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/128162
Honda CBR11 OOXX vs. Kawasaki ZX-12R vs. Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa AND OTHER THINGS TO DO IN ASTRAIGHT LINE STORY AND PHOTOS BY BLAKE CONNER "'FM few months ago, we did our ~Open-Class Sportbike Shootout, which was between the four Japanese 1000cc-or-thereabout sportbikes. Those four bikes offer the best combination of handling and braking, and the ultimate power-to-weight ratios on the market. But what about absolute horsepower, top speed and quarter-mile times? Where do you turn for that? Look no further than the "Ultrasport" class. These three bikes offer the ultimate straight-line performance available on the market. They beg to be drag-raced from stoplight to stoplight and, dare I say, have their throttle cables stretched tight on the open road. The 200-mph barrier has yet to be reached by a stock-out-of-the-crate 32 JULY 10, 2002' cue •• bike, but these bikes get close. When the Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa originally came out, the press naively thought that the bike was going to be the first one to cash in on that lofty mark, but it wasn't to be. Then the new K.awasaki ZX-12R came out and wasn't even at the level of the big Suzuki, so it was attacked by the media as a 98-pound weakling. The Honda CBR 11 OOXX on the other hand - in true Honda style - wasn't even trying to play that game, or at least Honda wasn't showing its hand. It seems as though Honda just wanted to stay under the media radar and let the other two companies take the heat. What this new category of bike did do was scare the bejeezus out of the non motorcycling public. Rumors of near-200-mph bikes prowling the highways of America and Europe had special-interest groups up in arms. n e vw s Threats of limiting power output which was successful in a few European countries - were unsuccessful for the most part, but nonetheless spurred the manufacturers into trying to keep things low-key and quiet. Now it seems that the shock has worn off, and although the manufacturers aren't exactly touting their bikes' top speeds publicly, maximum velocity is still what the category's buyers are looking for. Big-bore bikes with big-bore power is always a recipe for success - it's the American way. These are the muscle cars of modern sportbikedom. The Real World No, we're not talking about that pansy-ass MTV show with wannabe actors living in a commune together. We're talking about real-world riding conditions. For weeks now, we've been commuting to work, riding these Los Angeles County RIIcewa~ . . . the sIte of our dragstrlp testing. From left to right are the Suzuki GSX1300R, Honu CBR1100XX and Kawasaki ZX-12R. bikes in the canyons on the weekends, and simply running errands just like you do. My first impression of the three bikes is that they all make excellent everyday rides in a variety of circumstances. But the thoughts below are a bit more specific. HONDA CBR., ., OOX>< Around town, the CBR feels a bit on the wide and heavy side, which it is (the heaviest of the group). The bike isn't unbalanced; it just feels a bit top-heavy. One thing that I really like about the bike is the typical Honda refinement. Although the bike looks a little dated, the fit, finish and instruments are all top-notch.