Perks zx10r review
- Perkles
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: 11 Mar 2014, 21:51
- Your Bike:
- Location: birminghamshire
- Has thanked: 2152 times
- Been thanked: 1465 times
Perks zx10r review
014 model in standard trim
I chose some twisty country roads and a very fast section known as the Tamworth mile,traffic was heavy so no knee down playing today
Let's start with the heart of a bike the engine,I've read bad reports saying it's got no midrange and poor for the road.Well compared to my rc8 it definitely lacks grunt but my god it goes apeshit mental at 10,000 revs and all manner of hell breaks loose .The fueling is peach perfect smooth much like the 1000sx I rode the other day
10/10
Handling ,coming from the rc8 it feels small and very pointy,the front doesn't feel as planted but it steers quicker which is a good thing.I couldn't tell what the rear shock was doing but it was a lot softer than the shock on the rc8 which was very stiff.Overall it feels like a 600 to sit on and I feel it would be amazing when set up properly and on track.i got no head shakes at full beans and it felt planted hard on the throttle coming out of corners
8/10
Brakes,not anywhere near as good as the rc8s brembos,they lacked feel and felt a bit wooden but that could be the pads
7/10
Equipment,the dash is ace and hoorah it has a gear indicator,you can toggle through power modes really easy via a single button which is great.I love the Rev counter watching it zing up and across the Rev range is great
8/10
Gearbox,I'm changing bikes because the rc8 gearbox is so poor,the kwack box is smooth and quiet and goes into every gear easily.Sorry ktm but you can't build a 15 grand super bike and fit it with a gearbox from a 1970s tractor it just ruins the whole experience for me.I do agree with blade though the zx10 is utterly crying out for a quick shifter
9/10
Build quality,the fit and finish is very nice not Honda like but very good.All of the black components are in a nice satin finish,time will tell but the the build quality on Kawasaki is now on par with Yamaha and close to Honda imho
9/10
So is it good enough for me to part with my hard earned cash,no brainier really yes.I pick it up in two weeks time
Overall 9/10 lower gearing and some suspension set up will give it 10/10
Let the induction roar rave on..................
I chose some twisty country roads and a very fast section known as the Tamworth mile,traffic was heavy so no knee down playing today
Let's start with the heart of a bike the engine,I've read bad reports saying it's got no midrange and poor for the road.Well compared to my rc8 it definitely lacks grunt but my god it goes apeshit mental at 10,000 revs and all manner of hell breaks loose .The fueling is peach perfect smooth much like the 1000sx I rode the other day
10/10
Handling ,coming from the rc8 it feels small and very pointy,the front doesn't feel as planted but it steers quicker which is a good thing.I couldn't tell what the rear shock was doing but it was a lot softer than the shock on the rc8 which was very stiff.Overall it feels like a 600 to sit on and I feel it would be amazing when set up properly and on track.i got no head shakes at full beans and it felt planted hard on the throttle coming out of corners
8/10
Brakes,not anywhere near as good as the rc8s brembos,they lacked feel and felt a bit wooden but that could be the pads
7/10
Equipment,the dash is ace and hoorah it has a gear indicator,you can toggle through power modes really easy via a single button which is great.I love the Rev counter watching it zing up and across the Rev range is great
8/10
Gearbox,I'm changing bikes because the rc8 gearbox is so poor,the kwack box is smooth and quiet and goes into every gear easily.Sorry ktm but you can't build a 15 grand super bike and fit it with a gearbox from a 1970s tractor it just ruins the whole experience for me.I do agree with blade though the zx10 is utterly crying out for a quick shifter
9/10
Build quality,the fit and finish is very nice not Honda like but very good.All of the black components are in a nice satin finish,time will tell but the the build quality on Kawasaki is now on par with Yamaha and close to Honda imho
9/10
So is it good enough for me to part with my hard earned cash,no brainier really yes.I pick it up in two weeks time
Overall 9/10 lower gearing and some suspension set up will give it 10/10
Let the induction roar rave on..................
Last edited by Perkles on 13 Apr 2015, 19:29, edited 8 times in total.
- C00kiemonster
- Posts: 8477
- Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:11
- Your Bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 R
- Location: Not Froggie Land
- Has thanked: 4346 times
- Been thanked: 1748 times
- Perkles
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: 11 Mar 2014, 21:51
- Your Bike:
- Location: birminghamshire
- Has thanked: 2152 times
- Been thanked: 1465 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Wanna buy an Oberon clutch slaveC00kiemonster wrote:Blimey. Fair play for not messing about! Sounds good!
- beermonster
- Posts: 358
- Joined: 12 Mar 2014, 00:17
- Your Bike: Between two wheeled victims
- Has thanked: 225 times
- Been thanked: 71 times
- Kwacky
- Posts: 38733
- Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
- Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
- Location: Brum
- Has thanked: 4338 times
- Been thanked: 8391 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Ace review.
Surprised you don't like the brakes but those big piston forks mean you have to adjust your mind to braking. The bike reacts differently to what you're used to.
