Kawasaki ZX-10R Articles
News
Watch a ZX-10R hit a trailer dead on
Jeans? Check. T-Shirt? Check. Sneakers? Check. Incompetent operation of a liter bike? Check. What we've got here is the perfect recipe for a great crash, and this ZX-10R rider does not disappoint, failing to miss a trailer making a right turn as he steams through a pack of riders. Only injuries were apparently a broken arm and leg, but there's no way this guy is ever getting back on a bike. http...
11 September 2012
This steering damper senses acceleration
Unlike previous electronic steering damper designs, this new Ohlins unit fitted to the otherwise-unchanged 2013 Kawasaki ZX-10R uses acceleration and deceleration data, in addition to speed, to inform damping rates. The idea here is simple — propensity for instability increases not just with speed, but with the rate that speed is changing too. Higher damping rates are needed just as much at 55m...
09 July 2012
News
What’s faster? 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R vs BMW S1000RR
Make no mistake, the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R has one goal and one goal only: to dethrone the BMW S1000RR from its liter bike throne. As far as evaluations of its ability to do so go, top speed is utterly irrelevant to real world riding, yet makes a compelling number anyways. Especially when it’s tested by New York’s most notorious pack of illegal, immoral street racers. So, in the hands of Skank ...
06 June 2011
News
2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R returns to sale, problem identified
Kawasaki USA has just announced that the mysterious stop-sale on the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R will be lifted, identifying the previously-mysterious fault as residing in the intake valve springs. As stated when the not-a-recall was announced on December 11, the problem isn’t related to safety, performance or the modifications made to reduce power for the North American market. Instead, Kawasaki says ...
29 December 2010
News
The trouble with North American ZX-10Rs
This dyno chart shows the difference between a stock, North American 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R and one that’s had its ECU told to stop restricting throttle openings at high RPM. Both measurements include the same slip-on exhaust canister. Courtesy of Speed Tech Motorsports, this dyno chart is the best illustration we’ve yet seen of the effects caused by Kawasaki’s attempt to meet EPA noise regula...
10 December 2010
News
Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control explained
When the embargo finally ended and we were able to bring you analysis of the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R without pissing off Kawasaki we told you the bike was significant not because of its unprecedentedly powerful engine — 197bhp — but because it brought a MotoGP-derived traction control system to the road. That's a good thing since North American market ZX-10Rs will be 20bhp down. This video explai...
20 October 2010
News
North American 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R loses 20 HP, slower than S1000RR
According to official horsepower numbers published by Canadian Kawasaki, the North American market 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R will have its power dropped from 197 to just 176.65bhp while torque will fall from 84.3 to 82.6lb/ft. Crucially for the numbers-obsessed liter bike market, that gives the ZX-10R an inferior power-to-weight ratio not only to the BMW S1000RR, but also to the GSX-R1000 and MV Agusta...
18 October 2010
Design Analysis: 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R
Superbike design is, perhaps, the least forgiving segment in this industry to work in, because the intense competition and the colossal pressure to be the “best” tends to force conservative decision making. From choosing engine layout, to altering suspension geometry, to styling and Industrial Design, taking risks on the flagship model is frowned upon by top management. We see the orthodox thi...
11 October 2010
News
By The Numbers: 2011 superbike showdown
Now that we’ve got leaked specs on the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R, it’s time to compare it to all its liter bike rivals. Sure, all these bikes are extraordinarily fast and it’s not their own performance that’s the limit here, it’s yours, but if only for Internet bragging rights, everyone wants to know which superbike will tear off your face the fastest. Hint: it’s the one you think it is. ...
01 October 2010
2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R leaks in Cycle World
Looks like Cycle World has gone ahead and published embargoed information and images of the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R ahead of the model's official unveiling on October 5. Even more images below. Update: we've just spoken to Kawasaki who say CW's 200hp claim is only an estimate. The company hasn't arrived at an official horsepower number yet as it's still trying to finalize the arrangement of the exha...
28 September 2010