Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hey all,

Just thought I would give you a quick update on the first track day on the 2011 ZX10.. At Phillip Island last Monday, Queens Birthday... AS I am still running it in (well it had 0.5 of a kilometre on it when I arrived) I had to TRY to take it a little bit easy for the first few laps anyway..

First impressions as I was circulating was how light this bike feels.. I really love the front brakes.. feel and stopping power where fantastic, It felt better than my 08 and I do not have braided lines either, but then these pads are totally new with new discs as well.. so that might contribute.. The rear brake is very poor.. not that I use it, but I dont think I could ever lock up the back wheel with a brake this weak... so it's ok to drag it a bit if you need to, and it does work well in combination with the front.. but it is shit...

I got the traction control to work, by selecting Full power and Maximum traction control.. and exiting Siberia and Turn 11 where you are still leaned over.. I wound the throttle on just a bit too much and it felt like I was riding on bumps.. like a corrugated piece of road.. still moving forward, but I could definietly feel the shuddering underneath me, plus I could see the bar graph on the dash moving up and down.. so now I know what that feels like..!! I also love the tank shape, on the bike it is very easy to lock on, my knee never felt like it was slipping..

I didn't get to really push the bike very much, but I can feel that the suspension was definitely too soft.. more so in the rear.. I didn't get the sags done as it was set standard for the street.. I just wanted to clock up some k's on it.. I will get the suspension tweaked next time around (although that might be at Eastern Creek) but I can already tell that this one will be a good fun... fast bike to play with...

Getting it painted next week, so stand by for more pics..

Macca

Bike looked good on the day and for the couple of corners I followed you I did notice a neat black line

top stuff, cant wait to get one.

they are saying the rear is woeful.

Fix that rear brake quick smart

Russ, do you mean the rear as in 'rear brake' or 'rear shock'..?

AS both are pretty bad.. According to Dave Moss, he reckons that Kawasaki have nailed the front end and chassis this time.. but the rear shock valving is the problem.. absoloutely no rebound control at all... I must admit is did feel soft and bouncy.. but then I wasn't really pushing it.. He recommends for the initial fix just to wind the rebound all the way in to the stop and then wind it out 1 click.. leave it there...!!!

I did also notice that stock damper is definitely better than the stock 08 damper... but still not as good as my re-valved damper... but to do anything it must be on full....

Macca

Great to hear you’ve got it out there Macca, look forward to meeting up for a close inspection when we’re down in November.

Was talking to some mates last night about the whole traction control thing, and we reckoned that psychologically it could be a tough thing to get used to – that very first leap of faith when you wind it open and offer a prayer to the Ninja gods … Not at all sure I could ever force myself to do it ! (mind you, I’m a coward from way back)

Cheers,
Brian

I totally agree Brian...!!

I am trying to accept the fact that the rider just has to 'trust' the electronics.. so each time I am leaned right over, instead of waiting to get on the gas, I will just have to try and wind it on little by little.. earlier each time.. I think it will take some time to 'trust' the bike..

Still I forcefully made the traction control kick in just to see what it felt like.. and it was a weird feeling, like a shuddering underneath, but it did not slow me down at all.. so I guess it was working... The thing was I was only doing slow laps at the time... when the pace get's a bit higher, things might feel a little bit different again...

Still this is my long term baby.. I am just going to have to learn how to work it and go fast...!! It will be good to catch up in November...

Macca

You can trust it take it from me. on the road at least

Macca
this might give you some answers about your rear suspension, although you might have seen it before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIyAvsujBlo

Hi Stevo...

Yes I have seen this vid.. Dave Moss has a great reputation and does know what he is talking about.. I have made the adjustments he suggested, and will see how it feels.. but as this one will be my long termer bike, I reckon I will upgrade the rear shock at some stage.. But it did feel 'bouncy' at the track.. even going slow, so upping the speed will just make that worse...!!

Macca

Would be good to know about fixing the stock shock tho.

Hmm let me work on this, and in time

Jonno wrote:Would be good to know about fixing the stock shock tho.

Hmm let me work on this, and in time

When speaking with Zeno he said he was quitely confident he could have it almost race spec just by fiddling with some internals

Maccarocks wrote:I totally agree Brian...!!

I am trying to accept the fact that the rider just has to 'trust' the electronics.. so each time I am leaned right over, instead of waiting to get on the gas, I will just have to try and wind it on little by little.. earlier each time.. I think it will take some time to 'trust' the bike..

Still I forcefully made the traction control kick in just to see what it felt like.. and it was a weird feeling, like a shuddering underneath, but it did not slow me down at all.. so I guess it was working... The thing was I was only doing slow laps at the time... when the pace get's a bit higher, things might feel a little bit different again...

Still this is my long term baby.. I am just going to have to learn how to work it and go fast...!! It will be good to catch up in November...

Macca

Best of luck, I'm sure you'll get there and I'll be very interested to hear how it progresses

Cheers,
Brian

I really want to have on before the PI trip. Will be selling basically everything to make this happened.

Then you can give me all the tips when i get down there

Russ, If I can keep up with you I will be a very happy man..!!!

My PB at the moment was a 47' on the 08.. and you where quicker than that way back then..

However if I can get the 11' to work well, we just might have a competition on our hands..!!!

That is is 'friendly competition' I mean............

Macca

Maccarocks wrote:
That is is 'friendly competition' I mean............

Macca

yeah, yeah, yeah nothing is friendly when a race breaks out