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The ride-Outstanding mix of smooth as glass blacktop with 20-50 MPH curves, wide open sweepers, redline straigtaways, with some patchy rural services that truly tested the electronics on these bikes. I'm pretty sure I speak for Kruz when I say we brought home a few aches, wounds and dings to the bikes, (at least on my bike) from some of the most vicious gravel (boulder?) attacks I've ever experienced. The aches were from what seemed like marble sized stones finding their targets on our chest, knees and again my front fender and fairing! It was like something the 007 DB7 would release to evade the chase car:) I started it, (being in front for a change), till Kruz had enough and passed me in a flurry only to return the favor. Sounds kind of funny now, but seriously beyond the rock hits to the torso and bikes, this is where electronics on a bike DO help. The gravel strewn areas were not visible to the eye and when traveling in excess of 100mph, they can heave a stone like a Nolan Ryan fastball.
The bikes-For me this was an equally interesting part of our 5 hour outing. The ZX10-R is a favorite of mine and was the bike I was set on purchasing prior to finding the near unbelievable deal on my BMW S1000RR. I don't have any kind of brand loyalty having owned, and still own BMW's, Kawasaki's and in the past Harley Davidson's. So switching bikes with Kruz after a U-Turn and mounting the ZX10 was great fun for me.
The ZX10 felt roomier to me, with flatter, wider bars,a wider seat and just a tad lower peg position. The suspension immediately felt more pliant than the Beemer. As an owner of two prior Kawasaki's and current ZX14R, I felt very at home on the bike. While the ergo's weren't drasticaly better for me on the ZX(both have what I consider to be excellent ones), the bike felt a little flatter I'd say a bit lighter, which shouldn't be a surprise given the official weigh in statistics. We even got to actually feel what the "dry" weight of the bikes were since we were both literally running on fumes at that point:)
The Kawi offered a very linear and SMOOTH rush of power up to 130MPH, with great high speed and straight line stability. The turn in was light but stable and the bike felt very flickable and dare I say easier to ride than the Beemer. It's been reported during several comparo tests, usually after the Beemer as been awarded the #1 slot against take your pick liter bikes, that while the BMW may be a bit more challenging to ride, and ride well, it ofers the highest level of excitement and feedback. Kruz and I agreed that much of that comes from the extremely high level of straight line stability from it's auto speed damper at high speeds. This translates typically to more of a commitment to tip in with the reward being a bike that tracks mid corner as if it's on proverbial rails. The exit power of both bikes is other wordly. The Kawi, for me tipped in easier and felt easier to ride. Even after riding my S1000RR for 2000 miles now, I have to be honest and say I felt more comfortable and confident on the ZX10R than I do my BMW. Both bikes have outstanding brakes, Brembo's on the Beemer and NissenI believe on the Kawi. For me the transmission felt a bit crisper on the BMW but that was likely nothing more than what you are used to.
Now the other interesting part. Kruz is a significantly better rider than I am. I'm not suggesting that the ZX10R is a pussycat, because that is VERY far from the truth. However, it's overall setup for the street, suspension, lighter steering, and extremely linear power delivery made it feel less of a hot rod. The BMW is edgier and IMO is best ridden by those with higher than average riding skills, which Kruz has, while I would consider mine average. One of the Brit magazine reviews, (while giving the S1000 a 10/10 and #1 ranking)said it was exhilerating to ride but not one you would ever describe as refined. I agree with this to a certain extent, but feel that statement is embellishing a bit. Both bikes are very refined but the Kawi feels more built to bridge the gap for street and track while the Beemer seems to be track focused first without losing sight of the fact that 90% of riders will never see a track.
I will have to give the nod on fit and finish to the S1000RR. The components used seem to be notch above the Kawasaki and there is an overall feeling of a bike with something a bit special, (my opinion of course.) This is not to say the Kawi suffers in any way from the fit and finish department. It is very well screwed together and has quality feel not unlike any Honda. For me, the Kawi is a very handsome, if not a bit vanilla bike. It's not really about making any kind of fashion statement, relying more on it's performance pedigree. I for one would love to see Kawasaki sex their machines up a bit more, but thats just me:)
The BMW trumps the ZX10 with heated grips, a quick clutchless shifter, and IMO better guages and overall instrument cluster. I'm not a fan of the digital tach and light show. I also found it harder to read speed and gear indicator. That really was the single thing, on a back to back comparison where the Kawi paled to the Beemer.
Where does that leave me? With a HUGE respect for the mighty ZX10-R! Fast, comfortable, pliant, great handling in a class leading 175HP liter bike. Not that I need it, and definitely not ready to sell or trade the BMW, incredible bike that it is, it leaves me remembering how much I enjoyed riding the Kawi and how if it met all other categories, for a rider of my skill level, it might be a bike that fits me better and I even enjoy riding more. That's about as honest of a review as I can provide:) Kruz, I spent a lot time on the ZX10-R, and this of course wasn't the first time I've ridden one by any means, but I had forgotten just how damn good these bikes are. Perhaps you can provide your own assessment and your POV regarding the BMW.
Sorry for the long post, but I actually enjoyed putting my thoughts in writing as I think about the ride.
* Last updated by: Jagman on 11/26/2012 @ 10:15 AM *
2012 BMW S1000RR
2012 BMW K1600GT
2012 Honda CBR1000RR
2012 Kawasaki ZX-14R (Gone but never forgotten)