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.
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