Superbikes are very interesting. Built for a singular purpose, there is not a lot one can do with a superbike except go racing. At xBhp though, we are always looking to raise the bar; do something different and inspire people. To that end, we took a Honda Fireblade, a motorcycle built to go racing, around India in 2006. Since then, we have done similar things, in India and abroad. We have had some racetrack monsters in the xBhp Garage but that seat was vacant for a while till last year.
When we went looking for a motorcycle to fill that void, we had a fair few options to choose from. Among those, one name kept coming up over and over. It was bound to. With Jonathan Rea in the saddle, Kawasaki dominated WSBK with their ZX-10R. So there were no doubts in our mind about the capability of this litre-class rocket. Moreover, it was and still is one of the most pocket-friendly solutions to the superbike itch. Logic prevailed over desires and the ZX-10R was inducted in the xBhp Garage.
Since then, we have taken it to the racetrack and ridden it around for Sunday rides as well. And it has not disappointed us at all. Some of it is down to the machine, and some of it is to the engineering, liquid engineering in this case. Ever since we got our hands on it, we have only fed it Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE 10W40. Not surprisingly, it has delivered in making our experience with the ZX-10R that much better.
Talking about the motorcycle, the Kawasaki ZX-10R, despite being a stellar motorcycle in its own right, is not a chart-topper. Yet, it made it a task for other manufacturers to match its sheer speed around a racetrack in WSBK. We think it is the balance and adaptability of it that makes it tick. It is a wonderful platform. A modular platform that a rider can work on to truly make the motorcycle their own and that, as we all know, is always a step ahead of the perfect motorcycle with which the rider is not in sync.
While some of the other motorcycles in the class can be referred to as machetes, the ZX-10R is a razor blade. It does not come in guns-blazing. It is amicable and talks to the rider. And when the rider reciprocates, it helps them build the sort of bond that you need to push the envelope of performance further and further. It is brilliant right out of the box but when one spends time with it and makes it their own, it is truly phenomenal.
We found out about these traits of the ZX-10R in the best way possible, on the racetrack! With Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE 10W40 taking care of the engine, we could truly let go of any inhibition regarding the performance. There are few things more joyous than opening the tap to unleash 200 horses on unhindered tarmac. With Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE 10W40 working its magic, our ZX-10R endured all the thrashing while retaining the performance and smoothness that one expects out of a superbike.
The inline-4 of the ZX-10R is inherently smooth and made even better by the engine oil. The quickshifter is one of the best we have used. The ZX-10R feels very light on its feet as well, almost like a supersport. Dynamically as well, it is a revelation. It is extremely forgiving and very easy to go very fast on. Brake hard and you realize that the setup is wonderful. Turn in and you realize that it is very easy to do so. Then, rocket out of the corner trusting in the machine and the comprehensive electronics package. And… repeat!
The best bit about the motorcycle is that it is just as good on the road as on the racetrack. While we have a fair few options in the xBhp Garage, the ZX-10R keeps calling us over and over again. To put it bluntly, it is arguably the best superbike for the road. It is smooth, tractable, dependable, and yet, as much a fire-breathing monster as a superbike is supposed to be. The clutch is super light and the light handling makes it very easy to ride even in traffic.
The engine is a gem and with Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE 10W40, it feels even better. The racetrack is where you push the motorcycle to the limit and that is why you need an engine oil that can handle all that. But on the road, the challenges are of a different kind. Constant gear changes, constant clutch engagement & disengagement, heating and so on. But Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE 10W40, with its 5-in-1 Full Synthetic Technology, is up for this challenge as well.
It helps the engine run cooler and smoother and keeps it protected in even the most trying weather conditions made worse by the crawling traffic. But whenever you find a stretch to open it up, the acceleration is there thanks to the enduring performance that the engine possesses thanks to Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE. To put it simply, Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE 10W40 is the best engine oil for a motorcycle like the ZX-10R.
Our decision to get the ZX-10R was shocking… at least to a few. After all, despite being the best-selling superbike in India, it kind of flies under the radar. But after having ridden it extensively, we can say that we are glad it came up on our radar and we pulled the trigger. It is simply one of the best superbikes we have owned… made better by Castrol POWER1 ULTIMATE and its 5-in-1 Full Synthetic Technology.
