Kawasaki ZX-10R Forum banner

humph?

2.2K views 26 replies 18 participants last post by  pinkslip  
#1 ·
hey yall im new here and have a couple questions. Ive been riding for a about two years and im ready to step up to a liter bike (ive been borrowing my cousins honda) Im interested in a 06 gixxer 1000 or the 06 zx-10r. Yall have any input on these two machines, pros and cons, so to speak. Also, are the 04-05 zx-10r really THAT much of beast? As long as dont you pin it back and just roll on it, it should be pretty stable right? any input yall could give me would be great.
 
#6 ·
buy whatever makes you happy. we all own kawi's because they are the bikes that we prefer. suzuki's gixxer is awesome, so is the 10r. whatever you choose be sure that you are going to be proud to call it your bike. if you are looking for a bike that is a beast the kawi is the best choice.
 
#8 ·
The primary reason I ride a Kawi over a Suzuki is that the 10R was just much cheaper. Plain and simple. If I could get the Gixxer for the same price (in a nice color- that's the tricky part), then I would have gotten that instead. Suzuki's are overpriced.

As far as the bike being a "beast": The 10R gets a ton of head shake, because Kawi didn't put a damper on the 04-05. If you get the 10R, get a damper on it.

If your only riding experience for the past wo years has been borrowing your cousin's 600 (or 1000, it doesn't really matter), then you shouldn't buy a litre bike. I would bet a lot of money that you would be a better rider (and therefor faster) on a 600. If you've been riding your own 600 for two solid years and feel like you want to upgrade, then I say get the best deal, the one that tickles your fancy the most, or the one that has the one feature you can't do without. (For example, both the Gixxer and 10R have slipper clutches. Once you have ridden a bike with one, you won't want to ride without one ever again. If you don't even know what a slipper clutch is, get a 600.)
 
#9 ·
I picked my 10R for a lot of reasons but one big reason was that every person or most ride honda or suzukis. I hate pulling up to a group of riders and everybody is riding the same bike. When I go to the track its rare to see Kawis and when you do they seem to be in the front :thumbsup:. All these bikes are good but I know if I had to buy a bike today I without a doubt would choose Kawi. Look at what kawi has done since 04 they have set out to be numer 1 and that says a lot. Let the good times roll. Good luck on your choice
 
#11 ·
i bought my 10R (05) for two reasons: the deal. i got it for about 9000 otd, which, with my states tax, is a great deal. second, was comfort. it is WAY more comfortable than the honda or the suzuki. riding it is more comfortable because, with its torque output, you dont have to ride the piss out of it to get it to go anywhere. i had a 600 before this, and you had to rev it to 15 to keep up with other bikes. with this thing, just roll on it in top gear and you're gone. just my opinion, though...
 
#12 ·
06 gsxr ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, but bit of a daffed ? as must will tell u zx10r fucking brand loyalty brain washes poeple :beer:
 
#13 ·
i'd buy a gixxer if i were you. Reason being............................................























Just one more gixxer that i'd smoke!:badteeth:
 
#14 · (Edited)
I know what a slipper clutch which is why i think Ill take the kawi along with the ohlins steering damper and the wave rotors. Im new , not uneducated. I recently sat on a 06 solar yellow zx-10r, very comfy with me being 6'2". I own a honda 600 cbr f4i that Ive been riding for two years almost non-stop. I love it but its slow as shit you have to keep it at damn near redline to get anywhere. I also like the way the new one looks. Ive never liked the tank or the tail sections of the 04-05 bikes. I just want to know my money will be well spent and i will be pleased with my bike. the 06 looks badass in person! Oh my cousins bike is a 929 and heavy as shit the 06 zx-10 is smaller than my 600.
 
#15 ·
Hey masterlink this is my 2 cents...I also rode a 01,F4i for 2 years before I made the jump to an 04,zx-10r.Ive never regretted that move.I was a little intimidated by the write ups on the 10r,beastly,hard to control,explosive,ect.Just use your head and she dont bite,she rocks.This is one machine that deserves respect,get some time on it before you turn it loose.I also recommend Pilotpowers for the grip,Scotts for the whip,Scorpion for the slip,and power commander for the zip....thanks for your time,DDD52
 
#16 ·
devildogsdad52 said:
Hey masterlink this is my 2 cents...I also rode a 01,F4i for 2 years before I made the jump to an 04,zx-10r.Ive never regretted that move.I was a little intimidated by the write ups on the 10r,beastly,hard to control,explosive,ect.Just use your head and she dont bite,she rocks.This is one machine that deserves respect,get some time on it before you turn it loose.I also recommend Pilotpowers for the grip,Scotts for the whip,Scorpion for the slip,and power commander for the zip....thanks for your time,DDD52
:+1: all but the whip and slip part ..........akrapovic and ohlins all the way :mrgreen:
 
#17 ·
I love my Pilot Powers too, but the 06 comes with Qualifiers, not the POS D218's ours came with. So Masterlink would be fine with those tires. Same with the damper- the 06 comes with the Ohlins already. The pipes are purely subjective at this point. "Them's purdier than thems others!"

I too had an F4i. It does what is was built for well enough. It sounds like the 929 is a good transition to a "real" litre bike for you then. I say go for it!

If I liked the aesthetics of the 06 more (can't stand the headlights on that thing), I'd be pissed that I have last year's model (I'm spoiled). So go for it. It's your money and your bike.

Another opinion on Suzuki vs Kawi:
Kawi's first attempt at a "real" litre bike was the 10R. (I don't count the 9R's before it, because I like real sportbikes and I would never consider owning one of those). Given 04 was their first year, I say the 10R was a killer machine. I love mine. The Gixxer isn't any better, and it is in its umpteenth generation.

