Thanks Hub... I cleaned it up and regreased threads and axle spindle with Molybdenum Disulfide Paste and retorqued to spec at 170ft-lbs +/- 5%.

I love the Ducati single sided swingarm, piece of cake to change a tire!

Rode the 1299 this morning for first time on new Pirelli Super Corsa SP V4 rubber, what a dream machine! As it stands at the moment,BMW is first, '16 ZX-10R and 1299 tied for second spot and very close to the BMW.

Only negatives on the 1299, slightly fluffy fueling at low revs and engine heat, wins hands down in the engine character department. ZX-10R has weak low end to low midrange torque response but its a rocket beyond 9000 rpm and turbine smooth. BMW has no real faults except for engine vibration above 10,000 rpm that can be felt in handlebars and foot pegs and stiffer suspension response than the other two.

V4 and RSV4 fill the last two spots in the top five, they're too freekin' fast for the road, heat and poor slow speed manners hold them back although they top virtually every category on paper, track might be a completely different kettle of fish.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/13/2025 @ 5:35 PM *

Bad day on Wednesday, a riding buddy was following me on his 1198 Ducati and overcooked a fast sweeper and lowsided at around 100 mph. He spent three days in the hospital with a broken collarbone, concussion, seven broken ribs, punctured lung and a pulled groin muscle. He's lucky to have made it out alive and will ride again, hopefully in a few months. The 1198 was not as fortunate and was reduced to scrap metal. Ride safe!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/19/2025 @ 8:33 PM *

Bummer man. Ducati still use the design with the front bolted directly to the engine? I was always intrigued with that measure to reduce weight but the tradeoff was that it was known to break off in a crash. At first, that's what I thought I was looking at but I see some round tube frame with a steering neck in the second to last pic. If that's what it is, the frame held up but the triple tree didn't. I'm guessing the steering mechanism held but the plates that fasten to it shattered. It was probably not just a crash and slide scenario. I bet that bike tumbled and maybe landed nose down on its front tire.

Glad the rider is alive. I give it three months before he's riding again. The collar bone might haunt him the rest of his days though.

How's your leg you busted years back, John? I don't remember you complaining about any pain since years ago. You keep really active and you have much better quality of life even if it costs you a couple years over the long haul.

Thanks Rook, my buddy is doing much better and now walking with assistance of a cane, I guessed two months before he's back riding again but your estimate might be closer, I was a nut job and back riding in a month. I haven't had time to examine the wreckage that closely and there were no witnesses except the guy on the Triumph who we have not been able to contact yet. You are correct, this was not a simple low side crash, the bike cartwheeled, the rider was knocked out instantly from the road impact and was out for several minutes. Front end was roughly 100 feet from the rider and the rest of the bike. Front fairing and radar detector are still MIA, one of the guys is going to drive out there and canvass the area today for those items. Perhaps Hub can shed some light on what broke here? I have recovered as good as I am going to recover from my crash, no hip or leg pain after 10 years but your body never forgets impacts like this and working out everyday helps keep me going. Stay safe out there!

This was the older design 2010 1198 with full welded steel tube trellis frame, not the frameless monocoque Panigale design introduced in 2012. BTW, turns out the bike had Pirelli Corsa Rosso 4 tires, the owner had ordered Super Corsa
SP V4 track rubber but the vender shipped him the Rosso 4s by mistake and he decided to use them, big mistake! I have experience with the Rosso 4s and they are a decent road tire but not made for aggressive riding like he was doing, front end tucked under hard trail braking, basically overloaded the front end with predictable results. Hub can weigh in here with his expert opinion...

Rider took it in the weeds and tumbled? Humans can take a hit and walk away, that's for sure. Lucky guy. These kind of crashes makes our breaks the will to get back on. Soon as I stood up on my last crash, it was an instant, 'this won't stop me from riding again.'

Yeah, that duc took a fly by ride. My guess it had altitude to snap that triple apart. I don't see any dirt on a white fairing, though. Going to guess the main impact was all that energy to crack that upper crown in half. No nut showing at the triple's stem.

Probably spun the nut off, took a hit again and bent the triple's stem as it was falling out of the neck. You can see the crease at the lower part of the stem then another more near at the middle of the stem.

Upper crown and steering stem gets it back in the road. Fuck all that plastic shit. Pull the frame and have it checked out. Easy fix, no?

Rider took it in the weeds and tumbled? Humans can take a hit and walk away, that's for sure. Lucky guy. These kind of crashes makes our breaks the will to get back on. Soon as I stood up on my last crash, it was an instant, 'this won't stop me from riding again.' He's the same way Hub, should be back in a few months

Yeah, that duc took a fly by ride. My guess it had altitude to snap that triple apart. I don't see any dirt on a white fairing, though. Going to guess the main impact was all that energy to crack that upper crown in half. No nut showing at the triple's stem. That was what I was thinking also Hub, a lot of impact energy to break that front end off like that...

Probably spun the nut off, took a hit again and bent the triple's stem as it was falling out of the neck. You can see the crease at the lower part of the stem then another more near at the middle of the stem. Good analysis Hubster...

