Kawasaki ZX-10R – Silent Death
2012 onwards, 999.3 cm3, 200 l. pp., 198 kg
(curb weight), 299 km/h,
RUB 768,400 (RUB 793,800 with ABS)
text: Vladimir Zdorov photo: Evgeny Bobrikov, Nikita Kolobanov
In the photo: Vladimir Zdorov
“He is almost invisible on the streets, practically not on the tracks, but when he nevertheless appears as an imperceptible shadow, all rivals realize with horror that it is terribly late to do anything - it is impossible to escape and hide from the ninja. His strike is as fast as a cobra's strike, and as deadly as its bite... In any case, this is how the professional killers of medieval Japan appear in cinema. What about its modern cousin, the Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja?
In 2013, Tom Sykes reigned supreme on the world Superbike scene, taking the crown and giving Kawasaki a championship title not seen in the WSBK series since 1993, when Scott Russell led the Akashi factory to the title. At the same time, without forgetting about myself. But in the “civilian world” the Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja is a little-used and poorly studied guest, especially in our market. Why is this happening? An entire doctoral dissertation could be written to answer this question, starting from the trust in the brand that was undermined at one time “thanks” to the very tired used equipment of the early 90s and ending with the rather calm, kind of ecumenical-parishioner position of the Kawasaki importer in Russia, who did not conducts a distinct, aggressive marketing and advertising campaign to promote its product. In many ways, Kawasaki motorcycles sell themselves, and one of the leitmotifs driving such sales is a killer price for competitors with similar, and sometimes even more interesting characteristics. However, this kind of price treacle does not apply specifically to the ZX-10R - its cost is quite comparable to its classmates.
Unique
The tenth warrior from the ninja clan has almost reached the limits of perfection in martial arts. Its sharp edges and 200-horsepower engine (excluding the Italian exclusive, the most powerful in the class!) combined with the proprietary multi-level traction control system S-KTRC (Sport - Kawasaki Traction Control), as well as an “advanced” BPF fork and a couple more dozens of complex innovative solutions should not have left even a theoretical chance for competitors. In practice, if we proceed from the realities of the domestic market, the formidable Japanese samurai is offended by everyone and everything, from the absolute favorites and sales leaders, such as the BMW S1000RR, to the Mesozoic tyrannosaurs, which have not changed since the creation of the universe, like the Yamaha YZF -R1. In many ways, this state of affairs does not so much reflect the technical superiority of competitors, but rather states the strength of the fifth estate, which Kawasaki representatives in Russia underestimate. In other words, tests of the Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja in the Russian press are more an exception than a working practice. I will say more, I had my eye on the “ten” back in 2009, but, despite all my privileges and numerous foreign tests, I was able to test the Kawasaki ZX-10R only in June 2013!
To competently evaluate motorcycles of this class and power level, there is only one option - a full-fledged track. In the case of “our” ninja, it was Kazan Ring, much more “tested” and well studied than the seemingly almost homemade MRW. However, there are no paradoxes in this: conducting a full motorcycle test on MRW is as “easy” as becoming the Queen of Great Britain or flying to Mars. While in the capital of Tatarstan they offer relatively democratic conditions for track days at the Kazan Ring. Unfortunately, the test sample was shod in “wooden” “breeches” nicknamed Battlax - not the best option even for the city. What can we say about the track. On the other hand, this is the stock configuration of the device. And the impressions from such tires will be most correct not for athletes, who still immediately after purchase remake the floor of the motorcycle for themselves, but for those who always roll out the “stock” one, carefully observe the running-in conditions and in all seriousness believe that that little scratch on the the right side of the fairing is a terrible nuisance!..
Ten
The ergonomics of the “tenth” are well oriented towards tall pilots (which, however, does not mean that all kinds of dwarfs will be uncomfortable there). The overall styling is a 'no-compromise killer' look, with a heavy 'jaw' fairing hanging over the front wheel. The details of the composition are blows with a sword and, as a result, chopped forms that can be traced even in small fragments of the model. Against the background of competitors identical as pairs of socks, the heavy high-speed train from Kawasaki with the letter ZX-10R is instantly identified - a rare case in the modern world of same-sex marriage. But on the track we had a language barrier! Where is the promised 200 liters? With.?! Up to 10,000 rpm, even in the most “evil” mode of the three-stage power control system, the ferocious “ten” rides at the level of the 2008 Fireblade!.. Yes, after 10,000 rpm, a specially trained Japanese courier “brings” the missing ones into the park 50 l. s., and at this moment everything falls into place. Or rather, almost everything - the stock Ohlins steering damper is not able to handle so much power, the “nose” of the motorcycle dangles helplessly even on minor bumps and at almost all accelerations... And this is against the backdrop of a perfectly working suspension with untouched factory adjustments. In 2013 (we had a 2012 motorcycle, without ABS), the Japanese de facto acknowledged this flaw, equipping the motorcycle with a completely different steering damper: the same Ohlins, but electronically adjustable. In turns, there was an acute reluctance to “correct” and enter the correct trajectories. The motorcycle kept trying to float out, noticeably “expanding” the intended exits.