Surprised you don't like the brakes but those big piston forks mean you have to adjust your mind to braking. The bike reacts differently to what you're used to.
- Perkles
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: 11 Mar 2014, 21:51
- Your Bike:
- Location: birminghamshire
- Has thanked: 2152 times
- Been thanked: 1465 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
I'm sure it's the Oem pads but the brembo set on the rc8 was very very good,loads of feel and big stopping powerKwacky wrote:Ace review.
Surprised you don't like the brakes but those big piston forks mean you have to adjust your mind to braking. The bike reacts differently to what you're used to.
One thing I forgot was the tyres but you know I have no idea about them anyhow
-
- Posts: 1387
- Joined: 07 Apr 2014, 16:38
- Your Bike: Daytona 675R
- Has thanked: 271 times
- Been thanked: 388 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Another 10 in the tankslap fold- I'm getting jealous again!
It could be the abs ruining the feel on the brakes? Read a review of the 675r where the tester said he preferred the older pre-abs brakes.
- C00kiemonster
- Posts: 8477
- Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:11
- Your Bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 R
- Location: Not Froggie Land
- Has thanked: 4346 times
- Been thanked: 1748 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
£20?Perkles wrote:Wanna buy an Oberon clutch slaveC00kiemonster wrote:Blimey. Fair play for not messing about! Sounds good!
- Blade
- Posts: 18772
- Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 18:43
- Your Bike: Kawasaki ZX10R
- Location: North West
- Has thanked: 3134 times
- Been thanked: 3767 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Great review Perkles and glad you like it.
The brakes on my bike are strong so maybe suggest to the dealer you want new pads and a brake fluid change. Won't cost them more than £50 internal costs and should be possible on a ten grand bike. Just an idea and saves you some wonga.
The brakes on my bike are strong so maybe suggest to the dealer you want new pads and a brake fluid change. Won't cost them more than £50 internal costs and should be possible on a ten grand bike. Just an idea and saves you some wonga.
- Kwacky
- Posts: 38733
- Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
- Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
- Location: Brum
- Has thanked: 4338 times
- Been thanked: 8391 times
- Perkles
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: 11 Mar 2014, 21:51
- Your Bike:
- Location: birminghamshire
- Has thanked: 2152 times
- Been thanked: 1465 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Forgot about that but I think it's a non abs bikeKwacky wrote:Has that one got ABS?
- rocket
- Posts: 2453
- Joined: 21 May 2014, 20:12
- Your Bike: zx10rrrrrrr
- Has thanked: 639 times
- Been thanked: 751 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Nice one Perkles , good review now just steel all blades nice bits on the next ride out :-P
"80mph" sorry officer I possibly could not have done that I'm no Valentino Rossi.
- Perkles
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: 11 Mar 2014, 21:51
- Your Bike:
- Location: birminghamshire
- Has thanked: 2152 times
- Been thanked: 1465 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
I can't read his thread anymore it's going to hurt my wallet.rocket wrote:Nice one Perkles , good review now just steel all blades nice bits on the next ride out :-P
I've ordered a tail tidy and a tank pad,the standard can will get ditched on next months pay day
- Rossgo
- Posts: 10407
- Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 02:01
- Your Bike:
- Location: Berkshire
- Has thanked: 5280 times
- Been thanked: 1326 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Very good first review Perkles. Enjoy owning her when she is collected she is lovely (took a look at the link you posted up in the other thread [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH])
- rocket
- Posts: 2453
- Joined: 21 May 2014, 20:12
- Your Bike: zx10rrrrrrr
- Has thanked: 639 times
- Been thanked: 751 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Perkles wrote:I can't read his thread anymore it's going to hurt my wallet.rocket wrote:Nice one Perkles , good review now just steel all blades nice bits on the next ride out :-P
I've ordered a tail tidy and a tank pad,the standard can will get ditched on next months pay day
Sweet looking forward to seeing it
"80mph" sorry officer I possibly could not have done that I'm no Valentino Rossi.
- Kwacky
- Posts: 38733
- Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
- Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
- Location: Brum
- Has thanked: 4338 times
- Been thanked: 8391 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Andy, some of my spare bling may fit. We'll have a sort out when I swap the plastics on the zx6r.
- Perkles
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: 11 Mar 2014, 21:51
- Your Bike:
- Location: birminghamshire
- Has thanked: 2152 times
- Been thanked: 1465 times
- Perkles
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: 11 Mar 2014, 21:51
- Your Bike:
- Location: birminghamshire
- Has thanked: 2152 times
- Been thanked: 1465 times
- Kwacky
- Posts: 38733
- Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
- Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
- Location: Brum
- Has thanked: 4338 times
- Been thanked: 8391 times
Re: Perks zx10r review
Yes and yes
You'll need to heat the rim tape to get it off.
The official rear cowls are about £150 but there are usually chinese ones on ebay for much less.
You'll need to heat the rim tape to get it off.
The official rear cowls are about £150 but there are usually chinese ones on ebay for much less.