KAWASAKI ZX-10R (2004 - 2005) Review

Version: C2H

Year: 2005

I bought my ZX10r 05 model late December 2005, as the 2006 model had been released. Purchased from a dealer but a pre-registered bike. A bit of haggling got me a £2000 discount. The bike was delivered and put to bed till the following April. Whilst waiting I set the suspension up to Performance Bikes recommended settings. I fitted a GPR steering damper and Akrapovic pipe. Other bits were added and others removed. I also binned the original Dunlop tyres and fitted Bridgestone’s. What can I say about this bike, which I still own in 2023. It’s a pure sports bike. This is not a dual purpose bike. It’s not for touring on. There’s no middle ground. The bike was built for high speeds whilst cornering and going in a straight line. Nothing else. As all bikes in my eyes are dull unless pushed, the 10r is electrifying. 104mph in first, 125mph down Holme Moss without a twitch. 177mph on my favourite road. Fabulous. You can cook the brakes on the road, so if you are tracking it go for ZZR14 front calipers. The front master doesn’t need changing. Run the original tyre sizes, as I followed a bike magazine’s advice and dropped to a 180 rear. My tyre fitter said if I had gone another degree further I would have been off the rim. Ooops. The build quality is excellent but the side panel screw holes eventually crack. Oh and if you go too hot into a corner don’t shut off to tighten it, keep the power on, you’ll make it. Otherwise it’s a straight line and off to the scrapyard for the bike.

Buying experience: December 2005 £7100

Version: Gen1

Year: 2005

Have this bike for 6 years and probably want to keep it forever. Driven a lot of different bikes compared to other 1000cc superbikes, but you can call the gen1 zx10r an absolute beast! Low and medium rev its also stronger then most 4cylinder bikes. Love the brutal gas reaction. Upgraded brakes and steering damper is advisable btw.

Buying experience: €5000 back in 2016. Prices are still around the same price.

Year: 2005

This bike has no bad features it’s best features are definitely it’s ability to handle even at high speed it’s the perfect bike for me

Year: 2005

Annual servicing cost: £300

Yes

Buying experience: Private

Year: 2004

Bonkers, absolutely mental, bonkers bike! I have had more bikes than I have fingers and toes to count them on, including 3 Hayabusas, a K7 Gsxr 1000, a 1000 Fireblade, etc etc. Nothing comes close to this wild animal! The top-end rush is nothing short of sensational, kinda like warp drive on Star Trek. I bought the bike from a dealer, it had an Akropovic pipe on it as well as an Ohlins Steering damper on it. When I got the bike home, I was pleasantly surprised to find a Power Commander under the rear seat pod which the dealer had not mentioned, I also found a traffic fine and summons to court in the name of the previous owner, he had been caught doing 237 km/h (147 mph). If you're looking for a superbike with character, look no further. This bike will give any modern superbike a run for it's money and then some! It has a visceral quality to it and has kind of turbine like whine sound to it when pushing on. Will make your hair stand on end!

Year: 2005

Annual servicing cost: £350

This is an absolute lunatic's bike. I have had several litre bikes - Also RSV/996/1199 Panigale and, for the money, the Kawasaki is a genuine weapon. This bike is certainly not for a novice as it is brutal and lives up to all the hype. It's still an ace tool by today's standards.

Buying experience: I bought privately since the gap between private and dealership has closed. Beware of ex-race bikes, and inflated dealership prices. Great Japanese reliability.

Year: 2005

2004-2005 is hands down the best year still to date (2017) overall for the 1000cc class.

Year: 2004

MY BABY IS A BEAST FROM HELL! While there are skeptics or haters let me just say that my baby is 12 years old and still destroying modern streetbikes!!! Haven't been beat by any busa, R1, not even any of her sisters. Wouldn't want any other bike! She is the ultimate WIDOW MAKER."

Buying experience: privately

Year: 2004

This bike is pure joy inmotorcycle form

Buying experience: Private purchase $5900 spring 2014

Fantastic superbike and great value. Three years ago after having a go on a friends 08 model I had to trade up to one. I went looking for zx10s and plumped for a mint C1 (thought 06/07 was ugly). How glad am I. It feels raw like a race bike, you can really feel the road, the air screams in the box and you're totally involved in the whole riding experience. Newer superbikes will get you round a race track tenths quicker, but you'll have so much more fun. As journos have mentioned it does need respect, but only in the top half of the tacho. It's a great road bike and not restricted to the track. You can also ride it slowly as it's a real pussy cat. I'm 6'2" but still find it comfortable, can potter through town and have toured Europe only having a little discomfort on long motorway stints. The bike has been 100% reliable the finish has surprised me, being really good and par with my Honda before. It does like tyres and my mechanic says it's a pig to work on, but they are the only downsides. Really struggled with what to replace it with but fate interferred and due to a neck injury I've now joined the sit up and beg brigade, getting a sensible Superduke! This is a great bike but I preferred my 10. Go on, get yourself one, you won't regret it.

Love my 05 zx10. Got it because it was closest thing to a GP bike for street. !3,00 miles on it now and only problem is lower case cracking. had it fixed by kawisaki 1.5 urs ago, cost 4,500 buks. Now it looks like it has done it again. They said it has weak spot in case right above the water pump. it cracks right where a bolt hole is and oozes oil. Small amount but any is too much. Kawasaki corp accused me of rough riding and refused to pay at 1st. I ride curves and wheelies, no drag strip or stetched BS. I love this bike and treat it like my kids but I cant see keeping it if i keep having this issue. Taking it to get it looked at sat-6-13-09. maybe they will fix again. if not they can have it and am done with kawasaki. Only bike I have ever owned and think they have engineering issues with the lower motor casing. Any repies would be appreciated.

I love this machine to bits. The seating position is excellent for my 5ft 10" frame. The power deliver is smooth and abundant till around 6000 revs, that's when the demons from hell really get out of their cage. Crack the throttle open too quickly and the front wheel will be heading skyward in most gears. It's nibble and efficient at what it was designed to do on the track. It's also reliable and smooth around town. However you'll need to give it a little respect or you'll be in a lot of trouble really quickly. The only bike you'll ever need!

What a beautiful, amazing bike. Performace is great with enough power to do whatever you want. It's a shame Kawasaki ruined the looks of the bike with the updated version because the 2004 model looks better than the new one. In 18 months I've covered over 12,000 miles, been through several sets of tires and have enjoyed everthing about the bike. Servicing costs a fair bit but there are far less ZX10R's on the road than R1s, Fireblades and GSXR1000's so you feel unique and happy.

Great bike covered 17000 in just over a year spent over 3000 pounds no goodies. Strengths: Engine. Weaknesses: The cluth has broken twice and now will not start now in shop now to find problem.