Autoblog

Kawasaki ZX-10R lapping Nürburgring in 7m 50s is scary awesome

Zach Bowman — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:01:00 EST

By now, we've all grown a little callous to watching high-strung supercars prance their way around the Nürburgring. Nearly every manufacturer has taken it upon themselves to do battle with the infamous road course, and as a result, YouTube is choked with videos of physics-bending cars doing what they do best. It's a little rarer to get to see a motorcycle take on the torturous course. Bridgestone test rider Tim Röthig recently mounted a Kawasaki ZX-10R, strapped on a Gyrocam and proceeded to wring the life out of a pair of Battlax tires.

Watching Röthig coerce the big liter bike through one of the most challenging road courses on the planet is a hair-raising experience, even from the comfort of our keyboards. While his 7:50-second time falls well short of the current 7:14 record for production cars, the knowledge that even the smallest of mistakes could have introduced both bike and rider to the unforgiving guard rail in a hurry certainly earns Röthig a spot in the pantheon of impressive Nürburgring videos. Hit the jump to check it out.

Continue reading Kawasaki ZX-10R lapping Nürburgring in 7m 50s is scary awesome

Kawasaki ZX-10R lapping Nürburgring in 7m 50s is scary awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Drift battle pits Mazda RX7 against Kawasaki ZX10

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Mazda, Motorcycle, Racing

The bike vs car debate extends into the drifting arena - Click above to watch video after the jump

Regardless of where you stand on the "drifting is/isn't a form of motorsports" debate, it's fun to watch a car being piloted on full opposite lock. But is it possible on a motorcycle? Icon Motorsports rider Nick Brocha answers with a fat sideways-smoking yes.

Icon may be known for providing gear for ~~maniacs~~ fans of two-wheeled transportation, but they also sponsor a team of skilled bikers. Brocha is one of those riders and he pits his modded Kawasaki ZX10 against Jim Guthrie and his Corvette-powered Mazda RX-7 drift machine. Add in some cameras (one strapped to an R/C car) and a prime location and we have ourselves an entertaining video, which you can watch after the jump.

[Source: Icon Motorsports via Hell for Leather]

Continue reading Video: Drift battle pits Mazda RX7 against Kawasaki ZX10

Video: Drift battle pits Mazda RX7 against Kawasaki ZX10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R: More power + less weight = more speed

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Kawasaki has just officially pulled the wraps off its 2011 ZX-10R literbike, and the specifications are impressive. According to the Japanese company, the 2011 ZX10R will put out 197 horsepower (207 with ram air in full effect) and weigh just 436 pounds. That means it just barely has a better power-to-weight ratio than the previously all-conquering BMW S 1000 RR, which makes 193 horses and weighs about 450 pounds. Sadly, the American version of the bike, while still impressive, is expected to put out roughly 10 fewer ponies... dang the EPA!

Equally as important as those raw figures are the high-tech components and electronic bits and pieces that are intended to keep everything in line when the going gets tough. First on that list are an Ohlins steering damper and Showa's Big Piston Forks up front. At the aft end, a new horizontally mounted rear shock is said to improve mass-centralization and smooth out damper's rear action. As with most modern bikes, there are three power modes (Full, Middle and Low) intended to match horsepower requirements with riding condition realities.

On the gee-whiz front, Sport Kawasaki TRaction Control, or S-KTRC, is standard on the $13,799 2011 ZX-10R and promises to make the bike both faster and safer by monitoring both the front and rear ends every five milliseconds and allowing some amount of tire slippage and even power-on wheelies. If that weren't enough, there will also be an optional Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS, seriously, for an extra $1,000) that keeps the tires from locking and also minimizes the rear wheel's tendency to lift off the pavement.

Now that all the techy bits are covered, take a look at the new Ninja's styling. Naturally, everything is painted up in Kawasaki's trademark neon green and black motif, but the overall look is sharper and more aggressive than before. Note the pointy snout with ram-air duct and integrated LED light that matches the new LED-equipped mirror/turn signal assemblies. It's a pretty slick looking package, we'd say.

See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below and be sure to check out the full press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Continue reading 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R: More power + less weight = more speed

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R: More power + less weight = more speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kawasaki teases 2011 ZX-10R [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R teaser - Click above to enlarge

In case you hadn't noticed, there's a new crop of superbikes terrorizing the roadways and racetracks of the United States. And more than any other point in recent history, the Big Four Japanese brands aren't leading the way. Instead, it's the European brands - Specifically Aprilia, BMW, KTM and MV Agusta - that are encroaching on Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha's territory.

Team Green isn't likely to let the newest challengers turn its flagship Ninja into an also-ran, and the latest evidence of such can be seen in a new teaser of the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R. Expect a completely new motorcycle for next year, including a new engine, frame and suspension package. In order to compete with the latest from Europe, we'd also imagine the literbike to get an upgraded electronics package.

While we don't have any details on those hard bits, we do have one rendering that shows an aggressive new look with a gaping ram air scoop front and center. Want more? Check out an enlarged version of the teaser image above and be sure to click past the break for the accompanying video.

[Source: Kawasaki Challenge via Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading Kawasaki teases 2011 ZX-10R [w/video]

Kawasaki teases 2011 ZX-10R [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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