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Harley1
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  		   Posted 1/7/2008 10:14 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
MotorcycleUSA grabs its passport to sample the 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R superbike at Qatar's 16-turn Losail circuit. Read Hutch's impressions after his first ride on the new Ninja.
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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/7/2008 10:30 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Great write up, and, totally consistent with all the other reports coming in. It really says a lot that none of the journos crashed, and.. what's with the question of skilled hands? Are they suddenly more skilled than the hands that crashed their bikes before? Just to give benefit of the doubt, it would indicate something quantum leap better in the bike. This is going to be a very exciting year :-)

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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Desmolicious
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  		   Posted 1/7/2008 11:19 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
It's going to be very interesting to see how this compares with the new Honda. Froma stylistic point of view, IMO the ZX10's dramatic shape (whether you like it or not) makes much more of an impact than the Honda's typical bland effort. That bike looks like a modernized Superhawk. Bet it goes good though.

Børk! Børk! Børk!

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Kenny
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  		   Posted 1/7/2008 12:46 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

Lou - Yeah...skillz. Theyz gots 'em! I just used skilled hands as tongue in cheek sorta thing there. The ZX is just easy to ride fast so we'l see how it plays out in the comparo. We have Buttonwillow raceway, Dunlop race tires and a couple fast dudes to put the bikes through the gauntlet in mid February.

 

Des: The ZX looks better inpictures I guess. I havent seen teh CBR in person yet but according to Adam it looks damn good, way better than the pics show. He gets to ride the bike next week at Laguna Seca, weather willing. So, he'll have more to say after that shin-dig is in the books.

Fire it up Holmes!

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GAJ
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  		   Posted 1/7/2008 12:53 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Qatar?????????????????????

Will Lou keep his old ZX or bite on the new?

My money's on keeping the old.
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jon
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  		   Posted 1/7/2008 1:31 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
GAJ said...
My money's on keeping the old.
testers: nice write up!
 
 
GAJ: yep, if it ain't broke, why fix it....
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thesoapster
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  		   Posted 1/8/2008 8:30 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Very good write up. It'll be a little while before I start looking for a liter bike since I just got a GSX-R750, but I could definitely see riding this bike.

I think the new CBR is better looking, though...I just hate the color options on it.
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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/8/2008 10:50 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
GAJ said...
Qatar?????????????????????

Will Lou keep his old ZX or bite on the new?

My money's on keeping the old.
 
 
No worries my GAJ man, Lou has the best bike he can get for where I ride, now. That doesn't change (the only thing that can get better is me).
The 08 ZX10 has made an improvement that will be seen mostly on the heated combat on the track. Kawasaki has suffered in the liter class, because even though they had the power, it couldn't be put to the pavement quite well enough.  To do better there they made the changes in 06, but still didn't get there. It was the race team development on the 06 that transfered to the 08. All the reports coming in now say the bike can be managed, (mostly the ignition work) so.... the consumer benefits with this.  Sure squids will still impact the hard stuff on the public highway, and fail corners, as always, but real bikers will do better.
 
The hype of now Kawasaki is building a race bike first, (and street bike second) VS Street bike first, that can be made into a race bike.  Is just marketing hype, and needs to be kept in perspective.
The low cost volume bike that sits on the show room floor to be bought by Joe public, will always be a street bike (but one can be more serious than the other).   When a racer enters a race, they need everything they can get, to be better than the other guy that is doing all he can do as well.  That means 1. They know what is best, and 2. They do it. 

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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GAJ
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  		   Posted 1/8/2008 12:03 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Besides, a bike that you've meticulously improved to fit your needs is much more personally satisfying...and unique! Especially if it's been dubbed a "hooligan" bike.

Plus, no payments=good.
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gagster
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  		   Posted 1/8/2008 4:26 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

Hmmm...190 horses at the crank would translate to about 165 or so at the rear wheel and that's before the ram air effect.  This should be way faster than my old 2000 ZX-9R.  I don't like the looks of the exhaust end can. 

Kenny, any thoughts on how it'll do as a streetbike for those of us who've never been on a track and probably never will?  Everybody called the ZX-9R a "sport tourer" or like a couch compared to the other open classers.  I found it to be barely tolerable for even a 50 mile highway ride.  Numb hands(but not from vibration), aching wrists, shoulders and arms, and difficulty walking always resulted from a longer ride.  If I could keep it above 80 mph it was better.  I'll bet this new bike goes way beyond that and would be a favorite of the Marquis de Sade for street use.

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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/9/2008 11:29 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
For starters, if your not going to the track, get a grip, lose the clip-ons and put a streetfighter conversion (LSL bars from Spiegler USA are good). So what about the looks of the Exhaust can, change it.

It will be a sensational street bike for anyone that is savy enough to make the ergonomics correct for themselves. That also requires the savy rider has some freedom place to ride it, though.

It's a drug, it takes a certain addiction to want it. If the addiction isn't there (or can't get there) then there are a lot of better choices for the non-addicted.

