ZX10R tourer

[howardrichman]

I presently own a 07 650R; and a friend of mine needs to sell his 08 ZX10R, barely broken in miles and have considered the purchase, and a great deal of $4K. My question is; what creates the better low end performance of say the N1K, or the Suzuki Bandit (HP vs. TQ) in comparison to the zx10R? Is there differences in the sprocket teeth (front to rear); engine design , trans gearing, or other? I'de figure TQ over HP would be better for street ;Less Shifting to maintain power during varying riding conditions, fuel mileage, and can it be easily corrected? The problems to me are; lack of range/gas mileage, color, lack provision of hard side bag or top box mounts, and bar placement.  The 650R is still a great bike @43.5K mls. I ride solo, but wouldn't mind moving up. If this bike was a Sprint ST, GT, or a GSX1250fa, it'd be an easy choice all around rider. I know other zx10 owners have done comfort  mods, but might still be limited. I could allways buy his ZX10R, sell it, put money into what I'de rather have.

                                                                                                                                                         HR...

[mxvet57]

What did he say?

For 4 Grand i'd buy it.   KBB is $7200

[X1Glider]

Sport touring on it is doable with comfort mods but there are quite a few compromises in the power department.  The engine was designed to scream, not produce power effeciently in the part of the powerband where you need it.  On the highway, it will drink fuel and you'll have a shitload of horsepower and fuel that's going to waste for simply packing on miles.  To cruise at 75 mph comfortably, you really only need 35-40 HP.  The ZX-10 will be putting out close to 140 at that speed.  That's 100 HP plus the greater amount of fuel needed to produce that power being wasted for no good reason.  Of course if you feel like rocketing off past a semi, you won't have a problem.

You won't be turning it into a N1k.  Too many mechanical differences and FI/ignition mapping differences.  It would cost you more than buying an N1k at full MSRP.

If you buy it, clean it up nice and perty and make some profit.  Then buy something more suitable for sport touring.  If you like the look of a ZX-10, you can't go wrong with a N1k.  But a good used Sprint ST or VFR800 is pretty nice.

[scottzilla]

What did he say?

For 4 Grand i'd buy it.   KBB is $7200

Done.

[Frankienuckles]

+1 to buy it!

[howardrichman]

Sport touring on it is doable with comfort mods but there are quite a few compromises in the power department.  The engine was designed to scream, not produce power effeciently in the part of the powerband where you need it.  On the highway, it will drink fuel and you'll have a shitload of horsepower and fuel that's going to waste for simply packing on miles.  To cruise at 75 mph comfortably, you really only need 35-40 HP.  The ZX-10 will be putting out close to 140 at that speed.  That's 100 HP plus the greater amount of fuel needed to produce that power being wasted for no good reason.  Of course if you feel like rocketing off past a semi, you won't have a problem.

You won't be turning it into a N1k.  Too many mechanical differences and FI/ignition mapping differences.  It would cost you more than buying an N1k at full MSRP.

If you buy it, clean it up nice and perty and make some profit.  Then buy something more suitable for sport touring.  If you like the look of a ZX-10, you can't go wrong with a N1k.  But a good used Sprint ST or VFR800 is pretty nice.

     thank you for a honest, helpfull, and respectfull answer,                                                                                HR...

Could I really get near $7200??

[falconati]

I'll buy it if you don't.

[veefer800canuck]

I saw an earlier ZX-10r that buddy made into an ST rig.

Lowered footpegs, superbike bar conversion, etc.

At the end of the day, you can only go so far with the mods, and you'll get closer to the -touring part of SPORT-touring, but that's it. Closer. Not ALL THE WAY.

[veefer800canuck]

[veefer800canuck]

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/122_1101_5000_streetbike_surgery_kawasaki_zx_10r/viewall.html

http://www.drainfade.com/tech_writeups/zx10r_sport_touring.html

[garry]

What makes you think the ZX10R is lacking low-end? The bike is a beast at all RPMs.

RE: Comfort / Touring
I believe you can get bar risers for it if you don't want to go the handlebar conversion kit. I found a Puig double-bubble screen helped a lot. Add some soft Cortech luggage and a tank bag and go. There are ways to lower the pegs if you want.