In other words, when maneuvering quickly, the ZX-10R becomes like a racing truck - yes, devilishly powerful, but rough to control, requiring a “powerful” or, if you prefer, a cargo-like driving style! It’s interesting that, looking at Sykes’s triumphant march in the last WSBK season, one could see confirmation of my conclusions. Tom is quite characterized by long slides at the exits of corners (which in the previous WSBK season led to premature destruction of the tires of his Kawasaki), constant power wheelies, “long-lasting” rear wheel slips and “sweeping” maneuvers on the track. Obviously, it was Sykes’s style that perfectly suited the character of the “ten,” which at times resembled a jet truck. However, the ZX-10R also has unconditional advantages that do not require any intervention or tuning even for serious sports: the stock braking system (in our case, without ABS) largely neutralized all the features I noted above, allowing you to slow down just as much late, like on 600 cc machines! At the same time, the force on the brake lever was always clear, “transparent” and did not change even after three sessions.
The “tens” tachometer tape is not the best solution; it is difficult to read. The same cannot be said about the speedometer numbers, which are clearly visible even from the passenger seat.
But where is the most powerful engine in the class, and where are the dividends from one of the most advanced and lightest chassis? After all, on the power stand the motorcycle showed characteristics very close to those declared by the factory! And there is also no reason not to trust the official figures in terms of curb weight. The point, as usual, is in the details: not the shortest base, slightly different distribution and centralization of masses than the opponents, slightly different ergonomics of the pilot’s seat, perhaps some other nuances invisible at first glance... Well, Of course, the main point: the engine delivers all its merciless samurai forces almost at the peak of speed - at 13,000 rpm. In the city, it is simply impossible to use the full potential with such settings, and on the track you get a dual situation: either you keep the crazy pace of a true champion, placing the electronic “worm” of the tachometer at 13,000 rpm, or you sadly play the role of a tourist, watching, as the happy owners of “torque” vehicles at medium speeds float past you. This is the truth of life - as harsh and merciless as the night ninja killers who bring quiet death to their “clients”.
But in our case, the Kawasaki ZX-10R itself was a victim of its formidable island ancestors. What about Tom Sykes? Come on - let's be honest: where is the WSBK championship motorcycle specially prepared to Superbike specifications, costing several hundred thousand euros, and where is the serial production for 15,000 euros?..
"In the line of fire." Review of the Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja motorcycle, 2005
The battles for the height of “1000 cm3” continue. The Kawasaki company, which over the past couple of years has let all its compatriot rivals get ahead, wants to take revenge. Will the new ZX-10R compete with the top-end Yamaha YZF-R1, Honda CBR1000RR and Suzuki GSX-R 1000?In the dynamic motorcycle world, if you relax a little, you will immediately find yourself on the sidelines. This happened with the Kawasaki company, which, having released a full-fledged liter Ninja in 2003 with outstanding characteristics (172 hp, which significantly exceeded the performance of competitors), decided to rest a little, considering the head start quite large. Naturally, rivals from the “Big Four” were not asleep, and by the end of 2005, Kawasaki’s car looked rather pale compared to its technologically advanced competitors. Then the concern prepared a new version of the ZX-10R Ninja. It’s a pity that now it looks like a game of catch-up, rather than a race.
With all that said, the second generation ZX-10R Ninja is certainly a great development. It just could have appeared a little earlier, and then Kawasaki would have received much more applause. There are no revolutionary changes in the model, but traditional technologies have been brought to perfection.
The motorcycle seems more massive compared to its predecessor, and the reason for this is the new tail, which would be at home on some kind of tourer. The new ZX-10R Ninja features exhaust pipes above the wheel. Moreover, the “ends” are not cast into a monolith in the modern fashion (like, for example, Ducati) and are not lowered to the pendulum, as was done before. The feasibility of the upgrade is clear - such an arrangement provides benefits due to the correct concentration of masses, as well as reducing aerodynamic drag. The press release states that on the first generation car, the tail shape and traditional exhaust with a muffler hanging on the side created significant turbulence.
The turn signals are also integrated into the smooth contours of the “body”, and only the sharp-angled mudguard somewhat disturbs the harmony. What to do, without it the driver’s back will be covered in a thick layer of dirt in bad weather. The rear brake light, of course, uses diodes, and the decoration of the head optics has also changed. The eyes of the headlights became smaller, the windows of the front turn signals turned white. The gills of the side air intakes have become a little coarser in appearance, and the central one (between the headlights, for the inertial charging system, which at speeds over 200 km/h provides an increase in power of up to 10 hp)) has become noticeably wider. The developers emphasize that top priority was given to appearance and aerodynamics. As a result, even at a speed of 280 km/h, the ZX-10R Ninja pilot feels as confident as at 150 km/h.
In addition, this confidence would not be possible without proven ergonomics. The upper part of the frame, and with it the false tank, became narrower, and therefore the load on the pilot’s legs decreased. At the same time, the footpegs were moved slightly up and back, which made the landing even more extreme and sporty. In the upper part of the tank there is a recess where it is convenient to “hide” on straights, and on the sidewalls there are linings made of friction material that prevent the knee from slipping when cornering. So the ZX-10R Ninja can no longer be called a sports tourer.
