Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128151
2002 Open Bike Shootout Honda CSR854RR vs. Kawasaki ZX-8R Suzuki GSX-R1 000 VS. Yamaha YZF-R1 FITIFINISH, ERGONOMICS, MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES. Honda CBR954U As always, the Honda's fit and finish is very nice. Honda just knows how to make quality products. All of the components are top-rate and the bodywork fits perfectly. The paint and decals are very high quality, and the new graphics are clean, simple and attractive. The black frame and triple clamps look really cool, and the styling of the bike is fresh and attractive, all the way down to the beautiful swingarm. We love the Honda's gauges. They are definitely the best of the group and the most informative, with a clock that is always on, even when the bike is turned off. the controls are easy to operate and ergonomically well laid-out. The idiot lights can sometimes be difficult to read when in a normal riding position, especially the tumindicator lights. The mirrors on the CBR buzz just like they have on every bike in this series thus far. The rear storage compartment is the best of any of these bikes • not only is it large in capacity for a bike in this genre, but the hinged passenger seat makes it a breeze to open without having to remove the thing. The ergonomics of the CBR are good if you're not looking for a roomy cockpit. The 954 feels more like a 600 than anything here, It just feels tiny, and in this case that's a good thing. It makes hustling the bike around a racetrack a piece of cake. The Honda was one of the easiest bikes to work on when we had to pull the wheels at the racetrack to get new rubber thrown on. It only required basic tools. BOTIOM UNE: The Honda is at the top of the heap in both styling and function, and is one of the most attractive bikes as well. KawasakI ZX-9R The Kawasaki's fit and fmish is good in terms of paint and decals and the fit of the bodywork. It is, however, starting to look really dated. We said that last year as well. Everything from the controls to' items such as the footpegs and even the swingarm all look like decade-old tech· nology. The Kawasaki still has hard-to· read analog gauges and very little information in the cockpit. The controls are easy to use but don't look IJke they're up to the quality of the other bikes. The Kawasaki's graphics are okay, but we weren't so crazy about the goldish·orwhatever·it·is color. This bike needs a facelift in a major way, and a tummy tuck as well. The rubber footpegs are comfort· able on the street but are a real pain in the butt on the track. If you are looking for a good everything bike, the Kawasaki could be your bike. It's ergonomically the most comfortable bike of the group and really nice when the road gets straight. The passenger seat is a real pain in the butt to work with, it's hard to latch until you get it figured out, and the storage capacity is limited as well. The Kawasaki's rear wheel wasn't that difficult to remove for our tire swap, but the front rim is a pain because of the giant hex-bolt axle. You need a special tool that isn't even includ· ed in the tool kit· a real pain. B~TIOM UNE: A great overall sportbike in terms of comfort and function, but in need of a serious update. VS. SUZUki GSX-Rl000 The Suzuki is right up there when it comes to fit and finish. Everything is of good qual· ity and fits together really well. The graphic treatment and the color combination that we had was one of the best looking of the group. The Suzuki still looks fresh in its second year. The controls are functional and the gauges have all the Information that is nee· essary, although it's a pain to have to get to the clock by toggling the multi-function display to that function. The mirrors on the Suzuki are decent, but they don't get around your elbows in terms of view any better than the others. They don't vibrate as badly either. The seat cowl functions well, but because it doesn't hinge on, it tends to get knocked on the ground every once in a while. The riding position is one of the most comfortable for sport riding and even commuting. The seat 's really cushy. No one seemed to complain about it, and yet it felt fine On the track as well. The Suzuki almost didn't get to try out the Michelin Pilot race rubber, because the GSXR's front axle· also using a giant hex to get it out· is a royal pain the ass without a special tool. Believe it or not, the Freddie Spencer Riding School had recently made such a tool and had it in their shop - pure luck. The rear was easy, but what a pain these new axles are for the aver· age guy to change a wheel. BOTIOM UNE: The Suzuki is among the best in all of the above categories and is one of the most comfortable for sport riding. It's hard to fault. Yamaha 'WZF-Rl The RI still looks like an RI, but one that got all spruced up for prom or something. Most of the changes are subtle except for the tail section, to which the designers gave a fabulous new look - it's one of the coolest on any bike we can think of. The LCD taillights are a nice addition to the package as well. Yamaha's fit and finish is very good, right down to the nuts and bolts. The blacked-out frame and swingarm are very cool, making the bike look very similar to the R7 racebike's. The red/white/black version of the bike isn't the best combination that it offers this year. It's just not as sharp as either the silver or the blue versions, but the graphic treatment is tasteful. The gauges are functional and attractive, but we wish the cool shift light lit up red or something so it was actually visible. We wish the clock was on all the time so that we didn't have to toggle through all the other stuff to get to it too. The tail section that we all think looks so cool doesn't exactly offer the most storage space inside, and you'll have a hard time convincing a passenger to sit On the wafer·thin excuse for ? seat. Another positive is that the RI 's mirrors actually let you see things behind you, which ,s helpful. The Rl was by far the easiest bike to work on when we had to swap wheels for the track. DO-it-yourselfers should be happy to hear that. BOTIOM UNE: Nice, new styling with a strong family resemblance and plenty of functionality, combined with good fit and finish, make the RI a good, quality package. Fit and Finish Podium: 1. Honda 2. (Tie, SuzukiJYamaha 3. Kawasaki Associate editor SCott "your lucky you can't see those florescent leathers In color" Rousseau on the 954RR.