Super Bike Review - Part 2: Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja
The title of the "world's strongest street bike" works just fine for the Ninja. Ergonomics situate the rider well forward—that front Dunlop works better when it's on the pavement—without overloading arms and wrists. This close proximity allows the racy little fairing to provide practical wind protection. Compliant suspension delivers a humane ride over all but the most neglected pavement.
Aside from a short seat-to-bar dimension that puts a tall rider's elbows and knees in tight company, the nicely shaped saddle makes this a decent place to spend the afternoon. The low-fuel warning light usually starts blinking after about 120 miles, which means you'll be running out in another 30. As long as there are suitably interesting roads—and a gas station or two—within 150 miles of home, you're in business. Just do everyone a favor and get your mind right first, because things soon get, shall we say, exciting.
The effectively invisible LCD tach display isn't much help, but things change on the other side of 8000 rpm. Long, straight bits of road are transitory blips on your visual radar. Corners rush from the horizon to your lap far too quickly. Entering bends 10 or 20 mph faster than ever is ludicrously easy.
Even on tight, quick-flick roads, the 10R feels more agile than any other liter bike and all but a few 600s. Assertive steering geometry and that stubby 54.5-inch wheelbase let you instigate your desired cornering trajectory with minimal muscle. The biggest challenge in point-and-shoot land, or anywhere else for that matter, is keeping the front wheel on the ground. Get sloppy with body position or throttle control, just for an instant, and you're riding a 162-horse unicycle.
It's just as responsive on fast sweeping pavement, too, and doesn't feel nervous. Since there's no steering damper, we approached fast cornering over any sort of rise with the same respect afforded blasting caps or underfed piranha. Once dialed in, suspension is by far the most compliant of any Kawasaki sportbike, regardless of engine size.
The 10R's cornering manners are commendable by any measure, even at maximum lean. Springs are on the stiff side, and damping is taut, but pavement imperfections rarely upset the bike's excellent cornering composure or loosen the superb grip of Dunlop's new D218 radials. Lackluster initial bite and spongy feel at the lever mean it takes a healthy squeeze to slow things down despite the radially mounted calipers. The skinny brake lever cuts into your fingers under hard braking, too—a common occurrence on something this fast.
The glitch list is short for an all-new motorcycle. We'd like more bite from the front brake and less from the lever, plus a tachometer you can actually read. Otherwise, the ZX-10R is literally stunning in every sense of the word. It's easy to argue that 162 rear-wheel horses in a 433-pound (full o` gas) package adds up to an obscene case of overkill. You could contend that nobody needs this kind of clout, and we probably wouldn't argue. But if you have the skills and judgment to wield it, then shift into second at 8000 rpm on this thing just once and see if "needs" doesn't take on a whole new meaning. Other '04 literbikes may offer more civility or comfort in certain situations. But when it comes to airing out the adrenals with pure, unadulterated acceleration, nothing exceeds like excess. And nothing else comes close to this Ninja. Nothing.
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