The engine displacement remained unchanged, and from the outside the power unit differs little from its predecessor. The new engine is more compact thanks to a higher-mounted crankshaft and a smaller crankcase. The generator and starter moved to the area behind the cylinder block, the inclination of which reached 23°, which is 3° more than the previous engine.
More changes inside. The designers decided not to participate in the power race (they already have some strength, at least lend it), but took the path of training the “horses.” Owners of previous ZX-10R Ninjas complained about their wild temperament; the explosive performance of the engine made it difficult to pilot, especially in corners. The effect of a stepwise increase in power is a typical problem with multi-cylinder motorcycles with short-stroke engines, and in this case they decided to combat it with the help of a heavier crankshaft flywheel than on its predecessor and a different injection system. As a result, the value of torque in the mid-speed zone has increased. The increase in both power and torque is now almost linear, without sudden bursts. So the driver can turn the throttle much earlier in a turn, without fear of a power surge and the rear wheel slipping. In addition, you need to understand that a heavier flywheel helps not only accelerate, but also engine braking. This moment is also good because it significantly increases the clutch life.
While we can only appreciate the fruits of engine modernization while driving, changes in the geometry of the chassis are also visible in photographs. The ZX-10R Ninja's rear swingarm and frame are new, and the powertrain is mounted higher. Therefore, the cylinder block is tilted more forward. Moreover, this arrangement did not lead to a noticeable rise in the center of gravity, but the overall mass balance of the motorcycle, according to the developers, has improved. It’s nice to note that, finally, the powerful liter “rocket” is already equipped with an Ohlins steering damper as stock. Previously, any buyer first installed it at his own expense.
The rear pendulum has also been modified; it has acquired a rather complex shape for the sake of greater rigidity. Its mount is located lower (this allows you to expand the range of suspension adjustments). All this together made it possible to use a tire with a higher profile - 55, which, in turn, causes less force on the motorcycle when cornering.
So can the new Ninja outshine its competitors? To get ahead as far as a few years ago is definitely not the case. It would be more correct to say that he took a place in the ranks of his own kind, which added interest to the intrigue in this class of motorcycles.
Victor Kryukov
AES-Moto technical center specialist
When designing the power unit, Kawasaki engineers placed the rotation axes of the crankshaft, primary and secondary transmission shafts not along one line, as usual, but at the corners of an imaginary triangle, which made it possible to significantly reduce the length of the internal combustion engine. The cylinder block is integrated with the crankcase to reduce the weight of the structure and increase its rigidity, and behind it is a three-phase brushless alternator. The use of a compact high-speed power supply reduces the width of the motor. More features of the “ninja heart”: Parts of the 16-valve gas distribution mechanism made of chrome-molybdenum steel. Pistons are “forged” (made from a die-stamped billet). 4 valves per cylinder for better purging, camshafts with specifically selected phases. Everything indicates that the motor was designed to operate in a mode close to the “cut-off”, which is confirmed by measurements on the bench - peak torque occurs at 11,754 rpm, peak power at 13,396 rpm. A slight dip in the torque curve after 12,000 rpm can be eliminated by replacing the exhaust with a direct-flow one. Refinement of the exhaust system will allow you to cross the line of 200 horsepower, but a miracle will not happen: at speeds up to 4000–5000 rpm, the torque will “fall” even more.
Preface.
This Kawasaki is from the 2004-2005 generation. Top ten. Design for everyone. The case when the form matches the content. Reminds me of some kind of evil insect. Its predecessor, the ZX9-R, was produced somewhere in the 90s. There's a whole story there. Evolution. And here is the result - an insect. Evil, poisonous green, scary. But when the eye gets used to it, you begin to notice that the spendthrift actually looks organic and even cute. There is something about him from the natural world, biological, living. The locust may be a worthless creature, but what a beautiful one! Introduction. Kawasaki entered the motor market later than the rest of the Japanese, so it was necessary to drive at high power. There is this spirit of recklessness floating around the greens. This “myth” was not created out of nowhere. Kavas were often not user-friendly, angry, capricious, sometimes volatile and often dangerous. It's in their DNA. The engine sometimes exceeded the capabilities of the chassis. In design, too, everything is on the surface. This is not the case when a spendthrift looks menacing and predatory, but in fact it is a new “Minsk”. Therefore, I, like many, preferred not to get involved and always chose Honda or Yamaha. It's somehow calmer with them. Suzuki is not impressive in appearance (except for the incomparable SV1000, how damn good it is, especially in that orange color of 2004!), and a liter jixer of any year is Simply a Personal Apocalypse (PPS)! This is not to say that Kawasaki is a marginal spendthrift. But until recently in the Russian Federation it was, perhaps, the most unpopular Japanese motorcycle brand. Then Kawasaki was the first to boldly release the mini-Ninja 250 onto our market and they were right. And now many models are equipped with ABS and traction, which is for the benefit of the market share... Well, that’s not the point.
