Datalogging: the speed of progress
Top speed
New 184.45mph Old 185.49mph
The top speed test isn’t as exacting as it used to be, as most manufacturers have agreed to a 186mph selfimposed limit, therefore before the test we already knew both bikes would be near-as-damn-it identical. However, we still carried out the test as it’s so much fun and it’s an easy way to compare the stability. The new 2016 bike is longer, there’s more weight bias over the front and it’s a little heavier, therefore stability should have been improved. However, in the very strong blustery conditions neither bike felt very solid and there were a few butt-clenching moments. But it was easier to get tucked in behind the larger screen on the new model, and in back-to-back top speed runs it felt a little more planted. Remember this is actual measured GPS speed, not a speedo reading.
Standing ¼-mile
New 10.15 seconds @ 149.43mph Old 10.31 seconds @ 149.04mph
The new model comes with three-stage launch control, which means you no longer need to be a professional road tester to get a clean fast getaway. However, to make a clear comparison we de-activated the launch control, which can be beaten by experienced riders. Both bikes run an impressive time and speed, with the new model just nudging ahead. The new ZX-10R comes with a quickshifter as standard, which we thought might give it the edge, but the activation of the shifter is relatively slow compared to a race bike and you only change gear twice on the quarter-mile run! To get a clearer indication of acceleration we raced both bikes from zero to an actual 180mph as well.
0-180mph
New 17.47s, 928.34m Old 18.41s, 993.08 m
The fact both bikes can accelerate to 180mph from a standing start in less than 1km is hugely impressive. But the 0-180mph clearly shows the improvements of the new model. It not only gets to 180mph a second quicker but it’s also 65 metres in front, or roughly 32 bike lengths; the new bike is visibly pulling away! We checked the data from 0 and 100mph and the new 2016 bike is already 10 metres ahead, or five bike-lengths; there’s a visible difference. Many factors come into play here, the new bike’s anti-wheelie, the longer wheelbase, the improved mid-range and obviously the shorter gearing. The table (right) shows recorded speeds in each gear, which clearly shows the difference the gear ratios make. First gear is very similar and still tall, at an actual 100mph. The big difference is then in the next four gears. There’s a significant 13mph difference on the rev limiter in 3rd.
Roll-on in top gear from 40-120mph
New 11.04 seconds Old 11.18 seconds
The idea of this test is to imitate accelerating on to a motorway in top gear, obviously in Germany not the UK. There’s not a huge amount of difference between the two bikes. At 120mph there are only two bikelengths in it. The 2016 machine has improved mid-range but is slightly heavier. The big difference is when we compare the roll-on in third gear from 30mph to 100mph (see below).
Roll on in 3rd 30-100mph
New 5.93 seconds Old 7.49 seconds
The improved mid-range and lowered gearing enables the new 2016 ZX-10R to pull cleanly away from the old bike – it’s 1.5 seconds quicker to 100mph. The difference between the two bikes is visual too, it only take 165 metres for the new bike to reach 100mph, whereas it takes the 2015 bike 212 metres. When jumping from the old bike to the new we could really feel this difference between each model. It’s a big step forward for the new bike and it is felt immediately on the road.
Braking 70-0mph
New 50.24 metres Old 50.20 metres
Both bikes are equipped with ABS and both set nearly the same time and near identical distance. All the braking is now done via the very clever Bosch control unit, it’s simply a case of pulling the lever and letting the ABS take over. I’m sure we could have beaten the system by de-activating the ABS, but this isn’t possible on the new 2016 model without the race kit. The Brembo brakes feel shaper on the new model and without the ABS we could have reduced the braking by a few metres.
2016 model is noticeably quicker off the line Despite being heavier, the new bike (left) turns in more willingly Showa’s advanced BFF suspension graces the new ZX-10R’s front end Big Piston Fork on the old model is still good enough for racers and road riders New bike has the added electronic safety net of cornering ABS Older bike’s four-piston stoppers are almost a match for the 2016 model’s