I am looking at a cbr1000rr for street and track use. I have considerable time on 600's and think I want a 1000 for my next bike. I am well aware of how much easier it is to go faster on a 600 but I'm tires of revving the piss out of one go anywhere. I could also care less about my lap times, I just want to have fun. I took my Hypermotard 1100 to the track and had a blast with the reserves of torque.

My 14R's weight is what's has gotten me into trouble, not the power BUT I haven't and wouldn't use it on the track like the 1000 I'm looking at.

Hopefully Kruz will chime in. He has (had) 3 liter bikes and 2 were CBRs. he didn't like his latest CBR 1000 as much as the older one. I'd go with a ZX10 if you want 1000 power with almost 600 weight.

I rode the evil bitch ('04 ZX10R) and can't imagine taming it on the track. Are the newer ones with TC a lot more friendly?

I believe so. The 04-06 ZX-10s have a reputation for being a pretty wild machine. The latest has all the electronics with quickshifter and some more hp while only gaining a few pounds over the previous ZX-10. Gears 2-6 have closer ratios than the previous gen. Oh yeah, Kruz had an 08 zX-10 also so that's 4 literbikes owned by him. He has a 2012 now. ...but I think the 2015 is going to be too tempting for him to not own.

If you're thinking of buying NEW...a 1000,seriously consider and try to ride a new zx10R.The Kawasaki quality is legendary for one thing.You want that.Though they've been a bit lagging in the electronice department,the new bike has ALL the excellent rider aids...and then some.It's got the Best of the Best suspension...all taken from the Factory teams of Kawasaki and placed into this street bike.Components are top of the line.Setup is Top of the Line.

IF I didn't have my H2...I'd be seriously looking into this new 2016 ZX10.The KRT model.It's awesome.Just what a guy needs for track and street.ALL a guy needs for track and street.Look into the specs...AND the FACTORY options for it.It's amazing.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 11/15/2015 @ 10:14 AM *

After passing my test on a 250 over 33 years ago , the smallest cc bike I've ever owned was a Fireblade at 893cc. Since then it's been a multitude of 4 cyl litre + bikes. I've test ridden a few 600's and found them quite limp wristed compared to the larger cc machines but I think it was just me trying to ride them like a 1000. It's what you're used to I guess. The most radical was probably the 1198SP Ducati I had in 2011. For sheer explosive power it had the 4's beat but I found it much more hard core and less amenable on the road compared to the big 4 cyl bikes so only kept it 3 months and sold it. For a track only bike a 600 may make more sense but if it's mainly for road riding the extra grunt of the bigger motor will be far more useful and enjoyable. JMO

Couldn't see myself buying a brand new trackbike and if I did it would be the new R1.

Would the 2013-2015 bikes still be good? Having TC on the track would be so nice.

My only concern is the slightly longer wheelbase and other chassis changes compared to the last Gen ZX-10. To me, these updates seem to spell out "wheelie inhibition and high speed stability" but along with those go sacrifices in the cornering dept. This will only be determined by people who own both bikes.

Yeah, just look at those cartridges sticking up behind the fork! Is that oool or what?

I have a 2012 ZX10R and love it for its lighter weight and increased manuverability vs my other bikes.

Definitly miss the torque tho, I have to really wind it up to make it go fast, and even then it doesn't pull out of the corners anything like my 14R.

I'd say do it.

I even road tripped mine - 550+ mile days.

* Last updated by: NeedForSpeed on 11/15/2015 @ 11:15 AM *

Yes, I've got a ZX10 (Gen2 '06) and love it.

Track days are a great way to spend a day relaxing. I try to
go at least once a month during season.

Yes, it's just not the overall power of the ZX10, but also the mid range and
being able to roll on at 5k rpm. Less Shifting too. But power on the straights
is also nice!

Do it! you will not regret it.

* Last updated by: piken on 11/15/2015 @ 11:22 AM *

I remember talking to a guy with a Gen 2 ZX10 at the track. He said it was as maneverable as the older 600's he used to ride. I was on a '99 CBR F4 which was to say he was referring to what I was riding.

My F4 was as flickable as I'd ever need a bike to be. Are the new 1000's going to feel about the same since they've come so far with mass centralization?

