I'll give a final rating for third through seventh place to the rest of the machines after some more back road adventures, it is so close it is going to be very hard to call. One thing I've learned from all of this is the biggest difference you can make to any sportbike is careful suspension setup and great rubber.

Decisions, decisions, 2019 V-4 Base in the front, 2018 V-4S behind. Dealer offered me $1000 off list on the Base model yesterday and $2000 off on the V-4S. Apparently these machines are not moving as fast as Ducati had hoped. I actually prefer the looks of the base, that red front fender and the steel grey forks are cool. The S comes with the Ohlins semi-active suspension, lithium ion battery and forged Marchesini wheels for $5300 more cash OTD.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 11/11/2018 @ 7:48 AM *

For wheelpeel, Lazy Heart Grill in St Jo, Texas, tried to send it in a PM:

* Last updated by: Kruz on 11/10/2018 @ 4:57 PM *

I love Texas Brother Kruz

C'mon down Rudy, we love you too!

I've decided to forego, at least for now, buying the new Ducati V-4, need to learn how to ride what I already have to their limits. It is mind boggling to believe the V-4 is up almost 30 HP at the rear tire compared to my '16 ZX-10R, that bike is already brutally fast. I think what made up my mind was Michale Rutter's testimony after taking the V4S around the Isle of Man TT course at a lap average speed of almost 124 mph on a showroom stock bike. He said that bike is better than he is, more power than the Batham's Racing BMW S1000RR he campaigns in the British Super Bike series. It would be wasted on a mere mortal like myself I'm afraid.

I've decided to forego, at least for now, buying the new Ducati V-4, need to learn how to ride what I already have to their limits ...

Ha! So seven sport bikes is the limit then?! Seven?! Not 6! Not 8! Seven it is ... seven is the Magic Number

I still say ya sell the bottom 3 or so and fund the new V4 anyway. You'll have more room in your garage. Less to take care of. Less overwhelming. Cheaper. Fewer to insure .... etc etc

I am very unpredictable, Extrapolator, I may end up with one of these V4s yet lol!

Hell Kruzer...ditch the lower ones and just get the new 2019 H2.Keep the best ones of course.230 HP stock...you flash her and open up her breathing,you'll be seein 270 HP plus...at a minimum.I guarantee ya...you'll never look back.She's THAT awesome and fun.You will NEVER reach the limit or potential on that beastie.That's the real fun of it.Ducate?Overrated.That's why Rossi left way back when.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/16/2018 @ 8:14 PM *

just get the new 2019 H2.Keep the best ones of course.230 HP stock...you flash her and open up her breathing,you'll be seein 270 HP plus...at a minimum.I guarantee ya...you'll never look back.

Lazy Heart Grill in St Jo, Texas

We'll have to make it up there..

Yessir, nice long ride and if you like to do top speed runs, the Indian Bridge across the Red River is where we go to top 'em out.

Hoo boy, sorry folks, been a long time since I've posted over here. A few days after I made my last post on here back in November, I found out my long time job (11 1/2 years) was going away. It took 'em almost four months to close the deal but my last day with the company was March 14 of this year. I've been on a three month sabbatical since March and may retire at the end of the year, been enjoying my time off work and doing a lot of riding.

Ok, enough of the ancient history lesson, now for the bikes. I have 'em all on comparable rubber, Super Corsa SPs for the Ducati and RS-10s for all the rest. You could throw a blanket over all of these bikes, they're that close and not a bad one in the bunch once the suspensions were dialed and they had good track rubber.

1. '16 ZX-10R
2. '16 959 Ducati
3. '11 ZX-10R
4. '09 ZX-6R
5. '15 CBR1000RR SP Repsol Edition
6. '12 CBR1000RR
7. '06 ZX-14

I'm not basing these rankings on lap times or any objective analysis, purely subjective, which one's do I enjoy riding the most determined the order. i.e. Giggle Factor

Check your PM's.

Hi Wheelpeel, just PM'd you a response.

Good GAWD man!!! The big 14 is in last??! LAST?!?!

Extrapolator, yes but I must qualify this. The big girl can hang with the best on a twisty road but because of it's substantial girth, it's just a touch less agile and more tiring to throw down into a corner. That being said, if I was going to ride to Arkansas for a day of backroad blasting, it is the only bike I would consider for the mission because of it's impeccable highway manners and comfort. My knees, wrists, neck and back wouldn't survive a liter bike on such a journey.

Notice the '16 ZX-10R moved to the front of the pack after careful setup and track oriented rubber, just edging out the 959 and '11 ZX-10R.

