Hi Tom 16t front 41t rear works well, I'd also recommend a Woolich racing ECU flash to disable pair valve and fuel shut ABS and other annoying electronics. Block off plates and Dynojet auto tune works well to dial in final tuning
One of the best summary reviews I've seen, straight to the point and no waffling shite..nice one mate ;) Where did you buy that black textured tape from covering the swing arm?
Great short review. You mentioned it's comfortable... how tall are you and how many miles are you able to put down before you need to jump off and stretch? When you get uncomfortable is it your ass wrist or knees that go first?? Thanks
Hi Tommy, me and 2 friends just picked up 3 of these bikes.....definitely loving it and agree with your comments. Had a question about setting up... You were saying it's worth setting up the suspension etc. Any tips on this- how do we set it it / can you suggest some settings. Thanks
I had a 2014 (gen 4) ZX10R and loved it. I'm considering a 2016 (gen 5) model, but heard the throttle is very snatchy/abrupt. My gen 4 throttle was fine. Is there an easy remedy to the gen 5 snatchy throttle? Is it really that annoying as I've read from some online mag reviews? Thanks!
Absolute kawa fan, currently residing in africa with my 2008 zx6r, same thing, no low end but past 8500 you need to hold on. Absolutely love that about it. Could you perhaps tell me if the Uk has restrictions on taking the cat box out and such and if they actually test for it, aswell as what the sound laws are there? Planning on moving to bournemouth next year january.
+Christiaan Burger hey mate i also have a 2004 636 and thats a pretty sweet engine. in uk cats are not checked and emissions on bikes are not tested. sound is upto testers discretion and no meter is used.
Love the bike mate I'm a huge Kawasaki fan and love the ZX10R. I've had two Zx6r's a 2010 and 2011 loved every minute of owning both. I currently ride a 2013 Triumph Daytona 675R but seriously considering a litre bike next and this is definitely one of them I'll be checking out. Do you still own your bike?
Have the same bike. It is the Cat at Euro 4 Reg that restricts the power. Fit a DeCat and Power Commander 5 and your looking at 204 Bhp at the rear wheel, amazing. Agree with your suspension comments. As for the marking on the swing arm, does your Carbon Heel Guards give as much protection as the OEM ones from Kawasaki, as my swing arm is unmarked.
+Stan Radley hey buddy swingarm got marked before fitting carbon plates but they are basically the same size. Decat is now fitted and next month i have the remap booked in. Even without the map the power difference in the mid range is highly noticable
Hi Tommy, I have the 2018 model, great bike! When I turn the key on, I can hear continuous beeping noise, sound like a fuel pump noise. Do you hear that sound on your bike?
I have a couple bikes, nothing crazy like a ZX10 but I have a 93 ninja EX500 and an 09 Suzuki Gladius. My question is what makes brakes so much different? I mean if you have a set of Brembo brakes, aren't they for performance? Like I would think that if you have a set of brakes that are capable of locking up your tires, that should be fine. I just never understood the review about brakes with any bike really.
feel of the lever, and at what speed is the brakes capable of locking or lifting the bike in the air, then theres other issues like brake fade (only noticable for me on track not road though)
love the bike , just recently purchased one myself, carbon gray , they said that when I wasn't riding it that I needed to keep a battery tinder on it ,I can understand if I'm not riding for a few days or so, but if I ride it everyday ? They said it shut off while riding if I didnt. Do you know anything about this.
Im considering to swap my gsxr k8 1000 to this zx10r or 2012 bmw s1000rr. Is here someone who been riding on those bikes??? which one got quicker responding for throttle?
hey im planning on getting this, any idea how manys KMS would u get from a full tank? like quarter urban riding then rest HWY riding? im looking for a 1000cc bike that can offer me 150-175km per tank because i live in British columbia i do a lot of Highway riding and doesnt have many fuel pumps on the specific roads i use.
mate your spot on in my opinion. i tested this bike the other day and the midrange is pants. my 2015 zx10r has more midrange. i found that like you say under 50 to 60 mph its just poo on the roads. it needs permenant thrashing for its best performance which isnt possible on the road. i found the brakes the same. unless your doing 100mph they are not as good as the 2015 which on the road means the arent really as good. my swing arm paint is rubbing too.