Upper crown and steering stem gets it back in the road. Fuck all that plastic shit. Pull the frame and have it checked out. Easy fix, no?

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/23/2025 @ 7:42 AM *

Hub, I'm about ready to do Part III and it is going to really shake things up, top three spots right now are BMW S1000RR, followed closely by the '16 ZX-10R and the '11 ZX-10R, notice these are primarily road oriented superbikes, the next three spots are 1299 Ducati, V4 Ducati and RSV4, probably the fastest bikes and most race oriented but don't work as well in a back road environment, too track focused.

The two ZX-10Rs are the least expensive of this group by a margin but really work well on the backroads. Mother Teapot scores two top three finishes on a budget...

ZX-14 is way down on my favorites list, fast, torquey, comfortable and smoooth but let down a bit by old school brakes, weight and way behind on tech, getting long in tooth these days but the old girl has had a good 19 year run.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/25/2025 @ 7:19 AM *

Ready for Part III, Kruz.

Categories sound more even, being the fleet you hold.

Ready for Part III, Kruz.

Categories sound more even, being the fleet you hold.

Coming soon Hub, I need to update photos of the older bikes, have done a few mods on them in the past few years, nothing huge though.

Hub, at the risk of sounding fickle, I might have just found numero uno and it's not the BMW...

Just came back in from a hot lap on the Ducati V4 and decided it is a near perfect sport machine.

There a few niggles to be sure, the first two gears are restricted in stock form, fueling is a bit fluffy off idle requiring some deft clutch work to get off the line smoothly, side stand is too short resulting in a bike that feels heavy pulling it up off the stand, the two front cylinders deactivate in neutral causing the engine to sound like a wheezy air compressor. Oh and it sheds heat off the rear exhaust loop like a blast furnace, roasting your spuds in the bag!

Other than that, once underway it's ultrasmooth and fast sailing, rocket like top end thrust to the 15,000 rpm redline, razor sharp handling that feels almost telepathic, super smooth, vibration free engine character, brick wall brakes with superb feel and modulation, corners like a well setup 600, supremely stable and builds speed like nothing else.

I have only 621 mile on this bike and already nearing favorite status.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/1/2025 @ 12:18 PM *

So you're not saying it's cramped after being on it for any length of time? Heavy on the wrists, back stressed out, noting like that for a tall guy as you?

No sir, super comfortable actually, rode the RSV4 this morning and it is a superfast, Italian V4 pasta rocket as well, ticks all the boxes just like the V4 Ducati but more grunt down low, pulls hard out of the corners like nothing else and so smooth. I think I'm starting to learn how to ride the faster race bikes on the road now, they seem more manageable than in the past when really pulling the trigger.

Remember my top three bikes are all close to or over the 200 rear wheel HP mark, RSV4 is King Daddy followed closely by the V4 and S1000RR. The rest of the bikes are down a bit with exception of the 1299, which on paper at least is Torque King and still pushing over 180 HP at the back tire. So they are harder to use on the road then the Jap 1000CC machines. BMW is good because it is both fast and very easy to ride which makes it a good road weapon.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/1/2025 @ 12:06 PM *

Hub, we have a new King of the Road and it's a bit of a surprise because it's one of my cheapest motorcycles.

Yes, Mother Teapot scores another amazing victory on a budget!

I have back to back ridden all of these bikes, put them on fresh track oriented RS11 and Pirelli Super Corsa SP rubber and thrashed them mercilessly on fast paced road rides and one bike comes out on top, my 2016 ZX-10R just barely beats out the 2020 BMW S1000RR for glory.

It wins because it is so competent in so many areas but has almost zero faults. Niggles, high footpegs making for a cramped seating position, lacks low end torque and uhhhhhh, that's about it.

Brakes, Brembo M50s, are near the top for feel and modulation, bike is super agile and also stable, tracks the apex with laser focus, looks good, has been ultra-reliable, easy to maintain and is relatively easy on tires. Also, the suspension is the best of any sportbike I haved own, plush and controlled, the BMW suspenders are really good but a bit stiff, ideal for the racetrack but not as much on the road.

The BMW has slightly better brakes, looks ace, has slightly better seat to footpeg position, slightly more agile but also less stable, has way better bottom end grunt and on paper about 30 more top end rear wheel HP but it's not really useable on the road.

At the end of the day they are both amazing road going sportbikes but I feel just a tiny bit more confident pushing the Kwacker to it's limits on road.

I was really splitting hairs between these two and in the end it was almost impossible to make a final decision.

Third spot for now is my new 2024 V4 Panigale, followed by the 2016 1299 Panigale and the 2021 RSV4 in fifth spot.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/1/2025 @ 1:51 PM *

Impressive the kawi tops the list. The 14 probably has the same geometry as the 1000, like the BM has the same steering feel as the boxer twin. I could be wrong, but rode a BM at a trackday and felt like I was riding my GS.

