| Author | Message | ||
     01_turbowolf |
DISCLAIMER:these are my thoughts and opinions not stated fact. I went to this event this past weekend and got to ride a z1000 and zx-10r and was real suprised. they took everyone on a 20 mile ride a couple twisties and some interstate, it was a long enough ride to get comfortable and start seeing what the bike is capable of. it was a real awesome time. if i went in there thinking of buying they would have gotten my business just for letting me really test drive whatever i wanted. the leaders were even pulling the group at 90mph through some areas. i was smiling even more when i left on my cr than before it. first the z1000. great bike i love the styling, very comfy, has great power from down low and all the way up, handling is pretty precise, doesnt try to catch the jewels on fire. all in all a great bike but as far as ergos it is as standard as it gets, i couldn't shift around and tuck as tight as i wanted. with my toes on the pegs my heels sit on the pipes and the bars are turned too far up and in, it was getting pretty painful on the outsides of my palms, guess im just used to the clubmans on the cr. i pretty much sat where the bike wanted me. it did make me realize i need a better seat and grips. but all in all a great urban street warrior. next... the zx-10r. definitely a racebike, no power down low, i was dissapointed until it tried to rip my arms off at 60mph in first gear, but no fun at slower speeds. i had to be speeding to feel any power from it. it handled very well, fell into corners and felt stable throughout. i lke the "race car" led tach, changes colors close to redline so i didn't ever have to look down to see it. the ergos were decent, felt a little cramped in the frontal area of the seat, caught myself a couple of times an octive higher than normal. i'm right at 6' and tucked as far as i could my helmet hit the windscreen. couldn't flex my ribcage enough to get in the bubble. the grips and controls felt great close together easy to hold onto and not feel like im putting pressure on my wrists, easy to grab the levers, easy to hit the buttons. its definitely a racebike, i couldn't see myself on it without going to jail from trying to feel the power, but all in all i think its a wicked machine. they were both outstanding but not my cup of tea. i did notice after the rides and hopping on my cr it definitely sits higher and has a lot more raw feel to it and i still enjoy my cr better. kudos to kawasaki for doing the ride, being able to actually get a feel for the bikes versus just siting on them at a dealer really helps to make the decision easier. | ||
| Rodrob |
Nice. Thanks. | ||
| Cowboytutt |
Good review, thanks! -Tutt | ||
| Jdugger |
That new ZX-10 is something. After BMW raised the bar, the Japanese are starting to bring it again. I look for the next couple of years to be really interesting. I just wish I had enough skill to wring out a literbike. Until then, I'll just have to wait for the electronics and other trickery to make it to the middle-weights. A good electronics package is something I feel is missing from the 1190RS. I mean, for $40k, you'd think we could at least get a Bazzaz set up! | ||
| Kinder |
Jdugger: I would hope that at $40k it wouldn't need one. The idea of it to me seems like looking for a powerchip for your lambo.  | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
01_turbowolf - I also went to my local Kawasaki / Triumph dealership "open house" a few weeks ago and hopped on a Ninja 1000, I thought it was a real nice bike and you're pretty much spot on in your description (Z1000 w/fairing). For the money it would really be hard to go wrong with this bike, very comfortable for me. Then I tried out the Triumph Tiger 800XC...it is hard to believe that they make an engine this smooth. This bike seems to do everything right, I can see myself on one someday. When the test rides were over I found myself back on the CR and said to myself naaah, I just can't replace this! | ||
| Jdugger |
> I would hope that at $40k it wouldn't need one. I'm talking about TC, and stuff like that. The open-class bikes like the 1190 are so powerful now, anyone outside of the top racers benefits from a little help. I have no doubt the 1190 will be the best of the bikes without electronics. But, have you ever ridden a bike with a really dialed package? Man, you just tip it in, hit the apex and whack the throttle. The computer makes sure you don't highside to the moon, while at the same time still allowing you to still bring the back around, etc. It's awesome. | ||
| 01_turbowolf |
finedaddy- i agree i found myself loving the cr more after the ride than before, i think it grips the corners better and flicks easier  . | ||
| Pmjolly |
Jim, the electronics are not foolproof. I know of an inexperienced rider who went down on a BMW with antilock brakes. They were about to enter a corner too fast and panicked. They grabbed a hand full of front brake and did an endo or stoppie or whatever we call it these days. The back wheel came off the ground and swung out as they were starting to turn. They flew off the bike. No, it was not me. Haha. | ||
| Jdugger |
