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/128317
2004 Cycle News Middleweight Shootout SPECIFICATIONS DUCATI 749 Dark/749S LIST PRICE D ISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE $11.995 748cc Liquid-cooled. L-twin four-stroke 80RE x STROKE 90 x S8.8mm 11.7:I COMPRESSION RATIO CARBU RETION EFI w/S4mm throttle bodies IGNITION Electronic TRANSM ISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY .4.1 gal. WHEELBASE SS.9 in. RAKEITRAIL 24.S·/N/A SEAT HEIGHT 30.7 in. FRONT TIRE 120/70ZR 17 I80/55ZR 17 REAR TIRE.. FRONT·WHEEL TRAVEL .4.9 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.0 in. FRONT BRAKE D ual disc REAR BRAKE D isc FINAL DRIVE Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT .435Ibs. HONDA CBR600RR LIST PRICE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE $8599 .599cc Liquid -cooled, in·line four-cylinder BORE x STROKE 67 x 42.Smm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.0: 1 CARBURETION Dual-stage fuel injection IGNITION Digital 3-D map TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPAC ITY .4.8 gal. WHEELBASE S4.7 in. RAKE/TRAIL 24·/9Smm SEAT HEIGHT 32.3 in. FRON T TIRE 120/70-17 REARTIRE 180/55-17 FRON T-WHEEL TRAVEL .4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL .4.7 in. FRONT BRAKE Dual disc REAR BRAKE D isc Chain FINAL DRIVE 370 Ibs. CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT KAWASAKI Ninja ZX-6R LIST PRICE $7999 D ISPLACEMENT 636cc ENG INE TYPE Liquid-cooled. 16-valve in-line four-cylinder. DOHC four-stroke BORE x STROKE 68 x 43.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.8: I CARBURETION ........EFI w/ 38mm throttle bodies IGNITION .Digital TRANSMISSION Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY ..4.8 gal. WHEELBASE SS.I in. RAKE/TRAIL 24.S·/9Smm SEAT HEIGHT 32.S in. FRONT TIRE 120/6S- 17 REARTIRE 180/55- 17 FRON T-WHEEL TRAVEL ..4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.3 in. 22 MARCH 3 1, 2004 • FRONT BRAKE REAR BRAKE FINAL DRIVE CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT Dual disc Disc Chain 355Ibs. SUZUKI GSX-R600 LIST PRICE D ISPLACEMEN T ENGIN E TYPE $8099 S99cc Liquid-cooled. in-line . four-cylinder four-stroke BORE x STROKE 67.0 x 42.Smm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.5:I Electronic fuel injection CARBURET ION IGN IT IO N Digital CDI TRANSMISSION Six-speed. constant-mesh STARTIN G SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY .4.49 gal. W HEELBASE S4.7 in. RAKE/TRAIL 24°/93mm 32.5 in. SEAT HEIGHT FRONT TIRE 120/70-17 REART IRE 180/55 -17 .4.7 in. FRONT-W H EEL TRAVEL REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5. 1 in. FRONT BRAKE Disc REAR BRAKE Disc FINAL DRIVE Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 354.9Ibs. YAMAHA YZF-R6 LIST PRICE.. DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE $7999 -$8099 599cc Liquid-coo led. in-line four-cylinder BORE x STROKE 66.5 x 44.Smm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.4:1 CARBURET ION EFI IGNITION Digital CDI Six-speed TRANSMISSION STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY .4.5 gal. WHEELBASE 54.3 in. RAKE/TRAIL 24°/86 .36mm 32.3 in. SEAT HEIGHT FRONT TI RE 120/60-17 REARTIRE 180/55-17 FRONT·WHEEL TRAVEL .4.7 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL ..4.7 in. FRONT BRAKE Du al disc REAR BRAKE Disc FINAL DRIVE Chain 357 Ibs. CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT Mea§ured Wet: Weight: DUCATI HONDA KAWASAKI SUZUKI YAMAHA CYCLE NEWS 475 445 416 423 420 pounds pounds pounds pounds pounds The Podium T his class seems to defy logic. We can't figure out how t hese companies keep impr oving t heir products year after year. It sounds like the same 01' cliche . but any of the bikes that we tested would be a good choice to purchase. That's why it' s so hard to rate on e over t he next . The worst bike in th is shootout is still a fabulous bike that w ill blow the doors off of our winner from a couple of years ago. So how do w e choose the best bike in a lineup of near perfection? When we w ere stopped for lunch on our street ri de. I was joking with the other guys that the best bike is whichever one I just got off of. Joking aside. what it really comes down to is which bike has the best overall balance among the motor. chassis. brakes . styling . fit and finish and ergonomics: the whole enchilada. The second runner-up is the Yamaha R6, w hich has remained on the podium for t he second year in a row due to its impeccable handling, strong motor, good brakes and nice styling. Our runner-up was our winner last year. No, the ZX-6R wasn't able to retain the title pr imarily due to its slightly harsh suspension . less comfortable riding position and slowersteering chassis. As we mentioned. the ZX-6R has excellent feel from the front end , but it just doesn't handle as crisply as the winner. That leaves us with our 2004 Cycle News Middleweight Shootout winner - the 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600. The Suzuki has the perfect comb ination of quick -steering geometry. excellent suspension, a really strong motor with excellent torque, good brakes. nice fit and finish and beautiful new styling. Honestly. Suzuki built a better R6 with the torque of a ZX-6R. It has a great motor and gearbox and is more stable, but it turns almost as well. In this category it takes a near-perfect motorcycle to rise to the top. and the Suzuki is just that. eN 40th Anniversary