+a20rsx hey buddy. Still waiting for remap but removing the cat has cleared the midrange issue its now waking up above 30mph. As for brakes i agree. I think its the master cylinder thats the issue
+Tommy Turbo well i have to say its the pad compound thats the issue. they are setup for high speed and high tempuratures but on the road they dont get that hot most of the times. whats going on with the steerkng damper? i geel like mine doesnt even work. too many head shakes!
+a20rsx exactly the same issue with steering damper its only active when its already started. Im not having a issue with heat in pads, my track bike i have to get heat in for them to work but on the zx10 they seem quite consistent, i normally use a 19x18 or 19x20 master so i find that the brakes work well but i have to use more lever and the feel back through is a little vague.
+Tommy Turbo when i test rode it the dealer said to get heat in the pads first. bike dodnt feel like stopping at first from getting straight off my gen4 which stops far better at slow speeds
+a20rsx th-cam.com/video/19eFCytt9pY/w-d-xo.html this is my first vid of the bike its quite long but if you forward to 8:50 youll see me start the bike and test the brakes in the wet and they do a pretty good job.
Hi got the same bike. Apparently you get loads of mid range with a decat. Also have you looked into getting the bike flashed? Woolich racing flash will sort out all the fuelling and it activates the blipper. Im about to order a short throttle insert from America which makes the throttle 1/5th turn if your interested i could order you one as well? They're about £20-25 quid!
+bigson444 hey buddy yea i plan on the woolich flash once i have the decat i want pair system and servo removed, race shift pattern(will need different gear selector) and the auto blip enabled. Once thats done ill see about 1/5th turn. I take it we have 1/4 turn currently?
+bigson444 hey buddy yea i plan on the woolich flash once i have the decat i want pair system and servo removed, race shift pattern(will need different gear selector) and the auto blip enabled. Once thats done ill see about 1/5th turn. I take it we have 1/4 turn currently?
Good straightforward and honest review and in my view pretty damn accurate too. I've completed just under 3K UK miles on mine. Thought I'd respond to the comfort Q'n below (Brandin McClune): I'm 183cm tall, 14 stone, suffer from a temperamental back and I ride for up to 6 hours including fuel stops and a longer break for a brew without too many complaints. Kawasaki has got the riding position and layout spot on as far as I can tell. Oh and I'm in my 50's, loving this bike and intend to keep it for some time to come. I'm no slouch on this baby but no expert either. I get a Cheshire cat grin just thinking about riding her!
+Caleb Whitted hard to say dude all on the rider really. With these newer bikes having abs and traction control it makes them safer but if you open this up and find yourself going too fast into a tight bend or traffic its not going to be very forgiving.
Well we're not saying that don't buy 1000cc after 300cc but I prefer not to. You should try someone's before getting your own. These things are monsters after 300cc
lol who wrote the subtitles ? it's a joke. And I agree that the finish are not good on the kawasaki, I've owned several kawa and each time I noticed this. Otherwise, good review, your bike looks great, the only 1000 ninja wich looks good with the gen1 IMO
these things are super restricted u wont get shit out of it till u toss the cat and get her on a dyno i have just bought the same bike and i am getting a brocks alien head 2 with a dna air filter then going straight to my tuner getting flash and dyno tune they are getting up in the 190s to the wheel
After hearing enough people say the same thing about how this bikecdoesn't have enough torque below 8000rpm and street riders chiming in ... About the steering dampener, apparently rebuilds are possible: zx-10r.net/forum/f28/ohlins-steering-damper-fix-how-we-do-70186.html
+Tommy Turbo I like the look of the Yamaha R3. Just the style and pattern. I have my heart set on it. The thing is, modern day motorbikes have so much power on the UK roads. So I'm not fussed about getting a 1000cc. what other bikes would you recommend?
not this american. ZX isnt a real word its the name of something. but call it zedex. Ok so now you're a hypocrite. what you just did is admit your ignorance. Like i said, "stupid is as stupid does." No hard feelings but zedex sounds STUPID!
