The CBR has a nice butt, showing off its underseat exhaust and beefy GP-inspired swingarm.
In order to come up with an overall winner and be as objective as possible, we decided to split certain aspects of a bike's character and have each tester give them marks. We chose to use 10 categories: Engine; Handling/Chassis; Appearance; Features; and the important Grin Factor. These scores were given marks out of a maximum of 10. The remaining five categories (Transmission; Suspension; Ergonomics/Riding Position; Brakes; Value) are less-heavily weighted, either because they are less important to most buyers or whether the competition in that category is so close that it makes little difference to most consumers. Or maybe just because. We then took the total number and converted it to a score out of 100 so it's more easily understood.
Even before the scores were tallied up, we knew this was turning into a two-horse race, objectively at least: It was the all-around goodness of the R6 versus the flash and dash of the CBR.
By voting with our heads, the scores told us it is the Yamaha that emerges as the class champion of 2003. It scored a 90.7% rating.
"It's a perfect balance of track bike, street bike and canyon racer," says Buchanan, adding that it's his favorite all-around machine. "Good power, good looks, great handling," he sums up.
"The R6 is an excellent bike for whatever you want to do," echoes Hutchison. "Street riding and canyon carving are where this bike really shines. The excellent motor is melded together with a stable chassis and powerful brakes."
What more could you want?
Well, remember what we told you about choosing the bike that most "grabs" you? For most of us at MCUSA, it is the CBR that does more grabbing than flypaper at a Velcro convention. In our purely subjective picks (see the "For my money..." sidebars), no less than four of us would choose the $600-pricier RR. In fact, if the Value score was thrown out, the CBR would've won anyway, as it came up a scant 2.5 marks short, coming in at a 90.1% rating.
The middleweight class champion Yamaha YZF-R6. There's simply nothing it doesn't do well.
Hutchison again: "The Line-Beam headlights and wicked fairing angles give the CBR a distinct look that sets it apart from the other Japanese models. When you add in the track-readiness and confidence-inspiring chassis, the CBR earned a place in my heart." And the RR also has a place in the hearts of Roberti, Korf and Chamberlain, too.
Looking like an over-dog going in, the punchy ZX-6R received only an 82.9% rating, coming in third. Its last-place ratings in the Handling/Chassis and Transmission categories put it behind the eight-ball, then was delivered the death blow by coming up 11 points short of the top vote-getter CBR in the Appearance slot.
For those of you who like the way the Zixxer looks, buy yourself a steering damper and get used to finding neutral in the gearbox and you've got yerself a winner. For one of us (me, actually), that rompin' stonkin' motor can't be overlooked when it comes to the relatively tame power of a middleweight as compared to something like an open-classer.
All you fowl in the Duc pond should be happy with the Italian bike's 81.6% rating. Had it not been $4500 (!) more dear than the winner of this shootout, it would've been easier to forgive its uncomfortable riding position and relative lack of power. As it is, it's a wonderful machine that takes to a twisty road or track like nothing else in this group.
For someone like Buchanan, who says the 749 was his second-favorite ride on the track, there is an undeniable mystique about the historic marque of Ducati. "I'm a sucker for them," he admits. "They conjure up that image of Italian craftsmanship – you can imagine a charming stone building with a mustached little Italian, cigarette hanging out of his mouth, crouched next to the Ducati, hand-finishing the bike just for you."
Four down and one to go that leaves the once-dominant GSX-R600 at the back of the pack. The reigning AMA Supersport championship-winning bike has been usurped.
"Sadly, although a wonderful bike, it's lost pace with its competitors," sums up Buchanan, compassionately. "Given the fact that this bike recently was the jewel in the crown of the 600 class is testament to the rapid progress and competitiveness between the manufacturers to grab this market share."
Suzuki, can you forgive us? Even Aaron Yates didn't want to ride your bike this year.
