r1, vs Gsxr, vs ZX10

[OG Biker]

I like the GSXR and it is a great bike, but not a comfortable ride for me. The ZX10 has a monster engine and is a fun ride. The R1 is a comfortable bike for me and I love the way it corners. To me the R1 is the best looking sportbike of the three, and I feel the most confident on the R1 than any of the three.

[batmantis]

I'll echo whats said above. Three people i know had the 04 ZX10R and the brakes are the worst put on any leading sportsbike in the last 10 years. On trackdays all would basically have their brakes totally gone by the end of each session - lever back to the bar and little force and even on road spins theyd be cooked after a few minutes if you were pushing on a bit. New calipers are needed to get them working consistently.
Also the ZX10 motor is not that amazing relative to the others mentioned - it's just the chassis is set up in a way that makes it feel faster than the GSXR. The Suzuki is stonger up to about 5k and is equal if not better the rest of the way.
My mates 10R made 158bhp with an end can, PC3 and filter and a mates K6 with the same stuff madde 162. My 09 R1 with the same mods made 165 (A stock 08 Blade was 162 and one with a can etc was 165 for comparison. An 09 GSXR with can/PC5 was 166). It's just the BMW and Kwak that make the huge power

[killa kali]

the frame/brake issues are all over zx-10r.net...i used a spare R6 master cylinder and calipers off of a zx14 along with SS lines and stock pads and the brakes were on point

i wouldn't even consider an '07 zx10...worst f'n literbike ever in my opinion -- the '04-'05 shits all over it

[RiderR1]

I would touch a 04 zx10r way to many fist year bugs. Frames cracking at the triple, front wheel issues, and the transmissions are shit. They fixed all the issues in 05 though.

[oakleyspatz]

The GSXR K5 is widely regarded as the best GSXR ever made and certainly the best 1000cc superbike of it's generation.
It has incredible midrange that still outperforms any superbike today. It has superb road manners and handling is sweet! It also is extremely light. The ZX10R is a frisky bugger and not ideal for a road bike. On track it is awesome but it can all get a bit too much on the road. Damn quick though!
Which leaves the R1, probably the best looking sportsbike ever to come out of Japan and also very quick, but it lacks midrange which means loads of revs. It will do over 100mph in first!!!
I own a 2005 R1 and love it. I've added a Power Commander and changed the sprockets for better acceleration (read midrange). Now I have the best looking sports bike, which performs with today's rockets!
Standard, the K5 is the best!

[zetterbomb]

I cannot speak for the GSX-R's, but from what I hear and read and compare they seem like the best well rounded bike out there.

I have an 07 R1 which has definitely become a part of me and I love it, even though it doesn't have any bottom end. But the handling and and feedback are really good. When you get up in the rpm she really kicks you in the pants and doesn't have a problem keeping up with a 04 ZX-10 that has a full Akra titanium exhaust and dyno tuned. This would be my brothers bike which I have ridden and we both agree on many things. We love the looks and handling of the R1, and the breaking is pretty good too, though you should upgrade to steal braided lines. The motor of the ZX-10 is really awesome in the bottom and mid range and shifts smoothly which the R1 doesn't. The steering geometry of the ZX-10 makes the bike handle completely different from the R1, and requires a little more input from you than I felt was needed. Also the suspension on the ZX-10 was a little Cadillac compared to the R1.

With all that said I love the hard hit at the top end of the R1, styling, handling, and ergonomics being that I'm a tall person. Everyday and track use I would stick with my R1, if I only rode in the city then I'd pick the ZX-10, the lower power is quite a hoot.

Best luck with finding your next ride.

[NYknick1015]

No Honda fans in here huh? Guess not!

My .02. If you have ridden the later model r1 bikes (04+) and going to another liter bike, I would stay away from the zx10r. You will be guaranteed disappointed. If you are a lurker on the ninja sites like I am, you will see that these guys steal parts from other bikes all the time. Crappy brakes, weird design and some unreliable electronics. The only thing that the zx10 has on any other sport bike is comfort! I dd (daily drive/ride) on a motorcycle and borrowed a buddies zx and it is like a Cadillac (IMO)

R1 is a great bike. Love the power and handling but hate the comfort but I will take that bike to the track any day of the week.

K5 gixxer is a great all around bike, light weight, very nimble, average comfort for a sport bike. Good power and a ton of aftermarket support that's why a lot of people flock to it. Not gonna lie tho it's the ugliest of all sport bikes though.

I'm a Honda guy and I won't bore you with how great the 1000rr is (because it is, named best sport bike several years in a row... Oops lol) but none of these bikes hold their resale value as good as the cbr does. So also think about which would at least be a great investment. Gsxrs and zx do not hold their value because the market is flooded with gixxers and zx just can't sell like the others. I was at a dealership an saw an 08 zx selling got 4800. Pretty cheap for its generation. Find what you want to do with the bike and then make the decision

Track=r1
Sunday rider/bike tuner=gixxer
Daily rider=zx10
All of the above= 1000rr lol

Don't bite my head off guys. All just my opinion

[tigertim20]

I thought Id re float this thread . .

I mentioned a while ago that there was a possibility of a straight trade for my gsxr for a 2007 ZX 10 r.

here are some details on the zx 10 r :

Speedo Healer
PowerCommander 3 usb
Dyno Tuned by local dealer
Ivans TRE and exhaust butterfly removal Kit
Leo Vince Cans with Mid Pipes and Link pipes.
Upgraded Front Brakes to Zx14R brakes and master Cylinder.
Comes with Original Brake calipers and
Master Cylinder as well
Have a spare Tail Section, and UnderTray for the bike as well.

Dyno run put it at 169.2 bhp.

fully serviced and all valve clearances 5000km ago.

oil changed every 5000km filter every 10000km.

New tires only done 800km.

brand new chain and sprockets done 50km ago.

can throw in an escort radar detector rrp $900.00


This seems like a good opportunity to me - but so far only one of you guys have floated an opinion on the 07 ninja?.

I do really want the 5VY, but I am thinking a swap for this ninja might be fun if I keep it a few months just for the sake of trying something new, then flicking that off and going for the 5VY.

any thoughts?

oh my k4 gsxr has about the same kms, and is stock bar a yoshi can

[boosten lebaron]

Ive had all 3 bikes your looking at except for the 07 ninja. I have an 05 gsxr 1000, an 05 ninja 1000 and an 06 r1.
I had the ninja for about a week before i got rid of it. It was a fast bike but was unusable and flat out dangerous on the streets. I would get eaten alive by other more managable bike unless i was on the dragstrip. Then i ruled all. i was pulling like mid 9's on a prepped gsxr 1000 but with a bone stock ninja i was almost there from the start. just wasnt fun on the open road. It was more a holigan bike in my mind.
The r1 was ok but i got rid of that after less than a week. I just didnt like the way it handled. It was very flicky in the corners and i didnt like it. I never had a great sense of confidence in the handling of it. I was used to more solid feeling bikes. I also didnt care for the seating position since i was so far forward over the front end. Made me feel like i could topple off.
The gsxr 1000 is a really solid bike. It destroys the r1 and is a good race for the ninja but it will lose. On a track it would be the clear winner. On the dragstrip not so much. Handling is great and the motor is predictable but is still very strong. Its actually to strong for me and i dont ride it anymore but i still have it. I just dont see the need to have that much power on the street, i like my 750's more. Part of the reason i bought the crossplane r1 is because its down on power compared to the other liter bikes and its a heavier bike. Im hoping it behaves more like a 750 than a 1000.