EVER hungry to check out the latest performance bikes, the Kent Messenger’s very own biking Stig, , finds Kawasaki’s new ZX10-R to his liking.

KAWASAKI burst onto the motorcycling scene in the mid 1970s with their awesome Z1 original muscle bike; four-cylinder 1,000cc, four-stroke of brutal straight line power but a somewhat suspect chassis.

Then they added to their stable the infamous 750cc triple cylinder two-stroke, a real mean machine that heralded the marque as a serious bike builder.

Although their backbone is heavy engineering and shipbuilding they have continued to develop their motorcycles to a fine degree and with their unique green colour scheme.

The new-for-2006 ZX10-R is no exception, keeping Kawasaki at the forefront of power and exhilaration for riders all over the globe.

Powerhouse Motorcycles of Ashford loaned me a ZX for an all-too brief period, but in a short time it confirmed to me that the "green meanie" hasn’t lost any of its top end, in your face, performance.

It’s an out-of-the-crate, ready to race track day gem, not requiring any tweaks or basic adjustments, save for personal settings. It’s also as docile as a lamb around town or commuting, definitely a Jeckyll and Hyde machine.

Thumbing the starter for the first time fired up the 10-R with the twin up-and-over titanium side exhausts giving a sensible burble on tickover.

I decided to take the A20 back to Maidstone – what a choice!

Out of Ashford towards Hothfield and Charing the road is wide, fairly devoid of serious traffic and sweeps and twists like a python getting its Sunday lunch, just what the doctor ordered, and more importantly dry.

Try transferring some 163 bhp through the back wheel on anything other than dry tarmac and you’re asking for trouble. I was hooked.

The docile exhausts began to howl and, coupled to the sound of the ram-air ducting pushing air into the engine, gets the adrenaline working overtime. The gearbox was ultra slick, feeding the six gears with just the gentlest of touches on the lever, although the top two ratios could be selected without using the clutch.

Shod with 17-inch Dunlops and a massive 190 rear section, it just swept through the wide, sweeping bends that followed, with the fully-adjustable 43mm upside-down front forks soaking up everything the road could offer. Approaching the Leeds bends where it flicks right/left/right/left the ZX was in its element.

Slight pressure on the brake lever had the nose dipping as the massive twin 300mm, four-piston, petal-discs began to knock off the speed and downshifting let the cable-operated slipper clutch smooth out the corners.

A re-designed longer swingarm kept the rear wheel from hopping all over the place.

While the Kawasaki was perfectly happy to troll around town and zip in and out of traffic, on the open road get the tacho needle above 7,000 and the world takes on a whole new dimension.

This model thrives on revs, the higher the better, and if you manage to get to a track day I’m sure you’d have a ball.

At 70mph in sixth gear the tacho shows 4,500rpm but doesn’t redline until 13,000 so there’s plenty of fun to be had playing with the six-speed box, and at high speeds the revised bodywork allows the rider to tuck in behind the concave fuel tank and screen.

Night riding proved no problem with a permanently-lit dip coupled to a main beam that punctuated the unlit country roads.

The instruments are clear to read with a clever digital mph overlay across the analogue tacho and a lap timer as standard.

The seat height and handlebar reach were comfortable with the footrest some 38cms off the deck.

I did get caught in some wet weather and a gentle use of the throttle was called for, but it was as tractable as a lamb, even the rear hugger and bodywork kept a fair amount of water off both man and machine.

With this amount of power available the ZX10-R will drink fuel; at high speeds from the 17-litre tank the best I achieved was 112 miles before going onto reserve. Again, with a more restrained right-wrist more mpg would be feasible.

Fitted as standard is an immobiliser system and an Ohlin steering damper.

For a limited period Powerhouse is offering any paint-scheme of your choice for an extra £200 above the stock price of £7,600.

As a road bike the Kawasaki ZX10-R must rate as one of the must-haves, especially if it’s painted in the infamous Kawasaki Green. There is no other standard-coloured bike like it.

Just keep an eye on your licence, it’s a potential points loser – that is if they can catch up with you!

FACTFILE:

Kawasaki ZX10-R

Tech spec: In-line four-cylinder DOHC 998cc water-cooled four-stroke
Transmission: Six-speed; Max BHP: 175 at crank
Fuel system: EFI, 4x43mm Mikuni bodies
Dry weight: 350lbs (175kg)
Dealer details: Powerhouse Motorcycles, Ashford, Tel: 01233665520