Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, The in-line 4 cylinder, 998cc motor, makes around
197bhp and 112Nm, and has a smooth power delivery all though the rev range. The
engine can be revved all the way to 13000rpm and that shows you have a huge
power band to play with. As in the case of most of these bikes today, power to
the wheel can be sent in three different settings – low, medium and full. The
traction control also comes with three stages, depending on riding conditions
and riding skill.
But there is only so much you can get by looking at the
specs sheet, and staring at the bike. Swing your leg over the saddle and things
start falling into perspective. The riding position is extreme, as you would
expect from a bike of this calibre.
As this was our first stint with the ZX-10R we decide to
keep the power setting low and the traction control high. Learning how the bike
behaves is a fairly quick process. The front forks give the right feedback and
bike feels nimble enough to be thrown into a series of corners. Thanks to the
electronic steering damper, they automatically adjust to the riders speed
making the ZX-10R more useable in city traffic. With the compact engine and the
10kg weight saving over the previous model, you get a feeling that you are
riding a 600cc motorcycle, rather than a full blown 1000cc bike.
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