This is topic streetbike opinon in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://californiafords.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=032633

---

Posted by 4.6 EATIN GM'S (Member # 1633) on :
 
whats your opinions on the new kawasaki zx10?
i can get a 07 red zx10 brand new for $8999 and im thinking of getting it.anyone have expereince with one?
 

---

Posted by S281 #314.... AKA SydeWayzSix (Member # 3596) on :
 
Have you owned sportbike in the past? I've always wanted a 1000cc bike, but I was always told that the ZX10R's are insanely fast. If you dont have much riding experience, I'd stay away from a 1000cc bike, especially yje zx10r...just my 2 cents
 

---

Posted by Yaterstang (Member # 7659) on :
 
They do pack some good hp. Its all about preference really, the Kawis just seem a little behind the comparable bikes. An 06 GSXR 1000, would be a better choice if your not buying brand new. I like the new CBR 1000RRs right now
http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/1285741/
They dont have the rear undertail exhausts which make you reek and has a better stabalizer. The Kawi has a smokin motor, but handles less precise compared to the other bikes.

[ May 20, 2008, 04:06 AM: Message edited by: Yaterstang ]
 

---

Posted by jaejae (Member # 7958) on :
 
the zx10 is a great bike very fast and nice looking..but if you dont have alot of riding experiance then i wouldnt reccomend it...a gsxr 750 is ok to learn on and is still fast!
 

---

Posted by CobramanPhil (Member # 2170) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jaejae:
the zx10 is a great bike very fast and nice looking..but if you dont have alot of riding experiance then i wouldnt reccomend it...a gsxr 750 is ok to learn on and is still fast!

---

A gsxr is ok to learn on ????? That's a recipe for disaster. 99.9% of street riders will never use half the performance potential of a middle weight gsxr 750 on the street (that includes pro-plated guys that I know that still ride on the street).

I recommend noobs to get a beat up, non-fairing, used, non-production sportbike, with less then 600cc to learn on....

[ May 20, 2008, 05:07 AM: Message edited by: CobramanPhil ]
 

---

Posted by Dave50 (Member # 5238) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jaejae:
the zx10 is a great bike very fast and nice looking..but if you dont have alot of riding experiance then i wouldnt reccomend it...a gsxr 750 is ok to learn on and is still fast!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by CobramanPhil:

quote:

---

Originally posted by jaejae:
the zx10 is a great bike very fast and nice looking..but if you dont have alot of riding experiance then i wouldnt reccomend it...a gsxr 750 is ok to learn on and is still fast!

---

A gsxr is ok to learn on ????? That's a recipe for disaster. 99.9% of street riders will never use half the performance potential of a middle weight gsxr 750 on the street (that includes pro-plated guys that I know that still ride on the street).

I recommend noobs to get a beat up, non-fairing, used, non-production sportbike, with less then 600cc to learn on....

---

notice i said ok to learn on...im 16 and i learned how to ride on a 750...not hard just dont be throttle happy because it will put u on your back...or even worse..in a coffin...
 

---

Posted by STREETFIGHTER50 (Member # 2973) on :
 
i've had a 2004 zx10r & a 2006 zx10r. awesome bikes! but over all i think i'd go back to another 2006 gixxer 1k. it was just the best fit for me & most comfortable feeling around the corners-very confidence inspiring front end compared to the zx10's. my 2004 zx10r felt like the beast of all tho. monster motor-constant wheelie machine! also, fyi 2007 zx10r's were being blown out @ $7k otd not too long ago! shop around, leftover 2006-2007 zx10r's will go for way below the $9k u were quoted.
 

---

Posted by adower (Member # 5955) on :
 
Anyone who says they learned on a 750 or 1000 cc bike has no idea. You havent learned anything about riding a bike. You have learned to go in a straight line and thats it. If you really want to learn how to ride get a small bike 250 or 500 cc bike. Develop your skills and then move up. At track days there are guys on 250 cc bikes running CIRCLES around guys on bigger bikes.
 

---

Posted by ugotsmoked (Member # 6069) on :
 
GSXR 750! I would ony get the 1000 because it comes in white.
 