Buddy, they pronounce the letter Z differently than we do. They say "zed" when we say "zee". Seeing as how it's the English language, there's a pretty solid argument to be made against our pronunciation of the letter. The name isn't "Zee Ex", it's ZX, which isn't a word. As such, the letters are spoken individually, which is why he's correct in saying it the way he does. If you want to make a point based on the pronunciation of a proper noun, you should have commented on the way he says "Akrapovic". While there is some leeway that's generally granted on proper nouns, he butchered it quite badly.
Hi Tom 16t front 41t rear works well, I'd also recommend a Woolich racing ECU flash to disable pair valve and fuel shut ABS and other annoying electronics. Block off plates and Dynojet auto tune works well to dial in final tuning
One of the best summary reviews I've seen, straight to the point and no waffling shite..nice one mate ;) Where did you buy that black textured tape from covering the swing arm?
Great short review. You mentioned it's comfortable... how tall are you and how many miles are you able to put down before you need to jump off and stretch? When you get uncomfortable is it your ass wrist or knees that go first?? Thanks
Bike looks great. So many bikes just don't look cool. Nice style on this one.
Hi Tommy, me and 2 friends just picked up 3 of these bikes.....definitely loving it and agree with your comments. Had a question about setting up... You were saying it's worth setting up the suspension etc. Any tips on this- how do we set it it / can you suggest some settings.
Thanks
yea dude the oil is rubbish and the springs are a weird setup so ive had softer springs in the front and a harder spring in the rear
also im uploading a new vid of this bike, ive done quite a few mods to get it ready for track riding and covering them
Fantastic review. Bro I'm due to buy a new bike, how do you rate this bike on a scale of 1-10? How do you rate this new ZX10R vs the 2014 version?
I had a 2014 (gen 4) ZX10R and loved it. I'm considering a 2016 (gen 5) model, but heard the throttle is very snatchy/abrupt. My gen 4 throttle was fine. Is there an easy remedy to the gen 5 snatchy throttle? Is it really that annoying as I've read from some online mag reviews? Thanks!
Clark Bar order a Bazzaz & get it tune. I had snappy throttle till I installed my Bazzaz & took it to get it tuned
that bike is so clean
i totally agree mate the other thing with mine is the knee position the paint work is scufffing ive had to fit monster gell stickers there
Absolute kawa fan, currently residing in africa with my 2008 zx6r, same thing, no low end but past 8500 you need to hold on. Absolutely love that about it. Could you perhaps tell me if the Uk has restrictions on taking the cat box out and such and if they actually test for it, aswell as what the sound laws are there? Planning on moving to bournemouth next year january.
+Christiaan Burger hey mate i also have a 2004 636 and thats a pretty sweet engine. in uk cats are not checked and emissions on bikes are not tested. sound is upto testers discretion and no meter is used.
+Tommy Turbo Thanks a lot man :) hope to see you around once I get there perhaps
skert skert
Chrisiaan Burger the zx10r can be the fastest in the world it's faster than the h2
Love the bike mate I'm a huge Kawasaki fan and love the ZX10R. I've had two Zx6r's a 2010 and 2011 loved every minute of owning both. I currently ride a 2013 Triumph Daytona 675R but seriously considering a litre bike next and this is definitely one of them I'll be checking out. Do you still own your bike?
