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Street-legal Superbikes Go At It On The Road (Motorcycle-usa.com)
Model(s) covered: 2004 Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblade, 2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000, 2004 Yamaha YZF-R1, 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R
Although 600cc supersport machines continue to be the sales leader among sporting streetbikes, 2004 is undoubtedly the year of the Literbikes. Three exciting fresh-sheet designs have emerged this year to rival the class overlord Suzuki GSX-R1000.
But lest you imagine yourself ready for these Superbikes, we'd like to remind you that the least powerful in this musclebound quartet produces 148 horsepower at the rear wheel.
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Model(s) covered: 2004 Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblade, 2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000, 2004 Yamaha YZF-R1, 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R
We're surprised at the small percentage of sportbike riders who have never set tire on a racetrack. Not only is it the only place the limits of a contemporary sportbike can be approached, but it's also the most fun a rider can have with his or her leathers on. (Click here to see what you're missing.)
With this in mind, we reconvened with the truly awesome quartet of new 1000cc sportbikes at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca for some full-throttle action unimpeded by Buicks or Johnny Law.
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In pista con le Kawasaki ZX-6R e ZX-10R (Motocorse.com)
Model(s) covered: 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R, 2004 Kawasaki ZX-6R
Se bisogna identificare un modello come principale artefice della rinascita Kawasaki è facile fare venga in mente la ZX-6R del 2003, che assieme alla contemporanea Z1000 è sicuramente una delle moto commercialmente e tecnicamente più riuscite degli ultimi anni. Allo stesso modo, è altrettanto facile identificare la nuova ZX-10R come l'artefice della definitiva ri-consacrazione della casa di Akashi nel pantheon delle case dall'immagine sportiva.
Kawasaki è; sempre stata una casa fortemente legata alle maxipotenze, autrice di moto grintose e decisamente ben predisposte per la guida sportiva.
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Lean, Green, and Mean Carving Machine (Motorcycle-usa.com)
Model(s) covered: 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R
It has been 20 years since the GPz900, the first in a long line of bikes to carry the Ninja moniker, was introduced at Laguna Seca in 1984. A lot has changed since that venerable machine became a part of motorcycling history, and with a resurgence of the liter-bike class it was time for Kawasaki to up the ante.
Using the 20th anniversary of the 900 Ninja to set the tone for the unveiling of its all-new ZX-10R, Kawasaki gave the assembled press a chance to ride the big ZX at Homestead International Speedway in Miami, Fl to get acquainted with the newest member of the Ninja clan.
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Model(s) covered: 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R
So here we are, Homestead-Miami Speedway in sunny Florida, and Kawasaki's opening salvo for the 2004 open class arms race. The venue is very Daytona-ish, but with a balanced mixture of infield twisties and some NASCAR banking. Having ridden here before, I've got to claim some local knowledge, but this is a big liter bike compared to the cream-puff supermoto that I rode before.
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Model(s) covered: 2004 Ducati 999, 2004 Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblade, 2004 Triumph Daytona 955i, 2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000, 2004 Aprilia RSV Mille, 2004 Honda VTR 1000 SP2, 2004 Yamaha YZF-R1, 2004 Kawasaki ZX-10R
It was a dream date really, an invite to participate in a shootout with Motorcycle.com. The use of eight open class motorcycles representing the finest that motorcycling has to offer, in terms of power to weight, ridden on some of the most spectacularly twisty roads in the universe and topped off at a technical track that demanded respect. Looking back, I don't think I've ever spent two days so worried for my life and some of the lives of the riders around me. The problem was, not only do you have to bring your best game (and riders) to an event like this, you also have to bring 100% concentration too or things can turn ugly in a second.
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