Open-class superbikes are the ultimate representation of technical excellence. Each is built with everything needed to strive for the perfect lap time and nothing it doesn’t. They’re raw yet refined. It’s a category where manufacturers combine mass horsepower with knife-edge handling and top-tier electronics, then cut them loose to mere mortals as road-legal machines.
--
The 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is at the forefront of superbike technology, as its six-consecutive World Superbike championships titles prove. But in an effort to evolve and make the Ninja easier to ride fast for all consumers, Team Green provided the 2021 model a list of evolutional updates.
In this episode of MC Commute, we sample the 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at Southern California’s Auto Club Speedway as part of its official US press introduction. The technical 2.4-mile, 21-turn layout offered a chance to put every aspect of the Ninja to the test via a blend of high-speed straightaways, challenging braking zones, and quick side-to-side transitions. Bridgestone Battlax V02 racing slicks were fitted to the Ninja, signaling Team Green’s intent.
Full story here: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2021-kawasaki-ninja-zx-10r-track-mc-commute-review/
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
--
The 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is at the forefront of superbike technology, as its six-consecutive World Superbike championships titles prove. But in an effort to evolve and make the Ninja easier to ride fast for all consumers, Team Green provided the 2021 model a list of evolutional updates.
In this episode of MC Commute, we sample the 2021 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at Southern California’s Auto Club Speedway as part of its official US press introduction. The technical 2.4-mile, 21-turn layout offered a chance to put every aspect of the Ninja to the test via a blend of high-speed straightaways, challenging braking zones, and quick side-to-side transitions. Bridgestone Battlax V02 racing slicks were fitted to the Ninja, signaling Team Green’s intent.
Full story here: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2021-kawasaki-ninja-zx-10r-track-mc-commute-review/
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Good morning everyone and welcome to a very special episode of MC Commute.
00:05 Now this is not a commute, I'm in Leathers and we're at Auto Club Speedway here in Fontana,
00:11 California and today we are going to be spinning laps aboard the 2021 Kawasaki ZX10R that you
00:19 see here behind me.
00:20 Now this is an updated model for the 2021 model year.
00:24 Beginning with the electronics package, the chassis and obviously the styling that you
00:29 can see.
00:30 Now we have a lot to talk about, I want to spin some laps, so why don't we go for a rip.
00:36 Alright ladies and gentlemen, the 2021 Kawasaki ZX10R.
00:41 Now this is Kawasaki's premium super sport model alongside the up spec ZX10RR and that
00:49 has titanium conrods, Marchesini wheels, a couple other bits and pieces that bring that
00:55 MSRP up.
00:57 Now this is dressed in the new Ninja generation, the new generation Ninja styling rather.
01:05 Love it or hate it, it is definitely new.
01:07 In my personal opinion, I have really grown accustomed to this new very large fairing
01:12 that has a little bit more surface area, a little bit more wind protection.
01:17 Speaking of that, the windscreen is also 40mm higher, that gives you a little bit more wind
01:22 protection there.
01:24 The integrated winglets, we've seen this on so many other motorcycles that are coming
01:29 out nowadays, it has those integrated winglets that are said to produce 17% more downforce
01:36 than the predecessor.
01:37 While the entire package is actually 7% more efficient in terms of aerodynamic drag.
01:44 That's a really cool little plus about this new styling.
01:50 Now back to the motorcycle itself, the core elements, that 998cc inline 4 powerplant with
01:57 the finger follower valve train that Kawasaki has used to win so many world superbike titles.
02:05 I think since 2015, Johnny Ray has won every single world superbike title aboard this Kawasaki
02:12 ZX10R.
02:15 Now as we mentioned, it gets updates to the electronics package, which will start with
02:23 this 4.3 inch TFT display as you can see up here in front of the handlebars.
02:30 Now we actually get two screens, screen one, screen two, this is the race inspired as you
02:36 can see.
02:37 We get the lap time function, the big tachometer and the big gear indicator there over there
02:43 on the right.
02:44 Awesome stuff, I love that Kawasaki, that replaces the kind of old school LCD display
02:51 of the predecessor.
02:53 Now the chassis also gets updated.
02:56 The Showa balance free fork that you see up here in front is one of my favorite forks
03:03 on production motorcycles.
03:05 That gets updated settings internally, a little bit softer spring that we'll talk about when
03:10 we get out on the racetrack.
03:12 The chassis itself, a couple revisions to the swing arm pivot, fork offset, everything
03:17 to make this thing a little bit more stable on the fast stuff, but still turn with just
03:24 racetrack prowess.
03:25 So man that was a lot already.
03:28 Let's get out on the racetrack, let's spin some laps, see how the ZX10 does.
03:38 The sound of that 2021 Kawasaki ZX10R, man I love the sound of a good inline four.
03:48 We've got this ZX10R fitted with Bridgestone VO2 race slicks in the extra soft compound
03:56 for optimum grip.
03:58 The standard machine will come with RS11 tires, the DOT Bridgestone performance tires.
04:07 Now we got to talk about some of the notable changes that we kind of briefly touched on.
04:13 A lot of electronic changes to this machine, including the display that we talked about,
04:19 but also the ETV, the electronic throttle valves is fully cable-less now, or it's fully
04:30 digital now, eliminating the need for traditional cables.
04:36 That means, and Kawasaki has really done, they've really put an emphasis on the friction
04:49 and feel of the throttle to still feel like a traditional throttle.
04:53 Although I have to say, in my personal opinion, they have definitely struggled a little bit
04:58 in that regard as we've seen with other manufacturers.
05:01 They've struggled, but it's definitely a different feeling that we're accustomed to with traditional
05:09 cable throttles.
