2011 vs 2016 ZX-10R?

tdh said:

I have both and they are completely different animals. The GEN5 has more power. The GEN4 is smoother and I think I am a little more comfortable on it and maybe still like it a little more than my GEN5. The transmission in the GEN4 sucks rotten eggs though. If the transmission was better and it had a little more power I think I would sell the GEN5. As it stands I'm keeping both.

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I have to agree with everything you said except for the transmission part, my Gen 4 tranny is smooth like buttah. Also both my bikes are very smooth, as in low vibration levels but the '16 is the smoothest of the two to me, feeling more like a gas turbine.

I did just a slipon exhaust on both my Gen 4 and Gen 5 to keep noise levels down, I live out in the country and need to keep my neighbors happy; so I can give a good comparison of stock power delivery.

Gen 4 has more down low and very smooth delivery, very linear. The Gen 5 has no pull below 5000 rpm, starts to wake up at 6000 and then really takes off around 9000. It feels like the Gen 5 is the most powerful machine I own once it spools up, don't know if it's true but it sure feels that way when I pull the trigger.

Both bikes have awesome brakes, slightly different feel, initial bite and modulation but they both get the job done, no complaints on either.

Both bikes are awesome handlers once set up; but the Gen 4 is definitely a little lighter feeling. I only have 350 miles on my Gen 5 so I'm still more comfortable on the Gen 4 when really pushing it hard.

I'm not crazy about the high foot pegs on the Gen 5 but once underway it puts you in a decent attack position, just not as comfortable as the Gen 4. I feel like I'm sitting in the Gen 4 and on the Gen 5, if that makes sense.

On traction control, I use level 1 on the Gen 4 and level 2 on the Gen 5 and haven't felt any lurid cornering slides developing on either one, so all good there.

Like I said, it is very hard to split these two machines, they're both different and very similar at the same time if that makes any sense. I plan on keeping both.









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I've been running with TC off on both bikes almost 100% of the time which is exact opposite of what my philosophy on TC was early last year. The only time I run TC is when I race and I've been thinking about racing with it off. I've learned to really like wheelies. And to be honest, the '16 is very smooth when both wheels on are on the ground, smoother than the '14 (because of the poochy factory QS on the '16). The '16 is way trickier when on the back wheel. Having said that, the '16 is amazing at getting it on the back wheel even at high speeds and high gears because of all that power. The '16 is a love/hate relationship for me. '14 is mostly love, except for the 2 transmission I've gone through (partly the fault of the Bazzaz QS I believe). I was getting false neutrals on it the first day I brought it home from the dealership when it was brand new before putting any aftermarket parts on it.