1000CC Sportsbikes Review
As such, these bikes represent the flagship models of various manufacturers, their best chassis, best engines, the best of what they do.
Which is all a long winded way of saying that none of these bikes is ‘bad’ and that every single one of them is more or less glorious.
There is nothing that these bikes can’t do, short of two-up, inter-continental touring. Loads of torque, horsepower to spare, exquisite handling and more comfort than you might imagine.
Choose the one you like the colour of and can afford to run and you won’t be disappointed.
Suzuki GSX-R1000
This Year’s Model
Current ‘Daddy’ of the class, Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 K5 blends brain melting power and performance with supreme controllability. Its tiny chassis, styling and easy-to-live-with character round off the best 1,000 money can currently buy.
Twin-butterfly, twin-injector EFI adds nigh-on perfect fuelling to the mix while massive forks, an all-titanium exhaust, radial mounted front calipers and a heftily braced swing arm will have tech-heads frothing at the mouth.
Previous Models
Appeared in 2001 and made Yam’s R1 look tame. With a bonkers 152bhp motor and a mere 170 kilos to push around the Gixxer was, and still is, a perfect recipe for lunacy. 2003’s updated K3 got even more poke, less weight, sweeter handling, radial-mounted calipers and sharper styling. Yum, yum.
Spec Highlights
Engine LC DOHC 16v in-line four
Max Power 158.1bhp @ 11,743rpm
Max Torque 83.9ft-lb @ 9,046rpm
Weight 166kg
Suspension (F) Fully adj 43mm USD forks (R) Fully adj monoshock
Brakes (F) 2 x 310mm discs, four-piston radial calipers (R) 220mm disc, dual-piston caliper
Capacity 18 litres (3.95 gals)
Yamaha YZF-R1
This Year’s Model
No longer the bonkers 1000, but with 155bhp on tap the R1 can still turn your stomach inside-out with a handful of gas. Almost as refined as the CBR, almost as quick as the GSX-R, the Yam would arguably be the best thou’ were the K5 not a reality.
There’s no room for disagreement in the looks department, however. The R1 is the eye candy of the Japanese supersports 1,000s, no question.
Previous Models
In ’98 the first R1 blew minds, shredded licences and made Honda’s previously all-conquering 900RR look more SmokeSpoon than FireBlade. Later models lost the early R1’s ferocity, but are faster and easy to ride as a result. Styled so ahead of its time early examples still look the dog’s today.
Spec Highlights
Engine LC DOHC 20v in-line four
Power 155.9bhp @ 11,819rpm
Torque 80.5ftlb @ 9,229rpm
Weight 172kg
Suspension (F) Fully adj 43mm USD forks (R) Fully adj monoshock
Brakes (F) 2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston radial calipers (R) 220mm disc, single-piston caliper
Fuel capacity 18 litres (3.96 gals)
Kawasaki ZX-10R
This Year’s Model
Packed with bad attitude and cares not one fuck who knows it. Kawasaki doesn’t do refined, thank God, so riding the 10R is a white-knuckle jaunt of instant throttle response and excitable steering.
This ZX demands respect, and lots of it, but the rewards are enormous, as is its presence on the road. Even its styling is aggressive and shark-like. Think early R1, add 30 horsepower and you’re starting to get the picture.
Previous Models
Launched in late ’03, the 10R is a relative new boy to the litre show. Early bikes were recalled after reports of cracking front spokes, but it’s worth hunting the classifieds for ’04 bargains because they’re essentially the same as this year’s bike. Oh, and it’s a proven race winner too.
Spec Highlights
Engine LC DOHC 16v in-line four
Power 172.6bhp @ 11,700rpm
Torque 84.9ftlb @ 9,500rpm (claimed)
Weight 170kg
Suspension (F) Fully adj 43mm USD forks (R) Fully adj monoshock
Brakes (F) 2 x 300mm discs, four-piston radial calipers (R) 220mm disc, single-piston caliper
Fuel capacity 17 litres (3.74 gals)
Honda CBR1000RR
This Year’s Model
Honda’s latest Fireblade (note small ‘b’) sacrifices brain-out power (152bhp not enough, sir?) for controllability and poise. An electronic steering damper, centralised mass and progressive power makes it a ’kin’ fast road and track tool.
