WOW now that’s what I call nuts they are taking a 1000 dollar hit on the bike before its even releasesd. There is just not that kind of money in Jap bikes to do this unless they are given some incentive from Kaw. I wonder what the catch is.
new base model 2011 zx10 discounted

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 10/18/2010 @ 2:50 PM *

"Global Economic Down Turn" may be good for the pricing of the new beast

It is being discounted as pre production dyno tests for US are out. (Newtered to say the least) Here it is!

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/10/north-american-2011-kawasaki-zx-10r-loses-20-hp-slower-than-s1000rr/

* Last updated by: Cutback on 10/18/2010 @ 4:50 PM *

The reason they're discounting them already is because words gotten out that the US version is a nuetered pig compared to what the rest of the worlds getting. Nobodies going to pay kawi's asking price for a bike that puts out the same power as last years 10, but costs thousands more, and then needs several thousand more on top of that to buy a special race ecu and pipe to derestrict it. They'll just buy the cheaper, fully loaded, and much faster bmw instead
Honestly, this is one of the saddest bike release stories I've ever watched unfold. And I've had some of my fondest and earliest memories on kawi's. If you want to inform yourself start reading on the zx10 forum here

http://www.zx-10r.net/forum/index.php

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/10/north-american-2011-kawasaki-zx-10r-loses-20-hp-slower-than-s1000rr/

* Last updated by: BadinBlack on 10/19/2010 @ 4:03 AM *

Remember the 05 -06 ZX6 jumper wire to change it to euro spec,hope the same thing applies to the 10.It would mean you only have to pull your wire to meet North American spec.Wow that means my 14 is well over 200 horse!I can pull my wire and change hands without loosing a stroke

Honestly, this is one of the saddest bike release stories I've ever watched unfold. And I've had some of my fondest and earliest memories on kawi's.

2ND. Have the guys over there found the fix to put her balls back on ? I'm sure that info will soon follow.

It can't be a new ECU, can it ? Kawi should leek a hack into their little black box or suffer the consequences of letting their investment go down the toilet. Fingers crossed. Like you posted, Sad Story.

it screams
Give it a few weeks and we will see how easy it is to fix besides even without the peak hp its more bike than the current one on paper.I just don't think its 6k more bike. It all boils down to how easy the fix is right? I have no idea why people keeping saying the bike will need a race ecu and a pipe when the euro bike and the US bike are the same minus the ECU firmware. What if the bike won't laps slower than a CBR that would be a problem

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 10/18/2010 @ 8:44 PM *

Hows that resale on the BMW looking now ?

the zx10 could make 500 hp and that wouldn't change. 15,675 is a bargin for the BMW

WTF I read it again look who these guys used as a source of info what a BS website they don't know anymore than we do

Sources: Canadian Kawasaki, ZX-10R.net, YouTube, eBay

There was a link to Bikeland and the canadian kawi website that both had some good solid info. The canadian kawi site showed the reduced power and peak rpms and torque for the US and canada models. And Bikeland had the info directly from kawi stating that you would need a race ecu and exhaust kit to get full power for the US and canadian models. Plus from what I've read on the 10 forum a bunch of guys have called dealers and reps to ask about the restrictions and have all been told the same thing....the fix is a race ecu and exhaust kit from kawi. It would be sweet if you could just flash the ecu tho like the busa guys do

Bad in Black, that's what I'm hearing over on the ZX-10 site, pipe and ECU, a couple grand. Seriously, I'd buy the Beemer if I wanted a new bike, a relative bargain with all the power there already.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/19/2010 @ 7:02 AM *

There was a link to Bikeland and the canadian kawi website that both had some good solid info. The canadian kawi site showed the reduced power and peak rpms and torque for the US and canada models.

This part is a fact I read this on the canadian site last week.

Bikeland had the info directly from kawi stating that you would need a race ecu and exhaust kit to get full power for the US and canadian models.

Interesting but it begs the question why would the US bike that is mechanically identical to the Euro bike need a pipe and a race ECU to make the same power? If the only difference between the two bikes is firmware on the ECU it just makes no sense. This is more of a question than debating what has been said. If you think about it just makes no sense at all. If the bikes are the same no reason you shouldn't be able to pop in a Euro ECU and get the same power output.

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 10/19/2010 @ 6:42 AM *

With sales of liter bikes largely pegged to whichever bike wins on-paper performance pissing contests and Kawasaki charging an ambitious $13,800 (equivalent to the base S1000RR, which doesn’t include traction control) the added cost of achieving equivalent performance could sway buyers in BMW’s direction. Perhaps tellingly, 2011 ZX-10Rs are already available for discounted prices; this dealer, for instance, is advertising $1,000 off the sticker price.

