R1
Starting with the FZR1000 in 1987, Yamaha introduced several motorcycle engineering firsts including the boxed aluminum "DeltaBox" frame, advanced intake and exhausts technologies including a 5 valve-per-cylinder head and an exhaust EXUP power-valve. The engines usable power output was dramatically improved throughout the entire RPM range and featured one of the flattest power curves ever seen on a motorcycle. The aluminum Deltabox frame was very light and rigid when compared to steel and both handling and braking were vastly improved over the old-style steel cradle frames. These numerous advances made the FZR1000 a veritable "tour de force" and it was voted "bike of the decade" by many who found it to be quite capable both on and off the track.
For the next four years Yamaha enjoyed significant sales and racing success, however in 1992 Honda introduced the CBR900RR Fireblade which was essentially a marriage of the chassis used for their 600cc motorcycles with an over-bored 750cc engine. Even though the Fireblades weren't as powerful as the FZR1000, it was lighter and shorter which resulted in much quicker handling. It took Yamaha four years to realize the significant weight and power changes that were introduced in the short-lived YZF1000R "ThunderAce". Still, the YZF1000R was based on the original Genesis engine which was canted forward sharply causing the wheelbase to be longer than the Fireblades
2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R
It only takes one time accelerating out of the final turn at Losail International Circuit in Qatar on the 2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R to be reminded that Ninjas never did lack muscle. In second gear, the front end gets light as the power comes on smoothly, the slightest of headshakes (slighter than the previous model would have exhibited, for sure) waggles the handgrips, and the kilometer-long straight looms ahead, questioning just how much nerve you have when it comes to twisting the throttle
Honda's EVO6
Honda are ready for the
40th Tokyo Motor Show, which will be held in Japan from the 27th of October till the 11th of November 2007. And right now, they're giving you a sneak preview of what you can perhaps expect from Honda in 2008! The prototypes you see above - the Evo6, the CB1100F and the CB1100R - stand a good chance of going into production next year.
The Evo 6 is powered by the Honda Goldwing's 1800cc, six-cylinder engine and is likely to be a powerful beast. If the bike is actually produced next year, we suppose that six-cylinder engine will be in a much higher state of tune than it is in the Goldwing - the Evo6 should have no trouble taking on the Suzuki B-King, or even the
Suzuki Stratosphere and the
Yamaha V-Max, both of which are expected to come out in 2009.
Both the other two bikes are powered by 1100cc inline-fours and while the CB1100F seems to be a modern interpretation of a traditional 1980s UJM, it's the CB1100R which looks totally, radically hot! It has that 1980s,
Freddie Spencer era Japanese cafe racer cool and we so love this bike. It's just so awesome!