Just got my copy of the May 2004 ROADRACING WORLD. Here is a brief summary: The 10R got the nod for engine performance, outpowering the R1 in all corresponding RPMs. The testers liked the R1's overrev though. The 10R's transmission was also better liked by the testers. The R1's transmission was stated as being, "real notchy", while the 10R's was, "very smooth...then you put a slipper-clutch on that...forget about it". The testers, however, were not fond of the 10R's gearing, feeling that it was too high. The R1 scored its first hit in the chassis category. The testers stated that it behaved more like a 600 while the 10R still felt like a 1000. Also stated was a tendency for the 10R to flatten out under acceleration. The R1 continued to rack up points in the braking department. The 10R was stated to have excessive dive by one tester, while another said that, "I give the [Yamaha] the edge not based on power, but on feel". The ergonomics category was dominated by the Yamaha as all three testers felt more comfortable on the R1 and found its analog tachometer much more useful. Interesting side notes include one tester's dislike of the R1's low footpegs, and another's admiration of the 10R's "goofy tank". The styling category was also taken by the R1 on a margin of 2 to 1. I will not comment further due to the obviously subjective nature of this category. In the end the R1 was crowned the 1000 king due to the overall package: "...it's middleweight-like handling, powerful-yet sensitive brakes, user-friendly delivery of its tremendous horsepower, cutting-edge styling and functional and comfortable riding position--the 2004 Yamaha YZF-R1 is the winner of the ROADRACING WORLD 2004 1000cc Shootout". The laptimes of the test were skewed as the testing was done during a Fastrack Riders Association track day, but here they are anyway: Rider: Jeremy Toye (WSMC Champion, AMA Superstock & Superbike rider) Kawasaki: 1:37.55 Yamaha: 1:39.43

That makes no sense. Did they offer any explanation for why it was 2 seconds a lap slower. And did they only have one guy running it for lap times?

The R! is 2 seconds slower a lap and they voted it first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least they could say, hey we lost the lap times and not put in in the report. How anyone could say the R1 it is slower by 2 seconds and it is better!! These guys should write for MCN in the UK. We could then undersatnd the result. Is the truth finally out some journalist have met a bike with more performance than they can handle?

Eh :?: didn't these guys get the bikes mixed up :?: The brakes of the R1 are considered to be the worst among the SS1000 in all other tests I've read. As for the 600 feeling again every other tester (even those that don't like the ZX10R) mention the 10R is the only one feeling like a 600 :evil:

Those guys have their heads up there butts!! Let the kid (Chris) ride the thing and let us know, he is usually pretty realistic in his write ups (he's not caught up in the politcal crap yet). Heck when he rode the 6rr he was pretty exstatic about it, now with this..............he'd go through the roof.

Everyother magazine said that the 10R's brakes were amazing, both power progression and feel, so wtf? The damn R1 is a full 2 seconds slower on the track...come on... The yamaha wieghs relatively a lot more (15 Lbs.) than the 10R, and its 2/3 of an inch wider than the 10, so how can it have better handling and be more like a 600? Dammit, i just missed an ACDC song getting pissed off... this is yet another BS review Read the road test by motorcycle USA http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=650&Page=1

Read the article again and notice they did it during a track day so they were dealing with congestion. You guy's are sounding like the responses at the R1 Forum everytime the ZX10 get's picked. The fact of the matter is that all four are so good that with the right rider on the worse one will leave any of the others for dead...believe it. Quit getting so hung up on specs and magazines and just buy the one and color you like. For the record, I'd have to buy the K or Honda due to my relationship with the local dealer but if he was a Yamaha Dealer as well, I would probably buy the Red R1 due to the looks. Meanwhile...I'm waiting on the Orange ZX10 or the Black CBR 1000 to come in so that I can be tempted to sell my 03 R1.

Silver, still all the other reviews I've read, the 10R is the only "600 like" literbike. The R1's power curve sucks the big one, so how can it have user-friendly power delivery?And the brakes...jeese... Can anybody who actually has a 10R comment in here...