First meeting. Once I stopped by to visit some motorcycle speculators I knew. They are busily pouring some kind of firewood out of a container. "What's this?" I ask. - Yes, they brought motorcycle beaters from Pindosia for the purpose of cosmetic restoration and further speculative sale. As usual, our condition is excellent, no mileage in the Russian Federation, in America my grandmother went to the bakery for milk. Yeah)
Grandmothers may travel 16-20 thousand miles there in bakeries, but then a satellite usually falls on the moto, or it gets hit by a train or flies off a bridge. And the grandmother decides to quickly drain the mot. Or the insurance company takes the spendthrift to pay mortgage premiums, forms a pool of broken spenders, issues highly rated securities against them, sells the securities, then the spendthrifts, the scam burns out and the bubble bursts!
I look at this disgrace, the sun is shining, the weather is whispering. - Which one, I say, is on the go? - Here's a liter of kava. Only there are no rear pads. Well, straight from under my grandmother - all covered in dust. Let me think I'll take it for a ride. Started up, rumbles into the chimney, snarls, gghhhrrrr! Poison drips from under the plastic. Just a walking dead man. Zombie. What kind of grandma is this, she gave you a ride... I warmed up. I sit down. I'm looking for first gear, nah... The box is fuzzy, it looks like it's about to crumble. I roll out of the gate, there is a clutch, the brakes are in place, the clip-ons seem to be screwed on, to the right, slowly, I taxi out, gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzz!!! The second one, this is the second one?...gaaaAAAAZZZZZZ, air, air for me!!! Oooooh, the adrenaline has started, let's fly! Vzhzhhhhhhhhh!.. Oop-op-op turn, exit, you need to slow down, get in, get ready... Whaaaat??? Samaaaaa??? Have you already turned??? Why did you give the angle so big? So naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa OOOOOOO!!! Basically there was a man and he disappeared. Then I called them back and said: “Ideally, keep my VTR-SP1, which you came with, keep it for yourself.” I'll take this trash, then we'll pay it off. Documentation? Forget about the documents with such an engine.
Kava (hereinafter referred to as Kava) was after... after... Maybe it was used in the war in Iraq, coke was transported from Mexico, or it was constantly stolen, I don’t know. It was applied to both sides. Attsky Ketai plastic - crumbles on the move, in some places it is secured with wire. Both footrests are broken and welded. The side stand was roughly shortened (unlikely for the purpose of reducing weight), and the moto stood on it at a terrible angle. The left cover is sealed tightly. The plastic nose, also known as the intake air duct, on which the entire muzzle rests, is broken where it is attached to the frame. The rear stop is stupidly clamped by plastic in its normal place and therefore does not fall out. The rear turn signal is bored alone. Someone climbed into the wiring, the ignition switch is barely holding on. The outlet is some kind of scary, narrow and long pipe, like a sausage. The tube is not attached, but it looks like it flew to the moon and back. Apparently installed after numerous falls. The lids of the tanks were not sawed off, which means there is hope that at least it didn’t tumble... But technically the engine was in good working order. Everything worked. All the iron is original. Everything is smooth. Except for the radiator curved around the front wheel, the size of a steam locomotive. The radiator is clean and intact. The wheels are polished. All details are in place. The box is fuzzy, almost like an endurik. This is fine. The frame is intact. In these years, it sometimes bursts at the engine mounting points. In 2004-2005 Something went wrong at the factory in the casting department (vacation/strike/corporate party?). And that’s why the frame ears on some dozens and the places where the monoshock absorber was attached to the pendulum on large Zizers sometimes burst. And to change spark plugs on a dozen, the engine must be removed. How can you not fall in love! It was like that when you fall in love with a woman who is not quite decent, you know? It was very captivating that despite the way it was cared for, it remained in good technical condition. I was converted to another faith. And how she drove, how she steered! I fell into turns like a prostitute in bed! And as befits a girl of easy virtue, she had no inhibitions! The front brakes were banging. This partly explained the rear pads that had worn out on the knees.
In general, since such a thing, I decided not to invest much, not to disturb the overall style and to enhance the appearance with minimal intervention while bringing the technical condition to ideal. There will be a flying zombie from America. Super zombies! Green Horror!
Tidying is easy, without special tools and shamans with tambourines, easily switching from obscene quantities to kilometers and degrees. There you go! She spoke “our way.” The tidy itself, in my opinion, is not great. It may be fashionable electronic for those years, but it is just half of a monochrome display from a large office calculator. Its main function is a digital speedometer. There is also a clock, coolant temperature, mileage. And for some reason there is a pale orange backlight. There is no gear indicator, but it’s so missing! But there is a snake game. A snake crawls around the speedometer - this is a tachometer. Horror! At those speeds when it would make sense to see where it was crawling, there is no time for that. This is where a slightly strangely customizable blinker comes to the rescue. These are several orange lights that light up sequentially, like in Formula 1. Cool! To set up the blinker, you need to use the instrument keys to force the snake to crawl to the speed where you would like the orange lights to start to light up. But the emeka constantly strives to crawl back into the hole. Very entertaining!
As you can see in the photo (the moped is not mine, I just looked at the advertisement) the clutch cable drive jacket runs over the tidy. At first I thought it was crooked American hands that assembled the bike incorrectly after another crash. But it turned out that way for everyone. When you turn the steering wheel to the right, the cable bends like a snake and blocks the view of the miracle device. I've never seen anything like this before. Well, what are the complaints? Everything works. We are not going to a reception with the Queen of England. Hurry up to the track. This Kava is a sports equipment and was simply born for racing!