The ZX-6R is in the hunt because the fun factor is off the chart and makes up for any power shortcomings.

The CBR's are both great handlers but like all Hondas, just feel flat on power delivery, just not very exciting.

That leaves the ZX-14 as Tail End Charlie but still a stellar machine and acquits itself well against it's more track oriented siblings.

Hoo boy, sorry folks, been a long time since I've posted over here. A few days after I made my last post on here back in November, I found out my long time job (11 1/2 years) was going away. It took 'em almost four months to close the deal but my last day with the company was March 14 of this year. I've been on a three month sabbatical since March and may retire at the end of the year, been enjoying my time off work and doing a lot of riding.
Ok, enough of the ancient history lesson, now for the bikes. I have 'em all on comparable rubber, Super Corsa SPs for the Ducati and RS-10s for all the rest. You could throw a blanket over all of these bikes, they're that close and not a bad one in the bunch once the suspensions were dialed and they had good track rubber.
1. '16 ZX-10R
2. '16 959 Ducati
3. '11 ZX-10R
4. '09 ZX-6R
5. '15 CBR1000RR SP Repsol Edition
6. '12 CBR1000RR
7. '06 ZX-14
I'm not basing these rankings on lap times or any objective analysis, purely subjective, which one's do I enjoy riding the most determined the order. i.e. Giggle Factor

Thought I'd revisit this thread as it's been awhile and I've put a lot of backroad twisties miles on all of them. I've been in semi-retirement mode since March of last year and been doing a lot of riding to keep me occupied. I know, tough life...

It's interesting to see how my thoughts change over time as I've gained more experience on all of these machines and my riding style has evolved. All of them are now on RS-10 rubber with the ZX-14 getting the 200/55 ZR17 rear and the ZX-6R on a 180/55 ZR17rear, all the rest are on 190/55 ZR17 rears. All front tires are now 120/70 ZR17 RS-10s.
Tire pressures on all for the road are Rear 30.0 psi, Front 31.5 psi. The only outlier is the ZX-14 that runs Rear 34.0 psi, Front 35.5 psi.

Suspensions have been tweaked and fine tuned and they all seem like they are as good now as it gets on stock suspension components.

The '16 ZX-10R is hands down the fastest of the machines and I have actually learned to enjoy it's two stage power delivery, a pussy cat if you keep it low in the rpm range and an absolute missile when you ring it's neck. It cannot be faulted for handling, suspension, brakes or top end power. My only complaint is that the power delivery is tiring when ridden aggressively..... or maybe I'm just getting old. This is the ultimate track weapon of the bunch.

The '11 ZX-10R is still my favorite even if slightly down on power compared to the '16 version. The ergos are perfect for me and I feel most at home on this machine. The powerband is so linear and smooth and everything just works for me. This is the machine I always look forward to riding the most.

The '09 ZX-6R is an incredibly good Supersport machine but is at a pretty large power disadvantage compared to all the others. I love everything about this bike but if I'm being truly honest, I've begun to notice the lack of corner exit drive. Still it's an absolute jewel to ride and a nice change from the heavier and more powerful machines. You have to really stay focused on this one and wring it's neck to maintain rapid forward motion but it is very rewarding to ride.

The '12 CBR1000RR and the '15 Repsol SP version are so similar I'll treat them as one. These are awesome all arounders, doing everything well and not really standing out in any one area. The more I ride them though, the better I like them for their overall ease of operation and user friendliness.

The '16 Ducati 959 is an odd duck. It's so different in almost every way compared to the more generic Japanese machines and demands to be ridden differently. The biggest complaint I have on this bike is the ergonomics, I have never really come to grips with the narrowness of the machine with it's L twin layout. It's so skinny that I have trouble finding a good stable hang off position in the corners as my knees just don't grip the tank well. It has wide bars and relatively slow steering but is rock solid once it's cranked over on it's ear. That said, it is deceptively quick and I notice the corner speeds are at the top of the chart. It has the unique ability to make things seem to happen in slow motion. This is probably due to it's stability and lower rpm twin cylinder power delivery.

The '06 ZX-14 still soldiers on after almost 14 years. Many years ago it was a chart topper but as my riding style has evolved over the yeras,(more agressive) the 14 is starting to feel a bit long in tooth now. It can still hold it' own on a twisty road with the best of them but needs more input, effort and planning. I find it best not to press it too hard due to it's overall girth and older brake technology. It's best to guide it through the corners rather than throw it down with aggression like the others here and work it's strengths which are excellent high speed stability in the fast sweepers and excellent corner exit speed. It has no traction control or other electronic aids to brag about but still gets the job done in admirable fashion with it's smooth, broad and torquey powerband. If I need to take a long highway trip to get to a twisty road though, this is the only one to consider.
It is mega comfortable and can still hold it's own in the curves if you have the skill to exploit it's attributes and limitations.

