Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

G'day guys,

well today deceded i wanted to test ride some new bikes as i am selling my car soon i am thinking i might get something pretty flash to replace it! (even tho i just got the 9r, can't have enough bikes)

so went into biek shop and test rode 2 bikes:

06 ZX10R in black - 2,000km's

06 R1 in Metallic Red. - 10,000km's

Well i must say i have never ridden a 1000cc bike in my life, but i was amazed at how different they were.

The zx10 felt smooth as silk, clutch was smooth but firm, brakes were amazing, power was unreal, lacked a bit in the mid range compared to the 9 but when it hits the sweet spot, it comes alive and really fakrne takes off (ended up pulling some crazy speed in 2nd gear, but it felt so effortless). The steering felt quick and i loved the feeling that i was sitting "on" the bike. Plus the note of the stock pipes is still very horn!!

The R1 on the other hand felt rigid, nimble and just FAST! The brakes on the R1 where very good, mid range on the R1 was alot nicer and went spastic at about 9,000 rpm, but i didn't think it felt as bitey as teh ZX up the rev range. 2 Things really turned me off the R1 that the zx10 didn't suffer, The R1 had a designed way to disperse heat, in winter might be ok, but my legs even with boots and thick ridign jeans, felt like they where going to melt and my feet have never been so HOT, plus even on road riding the R1 was running at 102c whic is bit high. Althought today has been 29c (yes bit strange for Hobart) on open road didn't like that.

Other issue was the leak of friction point the R1 was like ON or OFF. Made it a bit annoying with city driving..

So overall my verdict is the zx10, the silky smoothness combined with the small things mentioned above just made it a pleasure to drive. I would own both bikes, but i would only buy the ZX10 over the R1.

The 2 are so different, and both have there pro's and con's

I like the R1

There's no reference to any joking in your post Saki, so I'm praying like buggery you're joking about the 10's midrange!

Be careful Saki, 10 owners get very upset when you mention the 9 has better midrange
I have to agree with you as both me and Wisc found the same thing.

But you and wisc were made to look like douches

Well u have to remember i have been riding the 9 for a few months, i rode the 10 for 30 mins, and i only had 1 or 2 chances to open it up, i am not saying it had NON, but i didn't feel like it had the same mid range as the 9 but you could definately feel it made up for it in the top end! Its not a crim tho its an 06

Still very fast bike non the less! and i reckon i will get it! so don't stress!
R1 was nice also! I want to try out a GSXR now.. nto gunna both with the honda for the simple fact i just don't like them!

Get a sportsbarge people...theres power everywhere !

hoffy wrote:Get a sportsbarge people...theres power everywhere !

well speaking of that i am interested in giving a 12 and even a 14 a go! But i was very impressed with the 10R and i am sold to it!

Somebody just post the money porn so we can all move along please. Nothing more to see here

BAH! i didnt intend it to turn out like that! i was giving an honest report on wat i thought!!

i dont read too much into amatuer test rides... shit i kno that when i test a bike, i dont work the thing anywhere near hard enuf.. i kno im timid abt paying the $1500 excess most dealers charge... and i kno it takes a coupla rides to get the utmost out of a new ride...

thats how i see it..

dave#3 wrote:Somebody just post the money porn so we can all move along please. Nothing more to see here

what is 'money porn'....breaking new ground hey Dave ?

Benno wrote:But you and wisc were made to look like douches

Love ya work benno!!!!!

Benno wrote:But you and wisc were made to look like douches

How's that? Nobody had any real evidence to prove our claims to be false. All it showed is the 10 owners are a winy bunch of girls because their bikes have no midrange