Hubster, the BMW feels very Japanese, like they copied a GSXR1000 and upped the power and refinement a bit, probably why I gelled with it instantly, the Ducatis and Aprilias take a bit of getting used to as they have a totally different feel. ZX-10Rs feel most at home for me, even my old '11 10R can run with this bunch, just down a bit on peak power and has minimal tech, basic TC but no QS or Autoblipper. I'll do the Part III soon, if there is ever a Part IV we might see the Euro bikes back on top, they have the most power, especially the V4s but few concessions to road comfort, most race bike like feel and might dominate on track but fast road is a different animal. Look at Isle of Man TT, Superstock machines are faster than BSB race bikes on that course in many instances, short course race bikes don't work as well on a real world race course with sketchy road conditions.

Yep my 14 feels really good still, let down only by high weight and old school brakes. If I could shed a butt load of weight, tighten up the suspension and modernize the brakes, it could be a contender on the back roads. It has good bones, just 19 year old tech holding it back. It still has the power and speed to run with the race bikes just unravels a bit when pushing it near it's limits on road where the race bikes feel like they're in their element.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/29/2025 @ 7:20 AM *

Rode the baby Kwacker today, brilliant little bike since I raised the rear end about 8mm, was running wide on corner exits but now tracks the apex like a guided missile, really fun little machine and almost as quick as it's older brothers.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/1/2025 @ 12:09 PM *

Rode my '15 Honda Repsol CBR1000RR SP this morning, kind of average feeling today, underwhelming actually. Has decent brakes, good feel but lacking in ultimate stopping power, bike is very stable, OK agility but throttle pickup response off closed throttle is jerky upsetting cornering entry. Bike looks ace... that's the main USP of this machine, looks like a race bike, stock exhaust sound is unexciting, engine has a very smooth but unexciting character a tad bland, OK low end, decent midrange and then peters out at high rpm. Pleasant bike with typical Honda refinement but overall just a bit boring, perfect beginners liter bike, a sheep dressed up in wolf’s clothing!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/31/2025 @ 1:46 PM *

BMW S1000RR was up in the rotation today. Bike is fantastic and so close to my ’16 ZX-10R, slightly more agile but also less stable in the bumpier corners, so a bit of tradeoff there.

BMW brakes are awesome, very close to the 10R but possibly better feel, modulation and strength. The Beemer is very comfortable to ride, rear sets are actually more comfortable than the 10Rs stock footpeg setup and the BMW's engine has power literally everywhere, no low end or midranges lull, it just goes.

ZX-10R by contrast is dead below 6000 rpm and really takes off at 9000 to the redline, so very exciting and fun. BMW power is ultra linear from off idle to screaming redline but doesn’t feel fast like the ZX-10R, V4, RSV4 and 1299.

BMW Suspension is very firm but controlled where the ZX-10R is quite plush and well controlled so the 10R wins that category.

Vibrations from the engine are moderate but not unpleasant on the S1000R, ZX-10R by contrast is turbine smooth. Slightly better wind protection on the BMW with it’s tall wind screen, ergonomics category is a draw, both fit me very well.

BMW wins just barely in the quick shifter department while it’s autoblipper is butter smooth on the downshifts and the ZX-10R has no autoblipper.

For now the ’16 10R wins #1 by the slimmest of margins over the BMW.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/1/2025 @ 11:53 AM *

Man Kruz, those are a lot of bikes to play in the rotation department. Nice bunch of toys to rode on.

Yessir Hub....

Mother Teapot's ZX-14 up in the rotation for this morning's ride, will give a detailed analysis vis a vis comparison to the other machines, should be interesting...stay tuned.

The ZX-14 IS REALLY GOOD! Surprisingly good actually, does everything well despite it’s age, lack of tech and considerable mass. For a big machine it is surprisingly agile, especially at higher speeds in the sweepers. Weight, brakes and slightly soft suspension are the only thing really holding this bike back from contending with much lighter and newer liter bike adversaries. Pluses, all day comfortable, brakes while not strong are very progressive and well modulated, just have to give them a a bit of a tug to reign it in. Cornering is suprisingly good for a heavy weight, no problems in the quick transitions. There is no noticeable engine heat, bike runs very cool in the summer time, suspension is plush but not wallowy, could be a touch stiffer, bike is 19 years old and as reliable as a cast iron skillet. Power and acceleration are strong, smooth, linear and very easy to control, off-on throttle transitions midcorner are super smooth, does not upset chassis. It is hard to put this machine in last place because it really is an excellent sportbike and good all arounder for touring or even in town ridng.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/1/2025 @ 12:12 PM *

Next up is the 2024 RS660, can you say FUUUUN! Great little bike, does everything well with only 100 HP do to very light weight of only 394 lbs wet, really good corner speed, suspension is plush but would prefer if it was a little stiffer.

Bike is very comfortable, with a relaxed riders triangle, brakes are well modulated and strong enough to get the job done.

Super easy and comfortable ride, if it had 25 more HP it would be nigh on perfect…sigh!

As it is, it punches off a stop light better than almost any liter bike due to an abundance of low down torque and low weight and it carries that torque right into the 11,500 rpm redline.

You can hang with a well ridden superbike on a fast road if you get everything right.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/2/2025 @ 10:48 AM *

Want to see more girls on the bikes. No problem with seeing you on them but the girls are a lot better to look at.