Hey, as long as your fave is a Kawi

I'm telling you, Kruz, if you could stand the attention, you could be either writing a blog with this content, or better yet youtube vids, and making some money from it. I understand if you don't care to though; you seem similar to me: Don't care for extra attention. And you don't seem to need the money, so prob not worth the hassle.

If I need to take a long highway trip to get to a twisty road though, this is the only one to consider.
It is mega comfortable and can still hold it's own in the curves if you have the skill to exploit it's attributes and limitations.

Enough said.

* Last updated by: BIGO70 on 2/5/2020 @ 10:46 AM *

Extrapolator wrote:

Hey, as long as your fave is a Kawi
I'm telling you, Kruz, if you could stand the attention, you could be either writing a blog with this content, or better yet youtube vids, and making some money from it. I understand if you don't care to though; you seem similar to me: Don't care for extra attention. And you don't seem to need the money, so prob not worth the hassle.

Hello Extrapolator, you know I have been actually thinking about that lately. With the cost of new sportbikes off the charts these days on just about everything with the exception of the 636 cc 2020 ZX-6R non-ABS which is around $9999 and still a veritable bargain, I have an eclectic collection of sport machines now, some getting a bit old and some still relatively fresh.

The usual YouTube blogs focus on only the latest machines, I could give a much wider perspective, possibly for someone looking for a bargain on a less expensive older machine that might just fill the bill for what they are looking for without breaking the proverbial bank.

I believe I have been able to make the case that the older sportbikes can still, for the most part, hold their own against the newer stuff, at least at my level of ability.

I don't know if you frequent the 44 Teeth blogs on YouTube but they mix it up and test the latest and greatest on one video and then run their annual budget bike battle where they compare older sportbikes on road and track.

I'm one of those rare birds that never sell my old bikes and find that even 10 years on, they are still a blast.

Hire a bikini model if you're serious!!

Not really interested in attention or making a lot of money but I might be able to help someone pick up on an older sport machine. I don't know if you have noticed, but the sales of sportbikes have really taken a nose dive since 2009 and I'm not seeing the numbers of new riders out on the road anymore. Back in those days, CycleTrader was full of brand new, one year old bikes still on the showroom floor and affordable to almost anyone with a decent credit score. Also, the magazine racks at Barnes and Nobles had at least a dozen or so quality sportbike magazines to choose from. Not anymore, most are now gone for good! More and more these days, the sport motorcycle manufacturers cater mostly to the wealthy who can afford $20K to $30K track focused Euro machines, BMW S1000RR, Aprilia RSV4, Ducati V4 Panigales, etc. The kids can't afford to get into sport riding anymore, they've been priced out of the market. The literbikes have become so sharply focused towards the track they are no longer much fun out on a back road ride. Take as an example the 2020 CBR1000RR-R SP. It has a 14,500 rpm redline screamer motor and nothing below 6000 rpm with ergonomics suited only to track day sessions or racing. Don't get me wrong here, I'd give my right testicle to have one but it's price tag is just too high to justify. Great for bragging rights down at the local pub but probably going to be just like my '16 ZX-10R, too dam fast for the backroads. Never thought I'd hear myself say that a bike had too much power....lol!

Hire a bikini model if you're serious!!

Yea, like that guy who hires a babe to appear in all of his YouTube videos wearing a skimpy bikini and gets 35,000 hits on the first day? Jaret Kushner or Campisi, or something like that? The content of those vids is boring but I have to admit the girl is outstanding!

I don't know if you have noticed, but the sales of sportbikes have really taken a nose dive since 2009 and I'm not seeing the numbers of new riders out on the road anymore.

Yeah, for better or for worse smartphones are changing the world. Kids don't even wanna drive cars anymore, much less ride bikes. Apparently being born during the smartphone generation you feel as though the phone offers you most everything you're interested in. Really pathetic, IMO, but whatever floats yer boat I guess Although this will apparently run the motorcycle industry into the ground to where we have fewer and fewer new bikes to choose from.

Tenants in my rental house have 2 kids. I was there talking to the parents the other day, half hour chat when I realized it was really quiet in there and asked, "Hey, it's quiet, are you kid-free tonight?! Kids out somewhere?" ... "Oh, no, they're in their rooms. They like to just go in there and camp out on their phones." Seems pathetic to me, but whatever, I'm happy

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 2/6/2020 @ 12:41 PM *