My sentiments exactly....... I'm glad I bought a Gen III!

Here’s the results on the same dyno on the same day. All the power outputs here are a little disappointing as Calgary sits 3,483 feet above sea level, but same dyno/same day means this is still an accurate comparison between bikes, even if it’s not an accurate representation of numbers that will be achieved at lower altitudes.

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R: 159.8hp
2010 Kawasaki ZX-10R: 157.2hp
2010 BMW S1000RR: 168.1hp

With Ivan's setup and the Akra on my GenIII, I should be well ahead of the Beemer according to these results.

I'm glad I bought a Gen IIII...didn't I already say that?

Somebody at Kawasaki headquarters should be taken out back and flogged...... seriously......this $1000 discount before the bike even hits the dealer floor looks like they already know they have a loser and now that's what everyone is thinking. The noise standards were in place over here while they were developiing the bike, why not fix the power problem then, like BMW did and import the real deal at full sticker.

The smart way to do it would have been to lower the price by a thousand before they released the MSRP. Psychologically, this was a really bad move...Kawasaki, I love ya but you really blew the big one this time!

Man I'm sooooo glad I bought a Gen III!!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/19/2010 @ 7:02 AM *

Interesting but it begs the question why would the US bike that is mechanically identical to the Euro bike need a pipe and a race ECU to make the same power?

From everything I'm hearing, they are mechanically identical, just the pipe and ECU flashing have been changed so those are the items that have to be replaced. Too bad you can't just order the Euro spec items at a discount price from KHI.

If Kaw was smart they would give the end user a euro/race ecu and the pipe instead of the $1000 discount assuming the discount is a real manufature rebate. Just get the buyer to sign a wavier stating the items are for off road use only. Hell they could just put a sticker on the itmes stating for off road use only and be in the clear. In the end the buyer would not be out of any money and nor would Kaw have to discount the bike (again assuming its a manufature rebate). Even with its balls cut off its still a better bike than before but with 2010 GenIII SE models all over ebay for 8600 bucks the new one is just not worth that much more even with the 1000 discount to me. If the bike made a 197hp people would have paid 15k in a minute even though 99% of them can't or won't use 100 hp.The upside is you can bet Honda and Suzuki are learning from Kaws screw up so llok for something special from those guys

Haven't been able to verify this but there is supposedly some arcane U.S. regulation that prohibits an existing model from too large an increase in power year to year as a percentage of maximum. That's how BMW was able to get away with the big HP, it's a first year model. If that's the case, KHI should have called it a ZX-998R or something like that and given us all the ponies up front.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 10/19/2010 @ 10:49 AM *

Haven't been able to verify this but there is supposedly some arcane U.S. regulation that prohibits an existing model from too large an increase in power year to year as a percentage of maximum. That's how BMW was able to get away with the big HP, it's a first year model. If that's the case, KHI should have called it a ZX-998R or something like that and given us all the ponies up front.

That's how BMW was able to get away with the big HP, it's a first year model.

I thought it was the fact that they went through inspection with the bikes "Break In Reins still On" ? I can't remember what rag I read that in. There was some reference made to that effect, how true it is I'm sure no one will ever say.

naw BMW egineered their way around the issue it appears Kaw failed to do so. BMW isn't crazy enough to play games with the Feds.

BMW isn't crazy enough to play games with the Feds.

Well, I guess all you would have to do is get a sound meter on a Broke in BMW. It sure would be nice to see the before and after break in report. Take that info and do a compare against kawis new bike. Would be nice to see. I have the sound meter but no bikes. Help. Second thought Noooooo. That may cost me 16,000 LOL. Curious about the results tho

Well, I guess all you would have to do is get a sound meter on a Broke in BMW. It sure would be nice to see the before and after break in report. Take that info and do a compare against kawis new bike. Would be nice to see. I have the sound meter but no bikes. Help. Second thought Noooooo. That may cost me 16,000 LOL. Curious about the results tho

* Last updated by: willidx4 on 10/20/2010 @ 3:47 PM *

It keeps getting better

I'm a kawi man through and through but this sounds like marketing bs to cover up a hp deficit. Kawi is trying to save sales any way they can right now. I think they over hyped the new 10 and now they're in salvage/do whatever it takes to save sales mode. Its really turned into a pretty ugly and confusing mess. I've been reading the zx10 forum lately.....its like watching a soap opera. Those guys LOVE their 10's, and kawi's putting them through the wringer with this whole mess....I feel sorry for the guys. Its exhausting just reading it I don't think I'd even want the new bike after all this drama Besides its overpriced for what you're getting anyway I'm glad I'm not a liter guy lol