I SPORT-toured all over the east on a stock 2005 ZX6R. That bike could have used more torque for street riding, but a 10R (nearly bought one) has gobs of grunt. They are geared to the moon for the track, so lowering the gearing to (-1 / +2) might be wise so that first doesn't top out at 100 MPH. And that will make it pull even harder at the expense of a lower top speed (do you really need to do 180 MPH?).

I would be all over that bike for $4K. That's a total no-brainer.  

[Joey Stalin]

For that price, I will come and buy it. You should buy it, too, just to do it. Riding is about experiences, not about doing a job. If you're looking at bikes as simple tools to do a job, then you're taking all of the fun out of riding. If you want something that's comfortable, good on gas, lots of luggage room, etc. go buy a Camry. But for $4,000, you'd be crazy not to buy it and have fun with it even for just a year, you could easily sell it in the spring and make a profit even considering fuel and insurance costs. Buy it!

Sport touring on it is doable with comfort mods but there are quite a few compromises in the power department.  The engine was designed to scream, not produce power effeciently in the part of the powerband where you need it.  On the highway, it will drink fuel and you'll have a shitload of horsepower and fuel that's going to waste for simply packing on miles.  To cruise at 75 mph comfortably, you really only need 35-40 HP.  The ZX-10 will be putting out close to 140 at that speed.  That's 100 HP plus the greater amount of fuel needed to produce that power being wasted for no good reason.  Of course if you feel like rocketing off past a semi, you won't have a problem.

At 75 mph a ZX-10R is putting out whatever horsepower is needed to maintain that speed, it is not putting out 140 hp. It may be capable of putting out that horsepower, and it may not be sipping gas at that speed, or it may be... I don't know enough about the bike. I do know that people report 40-45 mpg all day long on 190 hp Busas. Point is, speaking in terms of physics, it is not producing 140 hp nor using the same amount of fuel as if it were.

I rode an 07 10R once. Ripped my arms out of the sockets in any gear, at any speed. Would do again, A+++++

[maddjack]

In my past I modded a ZX9 into a dang good sport-tourer, can't see why a zx10 would not make a good one also. Look around at whats avalable for comfort, in truth the stock rig isn't bad for long rides

[birdrunner]

In my past I modded a ZX9 into a dang good sport-tourer, can't see why a zx10 would not make a good one also. Look around at whats avalable for comfort, in truth the stock rig isn't bad for long rides

+1,  

don't listen to the "OLD MEN" ,  go for it.

Be aware that the bike is lighter, and 2x as powerfull and be ready for performance that you've never dreamed possible.
Everybody should have a bike capable of scaring the SHIT outta you.
Be very careful.
Have lots of fun.

[Rammer]

For a solo rider, there is always this..... from Ventura rack.



bags and racks come in different sizes too

[satz]

One year when when we went to the gap from mass one of the rider was upper 50`s , not lean by any chance  rode a CBR600RR stock .3k in 7 days.

[garry]

FWIW, here was my ZX6R in tour mode. Yes, you can SPORT-tour on a race rep sport bike. And I'm an old fart (51).

[maddjack]

For a solo rider, there is always this..... from Ventura rack.



bags and racks come in different sizes too

Those work well ,I use one on my Kawasaki Versys, add an Airhawk if the seat is so, so and you be ready to sport-tour.

Ps Birdrunner, I am one of the old men  

[gregorytx]

"Sport-touring" on a sport bike is a blast. I have a CBR600RR and I'll go anywhere on it. The fun factor more than makes up for the compromise in comfort. I have several buddies that tour on sport biles as well, one on a ZX10. Fuel mileage isn't really an issue, we all get at least the same or better fuel mileage of almost any touring bike. I get 50 MPG on mine as long as I don't push it. Most of us have added risers or Heli-bars, better seats, bags, etc....There's tons of stuff out there for touring on a sport bike. At that price you can't go wrong. Buy it, try it, if it doesn't suit you, sell it. It's worth a shot, you might find that you've been missing out. Don't let age scare you off either, I'm 45 and I'm the youngest in the group.