I have my 10 but 0 miles so......... :cry: BD

Silver, still all the other reviews I've read, the 10R is the only "600 like" literbike. The R1's power curve sucks the big one, so how can it have user-friendly power delivery?And the brakes...jeese... Can anybody who actually has a 10R comment in here... I've got a ZX-10R, and have ridden it on the street and on the racetrack (Laguna Seca Raceway) at this point. I've also had the opportunity to spend a little time (though not on the track, yet) in the saddle of the '04 Yamaha R1, and Honda 1000RR. My impressions? Well I'm a bit with "R1Silver", in that ALL of these new liter bikes have such an amazing level of performance "potential" (I say potential, because the biggest limiting factor once in motion, on these bikes, will be "the Rider!"), that it's really a crap-shoot (and personal opinion), as to which one is "best". Don't get me wrong, as the ZX-10R is totally my #1 choice, as it has the character and performance that best fits what I'm currently looking for in a bike. It's just that I could easily see someone else, with different priorities, and different perspectives on bikes, picking one of the other new brand/models of 1000's, as their best-fit. Strengths/Weaknesses I noted from my rides? Yamaha R1: - Excessively "falling forward" riding position (too much weight on arms) - REALLY tall overall gearing, when in 1st gear (for taking off from a stop) - Somewhat "notchy", yet no missed shifts, from the transmission. - Good power, but not quite as "in your face" fun as the ZX-10R - When sitting on it, and riding it, it "feels" very much like the earlier model R1's I've ridden in the past .... and "feels" like a big 600. - Very cool looking twin-muffler, under the seat , exhaust (though I guess it cooks the rider in stop/go riding) Honda 1000RR: - Amazingly stable, at all speeds, on all pavement conditions - Though OK sized, still "feels" like a maybe a big 600 when I'm on it, and riding - Very strong brakes, even when nearly new. - EXCELLENT steering damper design! - Also too high overall gearing, when in 1st gear for starts - More linear power delivery, with not quite the excitement in top-end hit - A bit less willing to readily "wheelie" (due to wheelbase, rear chassis design?, ?), at the touch of the wrist, when the rider's wanting to do so - Not very "service friendly", in fasteners, panel removals, etc. Kawasaki ZX-10R: - Amazing engine power output, and instantaneous power delivery - Very narrow and "small" feeling. "Feels" not like a 600, but a 400!! - Excellent suspension. Stiff spring rates for track-compatible riding, yet compression damping characteristics that are not too harsh for the less perfect road conditions seen in street use. - Transmission shifts very precisely, with a short throw - Front brakes require some time/miles to come up to potential (a little vague during initial break-in) - Slipper clutch feature really nice for hard track riding (downshifting) - Well thought out serviceability, in terms of removal of items and access. It'd be easy to go on forever on nits and picks ..... but hopefully that gives a little insight from one real world rider, on their impressions of these bikes ...... FWIW. Gary J

excellent post Gary, one of the very few unbiased things ive read on these literbikes

The problem with the internet is you get these excerpts out of context, so you can only respond based on that text. So for you fortunate enough to get the mag should not be making negative comments about those questioning non-sensicle rational in absense of all the information. The point was for some to give more detail about how they arrrived at the non-sensicle conclusion. Some did go to blasting the mag unduely, so smack em, but the question still stands. It funny that for a CA based mag, they never show up in CA first.