By the way, on the next generation 2006-2007, the tidy was slightly improved. An arrow appeared instead of a weak-sighted snake. Already back and forth. Moto design is a subjective thing. Two pipes under the tail in the second ten is daring! But as for me, the Japanese artists screwed up the oval face that time. But with dynamics, they say no. But it wasn’t artists who worked there either.
So, having breathed new life into the scalapendra shell, oil, consumables, brakes, and some other little things, we started a new life with it. No travel within the Russian Federation! And our loved ones ran - kilometers, pits, primers, gasoline!
Main part. When the rear pads were installed, the brake began to block the rear wheel very sharply. For the first kilometers I was completely surprised. It seems that the pads have not yet been rolled in, but this is already such an effect! But even though the wheel is blocked, the moto still doesn’t stop! Some kind of mysticism. Inspection of the rear wheel revealed that the tires were installed... backwards! The Pindos couldn't figure it out without instructions from the wheel. Well, stupid!.. Or is this a trend? But the rear brake hose is reinforced, so serious! What a solution! We taxi to the nearest tire shop and, with a calm expression, ask to change the tires. As the work progressed, I had to explain that only the most advanced riders first roll the tires back to front, and then put them in the right way. At the same time, we are inspecting the front wheel... everything is in order.
The kava overflowed a lot. And as a result, I shot hellish blue flames from the pipe, and I constantly smelled of gasoline. Crazy Max. When the first euphoria passed and the disadvantages of the equipment smelling of gasoline began to outweigh the advantages of the fiery exhaust, I decided to still see what was what. An examination showed that the box under the passenger seat with the inscription power commander was showing signs of life and was trying to tell me something. When you turn on the ignition, it desperately blinks the lights in the area of the HIGH inscription. It became clear why the moto was overflowing. Black American little hands have been here too, and for some reason they turned the commander up to maximum fuel supply. A little internet and the issue was resolved by downloading the commander control program and injection control cards, which are freely available on the same website. Using a usb-mini usb cable, the commander was loaded with firmware for the MUZZY pipe, which was initially thoughtlessly (i.e., without any settings) installed by American colleagues. By the way, Programulina makes you feel like a guru in tuning motorcycles. You can add additional functions to the commander, play with the fuel supply level when opening/closing the throttle, etc. In general, interesting. The overflow immediately disappeared like the flame from the underworld.
The engine began to breathe more smoothly. And so do I - the air around me has become cleaner! From a light touch of the handle, the speed increased. Kava was screwing herself up. It seemed as if a turbine was spinning up in the engine. There seemed to be nothing special at the bottom, but if you unscrew the knob and wait a little, the moto fired like a slingshot. When accelerating at full throttle, the Kava flew into the spark plug completely uncontrollably and then you had to simply throw off the gas and fall on the tank, painfully hitting your head on it... If a low-end engine like a V-twin on a suzuki tlr, honda vtr or ducati, during powerful acceleration, tries to lift the wheel immediately and relatively smoothly, then Kava, if opened too quickly, can sharply and very unexpectedly lift the wheel into the sky, somewhere in the middle of the tachometer.
She can also show her teeth on the other side of the throttle. If the pilot began a dashing acceleration, and then suddenly became bored and wanted to close the throttle, then Kava can wobble. Yes, one that can throw off a careless rider if he doesn’t come to his senses and doesn’t step on the gas again. It turns out that this Kava is for those who have learned Zen. And there’s no need to install a damper on her, she doesn’t need one. A damper is needed in the head. Understand it better. Operate smoother with gas. If you use the moto correctly, nothing like this will happen.
Overclocking on Kava is such a meditation. First, you inhale and unscrew the handle a little. Then the faster the acceleration, the more you open it. But not quite completely. Wow. But you don’t make the gas less than it was, that’s it. Now relax and open the gas completely. You exhale. Switch to the second one and everything repeats again. You breathe smoothly and are in balance. The front wheel is above the ground - it levitates! In second gear, the Cava delivers about 180 km/h. At the same time, the height of the front wheel in space depends on the location of your spirit. And one more thing: take care of your karma, because a short throttle on this motorcycle is a one-way ticket.
And why? Because the chassis is very sharp and perfectly calibrated. The wheelbase is short. The pilot only adds to the chaos; the Kava itself drives great! In addition, she has character, her own wave. You sit on it and it seems to say: “Now let’s go, and quickly!” So stay there, try not to interfere. Don't turn off the gas, otherwise you'll walk! I'll tell you when we turn. I’ll lie down on my own for as long as necessary, the main thing for you is not to piss.” Kava only needs a pilot to fill it with gas. And so she rides for her own pleasure. She doesn't like half measures. If you go full speed, if you slow down, you go into smoke. Doesn't burn oil. And if you understand each other, then you are an ideal couple and move into the house.
Kava feels very light and nimble, like a bicycle. And still fragile. The race for weight loss is in full swing and the use of super light materials results in their fragility. These all sorts of magnesium alloys are everywhere on it. When driving on the highway, you get the feeling of flying on an arrow fired from a bow. It goes smoothly and steers accurately, and it doesn’t notice small imperfections in the road if you set the suspension to a softer setting. Aerodynamic comfort is also present. Kava gently and smoothly cuts through the air flow. There is an organic sense of life and design. The motorcycle is designed for flight. Behind the windshield there is peace and quiet, you can light a candle and pray at the same time. The pilot is comfortable. According to my personal, subjective feelings... After so many years...
