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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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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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Model(s) covered: 2004 Suzuki GSX-R 1000
So, the open class is in. With Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha debuting some serious big CC' machinery for 04', I figured it was time for us to go revisit the benchmark and see what to expect for 04'. The benchmark? Obviously the big Suzuki mopped up in AMA superbike last year and somewhat in the sales championship too, especially with that cheeky "Own the Racetrack" campaign. Saying that it's a big, fast powerful bike is a bit like saying Ron Jeremy's shagged a woman or two.
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