excellent post Gary, one of the very few unbiased things ive read on these literbikes Its funny how different folks can read things...well...differently. This may seem unbiased to those that have a Kawi bias for sure. But if you look at it objectively, there may be just a hint of Kawi bias still. Just a bit mind you. Dont get me wrong. I have respect for Gary as when I firt got my AFM license he was one of our instructors, and love to watch him in SS600 at Laguna against the big boys, but I am saying look at this objectively. Objective review will show that all the R1 comments are all of a negative nature, even when they start as positive, an extra thing is thrown in to detract or make it negative (and based on other reviews not his own as the case of the hot seat). Interestingly, no comments about the R1 brakes or serviceability versus the other 2. The Honda is neutral and downsides items are more objective than subjective. The Kawi comments are only of a positive nature. Any unbiased objective commentary would contain both pluses and minusus of each bike, as they all have them. But in this case, it takes the perceived strengths or likes about the purchased Kawi in which the other bikes are not being rated as favorably except for the couple items for the yamaha as noted above. What you can tell about the post is Gary basically doesn't like the R1, and its pretty fair to say It probably has a few positive things going for it that you dont see here. The biggest quandry for me though is why is there no covering the Yamahas chassis/suspension and brakes while the others have it? Afterall, esn't that what makes a good or bad riders' bike? maybe it was just sitting on one and taking it up the street in first gear? But if it was a different basis for comparison, they its should be so noted.

I perceive Erich likes the R1... :wink:

what he said :lol:

Yes, I do. But I think I like the Honda better :lol: No seriously....I do. Well, at least today I do. Come ask me tomorrow and we'll see how I feel. But that doesn't make the observations less accurate, does it? I am one of the old guys have has had at least 2 of each of these brands and have no reservations about buying any of them. Being in the market, I like to take all opinions in to account since we cant ride these before we buy them. We only have hear say to go off when it comes to functionality. And to me functionality is the number 1 driver of the decision. Now if Gary would just say what he thought of the Yamaha's chassis and brakes..... Still waitin :D

The other tests have the ZX quicker around the track as well. It's not a fluke.

This may seem unbiased to those that have a Kawi bias for sure. But if you look at it objectively, there may be just a hint of Kawi bias still. Just a bit mind you. Wow, I was just quickly jotting down a few observations that stuck in my mind from having spent at least a little time riding each of the new '04 liter bikes ..... and didn't intend the simple little posting to be perceived as a formal "bike review". The question was asked for anyone that had ridden both bikes (the R1 and ZX-10R), to come forward ... and fitting that bill, I figured I'd share a few brief observations in that direction. I guess I should be flattered that anyone viewed my simple posting in this forum with enough interest, almost as a formal bike comparison test, to the degree that they were compelled to dissect it for its even balance (or lack thereof) of provided pro's and con's listed for each bike. Thanks Erich. :) If I were doing a formal 3-Bike comparsion article (for a magazine, newspaper, online publication, etc.), and writing it with such an intent, I can guarantee you that I would have made a point of being a lot more detailed in hitting all of the good points, neutral aspects, and potential areas where improvement/change seemed to exist ......... equally for all bikes included. Hopefully if I were doing a full bike comparo article, the number of miles spent on each bike, and the riding environment(s) used, would be totally equal across the board. In the case of my exposure to the new Yamaha, Honda and Kawi liter bikes, only owning one of them (the ZX-10R)...... unfortunately that is/was not the case. As such, I'd be the first to wave the flag to say that I don't have sufficient seat time on two of the bikes (at this moment) to fully compare every aspect of their performance. Wish I did ..... and hope I will, as the days ahead go by. In all fairness to the bias flag, if one reads the initial paragraph of my original post, you'll see that I clearly acknowledged that ALL of these bikes are awesome machines, and fully capable of being "the perfect bike" for anyone looking for liter level performance. It just depends on personal preference in certain areas, as to which is the "best" bike for them. I'm sure that there will be very few (if any) new R1 owners that are "disappointed" in their new bikes. The R1 is fully capable of doing more than 99.9999% of the real world riders will ever be able to personally achieve (due to their riding skills being the weakest link in teh bike/rider package) ..... as is the Honda, Kawi, and Suzuki liter bikes. Unfortunately my riding on the Honda an the Yamaha, all took place during less than 20 miles of total riding on a swapped bike with friends, while out on some of the local twisty backroads. Far from enough of an opportunity to be able acquire a sufficient amount of riding impression data to do a full "road test" article! Only doing a 20 mile road ride on the borrowed R1, and never having a chance to give it a look-over in the garage while setting one up (as I've done on the Honda 1000RR and obviously my ZX-10R), I really couldn't comment on the suspension adjustment aspects, or service friendly nature of that machine ..... hence no mention of it in the brief posting. It was not left out due to any bias, I can assure you Erich. I'd love to have the opportunity to spend a day riding each of the bikes on the backroads, another day with each at at trackday, and another day working with them in the shop. With this 3-tier testing opportunity I'm confident that I'd be able to accurately evaluate each with a total lack of brand-bias, the strengths and weaknesses, and come to a solid conclusion as to what niche of riding each bike best fits. As a track school instructor, I often get the opportunity for riding various different bikes over the course of the year. Hopefully I'll get the opportunity to ride the '04 1000RR and the R1 at the track in the months ahead. At that point I should be much better equipped to provide a uniform level of full-tilt riding experience on all these bikes .... to give feedback to those that may have an interest. In closing: Is the '04 R1 an awesome machine? YES! Is the '04 CBR-1000RR an awesome machine? YES! Is the '04 GSXR-1000 an awesome machine? YES! Is the '04 ZX-10R and awesome machine? ...... look in my garage! :lol: Gary J

