PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

BMW doesn't have a lot of options/accessories to add to the S1000RR. I think they have some carbon fiber bits and racing suspension upgrades. You can always "order" a bike without bells and whistles.

Now, dealers can always jack up prep and delivery charges. But most dealerships charge around $2k across the board for those fees, and $3k for more elaborate bikes such as sport touring bikes.

Koz

I know there is a big difference between a liter bike and the Busa/14 but the RR caught ALL motorcycles/manufactures with their pants down, including the busa and 14. What Kawasaki did was just (as I said) matched the RR with the 10. It is just like when the 12 came out, it just matched the busa. My point was it is going to take more then just matching the current leader. When it comes to street performance the bottom line is who gets to the end of the 1/4 mile first not who is more agile and lighter. Yes some people buy a bike for agility but what is going to be the best seller is power/speed/quickness. At this point in time, to be the top selling bike all you need is to be the quickest and you will need at least 200 rwhp. The only other factor that is going to sell is technology (nannies).

Koz

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

North American 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R loses 20 HP, slower than S1000RR
News Link




According to official horsepower numbers published by Canadian Kawasaki, the North American market 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R will have its power dropped from 197 to just 176.65bhp while torque will fall from 84.3 to 82.6lb/ft. Crucially for the numbers-obsessed liter bike market, that gives the ZX-10R an inferior power-to-weight ratio not only to the BMW S1000RR, but also to the GSX-R1000 and MV Agusta F4.

The modifications to the North American bikes have been made in order to pass strict new EPA noise regulations and include exhaust and ECU changes. While the engines remain mechanically identical to their full-power European and Asian siblings, the bikes we’ll get have had their redlines reduced by 750rpm to 13,750 while the point at which the lower peak power number is delivered falls from 13,000 to 11,000rpm. Peak torque is also lower, now arriving at 11,000 instead of 11,500rpm.

The BMW S1000RR is officially rated at 193bhp (as all other official power numbers, that’s at the crank, dyno measurements are at the rear wheel), making it the current king of the liter bike hill. Weighing 204kg/450lbs fully fueled, that gives it a power to weight ratio (bhp/kg) of .95:1. As we saw in our 2011 liter bike numbers comparison, the un-restricted ’11 ZX-10R makes 197bhp and weighs 198kg (wet), giving it a staggering .99:1 ratio. In restricted American form, that number falls to .89:1, putting it behind the Suzuki GSX-R1000 and 2010 MV Agusta F4 too, on par with the Aprilia RSV4 and slightly ahead of the Yamaha R1 and Honda CBR1000RR. Assuming that, all other things being equal, power-to-weight is the simplest way to express straight-line performance, these numbers indicate that the new ZX-10R will be slower than than the S1000RR, GSX-R and F4.