The best Sportsbike ever made...

[Mr Lucky]

Yes, that's right. What is the best sportsbike ever made?

The Hayabusa is the greatest bike of the last 22 years.

We have a starter, with the Brough Superior. Then the Vincent Black Lightning/Shadow. The CB750 cannot be on the list, all it did was trigger the Z900, much as the Honda Blackbird triggered the Rhino.

So we have:
Brough Superior.
Vincent Black whatever.
Z900.

Gaps to be filled in by you lot.

Then Suzuki GSX1300RX Hayabusa.

The end...

 

[fr0st]

No ktm on the list ??

 

[Rhino]

Any bike I have owned ... including my S Max scooter.

 

[Terry_Schiavo]

scooters > hayabusa... more posers on scooters

 

[zxfan]

ZX-11 has to be on that list. From 1990 to 1999 until the Busa came out it was the champ in my neck of the woods. Honda Blackbird was only marginally faster and did not set the motorcycling world on its ear like the ZX-11 did.

 

[califblue]

1986 GSXR 750...it changed motorcycling for ever

 

[whipit1K]

The Hayabusa was best in its category until the 2012 zx14 blew it out of the water. Best huge drag bike inspired GT.

I don't think the Busa was ever anywhere near "best sportsbike" when other categories are considered

 

[TR3B]

Yes, that's right. What is the best sportsbike ever made?

For me? The 2015 H2R. I put 1400 miles on mine. That bike is a fucking legend. I just wish more people had access to one. Best thing Kawi ever did.

 

[Ninjaman12R]

The Blackbird triggered the Rhino eh?

The fucking Blackbird.......???

 

[pimpslayer]

I think the ZX-11 was the trigger..
.

 

[Ninjaman12R]

I think the ZX-11 was the trigger..
.

As a previous owner of 2 ZX11s I agree with you 100%.

 

[Bandit Man]

For me? The 2015 H2R. I put 1400 miles on mine. That bike is a fucking legend. I just wish more people had access to one. Best thing Kawi ever did.

Why so few miles?

 

[ZRX4ME]

1986 GSXR 750...it changed motorcycling for ever
View attachment 52560

gets my vote. It changed motorcycling forever.

 

[TR3B]

Why so few miles?

A confluence of unfortunate circumstances led to me selling it. I regret it every. fucking. day.

 

[Bandit Man]

A confluence of unfortunate circumstances led to me selling it. I regret it every. fucking. day.

That sucks. I know all about having to quit something you enjoy for reasons not your own.

 

[TR3B]

ZX-11 has to be on that list. From 1990 to 1999 until the Busa came out it was the champ in my neck of the woods. Honda Blackbird was only marginally faster and did not set the motorcycling world on its ear like the ZX-11 did.

That's because like all Hondas, the Blackbird was soulless.

 

[MadRussian]

CBX

 

[gsxrian]

2010 BMW S1000rr ... a massive leap forward that caught everyone else sleeping!

 

[wormser77]

My 1st sportbike, VF1000R.

 

[Vegas12]

1986 GSXR 750...it changed motorcycling for ever
View attachment 52560

Isn't the GPZ900 the bike that started that trend....2 years earlier???

 

[gsxrian]

Isn't the GPZ900 the bike that started that trend....2 years earlier???

Not really as it weighed over 100 lbs more than the gsxr750.

 

[califblue]

Isn't the GPZ900 the bike that started that trend....2 years earlier???

I Road Raced a 1993' GPZ 1100 ( first mono shock/ Kawasaki called it uni track) that and the 900 Ninja handled like shit..the GSXR was like an RD in handling & weight compared to both of them

 

[ThrottleBastard]

Gsxrian,

The s1krr is just more gixxer than a gixxer lol

(my '01 gix1k Bike of the Year 14 magazines around the world)

 

[roogazza]

Since age 16 yrs I have had 52 motorcycles. Right up there was the K6 gsxr1000, the Kawa Mach4 of 1972.
Loved them all at some stage......
At 72 yrs old , I still get a buzz putting on the helmet and pushing the start button.

 

[motorcyclemaniac]

ZX11 followed closely by the GPZ750 Turbo. I've owned both and loved them both equally On a side note. Honorable mention would be the 99 ZX9r I owned back in the day. Loss around 70 pounds to it's predecessor and could literally do everything. Comfortable,fast as hell and so on. Great bike!!!! O. Owned a couple of busas too. Definitely a game changer. .

 

[fr0st]

I think the ZX-11 was the trigger..
.

To have rode one a few times and get it to 150 mph.. i can say it was a bullet train for the time

Cruise all day at 100 no sweat..AND comfortable

 

[Qwik]

2001GSXR1000

 

[jhinderliter]

1986 GSXR 750...it changed motorcycling for ever
View attachment 52560

That still got mine

 

[gsxrian]

Gsxrian,

The s1krr is just more gixxer than a gixxer lol

(my '01 gix1k Bike of the Year 14 magazines around the world)

I agree, i had a 2001 gsxr1000 and a 2005 gsxr1000 and the 2001 gsxr1000 was a great bike, better than the 2005 gsxr1000.

The 2010 BMW was a massive leap forward due to the electronics and HP improvements over everyone else.

Everyone talks about how great the 98/99 R1 was, and i had a 99 R1, not overly impressed, the 2001 gsxr1000 was a MUCH better bike, but the BMW was a huge improvement. I bought a gray 2010 s1000rr, crashed it at Jennings GP, then i bought another 2010 silver s1000rr, crashed that on the street, then i bought a 2012 s1000rr ..... it was a better sports bike than anything Japan produced until maybe the 2016 zx10r or 2015 R1M.