Ditto what Rook and Grn said, the new ZX10R is the bike to own, I'll be really surprised if it's not the dominant Literbike for the next few years and many thousands cheaper than the competition. I've had the '07 and '12 CBR1000RR, both good bikes but way behind in the electronic wars. The new ZX10R has everything except heated grips and auto blip downshift but you can add this feature with the race kit ECU. That said, I love my ZX-6R, yes you must rev the nuts out of it but it's an absolute hoot on a twisty road.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 11/15/2015 @ 2:26 PM *

The 2016 ZX10 is going to be a "great" bike.

Guess depends on budget and how much you plan on hitting the track.

My budget for a track bike has to cover my tolerance for a complete loss.

There is no insurance coverage for bikes doing track days so I
personally would not take a chance at throwing 20K down the track.

I'd work backwards, start with your budget and find the best deal.
Lots of good track bikes, ZX6, ZX10, GSXR 750, R1, R6, etc. heck SV650's are
a great track bike.

For me trying to have a street/track combo bike just doesn't work out.
Best to have one dedicated for track and one for the street.

Yup
Depends on budget but with a few tweaks almost any of the liter bikes produced in the last 5-7yrs can give you a thrill.

* Last updated by: 1wheelpeel on 11/10/2017 @ 3:35 PM *

I've got a '06 GSXR1000 and I've ridden a 600 Fireblade. The biggest difference for me is on the 600, I could make decisions as I hit the throttle, while on the 1000 it was paramount that I knew what I wanted to do BEFORE I hit the throttle. I weigh 230lbs. 600's feel too small for me, but on a track, I'd probably be better off, if only because I'd likely learn and concentrate on better technique. On the street however, the 1000 is where its at! It's a blast! Don't skimp on tires!

I just sold my 14r and bought a brand new BMW s1000RR. Two totally different animals and I love each for different reasons but I'm addicted to the RR. The torque of the 14r cannot be matched but the handling of the litre bike, especially the RR is unreal. I don't know how BMW can pack the bike full of that technology for that price.

Owned an '08 ZX10R and didn't like it. Riding that thing at slow speeds is like walking an angry pitbull. Darn thing just wants to GO!

Of the litersports, CBR1000RR is the most compact and feels the most like a 600. Great if you are a not a big-n-tall rider. Down on power compared to the latest fire breathers, but that's not so much a bad thing for track days. No way I would ride my Gixxer600 track bunny on the streets, but for track days, the modest power keeps me out of trouble.

Literbikes are great for road riding.

Man, watch your line on that road, that is some scary gravel/sand there, ride safe.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 11/18/2015 @ 8:36 AM *

LOL! Yeah we had planned that trip back in March and it rained every day for like two weeks prior to our going. It's not normally that bad. We only got caught out in the rain one day, sure would have liked to have had a mud flap on it that day. :(

I street and track my 06 zx10.. its a great bike, I've done at least 30 plus track days on it. Once you get the suspension set up you'll have a blast. The extra troque down low is a big plus coming out of corners. What you loose going into corners you'll make up on any strait compared to a 600 depending on rider skill. :)
Unfortunaly she's in the shop now for a motor rebuild. 51k trouble free miles with some drag raceing, commuting and track days since 2010 got her with 6k on the clock.. That's her with my old ZX14
.

* Last updated by: Blkcasper on 11/18/2015 @ 11:53 AM *

I've owned several literbikes. For overall competency in a sportbike, they're hard to beat. They're fast, relatively nimble, and exceptionally well-suited to both street and track riding. For track days I actually switched from an 06 10R to my 14R, then promptly bought an 09 10R. The 14R is the best streetbike I've ever owned, but it's too easy to find its limits when riding at the track. You really can't go wrong with a 1000 as a multi-use machine.

What is your budget? The 08+ CBR1000RR, while it has some hiccups, is an exceptionally capable bike. The modest power is offset by the great handling. As long as you make sure you're not buying one of the notorious oil burners, they're also reliable as hell. If you can afford it, however, I would steer you towards the 15+ S1000RR or the new 10R. Both are top of their class in every category.

In keeping with the gratuitous bike porn theme:

'06 ZX-10R

'13 ZX14R

'09 ZX-10R

In keeping with the gratuitous bike porn theme:

sweet

Bad ass pics leaning on the ZX with the bags.

Yes, amazing leaning on that big 14

In addition to my current 14R, I recently had a literbike; a BMW S 1000 RR but traded it for a turbocharged Fiat 500 Abarth that my wife and I can both enjoy.

The BMW was incredibly fast and s great all around machine.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 11/19/2015 @ 8:29 PM *

I have a MV F4 1000rr and I like it a lot more then I thought I would by far my favorite leader bike I have.