The Scorecard

Fourth Place - Yamaha YZF-R1
Street: 84.8% (4th)
Track: 81.8% (4th)

If any of you are thinking the R1's last-place ranking means we didn't like this ravishing bike, you're dead wrong. We've said it in other comparison tests but it's worth repeating: It's only when ridden back to back with its competitors that any flaws begin to emerge. Ridden on its own, it's wonderful.

T-Rod provides the final word: "Do the bike's looks make up for its performance shortcomings? For use on the street, absolutely and then some. The R1 and its three competitors in this shootout all possess more performance than is usable outside a racing environment. So, for the person uninterested in absolute lap times, the Yamaha looks as fast as the other bikes while also looking cooler."

Third Place - Honda CBR1000RR
Street: 86.0% (3rd)
Track: 87.8% (2nd)

It pains us to rank Honda's wonderfully invigorated CBR on the last rung of the podium. Though having received no major revisions, the hundreds of small tweaks Big Red has made to the 2006 model have transformed this once stodgy superbike into a pugnacious terrier. In fact, three of our testers chose the RR as their subjective favorite in our For My Money section.

It now steers like a scalpel instead of a butter knife, yet it remains confidence inspiring in high-speed sweepers. Its motor/gearing combo is stimulating, and its dramatic weight loss provides a benefit to acceleration, braking and handling. The only missing ingredient is a slipper clutch.

"A lot of small changes have pushed the CBR in the right direction," BC summarizes. "For the sensible and maybe slightly frightened trackday rider, there is no better choice of equipment in the literbike class."

Second Place - Kawasaki ZX-10R
Street: 87.6% (2nd)
Track: 87.5% (3rd)

While the improvements to the CBR1000RR are clearly perceptible, the benefits of the changes made to the hypersonic ZX-10R are a lot cloudier. On one hand, there's a marked improvement in stability, aerodynamic styling and more manageable power delivery. On the other, we're now dealing with a heavier, less agile platform and a motor with a lumpier powerband. In a way, this new ZX is a lateral move rather than a step forward.

"The Kawi is still a very competitive platform with a great motor," says BC. "But I don't agree with the new chassis adjustments, and I think the huge under-seat exhaust is not only the ugliest I've seen, it also seems to have added a lot of weight and raised the bike's center of gravity. I would have rather seen Kawasaki retain last year's bike and just added the Ohlins steering damper."

First Place - Suzuki GSX-R1000
Street: 91.0% (1st)
Track: 94.5% (1st)

In 2004, the target was clearly on the potent Gixxer's back, and its rivals all came out swinging with new meat to knock the champ on his back. Suzuki responded in '05 with the fabulous Gixxer that endures this year, MCUSA's choice for Best New Streetbike of 2005. Now, in 2006, it was the GSX-R's turn to be knocked to the ground, but the Suzuki's all-around excellence prevailed for the second year in a row.

In fact, it wasn't even close, a real testament to the balanced brilliance of this platform. Its consistent high marks made it a stand-out, but perhaps even more remarkable is that it has a decided edge on both the street and the track. "It not only does nothing wrong," says BC, "it also does everything right."

Perhaps Roderick summed up the magnificent Gixxer best.

"The GSX-R seems to say 'Whenever you're ready to go fast, so am I. And if you come into a corner hot, I'll provide you with enough confidence - through boundless lean angle, neutral steering, braking feedback and chassis stability - to safely exit the other side. Just put me in gear and I'll take care of you.'"

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