HOBNDA

The time was right for a manufacturer to shake things up and force the Big Four to rethink their sportbike strategies. Japanese sportbikes went a bit stagnant in recent years and have relied on gizmos and gadgets over pure power for new model introductions. The second generation Hayabusa is living proof; the new engine makes only a few more horsepower than the older bike, but now it has selectable fuel mapping. Meanwhile, the latest R1 is down on power from the previous model but the engine's firing order has been redesigned-with debatable results. Honda's revised CBR1000RR found a lot of success after its introduction in 2008, and aside from its questionable styling it performs incredibly well. Its only shortcoming is that perhaps it does everything too well-meaning it's a little bit too vanilla for enthusiasts seeking a bike with major character. Kawasaki has made strides forward since introducing the ZX-10R in 2004, but for a company that's always had a reputati...