Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Ok, it's official - my ZX10 turns in too slow and I need to do something about it.

Seems to be one of those things, you ride a bike and get used to it, then you ride it back to back with something else and go, "awe fark, what is wrong with this". I had one of those moments today...

I had a bike washday; cleaned the 10, the cbr race bike and Alex's ZZR250. Once all were dried off I took each around the block to dry the rad/test ride/have a play. I started on the ZZR; low, light, turns in fast but really stable. Full lock figure 8 no problem. Then I jumped on the ten, twisted the grip and a grin spread from ear to ear and then I tried to go around the corner I had done on the ZZR just a few moments before. I felt I had to muscle it around, it just wanted to keep going straight. Now, I understand heavier engine components etc, but a low speed, low revs corner on power at 3,000prm should still be easy.

Then for comparison I did the same on the CBR; revier off the line, but with less punch than the 10, and smoothed around the corner with no hassle. The CBR has had the back end jacked up, and has lots of weight removed - but I’d still expect the 07 ZX10 to piss on it in every department, esp cornering.

SO what is to be done? I know I need to set up the sags on the 10, but I'm starting to think drop the forks through the triple clamp, raise the rear ride height etc.

Ideas, suggestions and slating all welcome

Oh and Hoff, I had just set the tyre pressures 36 front, 41 rear.

photomike666 wrote:Ok, it's official - my ZX10 turns in too slow and I need to do something about it.

Seems to be one of those things, you ride a bike and get used to it, then you ride it back to back with something else and go, "awe fark, what is wrong with this". I had one of those moments today...

I had a bike washday; cleaned the 10, the cbr race bike and Alex's ZZR250. Once all were dried off I took each around the block to dry the rad/test ride/have a play. I started on the ZZR; low, light, turns in fast but really stable. Full lock figure 8 no problem. Then I jumped on the ten, twisted the grip and a grin spread from ear to ear and then I tried to go around the corner I had done on the ZZR just a few moments before. I felt I had to muscle it around, it just wanted to keep going straight. Now, I understand heavier engine components etc, but a low speed, low revs corner on power at 3,000prm should still be easy.

Then for comparison I did the same on the CBR; revier off the line, but with less punch than the 10, and smoothed around the corner with no hassle. The CBR has had the back end jacked up, and has lots of weight removed - but I’d still expect the 07 ZX10 to piss on it in every department, esp cornering.

SO what is to be done? I know I need to set up the sags on the 10, but I'm starting to think drop the forks through the triple clamp, raise the rear ride height etc.

Ideas, suggestions and slating all welcome

Oh and Hoff, I had just set the tyre pressures 36 front, 41 rear.

BUY A 04/05 MODEL!!!


move along people nothing to see here...
someone block this thread

How old is your front tyre?

Mick C wrote:How old is your front tyre?

Almost new, like less than 500Km new. And it's an M3!

photomike666 wrote:

Mick C wrote:How old is your front tyre?

Almost new, like less than 500Km new. And it's an M3!

Definitely not that then

As you said, start off with getting the sag set right first, then dial in your damping before you even start playing with ride heights

Mick C wrote:

photomike666 wrote:

Mick C wrote:How old is your front tyre?

Almost new, like less than 500Km new. And it's an M3!

Definitely not that then

As you said, start off with getting the sag set right first, then dial in your damping before you even start playing with ride heights

Yeah, that's what I thought but the issue just seemed so extreme. Honestly it's a slow 90 deg right hand corner which I just zipped round on both other bikes and went, "Awe fark turn you bastard" on the 10

It's all locked away while I go to Adelaide next week, but I have time off work after that so I'll be getting it sorted.

I put 6mm worth of shims/washers on the top shock mount, to raise the rear up of the 12...I also dropped the yokes by 5mm..made a noticeable difference, give it a go.

Yeh I find it a bit funny like that. It's certainly very different from the six, especially noticeable at slow speeds.
It just seems like you have to be a lot more forceful and really show it what you want.

I find getting right down on the tank so my forearms are parallel with the ground really helps me control it best.
Got to sort my suspension but getting a bit more bias towards the front might not be a bad idea.

This bike makes you work hard, its just the nature of the beast and probably why i like it so much

Ive dropped the front and had my suspension set up properly......it helped a little

I just had a thought on my way into work this morning Mike....there's one big difference between your 10 and the ZZR and CBR, that is you've got a steering dampener on it. I know when I thought the Crim was feeling a bit sluggish I realised I didn't really need it anyway and turned it back to it's weakest setting. Made a huge difference so it might be worth having a play with the settings on the Gumby's one.

Lucky the rear is at 41 psi Mike, 42 is bloody dangerous ya know...

Mick C wrote:I just had a thought on my way into work this morning Mike....there's one big difference between your 10 and the ZZR and CBR, that is you've got a steering dampener on it. I know when I thought the Crim was feeling a bit sluggish I realised I didn't really need it anyway and turned it back to it's weakest setting. Made a huge difference so it might be worth having a play with the settings on the Gumby's one.

I was about the say the same thing, I rode Gumby with damper turned up so it was really stiff and it wouldn't bloody turn, then rode R1 with stock damper and the damper was way to soft and weak!

If we could just get the mid range of a nine and the cornering ability of the zzr250, merge in the 10s looks fark it'd be good.

photomike666 wrote:If we could just get the mid range of a nine and the cornering ability of the zzr250, merge in the 10s looks fark it'd be good.

Yeah the Crim!!!!!

Hi Mike... Macca here again... I have read all the replies you have been sent about your slow turn in.. I have plenty of info for you on this as I work at PI, and am very good friends with our suspension tech who worked all last year with the Kawasaki race team (Shannon J and Wayne M).. they where racing our exact same models and he has plenty of info on this. I was actually talking to Wayne yesterday about ZX10R race set up.. I will chat to you when I see you next about the pegs... (when you get back)..!!

However.. this model (06/07) definitely is much heavier in the steering when driving slow, you can definitely feel the difference. I was on a GSXR 750 yesterday and it felt way different... especially when riding slow..!! You have to be very carefull with some mods.. as they might make things feel good at street speeds, but at super high speed, the '10' will become very unstable...

Macca.