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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YellowDuck
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  		   Posted 1/9/2008 12:07 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Who's this guy?

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos/2008_Kawasaki_ZX-10R_17.jpg

Nice form. Looks like a shot form a WSB event.

Cynicism is what passes for insight among the mediocre - Joe Klein

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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/9/2008 3:04 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I might stumble back to where I saw him, but he is a racer with a serious background and the picture was taken at one of the tracks (Quatar I think) that Kawasaki was using to allow journos to check out the 08 tens. If I come across it again, I'll post it.

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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Kenny
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  		   Posted 1/10/2008 6:49 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Gagster: As far as a street bike goes, well the new ZX10 feel an awful lot like the current GSXR1000. I would say its fine for a street ride other than the inhumane riding position that often is a calling card of these repli-racers. Its gonna make a lot of folks happy though. I like that agressive position so long as I am not on a 2 or 3 day ride. I mean, the bike is a track weapon first and like the rest of the pack it doesnt try to hide it.

Duck...I'm yer huckleberry...Thanks for noticing that I am trying to give er hell. Thank Doug Chandler and my peers for straightening me out.

Fire it up Holmes!

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YellowDuck
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  		   Posted 1/10/2008 9:02 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Yer last name Roberts?

Cynicism is what passes for insight among the mediocre - Joe Klein

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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/10/2008 10:35 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Oh, just one more point that should be mentioned Gagster, about the ZX10 as a street bike, it seriously doesn't do slow. Mostly an engine heat issue. It's OK if you can go (keep moving) kinda slow, but stop or creep/stop/creep.....not good.

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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Kenny
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  		   Posted 1/10/2008 1:26 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Ha ha...Coincidentally, Robert is my middle name!

Fire it up Holmes!

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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/10/2008 1:29 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Well, damn decent of Ya to not go by KR then......  lol  cool

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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jon
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  		   Posted 1/10/2008 3:31 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
louemc said...
 ZX10 as a street bike, it seriously doesn't do slow. Mostly an engine heat issue.
that's wierd.  Kaw is not going to sell the 10 well if that's the case.  i rode with a couple of riders to vegas on my 919 and the temp was about 115-120 degrees on that scorching july day and we did the stop and go for quiet a while mainly due to no splitting traffic allow in that state and the other riders were on a gixxer and r1.  they didn't have any 'heat issue'...yes, temps on the dash climbed a bit above normal but bikes didn't over heat or became a big deal.  kaw better fix the issue otherwise, i don't think their 10 is going to sell well especially in large metropoliton areas where most of the buyers resides and heavy traffic are. 
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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/11/2008 10:21 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
That's just a thing that a bike chooser should be aware of. The ZX10 doesn't create its insane power and be as civil as a nothing special bike. Ya want insane power, where it can be used, then Ya choose ZX10 or ZIXXR (and we have to wait to see on the 08 CBR) But, if you want to take it down a notch, then the more un-focused bikes come into being a more correct over a wider span of situations bike.

The ZX 10 and it's ilk do sell, and will sell because they are the top of the heap in the class.
It's up to the buyer to not make a mistake in what class they are in. :-)

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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Desmolicious
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  		   Posted 1/11/2008 11:06 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Lou, when you say it has an engine heat issue, do you mean that at slow speeds the motor runs too hot, or just that it cooks the rider? Or both?

Børk! Børk! Børk!

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Kenny
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  		   Posted 1/11/2008 11:57 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Lou needs to lay off the hooch. These crazy statements are peculiar. Its like you have ADD all of a sudden. How do you know ZX is going to run hot or not? If you are talking in general terms you should point that out so that Desmo and Jon, are assuming you are stating a fact, when in fact you are making an assumption based on experiences learned in the past. Now, we all know what happens when we assume...right?

Fire it up Holmes!

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636ADAM
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  		   Posted 1/11/2008 12:38 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I have heard 10 times the amount of Heat complaints from R1 riders.

Don't look at me!
Adam

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Kenny
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  		   Posted 1/11/2008 1:16 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
170 Horespoer! Breaking News from our boys at MCN. They have a 208 ZX-10 on the dyno today and it posted 170 hp @ 12K and 80 lb-ft of torque around 8500. Apparently they are putting the 08 R1 and the 10R in a head to head and the R1 posted 162 hp and 80 lb-ft @ 9500. Man, this is gonna be a good one!

Fire it up Holmes!

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louemc
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  		   Posted 1/11/2008 1:24 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Yes in deedy (see I can be agree-able) I can't wait till the whole 08 crop is in shoot-out comparisons on the track.
It has become, as the HP wars are fought, Not just the peak numbers or even Dyno chart graphs, but, ever more critical emphasis on the package it's in. The Power number isn't there if the power can't be applied to the track (or road but that doesn't get measured so well). Any way, I just can't wait.

 Focus the forces, Be The Force

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