[X1Glider]

At 75 mph a ZX-10R is putting out whatever horsepower is needed to maintain that speed, it is not putting out 140 hp. It may be capable of putting out that horsepower, and it may not be sipping gas at that speed, or it may be... I don't know enough about the bike. I do know that people report 40-45 mpg all day long on 190 hp Busas. Point is, speaking in terms of physics, it is not producing 140 hp nor using the same amount of fuel as if it were.

You got me.  The ZX-10 is probably only cruising at 40-50% throttle opening to push against the wind.  And dyno runs are typically done in 4th gear at 100%.  The 2008 ZX-10 cruises at 75 mph at 5000 rpms (according to the gearing commander).  Another dyno chart shows 57 RWHP at 5000 rpms at 100%.  So the bike probably is only putting down 35 HP cruising at 75 mph.  So you may be right about it being ok as a tourer with some comfort mods.

As for the Busa, that mpg seems feasable given how tall it is geared and it doesn't need to work hard while pulling it.  Decent aeros as well.  My N1k only gets 32-37 mpg by comparison.  It cruises at 5000 rpms in 6th for 75 mph too.  But I've had much lower HP bikes that got 44 mpg (77 peak HP) and 54 mpg (92 peak HP) at 75 mph all day.

Oh well.  Engines simply use how ever much fuel they need to keep running no matter what they're doing.  Carry on.

[wibornz]

buy it....buy it now.

[Justin]

At 75 mph a ZX-10R is putting out whatever horsepower is needed to maintain that speed, it is not putting out 140 hp. It may be capable of putting out that horsepower, and it may not be sipping gas at that speed, or it may be... I don't know enough about the bike. I do know that people report 40-45 mpg all day long on 190 hp Busas. Point is, speaking in terms of physics, it is not producing 140 hp nor using the same amount of fuel as if it were.

Yeap, I get 40-45 on my Busa - but it also has better aerodynamics than the zx10, so keep that in mind. Also, it is most likely geared taller than a zx10 as well. I run 5k RPM at close to 90 Mph

[emerald94]

I know a guy who modded his ZX-12 with heli-bars, lowered pegs, Corbin seat and a touring screen.
He didn't seem to be in pain from riding it.
After a spirited group ride, I asked him he he ever downshifted when passing cars and he said no.
Those bikes were always in the shadow of the 'Busa but what a machine!

[howardrichman]

Thanks for replies!
I still may buy the bike for a quick turn over for some profit, and look at another ride. The problem w/ many other sport tourers is the fact their engineered for a pasengers weight that adds weight and bulk to the bike, but still; the bikes that come close to what I'm looking for is in the Sprint GT or 1250GSXfa if the ridetime and funds are available. The 650r isn't a supersport, but I use all of it's powerband thru various riding conditions pushing 45K mls now.

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[sodapop6620]

This is what I have been out west on a couple of times.  I bought some oxford soft luggage, I use walmart bags inside when I am traveling in the rain.  Otherwise there is no problem.

[Frankienuckles]

Setup for Sport-touring, this is from a weekend trip in Sept. to MD.


Same trip, on the Skyline drive in the fog and rain

[Fourstring]

In my past I modded a ZX9 into a dang good sport-tourer, can't see why a zx10 would not make a good one also. Look around at whats avalable for comfort, in truth the stock rig isn't bad for long rides

This.  The ZX9 makes a great mile muncher with few mods.  Snap up this ZX10 and do some basic mods as you ride it and get a feel for it.

[JIMLARCH]

Sure you can sport tour on a ZX10.  I've got a 2005 GSXR1000 with heli bars, pegs slightly rearset, and 400 mile days are no problem.  I'm 6'3" but with the mods find the bike more than comfortable.  If you are camping and carrying a large load, then riding a ZX10 would be somewhat a waste of time, but if you are staying in motels, no problem.

Having said the above, I kept the gix but went out and bought a VFR honda, with full Givi luggage.  Now that's sport touring in comfort!