What was the thread about again, oh yah, the BMW, I think the zx's hind end, is almost as sexy as the BMW. But like my women, I like junk in the trunk and some extra push'in!
So yah, for me, ZX 14
How's that for back on topic!

I got it! 2013 gray

And my boy, it looks dam sexy!!!! Once again my brotha, congrats...enjoy and break er in!
Mad love,
Wman

I have put a few miles on the bike, but am still in the breakin period, so I can't comment on the power, just yet.

It does feel fairly small-ish, but not uncomfortably so. Its a great cornering machine, and I am knocked out by the shift assist feature.

Very nimble and easily thrown around and lain into a corner. Still very new to me, so I am still getting to know the bike.

Given that I've yet to tap into the real power, I can say the handling is amazing, and the riding position is not bad, at all.

It'll easily yank the front wheel up, and I've yet to get it over 7K rpm.

Fantastic bike, from what I can tell so far. Really happy with it. Its really a head turner around town, too.

More to come once I get farther into the bike.

Congrats ZX!!! I've been looking at one of those as a second also!! I truly hadn't noticed the gray one! I'd been looking at the tri-color. But man congrats that looks like a great bike to have!!!

Thanks. I am really enjoying it, so far.

I had a sit on a mates S1000RR. I could put my feet onto the pedals and I could reach the handlebars, but unfortunately my back injuries made sure I couldn't do both at the same time !!!!

Major bummer

* Last updated by: ozjohnno on 6/13/2013 @ 11:17 PM *

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F6M0O4yXqUY&feature=fvwrel

The Beemer won this all Euro shootout at Chuckwalla Raceway but watch the end where they put it up against the ZX-10R on the same track, comes off second best. I like the fit and finish on the BMW over the 10R but if I was going racing it would be on a 10R.

And the 10R is resteicted, with a snip of a wire, and grounding of said wire, you get 15 INSTANT Horespower !

That puts it closer to the Beemers H.P., and the OTD price of the BMW is about $5000-$6000 more, at least where I live, that's a lot of money for mods ! Don't get me wrong, I love the Beemer, but it was a lot more money ..

I almost got the 10R, but the 14R made more sense for my riding, that, and I didnt like the "fix" for the recall that kawi did on the problem with the casting in the cases, I noticed the 2013 ZX10 has a different part number than the 2012 on the cases, hopefully they "beefed" up the area that was causing problems

* Last updated by: carabuser on 6/18/2013 @ 3:44 PM *

I have an '11, I too did not like the JB Weld solution that KHI came up with for a case repair and chose to monitor mine in the affected area instead, so far no issues.

Yep, 15 extra rear wheel HP unleased with a simple ECU wire cut that KHI leaked. I love the way they flip a finger at the EPA and engineer back door performance increases into their bikes...and then let them 'slip' out....oops, did I do that....lol!

My opinion, the 10R and S1000RR are the top of the food chain, they both get the job done, just a little differently. The CBR1000RR is also amazing, it is always just a few hundredths off the BMWs 1/4 mile times at the drag strip despite being down almost 30 HP, light weight and dead on accurate gearing makes the difference.

Anyway, I've ridden the 10R back to back with the BMW and it's hard to split 'em, neither machine has the upper hand in all areas, just depends on what you like. Sounds cliche but all of the bikes are just so good nowadays that tire selection and setup make a much bigger difference than the minor differences in the bikes.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 6/18/2013 @ 4:46 PM *

You guys seem to have been sucked into a Go Kawasaski brainwash...............LOL

(Kidding.)

Granted, we all love the mighty ZX14, but head to head in literbike challenges, the RR is the bike to beat, and by quite a margin.................!!!!!!!!!!

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/19/2013 @ 8:56 PM *

Zx14,
BMW 1000rr is a beauty, but my boy on his 2010 zx 14 would eat anyone I know on an R...
Remember, bikes can be modded and the rider's talent in getting the ponies to the ground, win the day!
That said, if we look at numbers and performance dynamics the 1000rr is the bike to beat...
my

* Last updated by: Wolfman on 6/20/2013 @ 6:55 AM *

You guys seem to have been sucked into a Go Kawasaski brainwash...............LOL

...and you Sir, seem to have drunk the BMW Koolaid.....LOL! Like I said it's a nice bike, I've ridden one back to back with my ZX-10R, same roads up to 140 mph and I'll keep my ZX-10R. I wrote up a comparison thread on this forum a while back based on my experience. JMHO

* Last updated by: Kruz on 6/20/2013 @ 11:21 AM *

but head to head in literbike challenges, the RR is the bike to beat, and by quite a margin.................!!!!!!!!!!