Well Gary I guess you cant say fairer than that :mrgreen: I’m also hoping to ride the new R1 very soon, as I’m intrigued by all the positive hype that this machine has been getting :o …..BTW I’ll just say that the R1’s are just not selling well over here, :shock: in contrast to the 10r. as for the blade :?: its just in the shops now, so we’ll see how many units Honda shifts… :?:

With respect, Erich, don't be suprised if there is a little green bias here. After all, the forum name gives it away... :)

Has anyone looked at the Honda 1000 from the service angle? if it is like the CBR600RR you have to dismantle half the cowling/bike to service the air cleaner. The ZX10R is relative easy to remove or lift the gas tank to service the air cleaner. Valve checking is not as easy but you can access the top on the engine relative easy. Has anyone rated the 4x 1 litre bikes from a servicing angle? It sounds like most guys are doing all the basic servicing at home. Standard postioning of the foot and hand control levers are for a person under 5'6". This means the clutch and and front brake levers are too horizontal for anyone who is taller. You should be able to use both levers without lifting your hand to access the levers. I am around 5'10" with long legs and need to lower the gear lever on every bike I ride. The rear brake is too high and needs to resting under your foot, so you can use the brake without lifting your foot higher to access the rear brake lever.

Gary, I guess you didn't realize just how well respected you really are! A appreciate your comments. Normally I dont pay that attention at level of detail, but its seldom that you get folks with such good riding ability in a position to provide feedback at (what I preceive) as a critical time. My problem is I know exactly what I like and looking for rather then waiiting for someone to tell me what they think is best. So to that end, it ends up in some disection of text to determine the bits that are objective in an effort to find out what I want to know. I envy you having the opportunity to ride them, even for brief stints. I would dearly love to ride both of the ones I am most leaning toward so I can know how they suit me. I dislike not being able to decide for myself which one works better for me and having to interpolate it from other places. So it may seem like a back-handed compliment, but know that I was looking at your experience and feeling on the chassis behaviors in this case first and foremost rather than question bias. Zed, point well taken. No doubt it was more a reply following qualifying the comments, not Gary's actual comments themselves. Backwards....yes, definately.

Has anyone looked at the Honda 1000 from the service angle? I dont know if other remember this, but many years ago motorcylist comparos use to do just that to give you a feel for whats involved. They would strip down the bike to the point you would do a valve adjustment and show you a picture of the pile of bodywork and bit neccary to get there. Then a brief editorial about the level of difficulty. With service intervals being larger that seems to have gone away as a criteria. Or at least the younger buyers dont seem to factor it.