What do you think about zx10R 2009 year inclusive 2010 I'm about to get a hands on the green beast
Beautiful video,thnx Tommy, Ride safe, Best wishes
Have the same bike. It is the Cat at Euro 4 Reg that restricts the power. Fit a DeCat and Power Commander 5 and your looking at 204 Bhp at the rear wheel, amazing. Agree with your suspension comments. As for the marking on the swing arm, does your Carbon Heel Guards give as much protection as the OEM ones from Kawasaki, as my swing arm is unmarked.
+Stan Radley hey buddy swingarm got marked before fitting carbon plates but they are basically the same size. Decat is now fitted and next month i have the remap booked in. Even without the map the power difference in the mid range is highly noticable
Hi Tommy,
I have the 2018 model, great bike! When I turn the key on, I can hear continuous beeping noise, sound like a fuel pump noise. Do you hear that sound on your bike?
How does it compare to the gsxr ?
As the helmet is k3 do u feel buffeting over 170 mph or 280 kph cause its an entry level agv
I have a couple bikes, nothing crazy like a ZX10 but I have a 93 ninja EX500 and an 09 Suzuki Gladius. My question is what makes brakes so much different? I mean if you have a set of Brembo brakes, aren't they for performance? Like I would think that if you have a set of brakes that are capable of locking up your tires, that should be fine. I just never understood the review about brakes with any bike really.
feel of the lever, and at what speed is the brakes capable of locking or lifting the bike in the air, then theres other issues like brake fade (only noticable for me on track not road though)
Here is the answer, check out this link: (Tecnology -> Handling -> Brakes)
www.kawasaki.com/products/2017-Ninja-ZX-10R-ABS
love the bike , just recently purchased one myself, carbon gray , they said that when I wasn't riding it that I needed to keep a battery tinder on it ,I can understand if I'm not riding for a few days or so, but if I ride it everyday ? They said it shut off while riding if I didnt. Do you know anything about this.
dude, are the stomp grips good where you have them? i notice that you dont have the other pieces on .
Would you mind sharing your spring and shock set up. Thanks
Im considering to swap my gsxr k8 1000 to this zx10r or 2012 bmw s1000rr. Is here someone who been riding on those bikes??? which one got quicker responding for throttle?
how's the seat on a long ride? I have the 2011 zx10r abs and it's good for a couple hours.
hey im planning on getting this, any idea how manys KMS would u get from a full tank? like quarter urban riding then rest HWY riding?
im looking for a 1000cc bike that can offer me 150-175km per tank because i live in British columbia i do a lot of Highway riding and doesnt have many fuel pumps on the specific roads i use.
Hi mate, i've always thought my zx6r needs its suspension setting up for my weight. Where can i take it and how much will it cost?
I really like that windscreen...is that a Kawasaki factory option?
no buddy just brought from ebay
what other bike you would buy beside Kawasaki?
Those tank side grips are good from where you bought it
they are stomp grips
Tommy Turbo are they available online
mate your spot on in my opinion. i tested this bike the other day and the midrange is pants. my 2015 zx10r has more midrange. i found that like you say under 50 to 60 mph its just poo on the roads. it needs permenant thrashing for its best performance which isnt possible on the road. i found the brakes the same. unless your doing 100mph they are not as good as the 2015 which on the road means the arent really as good. my swing arm paint is rubbing too.
+a20rsx hey buddy. Still waiting for remap but removing the cat has cleared the midrange issue its now waking up above 30mph. As for brakes i agree. I think its the master cylinder thats the issue
+Tommy Turbo well i have to say its the pad compound thats the issue. they are setup for high speed and high tempuratures but on the road they dont get that hot most of the times. whats going on with the steerkng damper? i geel like mine doesnt even work. too many head shakes!
+a20rsx exactly the same issue with steering damper its only active when its already started. Im not having a issue with heat in pads, my track bike i have to get heat in for them to work but on the zx10 they seem quite consistent, i normally use a 19x18 or 19x20 master so i find that the brakes work well but i have to use more lever and the feel back through is a little vague.