While climbing into a wheelie, you can clearly hear and feel the moment when the incoming air flow stops flowing smoothly around the edges of the motorcycle and begins to make noise in the belly. And so, like a sailboat driven by sails, Kava rises into the candle by the force of the wind. You can cover the gas a little and catch the air flow, as if you were an albatross over the ocean sea. Truly green technology! I remember one day it was a particularly windy day, something like a storm warning. The city was half empty. Tree branches, packages and dogs flew past. Willie is especially exciting in such conditions. Aerodynamics can be felt with every fiber of the soul and the fifth point at the same time.
Many Kawasakis are united by their greed for turns, an easily spinning, powerful engine and slightly slow brakes. This creates a crazy cocktail of adrenaline. The cocktail is called Samurai Sword. The sword's balance is tilted in favor of the motor. So be careful! This would never be allowed at BMW. Compared to the S1000RR, the Kava rushes like crazy! It is likely that she is losing in real numbers. But they feel like two big differences. Also, compared to a BMW, it doesn’t slow down at all. And it falls into turns on its own. The absence of traction and abs adds thrills... Oh, what a hot little thing!.. You can often see people performing maneuvers not prescribed by traffic rules on the top ten. For example: alternating use of one front wheel or one rear wheel for driving on highways, sliding a motorcycle at high speed with the front wheel moving and the rear wheel locked, smoke on the streets due to the accelerated rotation of the rear wheel, improper cornering in a recumbent position, crossing uneven roads with all wheels coming off , And so on. What can you do, she provokes! It pumps you full of adrenaline like sausage makers with sodium nitrite. The main thing is not to turn into minced meat!
I used Kava for obvious reasons (not to go for milk), including for close combat - for trips within 400-500 km. Sometimes together, within one, preferably daylight, day. Not to say that the reason for this is light and that kava’s light is downright blind. No. But Kawasaki's optics are not its strongest point. The ratio of speed to light is heavily biased in favor of speed. Solved by installing xenon. Well, it’s time to check your eyesight, of course...
The comfort of the second co-pilot is also present. Passengers sometimes complained that it was scary in turns and that they were sliding down on me. But is this really a minus?? The seat is comfortable and its area is quite sufficient. Well, yes, the tail is lifted up a little. But what a view! The suspension is working. Quite comfortable. But when riding with a passenger on the S1000RR, an unpleasant aerodynamic effect appeared - the helmet began to sway from side to side at speeds over 150 km/h.
So, back to Kava and traveling with a passenger. On one of these trips, in the rain, as often happens towards the end of the trip, when I was all wet and tired, to my great regret, Kava was attached to a car that suddenly pulled out onto the road. So the stars aligned. No harm done. But it became clear that I would have to get married and the next one should be taken only with ABS.
The season was closed, and the bike was in a deplorable state (everyone was crying, even the buyer) was sold to one good person - a big fan of driving fast and tinkering with motorcycles. Once upon a time, he and I exchanged rides - I rode his Hayabusa, and he rode Kava. Then he really liked her. He knew her whole story. And neither this story nor Kava herself frightened him. Over the winter, the motor was restored and plastic surgery was performed - finally a new plastic was ordered and installed!
I was in search. The next generation of dozens was produced from 2008 to 2010. Motik is a masterpiece! Design in the style of an alien winner of an intergalactic beauty contest. The predatory look of optics, the aggressive tail of a scorpion. The mirrors are not just mass-produced, but in the Stealth style. The turn signals, like combat aircraft radars, hang on the mirror rods. Japanese instrument makers have finally created the perfect instrument panel! The tachometer has gained color, and the tidy makes sense. A normal bright red arrow appeared! The tachometer display is white! Up to 6 thousand, the markings are black, from 6 to 12 - where the spendthrift is clearly pushing hard - bright green! Exactly at 12 o'clock, after 12 thousand revolutions, the red zone begins - where you need to have time to switch. The gear indicator has appeared! Oh Gods! With the dynamics, too, they say, everything is in perfect order. The fan factor is great. The alien is very good!.. But there is no abs or traction yet. Having reproached him for the lack of these systems, we move on.
2011. Breaking traditions, the Japanese do not make a new design for the top ten, but improve the old one. And rightly so. The mot is excellent. A slight restyling in the form of a new coloring. I didn't find any other differences. The search continues. Meanwhile, there is a crisis. Financial. In the world. And I'm without a mooch. Maybe him? By the way, the update of the design of the six - the ZX6-R is always one year behind the top ten. Well, no, we are not considering six hundred.
2012 is approaching. True Kawasaki fans tremble and squeak. This year they will definitely release something new. Rumors are leaking. Power about 200 horses. There will definitely be ABS. It looks like there will be traction. Most likely it will be green. We wait. What will it be, evolution or revolution? Green skin moves in the closet, waiting for an even more perfect and beautiful model. I’m standing at the dealer’s door and hoping for the development of the theme of alien insects, Green Team, Monster Energy, all that. I'm trying to imagine what kind of hurricane it will be. And here it is!
