Australian Motorcycle Superbike Test

[Sanx]

Picked up a copy of Australian Motorcycle magazine to read over a leisurely breakfast this morning. This edition carried a superbike head-to-head test which was a little more comprehensive than most. Results as follows:

Track test
Carried out at Eastern Creek on Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres. Bikes set up for the track by the brand's top Aussie Superbike teams. Where the brand didn't have a factory SB team, they sent along equally qualified people or agents. Rankings by each rider's best laps, averaged out.

Results:

1. Honda CBR1000RR
2. Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
3. Yamaha YZF-R1
4. MV Agusta 312R
5. Ducati 1098S
6. Kawasaki ZX-10R
7. KTM RC8

Fastest lap: 1:37.195 by Judd Greedy on the Suzuki GSX-R1000

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

Results:

1. Honda CBR1000RR
2. Kawasaki ZX-10R
3. Ducati 1098S
4. Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8
5. MV Agusta 312R
6. Yamaha YZF-R1
7. KTM RC8

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.

Ducati 1098S

• Power: 110kW @ 8000rpm
• Torque: 116Nm @ 9850rpm
• Weight: 197kg
• Fuel capacity 15.5L
• Fuel consumption: 7.1L/100km

Honda CBR1000RR

• Power: 128kW @ 12,250rpm
• Torque: 114Nm @ 9900rpm
• Weight: 195kg
• Fuel capacity 18L
• Fuel consumption: 6.5L/100km

Kawasaki ZX-10R

• Power: 126kW @ 12,300 rpm
• Torque: 105Nm @ 9000rpm
• Weight: 205kg
• Fuel capacity 17L
• Fuel consumption: 7.7L/100km

KTM RC8

• Power: 112kW @ 8200rpm
• Torque: 112Nm @ 10,400rpm
• Weight: 200kg
• Fuel capacity 16.5L
• Fuel consumption: 7L/100km

MV Agusta 312R

• Power: 126kW @ 12,250rpm
• Torque: 106Nm @ 10,600rpm
• Weight: 213kg
• Fuel capacity 21L
• Fuel consumption: 7.2L/100km

Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8

• Power: 134kW @ 12,200rpm
• Torque: 114Nm @ 9800rpm
• Weight: 206kg
• Fuel capacity 17.5L
• Fuel consumption: 7L/100km

Yamaha YZF-R1

• Power: 126kW @ 12,500rpm
• Torque: 107Nm @ 9500rpm
• Weight: 205kg
• Fuel capacity 18L
• Fuel consumption: 7.1L/100km

So, to sum up; the Honda's the fastest on the track, best on the road lightest, got the best fuel consumption and - at least in Aussie - also the cheapest.

[TKDSKIP]

The MV is a lil fatty, so sweet to look at though.

Go the new CBR even it looks a bit unconventional.

[Paulus]

Does the Suzuki really make 8KW (134KW) more than the new Kawasaki (126KW)? I thought that the new ZX-10R was the most powerful 1000 released to date. Another typo maybe or a Suzuki tuned model?

[merv]

The Honda uses the least gas so Michael Cullen should give us all a tax break if we buy one of those.

[Sanx]

Does the Suzuki really make 8KW (134KW) more than the new Kawasaki (126KW)? I thought that the new ZX-10R was the most powerful 1000 released to date. Another typo maybe or a Suzuki tuned model?

Kawasaki's utilise the ram-air effect, which is hard to reproduce on a dyno unless you're doing it in a wind tunnel. Perhaps that could explain the difference? But the power graph does show the Suzuki noticeably ahead of everything else between 9000rpm and the Suzuki's redline at 13500.

[Swoop]

Interesting that all the bikes are in the 7 litre(+)/100km group, yet the CBR is 6.5L/100km.

[Sanx]

Interesting that all the bikes are in the 7 litre(+)/100km group, yet the CBR is 6.5L/100km.

But who buys a superbike on its fuel consumption?

[scorry]

[QUOTE=Sanx[*]Power: 141kW @ 12,250rpm (I think this is a typo; the printed graph doesn't reflect this)[*]Torque: 114Nm @ 9900rpm

so what does the new CBR actually put out?

[Goblin]

Does this mean the RC8 is a POS??

[scorry]

[QUOTE=scorry;1618965]

Power: 141kW @ 12,250rpm (I think this is a typo; the printed graph doesn't reflect this)[*]Torque: 114Nm @ 9900rpm

so what does the new CBR actually put out?

Dont worry, i googled it, its 130.7kw.
if you wanna know more about the new cbr go to this site http://www.hondaitalia.com/moto/uff_...ure/index.html

[Swoop]

But who buys a superbike on its fuel consumption?

The Scottish National Racing team?

[chrisso]

How much is the CBR-RR in NZ?

[scorry]

How much is the CBR-RR in NZ?

$21,995 off trade me

[fatzx10r]

$21,995 off trade me

zx10r only 19,990 much better deal

[NZsarge]

Interesting is'nt it, when the KTM hit the road before being ridden amongst the others it was the best thing since sliced bread....
These tests while they are interesting and fun and all don't mean squat to the average rider that's actually buying the bikes, yes there maybe a hand full of people out there that tell the differences between these bikes and be able to exploit it on the road but you would have to argue the road is not the place to be riding that hard.
As it's been for sometime now take tests like these with a grain of salt and enjoy your riding on whatever it maybe. In other words, buy your favorite bike, to hell with what anyone else thinks.