I stopped in to the local Kawi dealer during lunch and checked out the black and green models. The black looks better in the pics but in my opinion, the green is a better looking machine in the "flesh". I'd probably have to go green. The bike felt good to sit on in sharp contrast to what I had reported a year ago. I guess all that saddle time with a liter bike has changed my perspective on the ergos. It's only marginally tighter than the CBR. Is $8300 the out the door price or is that + tax, title and license? I guess our strong economy down here plus the long riding season keeps the prices high, $10,348 out the door is the best deal I could find on a leftover '08. I was hoping for something closer to $9000 drive out...ain't gonna happen.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/4/2009 @ 1:10 PM *

That was $8,299.00 sticker price only. If I asked him to tell me the price it might be lower than what they have on the bike. Seems to have always been the case --like they hope some guy is going to pay sticker even though they will sell it a little lower if you ask. I would think that'd be $550 tax, $500 prep &doc fee (they won't sell unprepped), and $50 lic plate/reg. You'd be looking at $9,400 OTD. Don and Roy's might be a better place to look or Cedar Creek Motor Sports.

One thing about SE Sales, they haven't ever come down in price from what they told me and they never were cheap. They hung on to that $12,500 OTD price on the blue 08 busa. I don't know if they sold it or shipped to another dealer. i told the guy about prices i have seen at other dealerships so he knows that i know he is not cheap.

Glen Curtis Motorsports is also a good place to try if they have any 10s in stock. I would never pay $1000 extra again to have someone truck the bike from another dealership like I did with the busa. You want to buy something you can look at if it has been uncrated for 2 years. You don't want to worry about if you are buying a new bike that has had the motor run at idle, perhaps a lot. Next time I buy a bike, i want to see pristine rotors, no oil, no gas and hopefully no gravel in the fairings (but they all seem to have a little????? somehow) before it is prepped and test ridden. In fact, I may find out how to get the bike shipped unprepped and in a crate.

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/4/2009 @ 5:17 PM *

I can tell the stealer thinks I'm going to buy that 10. He's being nicer than usual even after i tried my god's darndest to get him to come down in price on that busa.

I've gotta make a decison on the 10 by the end of this week. I took a look at the black again Saturday and it's starting to look really good to me....it's like I can't make up my mind.... Black? Green? The local dealer has one of each color left and I don't think they're in danger of going anywhere soon. LOL! It's COLD here, so I can't even think of riding it until next spring and that's dampening my enthusiasm a bit. I've got to really ask myself...Do I need this bike? What's going to be bad is if the CBR will kick it's butt up to 100 mph which it may very well. Above 100 the 10R should easily walk away with all that top end oriented power.

Get the black one, it looks like a killer !!

* Last updated by: Tuneit on 12/7/2009 @ 2:30 PM *

Kruz wrote:

....it's like I can't make up my mind.... Black? Green? ......I've got to really ask myself...Do I need this bike? What's going to be bad is if the CBR will kick it's butt up to 100 mph which it may very well. Above 100 the 10R should easily walk away with all that top end oriented power.

I was set on the black for my color choice.

If you can afford it and you have the room, own both the CBR and the 10. You could always pick a fav and sell the other at some point. Personally, I think you have your bases covered with the 14 and the Honda....unless you can do a lot more with a literbike over 100 mph than you can with the 14. I would think most of the action happens under 100 on a literbike. The ZX-10 is cool bike regardless of how it compares to the other two performancewise.

Maybe you would end up keeping the literbikes and selling the 14 if the ZX-10 does it for you over 100.

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/8/2009 @ 6:46 AM *

All good points you make Rook. Like you, I'm leaning towards the black again. The more I look at it, the green is almost insect looking, like a big grasshopper, the black just looks sinister.....really wicked... like a medieval weapon! It will be interesting to see how the 10 stacks up against the CBR. I think stock for stock there would be little to choose but I have the pipe and PCIII on the CBR and it definitely pulls better up on top now. I haven't had it dynoed yet but I'm guessing 156-158 at the rear wheel with the 4 into 1 system. The new 10 is about 162 rear wheel hp but a lot of that is above 10,000. In fact everything I hear is that it goes into warp drive from 10 to 13 thousand as the secondary injectors kick in and midrange is a bit soft. This is all relative though and the only way to know for sure is to buy one and go ride it. I especially like the performance envelope of a liter bike between 90 mph and 130. Least fun is around 30 to 40 mph in town,especially stop and go traffic, too much pressure on the wrists and too much engine vibration. Yea, the CBR and 14 pretty much cover all the bases with the cruiser doing light duty these days for an occasional run to Dairy Queen. I've got myself worked up into a scooter buying frenzy right now though Rook, you know what that's like. Let's face it, neither one of us are going to be satisfied til we have a new 10R in the garage.
You need to get over there this afternoon and see what they have left in stock. Hey, it's only money and you can't take it with you.

the black just looks sinister.....really wicked... like a medieval weapon!