Wow, a bunch to catch up on. Yes, you are right about the bikes, and I have always told people the same thing, the bikes are sooooo close, that no oridanory person would be able to tell the difference between the bikes aside from the suddleties, riding position, clip ons, foot pegs, etc. The first thing I tell people to look at is servicing the bike when they are thinking of getting a used or even a new bike. Perf. Bikes used to do a "real world" section telling how long it took to change oil, plugs etc, that was excellent. I would let people read that first, then let them make a decision, because the bikes are, and really always have been soo close to one another. But yes, I am a die hard Kawi man, and will notice the other bikes faults first, before I let out a peep about the kawi's, what am I saying, it doesn't have any :D !! That is why I am here though right.

I realise the 2004 bikes are all good and very close in performance, it will in most comparison test come down to personel preferences. We need to keep this in mind. However 2 seconds is 2 seconds a lap and I would like to hear any journalist try and argue their point on this matter. I would find hard to come back after lapping faster then say I dont like it. It goes too fast and turns in too quick and I did not enjoy it for a second or 2. Journalist are not Valintino Rossi and will make a judgement based on their previous expirences and what the last free meal, bike, trip etc they were given. They like to read what the other mags a saying and like to follow the others in most cases. What will be the bike of the year in 2004? Most fun to ride at a race track? ZX-10R? Best bike to ride to the office every day? CBR1000R Best bike to park outside the local cafe (eye candy award)? tie ZX-10R and 04 R1 First bike to get a major upgrade in 2005? GSXR1000 Yamaha will keep a lot of R1 owners in 2004, some customers may stray from Yamaha to Kawasaki. Suzuki will loose customers to K and Y. Honda will keep their current owners who decide to upgrade. Kawasaki will attract current R1 and Gixxers owners and have a lot of Kawasaki owners who decide to upgrade to the ZX-10R from ZX12R, ZX-6R, ZZ-R1200, ZRX1100 and ZRX1200. I see Kawasaki slowly improving market share with this new model, the others may not attact new customers and are preaching to the converted. All will be revealed when the smoke clears at the end of the year.

Eh :?: didn't these guys get the bikes mixed up :?: The brakes of the R1 are considered to be the worst among the SS1000 in all other tests I've read. As for the 600 feeling again every other tester (even those that don't like the ZX10R) mention the 10R is the only one feeling like a 600 :evil: i was down talking to the galfer folks this weekend, they only had bad things to say about the 10R brake setup, they also mentioned the R1 had the best OEM setup on the market. I may know nothing, but i think Galfer know's a thing or two about brakes.

[quote=burgerkin]Eh :?: i was down talking to the galfer folks this weekend, they only had bad things to say about the 10R brake setup, they also mentioned the R1 had the best OEM setup on the market. I may know nothing, but i think Galfer know's a thing or two about brakes. "only had bad things to say about the 10R brake setup" ??? Having logged almost 400 track miles on my ZX-10R already, with some pretty positive impressions of the braking performance in stock trim (with the OEM rubber brake lines, and stock pads still in place), I'm very curious to hear what were the specific "bad things" that the Galfer person had to say about this bike's brakes? Inquiring minds would be very pleased if you would share the specifics of the Galfer person's comments, to better clarify the rather vague previous comment in your posting. Thanks, Gary J

Galfer are in the buisness of selling brakes, their hardly about to say the ZX10's brakes are good, be like Akrapovic saying they can't improve on the stock exhaust, from what I gather about the ZX10's brakes and sorta speaking from experience they (ZX10's brakes) seem to be getting better and better the more they bed in.

Galfer are in the buisness of selling brakes, their hardly about to say the ZX10's brakes are good, be like Akrapovic saying they can't improve on the stock exhaust, from what I gather about the ZX10's brakes and sorta speaking from experience they (ZX10's brakes) seem to be getting better and better the more they bed in. That was exactly my observation too Ned. During the first 100 miles or so of riding my new ZX-10R, I was not all that impressed by the initial "bite" that the brakes seemed to exhibit. However after finishing my first trackday with the bike, where I was using them very hard (such that they got fully up to temperature and left some residual brake material on the suface of the rotors) .... they really began to shine in performance! At this point, I've found that just a very light touch on the lever, immediately returns a solid amount of slowing effect from the brakes. VERY confidence inspiring at this point! That's my experience (FWIW), in the "improved with hard use" aspects of the stock ZX-10R brakes. Gary J

