2005 ZX10 vs 2007 ZX10

wideopen1 · 05-19-2009, 06:49 AM

I don't remember how hot my 04 ran, and I haven't had this 05 in town much so far, plus it's been kinda cool temp wise in Ohio.....
Jtemple, what in the hell caused the block to crack on your old bike???

jtemple · 05-20-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wideopen1

I don't remember how hot my 04 ran, and I haven't had this 05 in town much so far, plus it's been kinda cool temp wise in Ohio.....
Jtemple, what in the hell caused the block to crack on your old bike???

To make a long story short, I bought an untitled Kawasaki demo bike from a dealer. It had 4400 miles on it and was otherwise in perfect condition. I got it home, and discovered a coolant leak. I took it to an expert, who said it was a casting flaw in the block and most likely came like that from the factory. Both the dealer and Kawasaki told me to get lost, since I bought the bike as-is. I fought with them for probably 2 months, including hand-written letters and a report to the BBB. Rather than fuck with it, I traded it back in for an new '06 and ended up eating most of the cost of replacing the block on the '05.

Lessons learned: I'll probably never buy a used bike again, and I am definitely not going back to that dealer to buy anything.

I might also hesitate to own another Kawasaki again. The only reason I got the '06 was because it was a leftover model from the same dealer, and the haggled price on it helped take the sting out of the '05's instant decline in value.

No other dealership would take the '05 in trade, once they discovered the leak. I even had a new '07 about ready to drive off the lot at a different dealership, when they found the '05's leak and told me to get lost.

I don't mind smearing their name around. The dealership is Start City Motor Sports in Lincoln, NE.

zed · 05-20-2009, 05:04 PM

a buddy of mine got one of the first 04's. he had the same problem. the shop had it forever because like you said, it was a design flaw and they were going to have to pull a new motor off the line to get him another. he ended up getting it lemon lawed because it took too long to get it out of the shop. he did buy his new from the dealer though.

I figured the lesson was not to buy the first year model of a new production bike. I had even told him not to get it yet, let them work the bugs out of it.

101lifts2 · 05-30-2009, 09:02 PM

I had an 06 ZX10r and have ridden a few times an 05 AND an 08. I thought the 06 engine was the best.

I'll agree with everything posted. The 06 was a pig. Turned in slow and felt a tad heavy in comparision to the sharper 05 and 08. However, I put GP revalved forks and a triple clicker Penske shock with some race stickies and it was night and day. The bike was only a tad better turning wise than the 05/08, but it wasn't setup too agressively. I also put a PC3R and a pair of Akras carbon fiber slipons on the beast along with some rearsets. The power was too much as I almost binned it after a nasty tankslapper splitting lanes at 115mph. The bike rocked and was dead stable tho. I also like the fact that your in the bike and not on top of it like my current 600rr. Kawis and Suzukis seem to fit me better than the Hondas.

Homeslice · 06-01-2009, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

I had an 06 ZX10r and have ridden a few times an 05 AND an 08. I thought the 06 engine was the best.

I'll agree with everything posted. The 06 was a pig. Turned in slow and felt a tad heavy in comparision to the sharper 05 and 08. However, I put GP revalved forks and a triple clicker Penske shock with some race stickies and it was night and day. The bike was only a tad better turning wise than the 05/08, but it wasn't setup too agressively. I also put a PC3R and a pair of Akras carbon fiber slipons on the beast along with some rearsets. The power was too much as I almost binned it after a nasty tankslapper splitting lanes at 115mph. The bike rocked and was dead stable tho. I also like the fact that your in the bike and not on top of it like my current 600rr. Kawis and Suzukis seem to fit me better than the Hondas.

How come you sold it then, foo?

101lifts2 · 07-10-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

How come you sold it then, foo?

It was seriously too fast to enjoy and got me into too many oh shit situations. Seriously...

BobTheBiker · 07-10-2009, 02:24 AM

You think your bikes run hot, my gen1 ZX10 (86 is technically gen 1, 88-90 is gen 2, and so on. mine will actually BOIL the coolant at lights because of how shitty a design the radiator is. its unimaginable.

I have to admit though, the 06/07 models, kawi REALLY went the wrong direction. they look awful to me, unlike the 04/05s which look way nicer. having rode an 04, I liked it quite a bit. the spongy fronts are a generally shitty thing, but what can ya do? its just how the stockers are on that bike.

05-30-2009, 09:02 PM	#4
101lifts2 WSB Champion Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Moto: 2009 Kawi ZX6R Posts: 5,570	I had an 06 ZX10r and have ridden a few times an 05 AND an 08. I thought the 06 engine was the best. I'll agree with everything posted. The 06 was a pig. Turned in slow and felt a tad heavy in comparision to the sharper 05 and 08. However, I put GP revalved forks and a triple clicker Penske shock with some race stickies and it was night and day. The bike was only a tad better turning wise than the 05/08, but it wasn't setup too agressively. I also put a PC3R and a pair of Akras carbon fiber slipons on the beast along with some rearsets. The power was too much as I almost binned it after a nasty tankslapper splitting lanes at 115mph. The bike rocked and was dead stable tho. I also like the fact that your in the bike and not on top of it like my current 600rr. Kawis and Suzukis seem to fit me better than the Hondas. __________________ Train Hard Ron Paul - 2012 Mark of Excellence GM

05-19-2009, 06:49 AM	#1
wideopen1 Trailer Queen Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 12	I don't remember how hot my 04 ran, and I haven't had this 05 in town much so far, plus it's been kinda cool temp wise in Ohio..... Jtemple, what in the hell caused the block to crack on your old bike???

05-20-2009, 05:04 PM	#3
zed yellow don't corner well Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kansas City, KS Moto: 06 ZX10R Posts: 1,243	a buddy of mine got one of the first 04's. he had the same problem. the shop had it forever because like you said, it was a design flaw and they were going to have to pull a new motor off the line to get him another. he ended up getting it lemon lawed because it took too long to get it out of the shop. he did buy his new from the dealer though. I figured the lesson was not to buy the first year model of a new production bike. I had even told him not to get it yet, let them work the bugs out of it.

07-10-2009, 02:24 AM	#7
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	You think your bikes run hot, my gen1 ZX10 (86 is technically gen 1, 88-90 is gen 2, and so on. mine will actually BOIL the coolant at lights because of how shitty a design the radiator is. its unimaginable. I have to admit though, the 06/07 models, kawi REALLY went the wrong direction. they look awful to me, unlike the 04/05s which look way nicer. having rode an 04, I liked it quite a bit. the spongy fronts are a generally shitty thing, but what can ya do? its just how the stockers are on that bike.