[34763]

The two-tone lowers really screw the pooch by flattening out the bike's natural upswept / high tail lines. Makes it look boring ... um, I mean, like a Honda.

 

[34763]

My hypothetical liter-bike shootout preview from an (unnamed) motorcycle rag:

• Kawasaki ZX-10R = best brakes
  
• Yamaha YZF-R1 = best motor
  
• Suzuki GSX-R1000 = best lap times
  
• Honda CBR1000RR = best ... um ... all-around ... errr ...

And the winner is: CBR1000RR!!!!

 

[34763]

I wouldn't be so quick to count the Gixxer out of the picture. Sure, the '02 Suzook made many friends by making huge motor, which may now be outclassed by the R1. But the '03 version stole the show by putting all that motor to the pavement in an unflappable and extremely ridable chassis. I'll be surprised if last year's bike of the year suddenly slips to #4 on the lite-bike depth chart.