Conclusion. A new generation is coming out. Almost all connections with the previous ones have been severed. A short tail, slanted headlights, chopped off shapes, sharp edges, all hewn and small. The design is not for me. Well, what about the tidy? Really! Here is the tidy of the Kawasaki ZX10-R 2012:
And here is a device from a 2001 Honda VTR SP-1:
They are separated by 11 years. Now you understand how long it took for the origin of life on Earth.
What is the dynamics of the new product? We look at reviews of foreign colleagues on TyTube. Fashionable and perfect like the Mona Lisa, the BMW s1000rr is breaking new ground. Everyone just talks about him. The season is starting soon. Need to do something. I look towards the BMW. So it turns out at the moment - he. They compare him with everyone, he is faster than everyone, more successful and whiter than everyone. Design? Freshly! I study the market, look at several devices. And then a profitable option comes across, with low mileage and with a quickshifter up. It'll do! On March 8th, a day off, I left the house to buy flowers for my beloved and at the same time bless myself. But that is another story.
But Kawasaki apparently thought of something and released the H2R in 2015. For Real fans.
Are you here now? Then I’ll tell you the rest of Kava’s story. Overall, Kawasaki can be assessed as a reliable motorcycle. It works, works, works. Despite everything. During not the most careful operation on two continents, absolutely nothing happened to the motor. I haven’t eaten butter, don’t eat it and don’t plan to. The mileage was under 30 tkm.
The new owner reveled in Cava's dynamics and obedience. He drew his Samurai Sword and, waving it, rushed around the city and beyond at enormous (!) speed. Meanwhile, Murabek arrived in the city. He took a VAZ-2110 donkey from his second cousin Zygot and went on business: to buy several meters of plinth, putty, plywood. It was hot. Murabek stood in the left lane in a dense traffic jam and remembered his homeland. In the car, music was playing somewhere from under the panel:
Here comes the caravan Along the shifting sands……… The third day without water The camels are thirsty……… He quietly looks into the distance And there is all the fog in his eyes……… A hurricane has blown……
Then Murabek remembered that he promised Zygot to put money on the phone. He knew a place and recently drove through it. While there was still a traffic jam, he decided to quickly turn around, get to the place, and then continue on his way. Steering wheel all the way to the left, oncoming traffic is empty, gas. When Murabek drove completely into the middle of the oncoming lane and looked to the right, he saw a headlight. It was daytime, but the headlight was bright and approaching quickly. Like a train. Murabek realized that he did not have time to leave the train and was dumbfounded. And then it became clear that this was not a train, but a motorcycle. The impact hit the rear right side of the car. The world spun around Murabek, the sound of shattering glass ringing in his ears. The collision caused the car to spin. The motorcycle flew to the side, and the pilot flew a few more meters and tumbled on the asphalt. Police, ambulance, documents, protocols. Zygot did not do OSAGO. But Murabek didn’t know how he ended up here. And Kamil’s car in general.
The motorcyclist is in hospital with moderate injuries. Murabek bought a plinth. Kamil left home a long time ago. And Zygot didn’t even know how he ended up here. In the absence of anything more significant, a motorcycle was delivered to the police department. Or rather, what was left of him.
The pilot recovered, but for health reasons he could not get behind the wheel for a long time. Now he feels good. Kava is currently a pile of rubble. But someday we will restore it. This will be the 4th reincarnation. So, probably, to be continued!
A curtain. For greater aesthetic artistry, the names of the characters have been changed.
This is how the story turned out and at the same time a review of the devices. All!
sake
In 2007, I was in Japan, and one of the first “obligatory” things to do was try sake—from the Japanese point of view, a serious alcoholic drink. You should have seen the face of one of the top managers of the largest Japanese concern (no matter which one) when I downed four drinks in one gulp, which the islanders expected to stretch out throughout the evening, and asked if it was possible to get hold of real vodka somewhere... The situation with the Kawasaki ZX-10R in many ways similar: this is a very good starting field, a real combat preparation, which for “pure” sport will require quite serious intervention and tuning. And it’s good when you have a factory racing division behind you, like Tom Sykes... On the other hand, for amateur track days and trips to “people” (in the case of Moscow, to the Observation Deck) the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is “smooth” and Very beautiful. Even more than beautiful: 200 l. pp., quite “edible” ergonomics, decent wind protection and the aura of a champion motorcycle. /
Specifications
The engine on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R fully meets sporting requirements.
Up close.
Like most sports motorcycles, the ZX-10R is equipped with a four-stroke gasoline engine, which has a huge advantage in acceleration.