Totally! The only thing I really wish was different is the underside of the tail. I like the smoother, rounded look of the 04-05 better. That short, thick swingarm, the external brake fluid reservoir down in back, the broad deflector on the back tire, minimal front fender, so much engine and frame showing........it looks built for racing and that is what makes it visually appealing. There was no big effort made to convey any other idea viually. It is what it is.

Let's face it, neither one of us are going to be satisfied til we have a new 10R in the garage.

I dream about it. I could afford it ---I guess-- but I am spending big money on computers and software and education right now. More than what is coming in. It's very much a practical venture but i have deep interest in(and genuine need to learn) that as well. I think buying another bike would put me right into long term anxiety land. It would be so nice to be able to feel comfortable buying a nice new ZX-10 but that isn't how it is for me at the moment.

I always thought co-ownership was good idea for a couple guys who want to ride several bikes. Hey, you have 3,4 bikes sitting around, you almost have to have more than one person ride them to get good use out of them. I expect my 14 will live at least 10 years and that doubled when I got the busa. I'll have a hell of a time to ware out 2 bikes and with 3, well I'll be having replacement parts put on me before i ever need to on any of the bikes.

If I get the 10R, I should be set for life in the bike department with four machines. I have a feeling the dizzying pace of motorcycle development we witnessed over the last 20 years may start to slow down dramatically now that the world economy is tanking. The factories are having trouble funding their race teams right now much less their R and D efforts. Could be a good thing, they have us salivating like Pavlov's dog with every yearly model changeover. Constant pressure to always trade in and get somthing newer, faster, improved...you fill in the blank. Heck, I can't come close to riding what I already have to it's fullpotential...except maybe the cruiser.

I haven't had it dynoed yet but I'm guessing 156-158 at the rear wheel with the 4 into 1 system. The new 10 is about 162 rear wheel hp but a lot of that is above 10,000.

HEY STOOPID

Didn't all those dyno numbers come from above 10k rpm EVEN THE ASS DYNO 1'S

* Last updated by: Badzx14r on 12/9/2009 @ 11:59 AM *

Yup.... but the CBR pulls hard between 6 and 10 thousand and that's all midrange, 10r ain't hardly woke up yet. And watch hoo yur callin stoopid or I buy taht 10r this weekend and come lookin fer you!!!!!

...... gonna be a superstar on my new 10r

Hay, I may be in Lagrange next weekend, mite stop in an try some of the ol ladies fried chikin...been awhile since I had food poisoning!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/9/2009 @ 1:57 PM *

The end of the week is drawing near.

AHhaahaha!! Remember this?

http://www.zx14ninjaforums.com/messages.cfm?threadid=13D430B0-1372-66AE-3B0DEBCB569762FA&page=1

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/9/2009 @ 9:30 PM *

This one is cheap!

Your text to link here...

Homer City Pennsylvania Mass? Might as well be on Mars...good price though.

Rook, I remember that thread well, that got me really thinking about a 10r. Yes, the week end draws nigh and I have to make a decision. Saturday morning is D-day. I'm really nervous, I keep asking myself "Do I really need another bike?" If I get this, I'm done. No more bikes...ever..at least not in this life time.

I was on Ivan's site yesterday and he's got a tuners package for the '08. Akropovic full system, PCIII, custom map, a KIMS disabling device and an ignition module. The torque and power curves look simply monstrous with all that stuff on there. 176 hp rear wheel and a midrange bulge that makes a CBR look wimpy. Better low end response too. If I know Ivan it will be very well sorted out, I'll probably go that route when it comes time to tweek it.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/10/2009 @ 6:55 AM *

come get some suppra star .. i'll put your 10r back in the want ads.

Have me a chikin fried steek awaitin....and some of dem mashed taters and green beans wood be nice!

and pine-apple up-side down cake

Will he or won't he?

kruz no leave home..

Rook wrote:

Will he or won't he?

....gonna be a star on my new 10R...

* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/11/2009 @ 1:26 PM *

Kruz shit or get off the pot. Are you scared to pull the trigger. Your acting like a little girl in a short skirt.

I dare you to buy that 10!

Your not man enough to buy that 10!

That 10 would be your demise!

That's right, pull out that check book. Prove your a MAN!

... you are gonna let me ride it when you bring er' home right???

By the way. I like the green

I can't say a thing cuz i backed out on mine. My advice is be logical. Go with your head because we know your heart is screaming at you to buy it. Is it a good time? Is that gonna keep you happy a long time? Can you keep it?? Do you want to keep all those bikes up? Will this really be the last?

You got me thinking again. I have some circumstances that might push me over the edge again but the determining factor will be garage space. Oh there's so much more to the story but I don't want to drift off topic into Rook's little world all by myself.

Good luck. You'll make a good decision. No pressure...............

but we're waiting for pics. jk (sorta)

i don't know why anybody would want 2 liter bikes ..

how about we just take the money and turbo something you own ..

* Last updated by: Badzx14r on 12/11/2009 @ 4:31 PM *

The 2010 has a few nice upgrades including transmision.

Why not have the top dog in it's latest version?