Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/456427
TOM SYKES' KAWASAKI ZX-10R RACER TEST P84 board–the race map and a softer one in case the track gets slippery and/or the tire worn. On the right side pad, the upper of the two white buttons is for the pit limiter, the red middle button is the kill switch, and the lower white button is to change between the eight- stage traction control and engine braking programs. So you can flick between the two via that button, then use the controls on the left to make a selection (plus or minus). The single row of red shifter lights flashes at 14,600 rpm as an early warning to think about up-shifting, though Sykes admits to not pay- ing much attention to them. The Marelli dash shows a single rather busy page with a large central gear selected indicator. The dash also shows engine temp and other technical data at the bottom right; lap time, engine map, and TC setting on the left; and the usual barely legible digital tachometer sweeps across the top. The one thing I must admit to being quite pleased about, but didn't have the chance to check out was the Kawasaki's Achilles heel last season–its wet weather performance. The difference in settings between wet and dry track mode are so extensive, that the team struggled whenever the weather changed. In the past, this was masked by having a spare bike set up quite differently, but the single bike rule introduced two years ago greatly complicated matters. "For dry weather conditions we fine-tuned our bike to make it ultra-sharp with excellent grip, so both last year and this year, we were able to win frequently," said Duinker. "In 2012, when we were working on improving our bike, the wet performance was much better. Once we made it sharp for dry conditions, with super grip, it lost its performance in the wet. And we couldn't go back to our old settings if it rained, because you have to change too many fundamental things on the bike in a hurry… so, no, that wasn't possible. Unfortunately, this season we had a couple of races where suddenly the second race was wet and we weren't able to transform our dry set up to a good performance wet setting. So Tom's results suf- fered in consequence." With Aprilia defecting to Mo- toGP racing in 2015, leaving just a single satellite team to compete in World Superbike this year with Leon Haslam as the lead rider, you might expect the odds to swing back again towards Tom Sykes, or new teammate and proven race winner Jonathan Rea. But the more restrictive rules introduced for the coming season may well have moved the goalposts, in which case the ZX- 10R in its new guise will have to fight harder to be a contender for 2015 honors. But its record over the past three seasons makes this factory ZX-10R the ultimate Japanese bike of all time. And after riding it in barely restricted form I can assure you it may be gone, but it won't be forgotten. CN SPECIFICATIONS KAWASAKI ZX-10R SUPERBIKE Engine: .................. Liquid-cooled, DOHC, transverse in-line four-cylinder four-stroke Valve train: .......Four valves per cylinder with offset chain camshaft drive Bore and stroke: ....................76 x 55mm Displacement: ..................................998cc Output: ..........242 bhp at 15,200 rpm (at gearbox) Compression ratio: ..............................15:1 Fuel/ignition system: ...................EFI and engine management system, with Mag- neti Marelli ECU, twin Keihin injectors per cylinder, and four elliptical-choke (equivalent diameter: 47mm) Keihin throttle bodies with single-butterfly throttles (second butterfly removed) Transmission: .......6-speed cassette-type extractable KHI close-ratio gearbox with electronic powershifter Clutch: ............. KHI multiplate ramp-type slipper clutch Chassis: ................... Aluminum twin-spar Front suspension: ..48mm Showa SNF-3 inverted telescopic forks Rear suspension: .....................Fabricated aluminum swingarm, with adjustable pivot, Showa BFR monoshock and progressive rate linkage Front brake: ....2 x 336mm Brembo Tipo H steel discs with four-piston four-pad radially-mounted Brembo monobloc calipers Rear brake: ............... 1 x 218mm Brembo petal steel disc with two-piston Brembo caliper Front wheel:..3.50 in. Marchesini forged magnesium wheel Rear wheel:...6.25 in. Marchesini forged magnesium wheel Front tire: ........................ 120/70-17 Pirelli Rear tire: ........................ 200/60-17 Pirelli Top speed: ..........197mph (Aragon 2014) Head angle: ............24 degrees (variable) Trail: ............................................... 100mm Wheelbase: ................... 57 in. (as tested) Weight: ........... 368 lb with oil and water, no fuel Weight distribution: ................... 56/44 % Year of construction ..........................2014