Winner of the first 2007 Supersport shootout is ...

**Black Bandit** · 27th March 2007, 23:56

A Honda.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Articl...ID=4514&Page=1

The to-and-fro competition of the Jappa supersports is a rapidly changing landscape. I'm not really sold on the looks of the Honda though, looks a little dated perhaps? Can't really judge properly until I see one in the flesh though.

**ninjac** · 28th March 2007, 15:50

That test was a bit wishy washy.
They say the 6R and R6 have good mid range and nothing up top. Then they show the dyno graph which clearly shows the opposite. They also mention how the CBR has all the bells and whistles on the dash and the ZX-6R doesn't even have a clock. Wrong there is a clock, and with the lap timer it has everything and more the CBR has except the fuel guage.
Pitty they didn't get enough time on the track.
It would be interesting to see what difference the ZX-6R makes when the exhaust valve is set to full function UK spec.
They mention this but only give the 05/06 model as an example which only gave another 1Hp across the rev range. I heard the gain for the 07 is much more.
There's no dought Honda did a good job but I am not sold on the looks either. The front looks very dated and the side fairings look to bitzy.
All these bikes are fantastic and so close on performance the choice is purly down to personal preferance.

**Black Bandit** · 28th March 2007, 20:11

Biggest surprise for me was all the pies the Kwaka has been eating! It's the heaviest and has the lowest HP of the bunch - such a change from the 636.

MD · 29th March 2007, 11:37

Originally Posted by Black Bandit

Biggest surprise for me was all the pies the Kwaka has been eating! It's the heaviest and has the lowest HP of the bunch - such a change from the 636.

Yeah. I test rode the new ZX6R on Saturday. Bit of a disappointment coming off owning three 636s in a row. New bike is unnecessarily uncomfortable, handlebars almost touching your knees Why? Power is just average for the class and what's with the extra weight when you drop 37cc?
The new CBR looks and on paper sounds like it's going to be the new boss on the block. Only sat on the CBR but in reb/black it does it for me, feels so comfortable and light.
Ah shit. Too many bikes we all want to own at once. What's a motorcyclist to do...

**K6K** · 29th March 2007, 14:31

Save me from the Honda!
I thought my bike was going to be written off so I was quite excited about the Kwaka. But 14.5 Kg semi-wet heavier than the Honda?? WTF!!!
Kawasaki's used to have a bit of a rep for being tubby and it looks like they are heading back to it with this bike.
Performance is more important to me than looks but I am just not a fan of Honda's (At least the CBR range). I am glad my bike is now being repaired so I can wait and hope the K8 or even the R6 comes out and catches up to the Honda.

**inlinefour** · 29th March 2007, 14:43

Originally Posted by Black Bandit

A Honda.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Articl...ID=4514&Page=1

The to-and-fro competition of the Jappa supersports is a rapidly changing landscape. I'm not really sold on the looks of the Honda though, looks a little dated perhaps? Can't really judge properly until I see one in the flesh though.

Try riding the bike before making a proper sound judgement. My 05 CBR is back in the local dealer up for sale. I tried all the 05 600cc, 750cc and 1000cc and the CBR was first equal with another bike that I could not get me hands on...

**imdying** · 29th March 2007, 15:00

Perhaps the way Kawasaki measure there weigth has changed... perhaps they now measure with air in teh tyres, oil in the motor and forks, and half a tank of gas? Tui I know, but it could happen....

**JayRacer37** · 29th March 2007, 15:03

Just read through the whole lot of that...hmm....[think politely]...'stuff', and got a little bit worried that one bike in there was going to be a bit of a dud as a race bike. Then I watched the video on page two of there write up to the right of the CBR report, watched how the yanks rode, and breathed a sigh of relief. If your going to comment on which one is best, and all that crap, ride the things how there meant and get back to me please. Those guys looked like the (no offence) average medium group at track days. Bring on 2008 NZ SS title challenge!!!

**Black Bandit** · 29th March 2007, 20:59

Originally Posted by MD

Ah shit. Too many bikes we all want to own at once. What's a motorcyclist to do...

I know, I know

Originally Posted by inlinefour

Try riding the bike before making a proper sound judgement.

Um, that's what the comparison shootout journos did to come up with their conclusions. :spudwhat:

I bet there'll be plenty of other shootouts published this year that will announce another bike as "king of the hill". They're so close performance wise that it comes down to personal preference/bias on the day.

**jimbo600** · 29th March 2007, 21:21

Originally Posted by MD

Yeah. I test rode the new ZX6R on Saturday. Bit of a disappointment coming off owning three 636s in a row. New bike is unnecessarily uncomfortable, handlebars almost touching your knees Why? Power is just average for the class and what's with the extra weight when you drop 37cc?
The new CBR looks and on paper sounds like it's going to be the new boss on the block. Only sat on the CBR but in reb/black it does it for me, feels so comfortable and light.
Ah shit. Too many bikes we all want to own at once. What's a motorcyclist to do...

Dunno MD dunno. Reckon my next bike won't be a sports bike anyway. Having a whirl on yours made me think again about bikes. Hadn't smiled like that on a bike in ages.

Oh yeah I did, it was Tue wheelieing up SH1 past Porirua.

**inlinefour** · 30th March 2007, 10:51

Originally Posted by Black Bandit

I know, I know

Um, that's what the comparison shootout journos did to come up with their conclusions. :spudwhat:

Those articles are generally only mere opinionated crap...

**The Stranger:Me** · 30th March 2007, 10:58

Originally Posted by inlinefour

Those articles are generally only mere opinionated crap...

Unless of course they say the Suzuki is best, then you can believe them.

**cowpoos** · 30th March 2007, 11:09

Originally Posted by JayRacer37

Just read through the whole lot of that...hmm....[think politely]...'stuff', and got a little bit worried that one bike in there was going to be a bit of a dud as a race bike. Then I watched the video on page two of there write up to the right of the CBR report, watched how the yanks rode, and breathed a sigh of relief. If your going to comment on which one is best, and all that crap, ride the things how there meant and get back to me please. Those guys looked like the (no offence) average medium group at track days. Bring on 2008 NZ SS title challenge!!!

yeah...I don't listen to any journo crap much anymore....and besides the kawa seems to be doing pretty well in racin circles very quickly... 1,2 5,6 at daytona...1st and a 3rd[??] at wsb...might be a case that in race trim for which it was probally designed for its is light and fast..