In the spring of 2004 Kawasaki released a bike so fierce and so untamable it truly was a menace to society. This godforsaken monster was the first generation ZX-10R and its "take no prisoners" approach to speed quickly earned it the reputation of a widow-maker. While other bikes were given similar titles for unpredictable chassis behavior or other volatile traits, the ZX-10R was truly worthy of such a label. In fact, it had little problem playing the roll of a home wrecker whether putting its rider behind bars or six-feet under.
Unlike the other troublemakers, it wasn't just one facet of the green machine that made it so mean; every ounce of it was heinous and throwing a leg over this beast was like playing with napalm. Think we're kidding? A trip back in time reveals a dry weight of just 375 pounds, 164 HP/80 LB-FT on the ground, 9.78 @ 149 at the dragstrip and 186 MPH on the top end. Now cram that into a wheelbase of just 54.5-inches. That's almost 1.5-inches shorter than the current ZX-10 and less than many 600s!
It all seemed like a good idea, providing riders with what they asked for; a racebike on the street with pure unadulterated speed and zero compromises. But contrary to what you might think, Kawi soon realized the difference between what the public wants and what the public can handle are two different things. So as quickly as the bull was turned loose in the china shop, Kawi corralled the brute into the shadows. And in 2006 the wild child was finally put to rest by a softer replacement.
All too quickly the hell-on-wheels first generation ZX-10R sunk into history only to be forgotten. Until now. With the current crop of insanely fast literbikes finally rivaling the performance of the '04 ZX-10 we thought it was a good time to revisit our infamous friend.
We put an '04 ZX-10R through its paces to see if it's as bad as it's claimed to be. Instead of testing this monster on a solo mission, we brought a 2010 ZX-10R along to see how the two compare. More than just a garden-variety comparo, we used the new bike as a yardstick to measure the '04. After all, being a half-decade newer means it should be a whole lot better, right?
2004 ZX-10R
Locating a clean 2004 ZX-10R proved to be rather difficult, as it's been a handful of years since it last rolled off the showroom floor. But after some digging we found a seasoned example. And while it appears to have been relegated to commuter duties in recent years and logged over 30,000 miles it still felt fresh and strong.
A somewhat dirty, but otherwise...
A somewhat dirty, but otherwise fully functional power commander ironed out any fueling glitches caused by the full akrapovic exhaust.
To prevent this beast from...
To prevent this beast from gobbling up its rider a GPR steering damper helped keep the bars in check.
The owner previously fitted a full Akrapovic exhaust, Power Commander, Muzzys rearsets, Zero Gravity windscreen, GPR damper and a host of other mods.
Muzzy rearsets put the rider's...
Muzzy rearsets put the rider's feet in the proper spot.
A Zero Gravity Double Bubble...
A Zero Gravity Double Bubble screen looks great and offers improved wind protection.
After some new Pirelli tires, fresh oil and a once-over we were ready to flog this horse. In the end you can't reverse the hands of time, but we hoped the healthy list of mods would help offset the many miles of service.
Pazzo adjustable levers are...
Pazzo adjustable levers are always a plus.
2010 ZX-10R
The current green machine needs little in the way of an introduction, but if you're unfamiliar with this crotch rocket it's been quietly garnering awards from all over the world.
True, it may not carry the reputation of a badass, but that hasn't stopped it from earning the reputation of a velvet hammer; a sophisticated type that walks quietly but carries a big stick.
The current bike does little wrong. Its 998cc motor is a gem, the chassis is quick yet composed and other than some quirky looks there is little fault coming from this corner.
Representing the new era, the 2010 ZX-10R comes packing a revised transmission, a new exhaust system and tweaked bodywork for this year-the package is claimed to be the best yet.
The new ZX-10R needed little...
The new ZX-10R needed little in the way of improvements, but Kawi didn't sit on its laurels for 2010.
Team Green added a new exhaust...
Team Green added a new exhaust system, a revised transmission, sculpted bodywork and new graphics.