Spending 2021 with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R | MCN
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- #Kawasaki #ZX-10R
Assistant Editor (Motorcycling) Ben Clarke shares his experience of living with the Kawasaki ZX-10R in 2021.
Full review: www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...
Long-term test page: www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn-mo...
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I’ve never understood why peps put a very dark tinted screen on what is basically a race bike with lights an mirrors. Think about it, do you see them used on WSB or MotoGP? No. Why? When you’re tucked behind the screen you still need to be able to see where you are going. They might look good, practically useless. As an ex Australian Superbike racer I’ve never used them and for the same reasons not used them on my road bikes. 👍😎🇦🇺
I get your point but I'll be honest I'm 6ft 4 and on the road even at higher speeds I'm never flat on the tank looking through the screen. I get the point on the track.
That’s what I want to say. 👍👌
Agree doesn't mKe any sense and it's not even nice
@@theonlyredspecial I’m 6’2” and I get where you are coming from. On the streets. However, if on a track you will need to be spending time tucked behind the screen and therefore need to see where you are going.
So true.
Same goes for shorty levers.
Completely useless. Never seen it in any roadracing championship, but many people still love them.
IMO they belong on a MTB..
Great review! Hope to see more from you.
Great review, nice one Ben
Nice to see a few videos on this bike lately. It's kinda forgotten about I feel and at the price it seems a decent package. Good video - I like this guy hope he does more. Honest appraisal!
I just think with the S1000RR being cheaper, more powerful, more comfortable and higher specced this bike doesn’t make sense
@@richardbrooks4549 I think variety sometimes is good too. I don’t own a 10r but have always had a soft spot for them. It’s not always about figures if you can connect with a bike but I get your point on comfort. I also found the latest fireblade peg positions too high and very uncomfortable.
@@theonlyredspecial I agree. But not when that variety is worse in every respect compared to the competition
@@richardbrooks4549 ah but that’s the thing. I know several people who have a zx10r over the s1000rr. You could argue they are wrong but they bought the ninja. If you told them the s1000rr was better they wouldn’t agree. It’s like my mates wife she is a better cook than my own and prettier but I don’t love her. Well just a little. But he doesn’t know.
@@theonlyredspecial Good analogy. Bikes are easier to change, every couple of years, unlike wives. Still don’t get why anyone would buy a ZX10 though. :)
Great review.
Great review
Great review as always from MCN, stunning bike, even though i'm old school and prefer old tech.
Ride one and you'll see even with the tech she gonna try to kill you.
Good review. Good points/bad points 👍👍
Fab presentation.
Nice job! I have one of these kawas. All the little issues you Tell us here I have fixed them. A button to disconnect ABS in order to avoid corners unexpected exits, cathaliser out to make her lighter and faster. Brakes have a spoon touch at the beginning, but they work pretty Well and does not need anything by now. Rear suspension IS not bad as you say but It is not at the bike true level. Maybe a lighter rims as the RR model could help, but on track days she IS a little tough to find Max Lean.
Anyway, I LOVE this bike.
What of the foot rests?
Did you get aftermarket ones?
@@TheAnointedSamurai For track use, originals are fine. But for Road use they are a punishment. Actually I have originals but I like adjustable CNC brand.
It's a year later but did you go with the factory ABS off switch or did you find a nice aftermarket one?
Apparently on the 21+ the OEM ABS switch requires the Race Wiring Harness and the Race ECU which itself requires the Race ECU adapter cable which all in is around $3K. The stupid adapter cable is $750 on its own which is freaking ludicrous the entire wiring harness is $750 and Kawi is charging $750 for one cable!?
@@shauns5278 Hello, @shauns5278. A mechanic installed a switch on/off on the tail, too much cheap than all these things you told us before.
@@VMorghulisreal I'm curious what he used, aside from the OEM I can only find full ABS deletes like the I2M. The Gen 5 had a simple button on the rear but it's apparently not compatible with the Gen 6 from everything I have read on forums.
I was so hyped for a new 10r but Kawa came up with almost the same bike since 2016…
Even the 10rr is not what I’ve expected as a new flagship
With a $400 Stage 2 flash from Moore or a BrentTune the R is making around 197whp and the RR around 203whp. Kawi HEAVILY limits the HP and throttle in 5th and 6th to around 60%. So we're looking at like 220 crank horsepower without any engine modding which Kawi themselves sells a full race kit for the engine.
Still rolling with my Gen 4 but I like the looks and updates of this new one. ABS can be defeated by pulling the fuse in the old ones at the track but I’m not sure about the new ones.
if you cause any accident on public road and the authorities find out you manipulated the eletronics (and trust me they will) you will end up in jail. Maybe in america its possible to do stupid things like that but in Europe it's game over...