 

[LuxPride]

In the span of my sportbike life, nothing moved me more than the first time I saw a new red Duc 916 pull up with all the carbon/ti goodies, clacking and thumping about. It blew me away. That goes a long way.
I ended up with an RC-51, cause I couldn't swing the Duc. I think the RC-51 is also a very special bike. But the 916 brought me into Moto GP, those Duc's of that era were passionate, and that ticked more boxes than total performance, (I'm a style kinda guy, what can I say!). I've still never owned one, only ridden one a few times.
From the hip, the Ducati 916 might be the best sports bike ever made.

 

[Hugh G. Rection]

Another vote for the ZX-11. I loved my '93D. When they started hyping the Blackbird I looked at one and decided why pay a bunch of money for something that barely eclipsed what I had. Honda dealer wanted list price, no deals. Had 1 on the floor and 4 in crates. 6 months later they called me begging to sell me one. They still had 4. I hung up.

 

[Master-Cylinder]

In the span of my sportbike life, nothing moved me more than the first time I saw a new red Duc 916 pull up with all the carbon/ti goodies, clacking and thumping about. It blew me away. That goes a long way.
I ended up with an RC-51, cause I couldn't swing the Duc. I think the RC-51 is also a very special bike. But the 916 brought me into Moto GP, those Duc's of that era were passionate, and that ticked more boxes than total performance, (I'm a style kinda guy, what can I say!). I've still never owned one, only ridden one a few times.
From the hip, the Ducati 916 might be the best sports bike ever made.

916's are still nice motorcycles. And, they don't look like a clown cycle, even though they are old. Fucking gaudy multi-color Japanese motorcycles just look gay after a few years.

 

[Terry_Schiavo]

I agree, i had a 2001 gsxr1000 and a 2005 gsxr1000 and the 2001 gsxr1000 was a great bike, better than the 2005 gsxr1000.

You must be smoking from the same stash as tinhead
The 05 crushed them all... no if ands or buts.

 

[BIggerDanno]

Bimota SB6 I fell in love with Dolans!

 

[gsxrian]

You must be smoking from the same stash as tinhead
The 05 crushed them all... no if ands or buts.

Sorry dude, we must agree to disagree.

98/99 R1 to 2001 gsxr1000 was a huge improvement

2001 gsxr1000 to 2005 gsxr1000 was not that big an improvement

I guess i was biased, my 2001 gsxr1000 had head and cam work and was faster than a ZX12 in a roll on from 60 mph to 190 mph.

 

[Terry_Schiavo]

I guess i was biased, my 2001 gsxr1000 had head and cam work and was faster than a ZX12 in a roll on from 60 mph to 190 mph.

youre comparing apples to orangutangs The 01 was a turd in stock form that couldnt break 145mph in the 1/4 if you had a rolling start. The 05 went right to 149 ... repeatedly even with a 100mph first gear... and only 3 gears

 

[sailUSVI]

the one that started it all, referred to as a crotch rocket, the 1984 Ninja 900 GPZ had the first one in Austin, went on the buy the first ZX11 (wanted to get the first one in Houston from a little shop on the SW freeway, Houston Kawasaki) and then on to the 2000 ZX12R....I really loved 12. Thought I was hot shit, humbling to know you ain’t shit

 

[Terry_Schiavo]

 

[WarpSpeed]

The 96 Suzuki GSXR750 SRAD got everyone focused again on lighter weight and more precise handling. Older GSXR's and CBR's and the like were getting quite bloated. Those 96's dominated at the track.

 

[NTRYDR]

If I remember correctly..The ZX-11 was the fastest production motorcycle for 9 years..

 

[NTRYDR]

To have rode one a few times and get it to 150 mph.. i can say it was a bullet train for the time

Cruise all day at 100 no sweat..AND comfortable

Rode mine to work..100 miles one way..Off work at 4:30am..40k miles just riding on I-94..

 

[C. Dolan]

1986 GSXR 750...it changed motorcycling for ever
View attachment 52560

AFIK , that is a Jap domestic version, by the writing and the perforated heat shield.
Ours were slotted vents.
FWIW : I have a red and black version of that bike.

 

[nickslick]

Remember this one. I was 22.

 

[gsxrian]

Remember this one. I was 22.

View attachment 52679

I also had one, it was a tank, heavy as fuck!

 

[Terry_Schiavo]

If I remember correctly..The ZX-11 was the fastest production motorcycle for 9 years..View attachment 52665

right and how many of those non riding dipshits would tell you that within seconds of meeting them?
With the boosas the posuers could stock the hump with the mags as proof??

 

[CZLoco]

For me? The 2015 H2R. I put 1400 miles on mine.

Did you just buy it last weekend?

 

[Qwik]

youre comparing apples to orangutangs The 01 was a turd in stock form that couldnt break 145mph in the 1/4 if you had a rolling start. The 05 went right to 149 ... repeatedly even with a 100mph first gear... and only 3 gears

Actually motorcyclist went 9.8 at 148. And redline in first with stock gearing was 94mph.

 

[Terry_Schiavo]

Actually motorcyclist went 9.8 at 148. And redline in first with stock gearing was 94mph.

um huh... meanwhile none that ran here at sea level uncorrected were worth a shit. And FYI we have a fella that threw every trick at his and was still beaten by bus lengths with a stock motor'd 12...lmao

 

[gsxrian]

This 2001 gsxr1000 seems to run pretty well ... i suspect this "fella" missed something!

I don't remember any "stock motor" 12 running this fast.

 

[LMR]