2008 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 vs Suzuki Hayabusa Photo Gallery

Entering this fight the Kawasaki would have both the privilege and pressure of holding its top position in the hyper sportbike class.

At the stoplight, both bikes have the 160 horsies just waiting to gallop.

No two noses are alike, and these bikes are no exception. Although the Suzuki measures wider, the Kawasaki fairing offers more wind protection.

These two toughs fit it nicely on the waterfront. Well, maybe not the yacthing club waterfront, but you get the picture.

The Ninja is a bridge between comfort and high-performance power. Get it, bridge?

The ZX-14's tailcover can be removed, revealing a pillion seat.

Out in the wild, the Ninja strikes a fanciful pose.

There's not much natural about a 160-horsepower motorcycle, but it sure looks good in nature.

Smokier.

Smokey.

Riding position on the ZX-14 is more comfortable than on the Hayabusa.

The special edition paint scheme on our test bike brought the Kawi's MSRP right inline with the Busa, otherwise it is $300 cheaper.

Mirror, mirror, on the asphalt, who is the fastest bike in the world?

The Kawasaki cans look more traditional than the larger pipes on the Busa.

At lower speed the lighter feeling Kawasaki was easier to handle.

The Kawasaki's distinctive lines return for 2008.

Although it was more comfortable for long-distance riding, the giant Ninja is still a sportbike, with a forward stance.

We dug the special edition paint scheme.

The Kawi may not have been as home as the Busa in the turns, but it is still an effective cornering machine.

The Kawasaki's instrument cluster was deemed the easiest to read by our testing crew.

This year the Kawi brakes weren't the "clear cut" favorite they were in years past, with Suzuki gaining considerable ground.

The red and black tones of the Kawasaki look good next to our Southern Oregon foliage.

Like any challenger that knocks off the champ, the Kawasaki ZX-14 must have known that Suzuki would be out for revenge.

Entering this fight the Kawasaki would have both the privilege and pressure of holding its top position with only minimal changes to the spec sheet.

Even though the Suzuki gets a slim nod by our testers in the engine department, the Kawasaki motor is a beautiful thing.

We loved the Kawasaki’s responsive throttle – a necessity for a machine putting out over cavalry regiment’s worth of horsepower.

While the clutch pull on the Busa feels lighter, the engagement on the Kawasaki is flawless and the transmission is more precise.

The brakes on the two machines left us split. While the Busa’s initial bite was better, the Kawi’s radial-mount four-piston Nissin units were up to the task, with the rear stopper deemed superior.

While its 160-plus horsepower motor will no doubt drive sales, the real feather in the Ninja’s cap, and the distinguishing characteristic from the Busa, is its comfort.

Rider protection behind the windscreen and fairing is better on the Kawasaki.

This year, the ZX-14 has to yield to the mighty Busa in horsepower.

While the Kawasaki’s raw dyno numbers are a bit of a setback, at weigh-in the Ninja gets its mojo back.

In our best uncorrected runs the Suzuki just nipped the Kawasaki, running a 10.378 to the challenger’s 10.398 in the quarter-mile.

Although it loses ground, when comparing ’06 and ’08 the ZX-14 curve shows improved torque and hp in the low end – just like Kawasaki promised.

The Kawi’s fully-adjustable 41mm fork and Bottom-Link Uni-Trak rear shock deliver serious stability.

The train may crank out a couple thousand extra ponies, but pound for pound, the Ninja is about as potent a machine as you can get.

Just rolling down the boulevard on two of the baddest bikes on the planet.