+Tommy Turbo when i test rode it the dealer said to get heat in the pads first. bike dodnt feel like stopping at first from getting straight off my gen4 which stops far better at slow speeds
+a20rsx th-cam.com/video/19eFCytt9pY/w-d-xo.html this is my first vid of the bike its quite long but if you forward to 8:50 youll see me start the bike and test the brakes in the wet and they do a pretty good job.
Do you ever go drag racing with your turbo bike ?
Hi got the same bike. Apparently you get loads of mid range with a decat. Also have you looked into getting the bike flashed? Woolich racing flash will sort out all the fuelling and it activates the blipper. Im about to order a short throttle insert from America which makes the throttle 1/5th turn if your interested i could order you one as well? They're about £20-25 quid!
+bigson444 hey buddy yea i plan on the woolich flash once i have the decat i want pair system and servo removed, race shift pattern(will need different gear selector) and the auto blip enabled. Once thats done ill see about 1/5th turn. I take it we have 1/4 turn currently?
+bigson444 hey buddy yea i plan on the woolich flash once i have the decat i want pair system and servo removed, race shift pattern(will need different gear selector) and the auto blip enabled. Once thats done ill see about 1/5th turn. I take it we have 1/4 turn currently?
+Tommy Turbo yea something like that. Are you going with a DIY kit? or are you gonna take the bike into a tuner to get it done?
100% a tuner, want a custom map
+Tommy Turbo who are you gonna use? where about are you based?
Nice straight to the point no bullshit
what about the diff power modes tommy?
Good straightforward and honest review and in my view pretty damn accurate too. I've completed just under 3K UK miles on mine. Thought I'd respond to the comfort Q'n below (Brandin McClune): I'm 183cm tall, 14 stone, suffer from a temperamental back and I ride for up to 6 hours including fuel stops and a longer break for a brew without too many complaints. Kawasaki has got the riding position and layout spot on as far as I can tell. Oh and I'm in my 50's, loving this bike and intend to keep it for some time to come. I'm no slouch on this baby but no expert either. I get a Cheshire cat grin just thinking about riding her!
well, does it have good gas mileage ?
which is better the kawasaki zx10r or honda cbr ?? please I need your help
zx
+Zach Marsh thank u bro
Is this euro spec? or Is it as restricted as the us models?
+cory lepire it has a very large cat and the pair system can steal a little power but apart from that no restrictions im aware of.
+Tommy Turbo Thanks for the reply. My 2012 made insane power especially on MR12, but down low they are turds. good for cruising twistied at low power
Top notch review!
What gloves are those?
what is the mileage on long tour??????
How are those tires working out for you?
i love them mate i use them on my turbo gsxr as well and even been on track with them. very very good in all conditions
Euro 4 killing mid range?
They really make space, those sidemirrors.
Tommy why is the arrow exhaust better?
its suppose to have a better flow i believe. not alot in it just a few hp
Cheers geez. top banana lad. cushty bike lemon squeezer. Banging bike geezer. wouldn't mine owning one.
jon snow is that you?
lol
2cool0+ winter is coming you fucking fool
Can you make a flybye-Video?
I think the paint coming off may be from your boots rubbing while you ride
You think a new rider could get this after a 300cc beginner bike?
+Caleb Whitted hard to say dude all on the rider really. With these newer bikes having abs and traction control it makes them safer but if you open this up and find yourself going too fast into a tight bend or traffic its not going to be very forgiving.
Well we're not saying that don't buy 1000cc after 300cc but I prefer not to. You should try someone's before getting your own. These things are monsters after 300cc
+When you read my long name, I stole your sandwich +Tommy Turbo hmmm thanks for the tips
ride a 500 cc two stroke first to see if you'd be able to handle something like this
get that 1000cc, since they have power modes now i recommend getting it
lol who wrote the subtitles ? it's a joke.