05:10 The on-off throttle transition is sometimes a little abrupt, so if you're trying to make
05:21 subtle inputs like side-to-side transitions like that one, it can be sometimes too aggressive
05:31 and too much of a light switch.
05:33 Really, there's a couple of journalists here behind me.
05:37 I'm going to let them go by as I continue to talk with you guys about this Kawasaki
05:47 ZX-10R.
05:48 The 2021 internal gear ratio transmissions are a little bit shorter, boosting acceleration
05:57 at corner exits, always a plus of this machine.
06:02 It utilizes that bi-directional quick shifter for seamless up and down shifts, pretty impressive
06:09 stuff.
06:10 We'll take you for a hot lap here, guys.
06:17 Don't you worry.
06:22 I'm always very impressed with that balance free fork and the feel that you get through
06:27 the contact patches of those tires, the VO2 racing slicks especially.
06:33 It's very, very impressive how much understanding of the grip that you have underneath you.
06:41 Kudos to Kawasaki, kudos to Showa, and kudos to Bridgestone.
06:59 Brought to a halt by the big Brembo M50 four-piston calipers with excellent feel.
07:02 This is a non-ABS model, so we do not have to worry about ABS intervention out on the
07:10 racetrack here.
07:12 One thing to also note is that the ergonomic package has also been made more aggressive,
07:18 but we're going to talk about that when we get off the straightaway here.
07:23 Holy moly!
07:24 There's nothing like opening up a rear bike on the front straightaway of Autoclub Speedway.
07:37 Wow!
07:38 The ergonomics package is slightly more aggressive.
07:44 The foot pegs are about 5 millimeters higher, the handlebars 10 millimeters further forward.
07:51 And while I appreciate the lower stance, the aggressive lower stance, I think being a 5'7",
08:05 smaller racer size stature, the reach to the handlebars, especially on braking, becomes
08:15 quite difficult.
08:16 Really smooth, really tractable power delivery for the CX-10.
08:29 Oh, that's one of the best things Kawasaki has done with this machine is very smooth
08:39 electronic intervention, very smooth power delivery that's very strong, yet very gentle
08:47 and very competence-inspiring as a rider.
08:54 What do you think, guys?
08:55 Why don't we go by this other journalist here?
08:57 We won't name names, but motorcyclists MC Commute for the win.
09:04 Look at him!
09:06 Woohoo!
09:07 Oh, we're ripping, guys.
09:10 Ripping and tearing.
09:13 What do you think?
09:22 Let's pick off another one.
09:26 Let's pick off another journalist.
09:28 Put the hammer down.
09:29 Let these Bridgestone VO2s be put to the test.
09:38 Oh, back in sideways.
09:41 Yeah!
09:42 Man, I love ripping these modern day super sport machines.
09:46 The level of performance is just unbelievable.
09:54 Absolutely unbelievable.
09:59 I'm always really impressed with Kawasaki's stability, but they've really, I think, taken
10:06 a step in terms of cornering ability as well.
10:21 One thing I have to comment on is the added wind protection of this ZX10R.
10:27 It makes for a way more comfortable ride at speed and hopefully lowers the volume for
10:35 all you guys.
10:36 Man, I love lighting up.
10:37 On and up front straight.
10:38 My God!
10:39 170 miles an hour.
10:40 Jeez Louise, guys.
10:41 Good feel.
10:42 Transition back and forth.
10:54 A little effort.
10:59 Wow.
11:01 All right.
11:02 I think that's about it for our time here on the ZX10R.
11:09 Now, if I may add, Kawasaki has also updated this machine with cruise control to lessen
11:17 the fatigue on those long hauls to maybe the canyon twisties, or maybe if you ride it out
11:21 to the racetrack, who knows?
11:23 They also have a launch control function, which I would really love to show you guys
11:27 here as we get off into the pits.
11:32 Man, I still can't get over how good of a time this machine is.
11:38 All right.
11:39 We're pulling up.
11:40 We're at a stop.
11:41 We're going to hold these two buttons.
11:44 KLCM on.
11:46 That means the launch control is on and it's going to hold the RPMs at about 9,000 RPM
11:55 despite how much throttle I give it.
11:57 So why don't we try this system out?
12:00 Yeah.
12:02 Very quick.
12:06 Efficient.
12:09 As we've mentioned, this Kawasaki ZX10 is Kawasaki Team Green's premium super sport
12:26 offering now updated in 2021 and the electronics department, the chassis department, the styling
12:33 department with those integrated winglets and man, they have really done a good job.
12:38 They've taken a platform that was already so good, refined it further, given it improvements
12:42 in a little bit of every area and really just made this machine even better than it once
12:48 was.
12:49 Now, this machine, this is the non-ABS model as we described earlier in the video.
12:54 This bike MSRP is $16,699.
12:59 You can buy the ABS model for $17,699, which is priced relatively, it's priced right amongst
13:08 the rest of these standard non, come on man, you're out of this show.
13:16 Get out of here.
13:17 Get out of here.
13:18 So it's priced right amongst the rest of the leader bike super sport market.
13:25 Now, I had a blast on this bike.
13:28 I hope that you guys did as well.
13:30 I hope that you enjoy these special episodes of MC commute or maybe we should call them
13:34 MC track rides.
13:37 So if you like this video, give us a like, comment.
13:39 We want to hear from you and subscribe to the Motorcyclist YouTube channel.
13:44 Head over to MotorcyclistOnline.com, read the full story and we'll see you next time.
13:50 [00:08:51] [END OF AUDIO]
13:52 [00:09:00]
13:58 [END OF AUDIO]
14:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]