EVERY year we test each new sportsbike on the market. We
attend the launch. We road test the bike. We track test the
bike. We drag test the bike and we even dyno the bike. In the middle
of the year we run our comparo tests; the 1000cc Shootout, 600cc
Shootout, Hyperbike Shootout… Then at the end of each year we take
the best of the best new models and fire them at each other in The
Ultimate Sportsbike Shootout…
This year we have seven new models. Unfortunately there was no
1098R available, but at $54,995, the amazing Ducati is not really in
the price range anyway and is clearly a bike for those with a bit more
cash than the average rider.
Open to new models only (so no R1, 1098, 848, GSX-R1000, R6,
CBR600RR, ZX-6R) this year we have the fantastic Honda CBR1000RR,
Suzuki’s winning GSX-R600 and 750K8s, the ultra-quick Kawasaki ZX-10R,
the surprise package of 2008 – the Buell 1125R, the mighty MV Agusta F4
1078 RR 312 – the bike with the longest name in history, then finally the
most anticipated bike of 2008 – the KTM RC8.
All of the bikes were delivered stock, with standard tyres and suspension
settings. We then headed to Eastern Creek for a full day of testing and
set-up. By the end of the day we had ironed out most of the niggles that came with stock settings and we were set for our big day at Oran Park.
One rider’s opinion is never enough, so it was Jeff and Wazza, the
seasoned A graders, joined by Rennie our current FZ6 gun and Pommie, our
fast road rider and average type ride day bloke.
Some bikes come with race rubber, some come with really bad
superseded tyres, and some bikes come with normal sports road rubber.
We chose not to fit a common tyre – it’s just not fair – as you don’t get to
choose what rubber is on your bike when it rolls out of the showroom floor
and I’m sure all new bike buyers wear out the first set of hoops regardless
of brand and type…
The team then sat together and we rated the bikes using six points;
Strongest Engine, Best Chassis, Most Improved, Most Refined, Best
Looking, Ultimate Sportsbike.
Interestingly, we all voted on the same bike for Strongest Engine and
on the Ultimate Sportsbike, however, the rest of the results were wide
and varied…
If you want more of an in-depth or technical test on the bikes I suggest
you dig out your back issues (or order them online – rapidbikes.com.au) as
the individual launch reports and individual road and track tests are full of
info. This is a straight-up head-to-head opinion based shootout.
JEFF’S RIDES
The three bike’s I’ve really spent some time on are the Kawasaki
ZX-10R, the Buell 1125R and the Fireblade. I really love those bikes and
I’m one of those people that like the ZX-10R for what it is – a bloody
quick bike with a not so perfect chassis – but what a fun bike to ride.
The ZX-10R lacks mid-range and bottom-end but has an amazing
top-end. More info...
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WAZZA’S RIDES
On day one we concentrated on the Japanese entries as we assembled
for an early start at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway. The CBR1000RR
was the first bike I rode and despite the cool track conditions, the Honda
felt pretty solid. More info...
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RENNIE’S RIDES
It was with a little trepidation that I headed out onto Oran Park’s pit
lane on the MV Agusta F4 1078 RR 312 for the first session. This thing
is so fast it’s scary! I went past 1000s like they were 600s and it made
slowing up for the turn one kink rather interesting.
More info...
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POMMIE’S RIDES
The first bike I get to ride is one
of my dream bikes, the KTM RC8.
I can’t believe I’m writing this but,
as I tip into the first few corners
I’m disappointed with the way the
bike performs. More info...
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OVERALL CONCLUSION AND RESULTS So there you have it. The seven new bikes (our apologies that the
1098R was not available and also didn’t fi t the under $30,000 cut-off)
of 2008 in one fi nal head-to-head test at two of the best racetracks
in Australia. As always there can only be one winner, and this year it
has to go to Honda for the mighty CBR1000RR. It was a long time
coming but they got it right the fi rst time.
Congratulations Honda on a
machine that has not only won the Australian Superbike Championship
but also just about every magazine shootout on the planet! |
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