Hot on the heels of AMCN's Superbike Test comes the same publication's Supersports shout-out.

Track test
Carried out at Eastern Creek Raceway on control tyres (Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SPs). Each manufacturer sent along their top Aussie Supersports teams to help dial the bikes in for each test. Each team got one hour's prep time with changes limited to suspension settings and gearing. Rankings taken by rider's best lap times, averaged out.

Results:
  1. Yamaha YZF-R6
  2. Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
  3. Triumph Daytona 675
  4. Honda CBR600RR
  5. Kawasaki ZX-6R


Fastest lap: 1:38.44 by Judd Greedy on the Honda CBR600RR

Road test
The results of a rider survey covering engine, transmission, chassis, cornering, brakes, ergonomics, etc. count for 80% of the score. Dyno-testing for power and torque and dry weight count for 20% of the score.

Results:
  1. Triumph Daytona 675
  2. Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
  3. Kawasaki ZX-6R
  4. Honda CBR600RR
  5. Yamaha YZF-6R


Unlike the Superbike test, the road portion of the test was carried out in appalling weather which gave the testers the chance to comment on the weather protection offered by each bike.

Overall testers' points of note on each bike on the road testing:

Triumph Dayton 675
  • Great engine with more real-world usable power than the others. Blitzed the competition in 100km/h top gear roll-on tests.
  • Firm-yet-compliant suspension
  • Powerful-yet-progressive brakes
  • OK riding position, but not as good as the Honda
  • OK protection from the elements, but not as good as the Suzuki
  • OK luggage attachment points, but they tended to pull forward into the rider's back
  • Unsuitable OEM rubber for everyday use (Pirelli Supercorsas)


Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
  • Great engine. Pick of the bunch as measured by the test team's seat-of-the-pants dynometre. One or two extra teeth on the rear sprocket would have seen it match the Triumph in the roll-on tests.
  • Lots of room for taller riders, unlike the Yamaha
  • Instant but progressive throttle response
  • Exhaust note muted, but some induction noise remains
  • Usual Suzuki gearbox, i.e. hot knife through butter
  • Good OEM tyres for normal use (Bridgestone BT-016s)
  • Very sudden front brakes. Testers remarked on the ill-advised nature of trail braking on damp roads


Kawasaki ZX-6R
  • Best looking tacho of the bunch, if you could actually read it
  • Very low screen meant next to no weather protection and instruments not visible unless crouched down over the tank.
  • Beat the Honda and Yamaha in the roll-on test, but lost out to the Suzuki and Triumph
  • Feels light and numble but still planted. Was the Japper that felt most like the Triumph.
  • Famed Kawasaki induction roar has gone, but had a healthy exhaust note.
  • OEM tyres (Bridgestone BT-015s) worked OK.


Honda CBR600RR
  • Does nothing badly, is well finished and the most comfortable. No glaring faults.
  • But not very exciting.
  • Whisper-quiet to the redline with little exhaust or induction noise.
  • Best OEM tyres of the bunch (Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIIs)
  • Was the most sought-after bike for the return part of the ride. Least likely bike to require you to visit a chirpractor the next day.
  • "It's the Dani Pedrosa of the 600s - soul-less, bland and without any personality"


Yamaha YZF-6R
  • "Is that a red and white g-string you're wearing? No, it's a Yamaha R6 and would you mind helping to extract it from between my arse cheeks?"
  • Light, small and precise with racer-like responses.
  • Taller riders might feel like they're steering with their knees
  • Saddle surprisingly comfortable, relatively speaking
  • Screen offered little weather protection but the wide front fairing helped keep hands dry.
  • Rev-happy motor came last in the roll-on tests, but was a hoot on dry, fast and flowing roads.
  • Great induction and exhaust note. Beat even the Triumph.
  • "Think of the R6 as the hot blonde you want to have a torrid affair with, but a life of commitment might proce somewhat taxing"


Bike stats
All weights measured ready to ride with 10L of fuel. Fuel consumption measured during the road portion of the testing, all running on identical fuel.

Honda CBR600RR
  • Power: 86kW @ 14,000rpm
  • Torque: 65Nm @ 11,000rpm
  • Weight: 184kg
  • Fuel capacity 18L
  • Fuel consumption: 7L/100km


Kawasaki ZX-6R
  • Power: 86kW @ 14,000rpm
  • Torque: 63Nm @ 12,000rpm
  • Weight: 197kg
  • Fuel capacity 17L
  • Fuel consumption: 8.2L/100km


Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
  • Power: 86kW @ 13,500rpm
  • Torque: 65Nm @ 11,500rpm
  • Weight: 195kg
  • Fuel capacity 17L
  • Fuel consumption: 7L/100km


Triumph Daytona 675
  • Power: 88kW @ 12,200rpm
  • Torque: 71Nm @ 11,000rpm
  • Weight: 184kg
  • Fuel capacity 17L
  • Fuel consumption: 8.1L/100km


Yamaha YZF-R6
  • Power: 86kW @ 14,500rpm
  • Torque: 60Nm @ 11,000rpm
  • Weight: 190kg
  • Fuel capacity 17L
  • Fuel consumption: 8.2L/100km


All in all, a much less clear-cut result than the Superbike test with no one bike standing out.