Also, I hear the current Suzuki's have issues circulating oil through the transmission, causing them to seize in as little as 5000miles. And there have been several rumors of needing to let the GSXR1000 heat up to 200 degrees F before riding off, without risking engine seizure (again due to poor oil coverage).

I have a feeling we'll see more of you on here, with pics of your new 10R.

Good luck.
 
#18 ·
masterlink said:
hey yall im new here and have a couple questions. Ive been riding for a about two years and im ready to step up to a liter bike (ive been borrowing my cousins honda) Im interested in a 06 gixxer 1000 or the 06 zx-10r. Yall have any input on these two machines, pros and cons, so to speak. Also, are the 04-05 zx-10r really THAT much of beast? As long as dont you pin it back and just roll on it, it should be pretty stable right? any input yall could give me would be great.
Welcome. Get the 06 10R. Pick the color you like the best. I love my black 04. I would not mind having a black 06, but the first mod I would do would get rid of those ugly pipes if I could afford it. I can't, so I will need to wait for the next gen 10R. Just Dewit! You will probably not regret it. Just be careful on it. Cheers :eek:ccasion1
 
#19 ·
masterlink....Do yourself a favor.....When you get the 06, take the damper off and set up your suspension. Then put the damper back on and readjust.

I keep hearing people say this bike (04-05) needs a damper. Well, there are alot of other variables to consider. How much do you weight? If you are 150#, then maybe. I am 220# and I haven't had any issues......You guys need to start preaching as much about bike set-up as you do about dampers. That is where 95% of the problem is.
 
#20 ·
mach_man_187 said:
masterlink....Do yourself a favor.....When you get the 06, take the damper off and set up your suspension. Then put the damper back on and readjust.

I keep hearing people say this bike (04-05) needs a damper. Well, there are alot of other variables to consider. How much do you weight? If you are 150#, then maybe. I am 220# and I haven't had any issues......You guys need to start preaching as much about bike set-up as you do about dampers. That is where 95% of the problem is.
Then apparently 95% of the problem is in the shock. I am the "Ideal" weight for this bike at 156lbs, and even after sorting the suspension more than a couple of times, I need a damper. Hence, I have an Ohlins shock on the way :mrgreen:

The damper wouldn't have to come off to adjust the suspension either. If one was so inclined, he/she could turn it all the way down though.

The cheap stock shock on the 04-05, short wheel base, and huge torque are a mean recipe for headshake. Maybe at 220lbs you can keep a bunch of weight over the front wheel more easily than me. Personally, I could do a handstand on the clip-on's and I don't think my skinny butt could make up for a lack of damper. This could also be why all four of the major Japanese litre bikes (including the new 10R) now come with a damper.

I hope the 06 10R comes with a better shock than my 05. Doubt it though.
 
#21 ·
pinkslip...I agree that the 04/05 model, though stated that it is setup for a 150# rider, is nowhere near compliant enough for someone of that weight. Like I said, I weigh alot more than you, so there for I do have more weight over the front end. I even said that we would need to know how much masterlink weighs. I think that the ideal weigh for the stock shock is more in the 200-230# range.

I only stated to take the damper off, so there could be no possible way the damper was interfering in the suspension set up. Your way, turning it all the way down, would work too.

The main point is to have people set-up their suspension without the aid of the damper then adjust the damper to their liking.
 
#22 ·
It comes down to this.

Here is the deal.

The '05 is cheaper than the '06 and has more mods readily available.

The '06 is a far better bike for racing. If you aren't going to push it like that then the only real reasons to go '06 are :

You like the tach / display more.
You like slipper clutch beacuse you engine brake bloody hard (like me :badteeth: ).
You want smoother power delivery.
I understand the gear box is better ( less slipping ) but can't verify this for you.
You really need to comply with stringent emissions laws.
You just want the latest.

The '05 is a bit notorious for biting people that are reckless with the power. Some people like that though because it makes them feel more macho. Generally, if you don't do anything too stupid, it's not going to hurt you. Just go easy until comfortable.

The GSX-R1000 is a lighter bike, some say with a higher top speed. But not as good on a track (cornering).

I've heard the new fireblade is the best for general street work though. Whatever that means.

The '06 wins every track test I've seen. But it's not the best road bike because that's not what it was built for.

Up to you man.
 
#23 ·
The '04-'05 bikes came with slipper clutches too.

And if you think you're gonna beat me or anyone else around a track because you got the '06 and the BIKE is two seconds quicker, you are crazy. Unless you are the Haydens, Walker, or someone else who is paid to win championships YOU won't be two seconds quicker.
 
#24 ·
phastone said:
And if you think you're gonna beat me or anyone else around a track because you got the '06 and the BIKE is two seconds quicker, you are crazy. Unless you are the Haydens, Walker, or someone else who is paid to win championships YOU won't be two seconds quicker.
A good racer on an '06 is two seconds faster (which is a lot actually) than the same dude on an '05. That is either important to you or not. If not ( which should be most people ) then cool, get an '05 and save some cash, then use that money to mod it up.

I don't hear anybody arguing that you have to be bloody good to push ANY liter bike to it's limits. But if you're cocky enough to think you can, or brave (stupid?) enough to try. Then you know what to do.

Personally, I'm going to put nitros on my Vespa LX 50!
 
#25 ·
I weigh 190# and have NEVER adjusted my suspension. Ive rode my 2002 honda cbr f4i bone stock from day one. I live in mississippi, and there is no one that I know of around here that knows how to set up suspensions. where would be a good place to start im clueless on this.
 
#26 ·
I think your physical size might matter too.I'm only 5'9" and love the compact feel of the 10.Switched off with a friend at a recent trackday who has 06 gixxer and he even said the 10 feels tiny and flickable.I have to agree after riding the gix.