@@johnnyhun1 Yea, America is a bit different when it comes to altering your vehicles but it varies from state to state compared to Europe. My Gen 4 is the non ABS version so no altering mine but I’ve heard about it from enough folks at the track.
MCN is a group of sensible editors....💯👍
'Sensible' Boring?
Ace review, the question is would you buy one 👍
I baffled that there's no fuel guage as the dash is the same as my 2021 Ninja 1000sx which has a fuel guage and how many miles left etc, I'm guessing it's down to it not have a float in the tank for the guage......
My Gen 1 still rolls but this is a great bike
Actually engine break on will give you a chop feeling when wanting to keep a smooth constant speed, no? And off will let you flow more.
Cool you guys get bikes with options from Japan. I dont think 🇱🇷we🇱🇷 can get these extras from the dealership. They can add them sure. But i went bike shopping, came out with the 2021 R1. The crossplane was calling my name lol but i deff looked at this ZX-10, the wide bars, cruise control, and few more things make it a great bike. But im a 10+ year 🐉Tail of the Dragon 🐉 local, 318 turns un 11.6 miles no side roads. Americas most notorious road. My day 2 was on the "mini dragon" an even more technical roads 💪🏼
Once I get my newer bike I will come up there 🙏🏾
Needs to be mapped to release the beast.
I used to have a '17 ZX-10R, and I thought it was a "comfortable" bike (for a sport bike, that is, I think Jixxers are about as confy as you get, maybe some of the new Panigales?). Anyways, I test drove the '21 model, and I liked the bike, Looks awesome, handles great, but it was very unconfortable bike, so I ended picking up a GSX-R1000 instead: Good performance, comfortable enough for long rides. Since I've got rid of that and picked up a z900RS and picking up a new ZX-6R for track, canyon riding, etc. Nice bike the ZX-10R, just about as unconfortable as any bike I ever rode! which is sad, I thought Kawis were confy before this rework. and the default tires are scary on cold days. (and by cold, I mean "California" cold, like 40-50 F... I'd stick to Battleaxe S22 tires.
I also have a z900rs and zx6 for track, I like your style. I also have a cb1000r black edition that I'm going to sell and get a 2016-2019 zx10. Do you miss the zx10 or is it just too much bike for road riding?
9:17 totally agree
So a good choice for a shorter guy ?
Man i can just imagine the pain and blood circulation cuttoff when someone like me , i have good muscular legs specially calves because I hike alot . I would be like i m throwing this bike in garbage and get a cruiser or commuter bike . Even those bikes are just 125cc
i love the brembo brakes on my speed triple upon applying brakes they make an audible sound and get louder when applying more kinda like giving you the sense of sound and feel which is nice idk if all brembos are like this since this is my first bike with brembo. been thinking of getting back into kawi for next season appreciate your input on the zx10 really great bike wish they didnt restricted it as they did.
You should hear a KTM’s stock brakes 😂😂😂😂 btw sounds like you need a swap over to EBC or Galfer Sintered Pads 👌
picked up a non ABS model love the new front end looks like a race bike out of the box. the build quality on the fairings is better than the BMWs, which is no slouch either, but it also doesn't have all those cheap looking unpainted fairing panels the new BMW has. This bike is so amazing for the pricepoint....a reflash for the US model and a slip on exhaust that gets rid of the cat and hooks to the stock 4-1 titanium header and you are ready to go
Kawasaki really need to sort their colour schemes out. You can actually make green look good. Check out the Gas Monkey Garage race bike. That makes green look awesome.
This KRT green rly does look trash. The RR model looks kinda cool with its purely like green paint scheme. This isn’t my favorite unfortunately :(
Just buy the non ABS bike. Problem solved! Also a nice set of rear sets with good adjustable foot pegs. One position for street, one position for track. There is always solutions for a great bike, and I think its got a lot of potential!
In the UK it is ABS only (by law).
In regards to the power band being tall, a flash will sort it.
As to the pegs, change it to an adjustable one.
The world is a better place to live now. Hold my drink while I smoke some people on the track...
Does the flash change it enough down low that you don't feel like you need to drop back to first gear around corners on the street?
Doesn't the ZX-10R technically have a 5-axis IMU where the 6 axis is calculated?
Yep, an suspensions are adjustable, they are not electronic, but of course you can adjust them
They are the most restricted 1000cc you the market. You have the Flash the ECU
There is no adjustable suspension ???? What ?
Is the bike flashed and unrestricted?
7:53 Surely he didn't actually think the suspension was not adjustable, right? 🤦♂
8:00 no adjustable suspension??
It's got fully adjustable Showa BFF/BFRC, so maybe he means it doesn't have semi-active?