That is the kind of inflammatory remark I try to avoid, especially when everyone else on this site rides Kawasakis. I give credit to all literbikes, all are winners in the right hands and have their strong and weakpoints, always comes down to the track and the rider. I think BMW did a great job with the S1000RR, especially for a first effort. They admit they copied the GSXR 1000 K5/K6 frame which was a smart move as that is one of the best handling bikes ever, added a top end oriented powerband which is not suitable for every rider and every track but gives big dyno numbers and of course, the first to incorporate TC. My thoughts after riding one, the fit and finish is top notch, the suspension a tad uncompliant for the roads I ride, the bike felt high and wide to me, the engine coarser with a vibey power delivery and TC was more intrusive. In a word it did not feel as refined as my Gen4 ZX-10R. Looks are subjective but I'm not a fan of the Beemer's one eyed assymetric look.... but then again, I'll admit the ZX-10R is no looker either IMHO.

A great motorcycle ready to stand up against any other bike in it's class...yes! Bike to beat and by quite a margin?Sorry but based on my experience I have to disagree.

And the 1000rr is almost $6000 more out the door in my area, with the wire clip mod, the zx10 should be putting out close to 180 hp to the ground with slip on correct ?

As for looks, the BMW is very nice, have to see it in person to appreciate it ,the zx10 is pretty nice too, always liked the looks of the gixxer though ....

Even liked the looks of the FIRST gen busa's, I guess I like the "graphics" look .....

* Last updated by: carabuser on 6/20/2013 @ 10:12 AM *

Yes, an honest 175 rear wheel with the wire mod alone, takes maybe 1 hour and costs zero. I haven't done it yet because the extra horespower is unleashed between 12 and 14K and I just don't need that high rpm rush for my type of riding. You just need a slipon and midpipe CAT eliminator as the stock titanium headers are race quality already. Austin Racing makes a killer slipon setup for the 10R but then needs the PC5 or ECU flash to get the fueling dialed in right. The 10R is way overgeared from the factory, most guys go -1/+3, I just downshift.

If I had unlimited budget my short list would include the BMW HP4, Panigale 1199 and the Aprilia RSV4 Factory. I think the KTM would be a hoot also on the right road or track. I'd probably go fastest on the new CBR1000RR though, that bike is superbly balanced and easy to ride despite the absence of TC.

That is the kind of inflammatory remark I try to avoid, especially when everyone else on this site rides Kawasakis. I give credit to all literbikes, all are winners in the right hands. TRUE SAY BROTHA, true say!

I had a conversation with someone who works on the german car line. I'm not saying brands, so his story is that the cars are on the hook most of the time. Why? The bean counters skimp on the better quality electronics, so the failure of the car is mostly the cheap components used.

With that said, the factory could not get it going with that rr. The change in pit management could not change a thing: it was more chaos. Was the last round of '013 WSB, was having Haslem DNF due to the electronics? I think so? And here on this side is the Foremost insurance sponsored AMA rider I forget his name at the moment, but he dropped the rr just for that reason. Faulty electronics.

I'm on the obese side, so that bike does not fit me, I tried one on. The other sour taste in my mouth, besides what I gored on, is how sour I am with the product knowing I had two GS's. A carb'd 1000 and the injected 1200. Both had either a low mileage oil leak and/or transmission issues. Another point is that I hear it is deliberate to price these overrated piles way too high, then watch them drop like a stone out the drive as they do.

I strive for smooth shifting, no bucking of the drivetrain and all that. So if the beamer cannot take that type of finesse in the shifting, cannot keep the oil in like the better made Japanese line, who needs a bike needing $pecial tool$ and $pecial procedures to assemble something as easy as how the Japanese can make them? And say nothing has changed, meaning it is made 'cheaper/better.'

Is the quality of metal different? Yes. Are the design approaches different as well? Yes. When Honda rolls out the brand [oval piston twin V say] to go racing, is not the first time out a win? If not that bike, but most times out? When the germans tried pulling the bike out of the fill in the blank, how long did it take for that one rr?

I'm looking at execution. I'm looking at durability. I'm looking at an inflated price. I'm looking at one of the 3amigos about to put me at the side of the road and flip a coin whom be that?

I can see I am getting nowwhere with you guys!!!!!!!!!!!