That was exactly my observation too Ned. During the first 100 miles or so of riding my new ZX-10R, I was not all that impressed by the initial "bite" that the brakes seemed to exhibit. However after finishing my first trackday with the bike, where I was using them very hard (such that they got fully up to temperature and left some residual brake material on the suface of the rotors) .... they really began to shine in performance! At this point, I've found that just a very light touch on the lever, immediately returns a solid amount of slowing effect from the brakes. VERY confidence inspiring at this point! That's my experience (FWIW), in the "improved with hard use" aspects of the stock ZX-10R brakes. Gary J It would seem that I've had the same experience with the brakes as you, Gary. They felt very wooden and had poor initial bite at first. Now, with 500+ miles on them, they have improved immensely. However, I am still not very impressed, even with the improvement. They still seem to lack initial bite, but seem to get better as they heat up. Perhaps my dissatisfaction is because my 954 has excellent brakes, that I feel have improved even more with the addition of the HRC pads. They have a lot of initial bite, which really suits my riding style. I am currently looking for some aftermarket pads (and possibly lines) to try to improve this situation. I, too, called Galfer (in California) this morning to ask about their experience with the ZX brakes. They really had no information to supply, other than the usual "we have pads and lines for it" sales pitch. I may try their HH sintered pads to see if things improve. If anyone has tried a different pad on this bike, I would be very interested in their opinion as to the improvement or lack thereof. BTW, as a side note, it appears that the pads for the ZX-10R are the same as those for the 636.

I obviously have not ridden a ZX, but I would offer one observation due to the unmistakenly and non coincidental resemblence to my 2003 GSXR1000's brakes. Its fairly obvious they use the same calipers and last years 4 pad set-up now that Suzuki and Kawasaki are in bed together. In that application, the pads could take up to 1000 miles to bed depending on ones braking usage. I upgraded to Speigler bits, but the folks at Speigler did corroborate the dodgy pad siutation, but only for bed in. They felt they are not too bad if you can get them hot enough to bed so that they begin to work. Most folks that had continued bed in problems found the brake and complained about the power found a pad swap cured this straight away.

Erich, for the last 3 weeks I have had a '03 Gixxer sitting right next to my ZX10 in my garage and I also thought the brakes were identical except for the wave rotors. Until the Gixxer owner noticed that the calipers were not the same. They are obviously different castings. I don't have any idea what other changes there might be. We attended a track day together last week and we ran in formation most of the time. We both have OEM pads but his Suzuki does have more miles and wear on them. He experienced brake fade and my brakes seemed to get stronger with more use. Certainly no sign of fade.

[quote=burgerkin]Eh :?: i was down talking to the galfer folks this weekend, they only had bad things to say about the 10R brake setup, they also mentioned the R1 had the best OEM setup on the market. I may know nothing, but i think Galfer know's a thing or two about brakes. "only had bad things to say about the 10R brake setup" ??? Having logged almost 400 track miles on my ZX-10R already, with some pretty positive impressions of the braking performance in stock trim (with the OEM rubber brake lines, and stock pads still in place), I'm very curious to hear what were the specific "bad things" that the Galfer person had to say about this bike's brakes? Inquiring minds would be very pleased if you would share the specifics of the Galfer person's comments, to better clarify the rather vague previous comment in your posting. Thanks, Gary J well they weren't impressed with the "petal" rotors...and talked about how they were stamped out instead of laser cut, and basically mentioned how kawi had no real tolerances on their rotors which was iffy. They said they were getting a lot of ppl telling them that the brake discs were pulsing at low speed (something my roomate confirmed). They then went on about the ho-hum calipers, and we're surprised that kawi had kept using them instead of using a different setup. I see your point on that Galfer is out to sell brake stuff, so obviously they've got a bias opinion, but they really only had nothing but high praise for the OEM setup on the R1. Mostly impressed with the monoblock calipers. I'm not trying to start controversy here on anything, just relaying what was said to me.

