider something older and cheaper which you won't have to treat with the same amount of deference.

[Kristy]

Yeah true. I wasn't planning on buying a brand newie. I actually 04 model better, I have even been looking at some 10's that have a little cosmetic damage already as my BF (ross79) is happy to fix it up for me . Ross went straight from a 250cc to his 12 and has never looked back. I'm just worried that I will get a 6 and be bored with it in a few months .

[I-K]

Yeah true. I wasn't planning on buying a brand newie. I actually 04 model better, I have even been looking at some 10's that have a little cosmetic damage already as my BF (ross79) is happy to fix it up for me . Ross went straight from a 250cc to his 12 and has never looked back. I'm just worried that I will get a 6 and be bored with it in a few months .

I bought my ZX6 after my R1 was pretzeled by a 4WD,and it hardly felt like a backward step at the time. That was six years and 78,000km ago, and I'll only be getting rid of it to replace with another 600. Turns out I like the part where you can carry 11,000rpm into a corner with impunity, after all...

Ultimately, though, you've only just got your license. Be a while before you figure out what sort of rider you're going to develop into...

...give you another example. Just how you now like the 10R, I've liked 12's ever since they first came out. I rode a couple and went, "Yeh, I could go one of these." Then, more recently, I got to ride one a few times in quick succession and had to admit to myself that, no, I'm a small-bike fetishist who likes light weight, a compact riding position, stiff suspension and a high centre of gravity, and I couldn't live with the bulky, heavy, soft 12 day-to-day.

Another reason not to set your sights on *any* particular model of bike this early in your riding, and another reason to spend as little as possible on your first (first couple, ideally) big bike after your restrictions. Imagine getting your dream bike, then discovering that you don't get along with it, and having to go, "How the fugg do I sell this now?"

Short answer, though, again, if you want a 10, worrying that it'll kill you shouldn't be one of the reasons not to get one.

[Strika]

Back in the late eighties and early 90's when 600's were significantly lighter than the litre bikes, I could understand the argument, however these days, they weigh about the same, and 600's these days put more HP to the ground than the Old litre bikes did!!! Yeah sure modern litre sports bikes have massive amounts of torque and horsepower on tap, but it's easily controlled and the deliveries are very linear, unlike some of the peaky creations of the past.

Get what ya want in my opinion, just be a little rational and measured in how you use it!

[javaman]

If I can help it, I wouldn't bother with the six in fact the only reason why I ride a six is the cost factor damn the 2004-2005 ZX10R looks the business !

[GForce]

I had the zx2r then got my 05 636r. Yes there is a massive difference in power and handling is alot better too. There was a point where I wanted to sell my six and get a gsxr1000. Why havent I got the 1 litre?
1. The 1litre is not as fun to ride around the city but has shit loads of power when you need it
2. my 6 handles better than my mates 05 zx10r at the track
3. The 636 has more than enough power for the streets and goes better than the other 600s out there

Dont be power hungry and instead get a 6 to build up your skills coz its embarrassing when a 600 woops your ass on the track.

[Neka79]

Dont be power hungry and instead get a 6 to build up your skills coz its embarrassing when a 600 woops your ass on the track.

and just as embarrassing on the road!!

i use to love chasing down R1's on my zx6r...

without knowing ur riding history, ur build , ur height etc its not a simple yes/no answer...

if ur 5"0 and 40kg then u'd prob be better off muscling a zx6r or even an RS 250 around for a while... if ur a bit bigger and physically stronger, then the 10 might be the go..if uve got a bit of experience... keeping in mine u MAY have to lift the bike up as sum stage...20kg can make a difference....

also as IK says- factor in insurance costs, running costs etc as the 10 will chew thru tyres much quicker than a zx2r....

but in the end..what ever makes u happy!!...ur the one paying for it!!

[Billz]

Yeah, I reckon the argument to get a ZX6 because it'll be 'safer' than a ZX10 for a fairly new rider is flawed - either one will bite you really quickly if you don't respect it. By that logic, we should be telling you to get an ER6 or maybe a z750.

I bought a 6 because I didn't think I needed the power and torque of a 10, the 6 was cheaper, and I like the light weight and agility of the 6 over the brute force of the 10. Both are full-bottle sports bikes, though, and will be a huge jump up from your 2-fiddy. Ride them both (and I don't mean a lap around the block), and as many others as you can too, and if you still want a 10 after that, then buy one - but don't expect to be the fastest kid on the block. All other things being equal, you'll probably still get your arse kicked by 600s and 636s through the tight bits.

Just don't get hung up on "got to get a 10" when there's a whole range of good bikes to be had, some of which might actually suit you better.

And have fun!

[RichB]

This is my simplified take on it: I think all bikes can will try to kill you if you give them the opportunity and input error to do so, just the faster bikes will do it 5 times faster than a small bike, & that equals less reaction time for you to respond. Less reaction time + inexperience with dealing with that and to respond appropriately = badness. If you think you are up for it, go to a shop and take a few for a test ride, see if it's something you can honestly live with, not just an impractical dream bike for your current situation.

I like the idea of the 10R as being the mac-daddy of the kawa sportsbikes, but it's not the bike for me atm, I don't commute on my bike, just tool around in the hills. I've had the 636 for almost 2 yrs now (4th bike btw), and am just starting to really appreciate it.

PS Wasn't the 04 the nastiest of the 10s in terms of power delivery? Whenever I see the orange 04 model I think "warning!"

[Sulli]

Get your self to a trackday Kirstie with the 250
when you are riding that at 10 /10ths and passing all the 600's ridden poorly by newbs its time to select a new bike
some of the best fun can be had on smaller capacity bikes and in the right hands they are a controllable weapon
and you develop skills which may save your life in the future.