Hi Luke, as Rajarshi says it's manually adjustable so you can't change it on the fly like you can with an electronic set-up. Sorry if that wasn't clear - Ben
51mpg?!?! How??
💚
10 years 100k miles on zx9 06 10r. 11 zx10. I'm done with Inline motors. When Kawasaki decides to roll out a V4 I'll jump back on. Especially having a $3k Kawi green Alpinestars race replica sitting in my closet. If they'd give us JR65s bike the one that drops to two cylinders when in low speed corners I'll take it. Regardless very fast and BEASTY when on the go, but to cruise around and lower RPMs its boring asf
Zx10r gets cruise control while the Concours doesn't. Yep, everything making sense at kawasaki.
Concours never got updated to fly by wire throttle. Cruise control is arguably more beneficial on a sports bike because it allows you to rest from the wrist heavy position.
@MyMednas I mean, it's great that a sport bike gets it, but really a sport tourer needs it the most.
@@MyMednas cruise control would be more beneficial on a touring bike......
This is the only motorbike channel, where you can't hear motorbikes
No adjustable suspension, it is what it is. What?!
Nights drawing in?
Reduced daylight hours in winter is how I took it. . .
Maybe but it was put up when the days were getting longer. Prob a delay from recording to releasing
Um yes you can adjust the suspension 🙄
I disagree. It has 5 axis IMU and measures the 6th axis using algorithms. That's an old technology now
Ben is the twin brother of motobob and they just got separated,there...i said it
Did you guys see 44 teeth video and think it was a good idea 🤷😂😂
Or did they, as another motoring press company, get given a bike at the same time?
I feel like they mcn had the bike first…
Sounds pretty shite really, I will stick to my older bikes.
Same here (though did enjoy the review), i'll stick to my analogue K4 Gixxer and 06 Busa .
The zx6r is so fast and has electronics... There is no need to spend roughly twice the amount on this bike
Wait did he just say “you get what you get with the suspension it’s not adjustable like a Panigale?”…. Dude that thing has Showa gas charged forks which are probably some of the best OE equipment to ever be released on a Japanese bike…. They adjust for preload on the fork cap, and rebound and compression dampening are dialed in right next to the gas canister. This is a lazy review
Agreed, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about, apparantly not as quick as a 600 of the mark 🤣
I was under impression R1 is the most uncomfortable. It's unfortunate that this ZX-10R generation took the crown :(
Think it's primarily for taller riders because of the peg height. For reviewers between 5'8-5'11 I have heard continuous praise on its comfort rivaling the S1K.
What percentage of Supersport riders take their bike to the track actually.???
Even if they do, 90% of their time, they spend on the streets,So why don't these morons offer a comfortable,road oriented versions of these things or even an ergo package at least ..????
they do, the Ninja 1000SX if you don't mind taking a hit on power or the H2 SX.
@@trotskiftw . Ninja 1000 is an entirely different bike.
Did u see what Aprilia did with their Tuono, There are 2 versions of it. A comfy one and a more hardcore one..That's how motorcycle makers should market their product.
Ever tried to tour on a panigale? U can(!) and no it is not comfy at all. Putting a bar on it would technically make it a naked (so technically supersport riders ain't supersport riders anymore). Mayb them "morons" just don't want to please every-dad but the guys that like to get tortured? Just imagine zx10r riders on a Starbucks wasting the parking spaces that r supposed to b 4 ADV dads w proper 21 inch front wheel and aluminum panniers. ;)
@@justRORIRARU . I got your point...so you are saying that most of the supersport riders are not at all interested in a comfy sports bike...isn't it.?
Probably that's why riders so much appreciate the riding posture on the S1000RR's....they are really comfy by the way.
You should definitely check out suzuki’s…pretty good road bikes…
Getting done out the corners by a 600 🤣 this zx10r are gutless beneath 8k is getting old, its simply not true its all mcn reviews ever say, try pulling the throttle back a bit more 🤷♂️ im not having you are ragging the bike to its max, if that were the case then the 10r would be left for dead in a straight pull against other bikes which absolutely doesn't happen
👌👍❤ 💛 💚 I DON'T WANT ANY comfort 😜 😆 🤣 😎🤠
I have the 22 and love it 5mm higher please thats 0.197 inch
So best to avoid Kawasaki then 😅
Precisely...😂🤣
Why??
Pull fuse on track days...problem solved.
Nice bike for young folks, no so much for an old fart with bad knees, fat deriere and all kind of pains like myself 😉
If your feeling old go buy a harley thats a fort can
Commuter bike rider doing a sport bike review 🤦🏻♂️
Really, he's been on track (have you ?), bit more than a "commuter rider" , as assistant editor i'd say he's highly qualified.
great bike shame about the looks. i have a 98 ZX9R its soooo much better looking.
What a sook this guy is!!🙄