Read this thread with great interest as considering swapping my 08 Blade for a 2012/13 zx10r. I appreciate the midrange on the big 10 is reported as lagging compared to the Blade but its a 175 bhp litre bike so can't be bad at the end of the day. My main concerns without riding a 10 is the reviews say the riding position is chopper like in that its arse down and heads up, the steering is slow and the front end slaps easily even on the road. The slow steering is the biggest disappointment as I like the bike to steer quickly and have set the blade up this way with aftermarket suspension. Are any of these observations true ? Some times journos write total nonsense so good to get feedback from owners.
Cheers for the reply Matt that's good to hear. Does it slap a bit or is that a load of journo rubbish too ? I know my old ZX6B1H would slap a lot even with a damper fitted but hopefully things have moved on.
Same here! Steering is sharper than the Blades and just as planted. Riding position is slightly Sportier but still comfy. Standard Pegs have a 2 position height adjustment so can be lowered for taller riders or a comfier riding position which is a great idea on a Road going Sports Bike. Mid range torque is slightly lacking compared to the Blade but it's not an issue in the slightest unless you like cruising 2 up and are used to low speed top gear roll ons in which case you may find you have to cog down a gear or so. But, as you point out, it's a Litre Bike so stills pulls well in Top from 40mph and blitzes the Blade at the top end, ZX10's are overgeared as standard so a -1 sprocket on the front and a +2 on the rear make it a different bike. ............then there's a re-flash of the ECU if you want Warp Factor 9! It's always a good idea to test ride a bike before purchasing!
