Good news from Kawasaki, as this was a year of fine tuning for several models, such as the ZX-10R which comes to us in 2010 sharper than ever, thanks to subtle design tweaks and some highly effective mechanical upgrades.

A track monster civilised enough to provide excitement on the road, complete with good comfort for the un-stretched ones among us.

New, cleaner design
The one-piece front cowl now incorporates a larger ram-air intake that gives the 10R a look similar to its 6R sibling. The slightly wider fairing creates a tidier look around the handlebar area while improving aerodynamics. The minimalist look of the new body design is emphasized by the use of black on the side fairings to make the 10R appear even more compact.

As with the ZX-6R, the license plate holder and rear turn signals are quickly detachable – great for track days. What’s more, the new model gets a sleek LED taillight that makes the bike more visible and more modern, while the old, controversially-styled muffler gives way to a new, smaller silencer with metallic gray paint and a dimpled finish, enhancing the racy look of the machine.

More air
Engine upgrades are focused on increased efficiency of the intake system, and the results are there: nearly 200 hp at the crankshaft. In addition to the larger intake duct in the front cowl, Kawasaki’s high-performance monster now uses a smaller fuel pump, which allows an increase in air box volume without having to reduce fuel tank capacity or change its position.

The fuel injection system uses oval rather than round throttle bodies for greater air flow capacity to feed the hungry cylinders. Needless to add, Kawasaki engineers reprogrammed the ECU based on the new intake system, to extract the most power and torque from these sophisticated upgrades.

A great name to be associated with! This Öhlins device provides much better dampening than the one on older 10R models.