And I agree that the finish are not good on the kawasaki, I've owned several kawa and each time I noticed this.
Otherwise, good review, your bike looks great, the only 1000 ninja wich looks good with the gen1 IMO
My next bike
weird paint is coming off, other wise nice bike. i got a 14 636
+Shift-Light the paint seems to be a common issue its caused by wear from boots mainlu
Kawasakis been let down by crappy paint for years on things like wheels etc, its too thin.
which Metzler's are those?
Thank you
Nice review man...
these things are super restricted u wont get shit out of it till u toss the cat and get her on a dyno i have just bought the same bike and i am getting a brocks alien head 2 with a dna air filter then going straight to my tuner getting flash and dyno tune they are getting up in the 190s to the wheel
bike has a power commander 5, decat and woolich ecu flash, i made 198 on the wheel
Thanks for the review Tom Hardy
lol
Just jokin of course man. Thanks for the honest review it's Beautiful bike. Highly considering getting it. Black or white though ;) We'll see....
After hearing enough people say the same thing about how this bikecdoesn't have enough torque below 8000rpm and street riders chiming in ... About the steering dampener, apparently rebuilds are possible: zx-10r.net/forum/f28/ohlins-steering-damper-fix-how-we-do-70186.html
+problemsolved o awesome thanks for sharing this link
Green with envy.. Say.. wanna trade with wifey´s 1.4 diesel? Its got 4 wheels and 64hp (or it had when it was new anyway) ;)
so what's the accent called where you sound like this guy and your th's are f's? thing becomes fing.
Cockney/Essex
Sharp!
And now on to the positive fins ................... U wot m8
Let's the engine breath ??
Giz a go hunny bunch!!!
Get the cat out and Ecu flash you’ll be close 200hp
With Ram air this beast makes 213
Have the same carbon heel guards my boots scratch the fuck out them does my brain in
Nice bike m8
nice bike. I'm not going to chat shit on here because I'm 28 years old and I ride a 125cc. so you are lucky guy
+soup 890 thanks, might only be 125 but your still riding :) engine size isnt everything.
Tommy Turbo well, put it like this. I stopped using my car. The only time I use my car is for Ikea shopping for my wife. Can't wait to do my DAS
+soup 890 what sort of bike you plan to get after?
+Tommy Turbo I like the look of the Yamaha R3. Just the style and pattern. I have my heart set on it. The thing is, modern day motorbikes have so much power on the UK roads. So I'm not fussed about getting a 1000cc.
what other bikes would you recommend?
you're a smart guy, it's always best to work your way up to the bigger cc bikes.
俺もこれ買うんじゃあぁあああああああああ待っとけよぉぉおおおおお
Already crashed mine lost traction on the front wheel on a turn. fucking sucks.
sorry to hear that, glad your still here
Nice video. That accent is great. Jersey? Its not GB for sure. Too fake.
get the mid pipe
never knew they made a Ninjah :)
What the fuck is zedex can you British people not pronounce ....z.....x.
And then say it together.
zedex10 baby
Stupid is as stupid does. Stupid
An American telling someone about butchering the English language, This is hilarious.
not this american. ZX isnt a real word its the name of something. but call it zedex. Ok so now you're a hypocrite. what you just did is admit your ignorance. Like i said, "stupid is as stupid does." No hard feelings but zedex sounds STUPID!
Buddy, they pronounce the letter Z differently than we do. They say "zed" when we say "zee". Seeing as how it's the English language, there's a pretty solid argument to be made against our pronunciation of the letter. The name isn't "Zee Ex", it's ZX, which isn't a word. As such, the letters are spoken individually, which is why he's correct in saying it the way he does. If you want to make a point based on the pronunciation of a proper noun, you should have commented on the way he says "Akrapovic". While there is some leeway that's generally granted on proper nouns, he butchered it quite badly.