---

Posted by 925GT50 (Member # 2683) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by adower:
Anyone who says they learned on a 750 or 1000 cc bike has no idea. You havent learned anything about riding a bike. You have learned to go in a straight line and thats it. If you really want to learn how to ride get a small bike 250 or 500 cc bike. Develop your skills and then move up. At track days there are guys on 250 cc bikes running CIRCLES around guys on bigger bikes.

---

quote:

---

I dont care what bike you learn on, every car driver still pulls out in front of you, they dont know the cc of the bike.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by adower:
Anyone who says they learned on a 750 or 1000 cc bike has no idea. You havent learned anything about riding a bike. You have learned to go in a straight line and thats it. If you really want to learn how to ride get a small bike 250 or 500 cc bike. Develop your skills and then move up. At track days there are guys on 250 cc bikes running CIRCLES around guys on bigger bikes.

---

That would be me I came from doing motocross as a kid and then getting a little 250 for track duty (never road it on the street). The bigger bikes would always zoom by me in the straights (especially on the starts), but I would always end up 10-15 seconds ahead of them at the start/finish line of each lap To be honest I never really gave it much thought(just too excited to do track days for free via the parent's fund), but people would comment and laugh at each other and nicknamed me the "bumble bee bike kid" since it was repainted bright yellow and I would always out brake the other riders in the corners (and yes that bike buzzed with the weirdo type of stinger exhaust on it)

I bust up laughing when street riders tell me that they need a bigger bike because they feel that they utilized the full potential of the bike's capabilities (eg. gsxr 600/750). Then I ask them how much they slide the front end through corners and how often they drag their elbows on the street...that usually gets a blank stare

[ May 20, 2008, 04:02 PM: Message edited by: CobramanPhil ]
 

---

Posted by 2stangs69-91 (Member # 1951) on :
 
just make sure your ready for the power. a 600 GSXR will run 10's and do 160 mph so it will kill you also.

I ride alot so I pay attention to this...in my area more people have been killed on harleys and big cruisers(harley looking jap bikes)latley than anything else. It isn't that close either these big bikes have less room for error on handling and braking and people miss corners and they die. I am starting to come around on the crotch rocket thing some. Most people who die on those ride with a death wish. I think a good cautious rider on a crotch rocket has a much better chance of survival because of the handeling and the braking they have. I am a big guy so I like big bikes. The way I ride my bike I would be safer on a crotch rocket. lol I still bust through the mountains and do over 100 alot I just tend to do it when we ride in remote areas. good luck on what ever you decide to get.oh BTW ZX10's are very nice bikes but I would shop around for a better deal on a year old new version.

[ May 20, 2008, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: 2stangs69-91 ]
 

---

Posted by Blue Oval (Member # 2548) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Yaterstang:
They do pack some good hp. Its all about preference really, the Kawis just seem a little behind the comparable bikes. An 06 GSXR 1000, would be a better choice if your not buying brand new. I like the new CBR 1000RRs right now
http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/1285741/
They dont have the rear undertail exhausts which make you reek and has a better stabalizer. The Kawi has a smokin motor, but handles less precise compared to the other bikes.

---

HONDA CBR 1000RRs !!
 

---

Posted by 93 CHP (Member # 8240) on :
 
yea the zx10's are sick bikes but I always liked the gsxr's
 

---

Posted by 93venom (Member # 778) on :
 
Ill be getting a drz400sm soon- supermotos are effin fun in the twisties, not enough power to get yourself into to much trouble either-def a good fun learner bike
 

---

Posted by 95GTConvtACE (Member # 6399) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by 925GT50:

quote:

---

Originally posted by adower:
Anyone who says they learned on a 750 or 1000 cc bike has no idea. You havent learned anything about riding a bike. You have learned to go in a straight line and thats it. If you really want to learn how to ride get a small bike 250 or 500 cc bike. Develop your skills and then move up. At track days there are guys on 250 cc bikes running CIRCLES around guys on bigger bikes.

---

x2 Im getting a 250 I aint really ridden much but ive been wanting a bike for the summer. Gas on 2 V8's is insane right now. When I develop enough skills/confidence I can always move up to a bigger bike.

---

If you want a beginner bike try this. The 2008 Kawasaki 250. Looks like a 600 with the price tag of a 250. Brand new MSRP is 3450. Good luck trying to get one though. They can't keep them in stock anywhere I have looked. Trying to get one for my fiance to learn.

