ZX10R Gen 1 - Rabid Dog or a Pussy Cat ?
Discussion
Big fan of these, but surprisingly I have never owned one!
I must have been amongst the first to get the brochure in early 04 when they were launched, but seperation and a later divorce / shafting, put the stops on buying one.
I had only recently bought my first 98 R1 in early 2004, ( the second one sold here ) which I loved, but I was a long time / Big Kawasaki fan, having owned H1 and H2 Triples, a Z900, two GPZ750 Turbos, three GPZ 550s, two GPX600s, four RX1000s and two GPX750s.
A never to be forgotten " spirited ride " with two peeps, one on a SRAD 750 and the other on a near new, green 04 10R is my outstanding memory of 04.
Had a very short 1st / 2nd gear test ride and Almost bought a very low miles green 04 one, about two years ago, but it's history didn't add up.
Anyone on here buy a new one / owned one ?
Edited by neutral 3 on Saturday 13th April 11:05
They are a great bike but I don't get the "they're as mad as a hatter" hero worship.
I rode a few of them when they first came out and from what I felt at the time it was no more of a handful that the new R1.
The lack of a steering damper contributed to "they're a handful".
The 04 Fireblade was a real damp squid, only Honda could have made a 1000cc sports bike that boring.
I rode a few of them when they first came out and from what I felt at the time it was no more of a handful that the new R1.
The lack of a steering damper contributed to "they're a handful".
The 04 Fireblade was a real damp squid, only Honda could have made a 1000cc sports bike that boring.
Biker's Nemesis said:
They are a great bike but I don't get the "they're as mad as a hatter" hero worship.
I rode a few of them when they first came out and from what I felt at the time it was no more of a handful that the new R1.
The lack of a steering damper contributed to "they're a handful".
The 04 Fireblade was a real damp squid, only Honda could have made a 1000cc sports bike that boring.
Do'nt agree John, more aggresive than an 04R1, no faster but sharper.I rode a few of them when they first came out and from what I felt at the time it was no more of a handful that the new R1.
The lack of a steering damper contributed to "they're a handful".
The 04 Fireblade was a real damp squid, only Honda could have made a 1000cc sports bike that boring.
Short wheelbase made them a bit flighty.
Great bike though.
twizellb said:
Do'nt agree John, more aggresive than an 04R1, no faster but sharper.
Short wheelbase made them a bit flighty.
Great bike though.
...And when a steering damper was fitted it calmed them down.Short wheelbase made them a bit flighty.
Great bike though.
I don't agree with you not agreeing with me William so lets agree to disagree.
If you know what I mean.
I had 2 
both 05 models.
Fantastic bikes. My brother bought his 05 same time as me and still has his and has about 4k miles on it, maybe less.
Stonking engine, desperately needs a good steering damper on it. I found it handled better on diablo’s than bridgestones.
Also needs a good suspension set up to get her to handle well and keep it stable.
If ever my brother decides to sell his I’ll be first in the queue
both 05 models.Fantastic bikes. My brother bought his 05 same time as me and still has his and has about 4k miles on it, maybe less.
Stonking engine, desperately needs a good steering damper on it. I found it handled better on diablo’s than bridgestones.
Also needs a good suspension set up to get her to handle well and keep it stable.
If ever my brother decides to sell his I’ll be first in the queue
poo at Paul's said:
05 better than 04, reliability wise, and watch out for cracked frames.
Belter of a bike, but at the money they are making, now, add another £750 to budget and you are into a 2009 version and they're proper weapons.
I bought an 09 and still have it. Such a bargain £7500 new. Great bikes too. I missed the ‘barrow’ model out as i wasn’t a fan of the styling and still aren’t. The 09 had a couple of small issues that should have been rectified under warranty.Belter of a bike, but at the money they are making, now, add another £750 to budget and you are into a 2009 version and they're proper weapons.
The 05 & 09 are totally different bikes but like poo says, the price between the 2 is small and the 09 would win it for the extra few hundred £’s
Ho Lee Kau said:
Always thought about one of these, there were quite a few low-mileage ones on the market till a couple of years ago (now all gone, and only a few high mileage ones are for sale), but went for K5 GSXR1000 (and would do that again, given the choice between the two).
Good K3 / 4 feature.
SAS Tom said:
A mate had one for a while. It seemed like hard work on track as it just seemed to want to wheelie all the time so he was always hesitant on corner exit. It was rapid down the straights, easily faster than bikes with supposedly more power.
Natural road bike successor to the 98/99 R1 then.Biker's Nemesis said:
They are a great bike but I don't get the "they're as mad as a hatter" hero worship.
I rode a few of them when they first came out and from what I felt at the time it was no more of a handful that the new R1.
The lack of a steering damper contributed to "they're a handful".
The 04 Fireblade was a real damp squid, only Honda could have made a 1000cc sports bike that boring.
Damp squid for you, stable for someone else. ;-)I rode a few of them when they first came out and from what I felt at the time it was no more of a handful that the new R1.
The lack of a steering damper contributed to "they're a handful".
The 04 Fireblade was a real damp squid, only Honda could have made a 1000cc sports bike that boring.