Kidding.

To each his own.

I considered, very much so, a 2013 ZX10R, and while I personally think it was even better looking bike than the RR, it just don't match the RR's in many aspects........ Gotta give em credit, guys, BMW raised the liter bike bar in their first outting. I doubt many will disagree with that.

But, as I said to each his own...........the Ninja 10R is also an incredible machine..... Very nice bike.

And the price difference, at least in my area, is about 2-3 thousand.........

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/20/2013 @ 9:10 PM *

But, differences in opinions and preferences are what makes the world an interesting place.

And I am not that drunk on the BMW Koolaid, just yet. I still bleed green........

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/20/2013 @ 9:16 PM *

Here are the ratings from RoadRacingWorld magazine for you guys: In order of how they finished and the points they got. Note: 160 maximum points

1. BMW S1000RR 152.80 points
2. Kawasaki ZX-10R 151.32
3. Ducati 1199R Panigale 141.68
4. Aprilia RSV4 Factory 139.22
5. MV Augusta F4RR 126.94

I took this from my July issue! Enjoy!

Sick

When it first came out, yes I agree. But when the 10 stepped up the challenge guess WOT? It's like saying the Zx12 and Busa were neck and neck is the rr and 10r are neck and neck. Only difference is are the googa buttons. Aprilia or the 10r if you want a pool of bikes under stress and speed. Takes the bike to finish and all that. Rare is the breakdown of the ape and r... The rr is a different story... Lap for lap.

And I'm just using past '013 history give or take a race Stillaughing...

HUB! Hasleem switched to HONDA! Honda is having the problems with electronics. Beemer had some last year when they were doing it in house but they since switched to a reputable Italian company (forgot the name) and Melandri is happy now. Chaz Davies did a double podium (1st year on the bike) and if it wasn't for Melandri impulsiveness I think he could have done even better. I watched a lot of superstock, VIR and BSB and the Beemer is top 10, top 7 most of the time. Also, both Sykes' and Biaz ZX-10 R broke down this year if I remember correct. Even the Panigale set a super pole on its first outing with an injured Carlos Checa who was later taken out of the race because of somebody making him crash.

ZX14MAN in my area too, the price difference is $2k and if the Jap wanna jack their price up...
Mod wise.... Good slip ons are still expensive, especially Austin Racing stuff. Do I wanna pay $1800 (PCV, gearing, slip ons) and change the gearing on the ZX-10R just to get to 175 hp and match the S1000RR stock power or $1800 and flirt with 200 hp? Also for people who can't pay the full amount in cash BMW has some cool financing!

At the end of the day the bike all manufacturers are trying to beat is the S'Tho and I think the jap can step it up a notch so if I can help it I will motivate them by giving my money to the Germans. I'm not brand loyal at all, Just like I don't have a woman type as long as their BMI isn't too high LOL In 2005 I would have been on a GXS-R, in 2000 on a Busa. I'm too pragmatic not to want a S1000RR. It's like buying art. Either the artist is famous or you see something in the piece, in the case of the Beemer, it's both!

* Last updated by: dragking on 6/20/2013 @ 11:47 PM *

Preach on, brother!

I have the full akra exhaust, power commander, and a few of other cosmetic mods coming,
So my RR should be Flirting with 200 HP, hopefully

The amazing power / weight ratio on these bikes is unprecedented, as I understand it

It's A piranha! No offense goldfish owners!

( kidding)

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/21/2013 @ 6:57 AM *

king, I can only go by what I hear and read. Facts are facts. You said they had to change computer brands just to keep the bike running. And if Honda is having ignition problems, they too stole 2 engineers from Italy that worked for Martin/Marietta. I believe that's the leader in electronics is MM from Italy.

Larry Pegram tasted the bmw when it first came out kind of or the next year or so? But then again, I hear Larry was looking for half a day for a code 6 on the yam and lost all that practice time. You nitpick, I'll nitpick. Bottom line, out the box it had ECU problems. Kawi brings out the 14 and it had zero problems. Rare were the recalls and minor at that. And rare are the blowups. Because if it had a mechanical/engineering flaw, then every 3rd rod [in every engine] would blow.

Besides, electric bikes put out 200 hp or kw equivalent, and the torque is about 160 as opposed to the 14's 114-120lbtq respectively of these two gens. They top 216 mph or in the teens now. I'd jump on a 160 pound torquer, wouldn't you? Fuck bmw!