It almost looks like my 2007 cbr 600.

You should just get a 600. My bike is suppose to be able to do 10.4 on a 1/4 mile (professional Driver). If you need to go faster than that on the street, just make sure that you follow the advice from a lot of the other people on here. Get some ride time in first. I sure am glad I started with a 600. This is plenty fast for me. The only car I have lost to was that damn Ariel Atom. I have not lost to a bike yet either. Racing also involves how skilled the driver is, not just the cc in the bike.
Last but not least, look over this website before deciding to go out without any protective gear. It changed my riding behaviors for sure.
http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm

[ May 21, 2008, 02:08 AM: Message edited by: 95GTConvtACE ]
 

---

Posted by z pyro (Member # 3745) on :
 
a modern I4 liter bike is an absolutely unnecessary and unintelligent purchase for somebody with little or no riding experience. anybody who tells you different is a poor rider themselves, or just doesn't give a shit about you, your health or your life. people don't seem to fathom just how fast those bikes are, and just how fast you can die on them. one false move is all it takes, and you're done. you have no protective cage, and if you're anything like all the other idiots, you don't even wear protective gear like leathers, boots, or gloves.

modern 600+ I4 bikes are peaky, twitchy, and unforgiving. also, as someone else already said, you absolutely will not, unless you're some kind of riding legend, ever bring the bike anywhere close to its limits. most of us probably couldn't even ride a 250 to its limits.

if you absolutely need to buy a literbike to compensate for something, then by all means, go for it. just don't expect any sympathy from people when you wreck it because you didn't know what you were doing.

if, on the other hand, you actually want to learn how to become a competent rider, there are LOTS of bikes that will work. if you're too insecure to be seen on a 250, older 600s are much less insane, and make much less power. look into CBR F2s and F3s. my first bike was a salvaged '98 YZF600R, and it was a pretty awesome beginner bike. more than enough power to satisfy, yet not so much that you were afraid to ride it like it was meant to be ridden. I would scrape my foot on the ground while riding on particularly twisty roads, and kept up with larger bikes with ease, since the riders of the other bikes relied on their speed in the straights, and rode like shit in the corners. older bikes are, obviously, much cheaper, and when you drop them (not if), it doesn't hurt as much as if it were a brand new bike.

bottom line, use some maturity and self control when it comes to selecting a bike. it could very well be the difference between years of riding, and just being another statistic
 

---

Posted by Yaterstang (Member # 7659) on :
 
I dont think the original poster ever mentioned his skill or experience level to any of us. Didnt he just ask our opinion on the Zx10, not if he should choose a 600 or 250 or whatever. In my opinion every single bike has a different feel. And when you get a new one it takes time to get married or become one with your bike to where you are completely confident with its power and handling capabilities. You know, where your draggin knee, poppin wheelies, doing stoppies and splitting traffic. I'd say if you have any buddies with the ZX10, see if you could roll it and make your decision on that.

[ May 21, 2008, 02:29 AM: Message edited by: Yaterstang ]
 

---

Posted by 95GTConvtACE (Member # 6399) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Yaterstang:
I dont think the original poster ever mentioned his skill or experience level to any of us. Didnt he just ask our opinion on the Zx10, not if he should choose a 600 or 250 or whatever.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by STREETFIGHTER50:
i've had a 2004 zx10r & a 2006 zx10r. awesome bikes! but over all i think i'd go back to another 2006 gixxer 1k. it was just the best fit for me & most comfortable feeling around the corners-very confidence inspiring front end compared to the zx10's. my 2004 zx10r felt like the beast of all tho. monster motor-constant wheelie machine! also, fyi 2007 zx10r's were being blown out @ $7k otd not too long ago! shop around, leftover 2006-2007 zx10r's will go for way below the $9k u were quoted.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by 95GTConvtACE:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Yaterstang:
I dont think the original poster ever mentioned his skill or experience level to any of us. Didnt he just ask our opinion on the Zx10, not if he should choose a 600 or 250 or whatever.

---

I guess this is true. He might be some professional driver and all too.lol

---

You would think a pro rider would eat, breathe and crap bike information so I doubt it
 

---