While on the subject of the R1. With the riders being so tight-lipped, it was interesting to hear the team boss intimate that the R1 will be a killer on the track - if only they could sort out the wayward front end. Light and twitchy is how he explained it. I suppose that's why they have had such a poor showing on the Brit Superbike series so far... Richards (ZX-10R) did shunt a rider from behind, but not because of weak brakes... Still, nice to see a 10 finish 4th in two races... :wink:

I have 200 miles on mine. The brakes have great initial bite, warm up quickly, work well hot, have massive power, and feel is as good as it gets with rubber lines and a Nissin axial master cylinder. They can be a handful to modulate at the limit (rear tire in air, sphincter at full pucker), but it can be done and that should get better as they bed in and I get used to them. With the slipper clutch it takes a little getting used to the extra brake needed for trailing it in deep. Maybe that confuses the testers. Did I mention I'm very pleased with the brakes?

Well so much for my superficial look at them. I always hate when some dumbass give misleading info, worse I hate to be the said dumbass. Thanks for catching the mistake. It struck me odd that they would have gone back to 4 pads since Suzuki switched their 04 to 2 pads from 4. Sounds like alot of these bikes are going to harder compounds, so it sounds very familiar still about the pads not bedding or being of less than ideal compound.

Most of u guys are cry babys! Why are u guys so negative. If the damn 10 is so dominant then how come the R1 runs the same 1/2 mile times and speeds as the 10 . I got my BLUE 041 R1 thursday and all I can tell u it beats my 02 GIXXER 1000 in every perspective. Cant everyone be happy with what we like to ride did we all forget why we ride, its all about hanging and riding with our buddies right? 8)

Most of u guys are cry babys! Why are u guys so negative. If the damn 10 is so dominant then how come the R1 runs the same 1/2 mile times and speeds as the 10 . I got my BLUE 041 R1 thursday and all I can tell u it beats my 02 GIXXER 1000 in every perspective. Cant everyone be happy with what we like to ride did we all forget why we ride, its all about hanging and riding with our buddies right? 8) I think you will find brand prejudiced people on any forum. And similar to your feelings about your new "R", I am really happy with my new ZX10 and it is a big improvement over my older R1. But I think in general, most of the folks on this forum are pretty open to all brands. Not cry babies. I never meet a motorcycle I didn't like.

Indeed!! BD

I have an 02 gixxer 1000. After two years of development and $7,000 in chassis mods, I can assure you it handles a LOT better than my 10R. I saw the new R1 in action at Fontucky and trust me, that is one potent track tool. Yes, all these bikes are good but one fact remains. In every published test the 10r has posted better lap times than all the other liter bikes. :P

I never meet a motorcycle I didn't like. Obviously you never met an MZ250 :wink: but I agree with the rest of your statement

I have an 02 gixxer 1000. After two years of development and $7,000 in chassis mods, I can assure you it handles a LOT better than my 10R. I saw the new R1 in action at Fontucky and trust me, that is one potent track tool. Yes, all these bikes are good but one fact remains. In every published test the 10r has posted better lap times than all the other liter bikes. :P Hey, I love my 02 1000 too! But I have to add that the Kawi has not always posted the fastest lap time. Sport rider lap times (from another forum) have the R1 beating the Suzuki, closely followed by the ZX. The ZX 3rd! The R1 had a second on the zook. Also, MCN went a full second faster on the R1 than the ZX. The Italian journo's also went fastest on the R1. I am not being argumentative or pro Yamaha, just wanted to post some other versions of reality. All easily verified of course. All this means is that these bikes are equally as good and one bike will be better than the other and vice versa on any given day. The prior 3 bike RRW comparison showed this the best as each of the 3 riders posted fastest times on each of the 3. But the one thing the Kawi can indisputably claim is that it is the greenest of the 4 :D Or orange if you dont mind that sort of thing :D

[quote=mad kaw] Sport rider lap times (from another forum) can you post suspension settings from sport rider?