KAWASAKI ZX-10R (2011 - 2015) Review

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £100

Best features: power (especially after a remap), handling, reliability. Worst features: Standard gearing too high, brakes ok on road but need upgrading for track riding, standard electronic steering damper isn't up to the job. I have owned this bike for 8 years now and have made a few little tweaks over the years to get it spot on. Now I don't think there is anything I would trade it in for.

Buying experience: Bought it from my wife. She drove a very hard deal, but I knew the bike had been looked after.

Year: 2011

Great engine when singing up top. Handles great when you get used to the fork front feel. The suspension sprung for lightweights and front brakes typical too soft and squishy.

Version: Abs

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £300

After 10 years of ownership in over 40,000 mi driven on it I still love it like the day I bought it. She did me well for racing in a circuit with CCS and ASRA. The dollar value for what you received in 2013 was far superior to anything else out there.

Year: 2011

Not for the faint hearted

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £55

Best sport bike I have owned.

Buying experience: Dealer brand new 11800 USD in 2013

Version: KRT Performance

Year: 2016

Annual servicing cost: £120

This bike has it all, incredible spec, stunning looks, fantastic build quality and an unbelievable engine. For me it beats all the other standard 1000cc superbikes hands down.

Buying experience: Kawasaki comes with an excellent 2-year warranty that can be extended.

Version: KRT

Year: 2016

Annual servicing cost: £150

People envy you for owning this. Even girls would come up and say she is a beauty. I come from 2007 ZX10R and riding 2016 puts a big smile on my face. This is a beast, beauty and a fun machine!. Thanks to the quickshifter and 207bhp you are way ahead of your friends :) and the riding experience turns you into a fast rider. Biggest fun is, the way this machine takes corners. It's designed to take corners and it is best at it. Especially if you don't have to put so much effort. Here is a picture of her http://puu.sh/wiKX4/edb9e0b68e.jpg

Buying experience: Dealer. Went smooth.

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £150

Having owed an 05 and 08 in knew the 13 plate bike was going to be good. Wow what a bike, so easy to ride fast with the electronics keeping it safe and sounded great with link pipe and aftermarket exhaust fitted. A top bike if you love your sports bikes but be prepared to buy tires, getting through 2 front and 3 rear tires in 5,500 miles. Just sold the bike this week and looking forward to getting the 2016 ZX10r

Version: 30th anniversary edition

Year: 2014

de-cat it and have it flashed and your life will pass before you @180 give your suspension the dave moss treatment change the screen for a zero gravity version dump the stock 016's and fit some RS10's crack the throttle and hang on for dear life nuff said!

Don't know who wrote the test but they couldn't have tested it properly!! repeated 170mph braking with no fade utter crap. Bought a new 2012 non abs model a couple of months ago standard brakes are shocking. if you are thinking of track use budget for a Brembo master cylinder and replacement calipers from an 08 Blade otherwise midway thro a 20 min session the lever is back to the bars ??? that was with EBC dot5 fluid and HH pads. Screen wobbles like mad and does your head in. Steering damper as stock is useless and you have to replace or get it re-valved so it actually does what it should. Fairing is so close to the levers that if you have your leavers turned down you end up hitting the fairing with your fingers. Feel like I have wasted 11K.

very easy to handle and lovely to listen to . handlebars are a bit low for me and there is nothing can be done about it.the first gear as said is too tall. had to change the front sprocket to get the old vicious Kawa out of the Bike. couple of minor quality issues with the fairing and wiring but nothing seriously annoying. no room for a Satnav apart from the tank lead which can be distracting and is not suggested.overall a lovely Bike . definitely on the right track to win some places both on the track and the market.

Bought a used 2011 ZX-10R with approx 2300 miles on it from a main dealer. Negative Screen wobbles quite a bit. Within the first 30 miles of owning the bike, problems with the traction control surfaced. After a total of approximately 40 miles the bike had cut out, wouldn't restart for several minutes and all traction control lights and amber dashboard light flashing. Positive Loads of room, felt quite comfortable for the short time it worked. Front brake is immense.

I tested this bike and have to say its improved over the years this is a fantastic motorcycle as is the 1000 SX i tested. I had Allen Padget and his wife at the house such lovely people and passionate about there motorcycles and there customers RARE these days customer service 100% talk to ALLEN PADGET at AUTORAMA APRILIA/KAWASAKI say Jamie sent you and get a deal. dont do it next week do it now best time to buy.

Got a 30 min ride on an ABS version and i was pleasantly surprised....great engine, friendly suspension and overall quite comfy...nice and easy to pootle about on so could commute. Hate the rev counter...distracting even in daylight and would never see myself needing the TCS etc on the road....however was happy to get back on my ZZR1400...no gadgets, straight forward dash and oodles of low end power.

Thought I'd add this to even up the balance as people are putting on reviews who haven't even ridden the bike. Took one out for an afternoon in the wet and thought it was amazing. Handles well, feels so light compared to my wee 600. Inspires confidence and puts a huge smile on your face, the roar from the Ram Air is like music to your ears. Sod it, I'm buying one!!!!

Looks like Kawasaki has wised up. Mind you, if they re-released the 2004/2005 model with a steering damper as the 2011 bike they would probably take top bike again. LOL!!!!

What JKLM? you are talking crap, I have a zx6r and have never had an issue with ever nor friends that have a Kawasaki.

I owned a previous model 09 ZX10 brand new. Was horrified upon first oil change, "low pressure oil Warning" lamp was on for 3 minutes, starving upper engine of oil! Turns out ZX6's, EX500's and Vulcan's also have problems pumping oil after oil changes. I also discovered my bike was pulling to the right because poor engineering allowed a .60th of an inch gap, causing forks to bend in, causing fork seals and bushings to wear premarturely. This also caused bike to pull to the right. All and all, Kawasaki's make great performing bikes but as far as quality and reliability, fit and finish, I would never recommend anybody buying Kawasakis. Kawasaki Consumer services were also nasty and mean, hung up the phone on me. Not to mention this new 2011 model there is a tech hold and rumor has it bad rings and cylinders wear our prematurely. Doesn't surprise me as kawasaki's are the worse bikes in my opinion.