Haven't tried 04 Fire myself, but yours is the general opinion, maybe after the lively 954 it was paradigm change about what Fireblade is.
neutral 3 said:
Ho Lee Kau said:
Always thought about one of these, there were quite a few low-mileage ones on the market till a couple of years ago (now all gone, and only a few high mileage ones are for sale), but went for K5 GSXR1000 (and would do that again, given the choice between the two).
Good K3 / 4 feature.
I could not jell with it at all, although it was a little modified.
Sold it within a year.
The K5/K6 though (mine was also suspension/brakes modified) - sweet spot of classic GSXR1000, I loved mine, only due to potential heavy bills did I switch to L7 GSXR1000, otherwise I would ride the K5 still.
I would go for K5 again, problem is - difficult to find a low mileage one.
Last year I found, in Germany, an amazing one, Corona paint, low mileage, Troy Corser signature on it, I was having almost Trainspotting kind of abstinence effects, so much I wanted to have it. I was looking at it every day...but I couldn't have it.
I was praying someone would finally buy it to take me out of my misery. When it got sold I had a consolation drink.
Oh, that was the bike:
:-(
Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Sunday 14th April 08:25
I had wanted to try a K5 / K6 for absolutly ages ( all of the mags rave over how it is The definitive super bike and BMW used it as the basis of the S1000RR - yet copied Yamaha by running the gear lever through the frame ) when a pal told me he needed out of his “ tweaked “ 167hp Yoshi colours K6.
I spent an after noon out on his K6, i really wanted to like it and had the £ readies on me, but to say i was deeply under whelmed is an under statement.
Compared to my “ mildly tweaked / Akra can, Dyno Jet kit, K+N filter “ very early 98 R1, the K6 needed to be reved far far harder to get it to go and had nothing like the amount of low and particularly mid range “ Grunt “ which makes the carbed R1 such a quick / stunning road bike.
The Suzukis riding position was not as roomy, particularly its seat to peg hight, it felt lighter, ( but i keep a disc alarm lock and a full tool kit under the R1s rear seat ) its brakes were better, but not by much, its OE suspension was definatly better ( the early R1s were let down Badly by their Yen cheapo shock and forks, as was the FZR1000R Exup ) the Suzukis build quality isnt a patch on the R1s and its switch gear is of an inferior quality ( the indicator switch had seized on this 9,000 miles bike ) and whilst i really liked the Yoshi colours, the K5 / 6s styling does not make one want to glance back over ones shoulder at it. Lack of rear under seat stowage space compared to the R1 was another factor.
So in the end i turned it down ( at just £1,900 quid i may add ! )
No doubt on a track, the K6s abilities must still be huge and i fully under stand why they have such a following.
If i were rich, then my super bike collection, would definatly include one.
neutral 3 said:
I had wanted to try a K5 / K6 for absolutly ages ( all of the mags rave over how it is The definitive super bike and BMW used it as the basis of the S1000RR - yet copied Yamaha by running the gear lever through the frame ) when a pal told me he needed out of his “ tweaked “ 167hp Yoshi colours K6.
I spent an after noon out on his K6, i really wanted to like it and had the £ readies on me, but to say i was deeply under whelmed is an under statement.
Compared to my “ mildly tweaked / Akra can, Dyno Jet kit, K+N filter “ very early 98 R1, the K6 needed to be reved far far harder to get it to go and had nothing like the amount of low and particularly mid range “ Grunt “ which makes the carbed R1 such a quick / stunning road bike.
Sounds like something was wrong with the K6. I had a 99 R1 with Maxton/ohlins suspension, and a full Akra system that made 147 bhp on BSD's dyno. My K6 was stronger over 4k, and dropping the yokes and putting a spacer on top of the shock sorted out the turn in. Talk of the BMW being based on the Suzuki is a bit of a myth, sure they pulled some to bits, but the 2 bikes have little in common.I spent an after noon out on his K6, i really wanted to like it and had the £ readies on me, but to say i was deeply under whelmed is an under statement.
Compared to my “ mildly tweaked / Akra can, Dyno Jet kit, K+N filter “ very early 98 R1, the K6 needed to be reved far far harder to get it to go and had nothing like the amount of low and particularly mid range “ Grunt “ which makes the carbed R1 such a quick / stunning road bike.
).blade7 said:
Sounds like something was wrong with the K6. I had a 99 R1 with Maxton/ohlins suspension, and a full Akra system that made 147 bhp on BSD's dyno. My K6 was stronger over 4k, and dropping the yokes and putting a spacer on top of the shock sorted out the turn in. Talk of the BMW being based on the Suzuki is a bit of a myth, sure they pulled some to bits, but the 2 bikes have little in common.
I can assure you that that Yoshi K6 had nothing wrong with it ( apart from a few scuffs and a bent left bar, from a few days before, by hi siding my pal, against the wall of the Blackwall tunnel, when he gave it too much gas ) It had just recently been dynod @ 167hp ( although i treat All dynos with a pinch of salt )
The very first R1s had 5 hp more than the later 98s as well.
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