> Jim, the electronics are not foolproof. Agree 100%. But, they are amazing. In your example, the electronics actually worked rather perfectly: the front didn't lock-up  I'm more interested in traction control than ABS, to be honest. Having now had a couple of experiences with it, I love the confidence that comes with getting on the gas so much sooner and so much more aggressively. I think of the electronics as helping to optimize corner exits, while helping to manage risk. You can't stop stupid, for sure. But, the modern electronics packages are pretty dang cool. | ||
| Hootowl |
Are there teams in AMA Superbike running stock traction control and ABS? | ||
| Jdugger |
I'd presume the BMW teams are, but don't know for sure. In WSBK and MotoGP, it's widespread, but that ain't stock stuff, either. | ||
| Crowley |
I've just bought a base model 1198 Ducati, and this now has TC and quickshift fitted as standard. Been out today on wet roads and tried to provoke it on the lower (most intrusive settings) and it gives a very smooth and soft reduction in power. Once I learn how to download the data onto my lap top it'll be interesting to see how it looks on paper. | ||
| Duphuckincati |
My 1948 Indian Chief has anti-lock brakes. Or is that can't-lock? | ||
| Hootowl |
TC and ABS would sure help me get around the track. Not sure about top level racers though. TC seems like a way to compensate for the fact that your bike doesn't have enough grip or the rider doesn't have the skills necessary to control the bike. I don't know. It sure seemed like Erik Buell Racing spared no expense making the RS. I can't imagine that they simply forgot to put TC on it. Maybe they figured the bike didn't need it, or any racer that was competitive in Superbike wouldn't use it anyway. This isn't a street bike turned race bike. It's a race bike with turn signals whose target audience is race teams and the odd collector. Got a buddy in OR with a S1000R. He's completely enamored with it. I suspect I'll get to ride it the next time I'm up there. For schmucks like me, TC and ABS seem like a really good idea. I'll be leaving it in rain mode, rain or shine. Actually, if it rains I'll be leaving it in garage mode. Not worth the risk. | ||
| Hootowl |
LOL my 67 Chevy pickup has antilock brakes too. | ||
| Avalaugh |
Crowley - how is the 1198 to ride compared to the 1125 ? I've sat on one and really like them, but seems a bit focused for road use, my R is just so bloody comfortable. Is there much real world power difference too. | ||
| Crowley |
I'm still playing with the suspension (Showa)the springs seem too stiff on the rear and too soft on the forks, so I'm still at the stage of trying to get optimum sag. However, I'd say the Duc is more resistant to turning in, unlike my 1125, but once turned, it holds a line very well. It'll pull very smoothly from 3k rpm, and the midrange torque from 4k seems a lot stronger than the Helicon, but the motor is still tight so I'm not revving the nads off it yet. In 100mph roll ons, I guess it'd eat the Buell. I have to add, that this is from a distant memory, as I'm still waiting for the redesigned clutch slave cyl from Oberon Performance, and I've ridden the Buell very little this year (or last  ) because of repeated failures. However, my X1 has kept me sane  | ||
| Crowley |
Forgot to add, I agree the 1125 is very comfortable but don't be put off by the low clip ons on the Duc. Once you get above 80mph, the screen gives a laminar flow to the chest and supports the body very well, so it also becomes very comfy. In fact, below 80, bikes like these don't make much sense | ||
| Avalaugh |
Any chance of some pics then | ||
| Trojan |
TC and ABS would sure help me get around the track. Not sure about top level racers though. ALL top level race bikes now have some form of TC at least. Most WSB/BSB/MotGP bikes are using very spohisticated electronics that include TC, anti wheelie, switchable mapping etc etc etc ABS is banned in most race classes in UK/Europe but I thinkt hat will change as road bikes start to become equipped with it as standard. There are moves afoot in Europe to make ABS compulsory on ALL bikes  | ||
| Zcat |
I bought a Duc Streetfighter "S" when they were 1st released and the electronics package was just awesome. I took it to Deal's Gap and the TC was incredable. Running on mid setting I could pretty much nail the throttle coming out of curves & not worry about the rear breaking loose at all. It took a while to get the trust level up but really after a couple days of playing with it you became more confident that it would make everything OK. I will say that it made me look like a lot better rider on the Dragon's Tail than I am. The other thing is that you really didn't feel it but on the instrument panel the level of traction control action was displayed. Performance wise I don't think there was a lot of difference in my CR compared to the SF but the TC is a huge advantage and the Ohlin suspension is a "pretty good" setup  but not as much advantage over the CR as I thought there would be. Both bikes ran performance ecm and exhaust systems plus the Duc was geared a tooth down on the front sprocket. Overall, I'd say I feel more comfortable on the Buell and enjoy it more than I did the Ducati, but thats just my opinion for what it's worth. I plan on a trip to the Dragon this summer on the CR and I can't wait to ride the 1125 through there, it feels like it was made for that! |