Moreover, the working volume of such a power unit is 1000 cubic centimeters, for 4 working cylinders. And this is quite enough to accelerate the motorcycle from zero to hundreds in just 2.8 seconds .
| Model | Kawasaki ZX-10R |
| Motorcycle type | sports |
| Year of issue | 2004+ |
| Frame | aluminum |
| engine's type | 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, in-line |
| Working volume | 998 cm³ |
| Bore/Stroke | 76.0 x 55.0 mm |
| Compression ratio | 12.7:1 – ZX1000C-D 12.9:1 – ZX1000E-F 13.0:1 – ZX1000J-K, SR, ZX10RR, ZX-10R SE |
| Cooling | liquid |
| Number of valves per cylinder | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Fuel supply system | Injector, 4x Mikuni 43 EIDW – ZX1000C-D Injector, 4x Keihin TTK43 – ZX1000E-F Injector, 4x Keihin TTK47 – ZX1000J-K, ZX1000S-R, ZX-10RR, ZX-10R SE |
| Ignition type | transistor |
| Maximum power | 175.0 hp (128.4 kW) at 11,700 rpm – ZX1000C-D 188.0 hp (138.3 kW) at 12500 rpm – ZX1000E-F 200.0 hp (147.1 kW) at 13,000 rpm – ZX1000J-K 203.0 hp (149.3 kW) at 13500 rpm – ZX1000S-R, ZX-10RR, ZX-10R SE 213.0 hp (156.8 kW) at 13500 rpm – ZX1000S-R, ZX-10RR, ZX-10R SE (supercharged) |
| Maximum torque | 115.0 Nm (11.7 kg*m) at 9500 rpm – ZX1000C-D 113.0 Nm (11.5 kg*m) at 8700 rpm – ZX1000E-F 112.0 Nm (11.4 kg*m) at 11500 rpm – ZX1000J-K 114.9 Nm (11.7 kg*m) at 11200 rpm – ZX1000S-R, ZX-10RR, ZX-10R SE |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| type of drive | chain |
| Front tire size | 120/70 ZR17 (58W) |
| Rear tire size | 190/50 ZR17 (73W) – ZX1000C 190/55 ZR17 (75W) – ZX1000D+ |
| Front brakes | 2 discs, 300 mm, 4-piston radial calipers – ZX1000C-D 2 discs, 310 mm, 4-piston radial calipers – ZX1000E-K (K – KIBS ABS) 2 discs, 330 mm, 4-piston radial calipers – ZX- 10R (2016+) KIBS ABS |
| Rear brakes | 1 disc, 220 mm, 1-piston caliper (2011+ - optional KIBS ABS) |
| Front suspension | 43mm inverted fork (fully adjustable), 120mm travel Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS) – ZX-10R SE |
| Rear suspension | Uni-trak swingarm with monoshock (fully adjustable), 125 mm travel – ZX1000C-F Swingarm with horizontal monoshock (fully adjustable), travel – 140 mm – ZX1000J-K Swingarm with horizontal monoshock (fully adjustable), travel – 115 mm – ZX1000S-R, ZX10R SE, ZX10RR Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS) – ZX-10R SE |
| Motorcycle length | 2045 mm – ZX1000C 2065 mm – ZX1000D 2110 mm – ZX1000E-F 2075 mm – ZX1000J-K 2085 mm – ZX1000S-R, ZX10R SE, ZX10RR |
| Motorcycle width | 705 mm – ZX1000C-D 710 mm – ZX1000E-F 715 mm – ZX1000J-K 740 mm – ZX1000S-R, ZX10R SE, ZX10RR |
| Motorcycle height | 1115 mm – ZX1000C, ZX1000J-K 1130 mm – ZX1000D 1135 mm – ZX1000E-F 1145 mm – ZX1000S-R, ZX10R SE, ZX10RR |
| Wheelbase | 1385 mm – ZX1000C 1390 mm – ZX1000D 1415 mm – ZX1000E-F 1425 mm – ZX1000J-K 1440 mm – ZX1000S-R, ZX10R SE, ZX10RR |
| Seat height | 825 mm – ZX1000C-D 830 mm – ZX1000E-F 813 mm – ZX1000J-K 835 mm – ZX1000S-R, ZX10R SE, ZX10RR |
| Minimum ground clearance (clearance) | 125 mm – ZX1000C, ZX1000E-F 120 mm – ZX1000D 135 mm – ZX1000J-K 145 mm – ZX1000S-R, ZX10R SE, ZX10RR |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h | 3.12 sec. – ZX1000C-D 2.84 sec. – ZX1000E-F 2.90 sec. – ZX1000J-K 2.80 sec. – ZX1000S-R, ZX-10RR, ZX-10R SE |
| Maximum speed | 299 km/h |
| Gas tank capacity | 17.0 l |
| Motorcycle weight (curb) | 196 kg – ZX1000C 202 kg – ZX1000D 208 kg – ZX1000E-F 198 kg – ZX1000J 201 kg – ZX1000K (ABS) 206 kg – ZX1000S-R, ZX10RR 208 kg – ZX-10R SE |
Maximum speed
The maximum speed with these engine characteristics reaches 300 km/h, which is more than enough for city driving.
Fuel consumption
But on the highway, with a consumption of 5.5 liters per 100 km and a tank capacity of 17 liters , such a unit can drive about three hundred kilometers.
The shape of the gas tank is designed so that the rider can lie down comfortably at high speeds, reducing aerodynamic drag.
Transmission
For ease of movement in heavy traffic, engineers equipped it with a 6-speed manual transmission with a reliable chain drive .
Classic chain drive.
Suspension
Driver safety depends entirely on the fully automatic pendulum-type suspension and new generation disc brakes.
Front brakes with two discs.
Single disc rear brake.