MotoGP styling adds class, even if the stock colours look gash. A porky 13 kilos heavier than the GSX-R, but feels reassuringly solid as a result. Head-crushingly fast, yet totally usable. Genius.
Previous Models
Less equals more – that was the mantra of the first FireBlade, circa 1992. Only 893cc but lighter than a blade of grass (geddit..?), the first 900RRs married 600 nimbleness with the testicles of an 1100. Subsequent models gained more power, capacity, weight and manners and became duller by the year as a result. Curious.
Spec Highlights
Engine LC DOHC 16v in-line four
Power 152.6bhp @ 9,994rpm
Torque 84.2ft-lb @ 8,487rpm
Weight 179kg
Suspension (F) Fully adj 43mm USD forks (R) Fully adj monoshock
Brakes (F) 2 x 310mm discs, 4-piston radial calipers (R) 220mm disc, one-pot caliper
Fuel capacity 18 litres (3.95 gals)
MV Agusta F4 1000
This Year’s Model
The most gorgeous thing ever? We think so, and in 1,000cc guise the MV now has the performance to back up its alluring lines. In fact the F4’s the most powerful in its class – more than 3bhp up on the GSX-R1000 K5.
All this Italian decadence comes at a price, however, and a bastard great one at that. £14,000. Gulp. Value for money rather depends on your wallet size, but pound for pound, the Suzuki’s got it licked.
Previous Models
Being new to MV’s range only last year the F4 1000 doesn’t really have a ‘previous’ model, unless you count the 750, but it does come in three guises – F4S (single seat), F4S 1+1 (dual seat) and the hilariously priced F4S Tamburini with trick everything and presumably it jangles when you tap it. Bling!
Spec Highlights (F4S)
Engine LC DOHC 16v in-line four
Power 161.4bhp @ 11,205rpm
Torque 82.4ftlb @ 9,586rpm
Weight 192kg
Suspension (F) Fully adj 50mm USD forks (R) Fully adj monoshock
Brakes (F) 2 x 310mm discs, six-piston calipers (R) 210mm disc, four-pot caliper
Fuel capacity 18 litres (4.6 gals)
Kawasaki ZX-9R
The Latest Model
Was almost good enough to trip up the R1 back in ’98 but is now more of an obscenely fast tourer than cutting-edge sports bike. Tech-wise the 9R is a yawn – conventional brakes, carburettors (remember them?), RWU forks, Zzzzz, although on the road it still makes perfect sense.
Stable, reassuring and even pretty good two-up, the 9R is a more, dare we mention it, practical, ‘real world’ alternative than, say, a ZX-10R.
Previous Models
The first B models (’94-’96) were fast alright – 167mph – but handled like waterbeds, all vague and floaty. Kwak got serious with the C1 in ’97, but it was overshadowed by the R and never really recovered. Now possibly in its last year the 9R feels old and struggles to shine against modern offerings.
Spec Highlights
Engine LC DOHC 16v in-line four
Power 127bhp @ 11,650rpm
Torque 65ft-lb @ 9,050rpm
Weight 186kg
Suspension (F) Fully adj 46mm RWU forks (R) Fully adj monoshock
Brakes (F) 2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers (R) 220mm disc, one-pot caliper
Fuel capacity 18 litres (3.96 gals)
Triumph 955i Daytona
This Year’s Model
Hopelessly out-gunned by its Japanese rivals, but the 955 is still a decent road tool. Its three-pot lump always has grunt in hand and enough torque to plough a field (sounds like a tractor too).
Worth a sniff if 158bhp ain’t your thing (what’s wrong with you?) but know this: the Triumph is about as hightech as a Ford Anglia – radial calipers, banana swingarms and titanium pipes have yet to make it to Hinckley. Bugger.
Previous Models
Triumph claimed the Daytona was to be a British FireBlade beater in 1997. Was it bollocks. It was a good bike, just not as good as Triumph thought. 18 months later it became the 955i. Heavily updated in 2001 it has remained, swingarm apart, virtually unchanged ever since.
Spec Highlights
Engine LC DOHC 12v in-line triple
Power 130bhp @ 10,700rpm
Torque 66ftlb @ 8,600rpm
Weight 191kg
Suspension (F) Fully adj 45mm RWU forks (R) Fully adj monoshock
Brakes (F) 2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers (R) 220mm disc, 2-pot caliper
Fuel capacity 21 litres (4.6 gals)
Source: SuperBike Magazine