Today’s GSX-R750 is sort of the polar opposite of Sunday’s Ducati Supermono: the Gixxer was always intended to be ridden and enjoyed anywhere, street or track. It needed no army of trained technicians to make it run, or a crew to push start it like the Supermono did, or pro-level riding skill to appreciate, or…
Honda’s first-generation CBR900RR, known as the “Fireblade” in Europe, set the stage for today’s bleeding-edge literbikes that see the most powerful engines ever stuffed into tiny, 600-class packages. Prior to the 900RR, it was the 750cc class that really defined the “big engine in a small chassis” philosophy, with 1100cc motorcycles designed more as GT…
Although the ZXR-750/ZX-7 H1 often gets overlooked in favor of the GSX-R from the same time period, the Kawasaki was a worthy competitor. The bike was powered by a 749cc inline-four that produced 105hp, a number that looks unimpressive in light of today’s sport bikes, but was on par with the Gixxer and YZF. Interestingly,…
The MV Agusta F4 1000 pretty much represents the bargain of the decade, with nice examples of the very sleek, and genuinely very fast F4 trading for right around $10,000. Which is about what a nice 2013 GSX-R600 will set you back. For commuting or track days, that Gixxer is very likely the better choice:…
Update 5.13.2015: First listing was a no sale at $20,800 reserve not met. Relisted now with a buy-it-now of $21,500. Good luck to buyers and seller! -dc Kawasaki’s Z1R-TC is the kind of bike they just don’t make anymore, mainly because repeat customers are so important and dead customers generally can’t buy anything. It was…
Like Ferrari, MV Agusta was a company that lived for racing. Road Ferraris, traditionally, were sold simply to subsidize their on-track efforts. But MV Agusta took things a step further: when they finally deigned to produce a roadgoing model, it was hobbled by hideous looks and power-sapping shaft drive. The later 750 looked good, but…
Sometimes overshadowed by the GSX-R750 and a bit of an late arrival to the endurance-racer party in the late 1980’s, the Kawasaki ZXR-750 sold well, but few are around today, especially in such beautiful condition. The styling is very handsome, although it obviously helps if you’re a fan of Kawi’s lurid green paint… Powered by…
In 1986, one year after it was introduced, the GSX-R750 got a delinquent bigger brother, a misfit bike with race track looks that wasn’t eligible for any race track longer than a quarter mile or one with corners… As in the original Gixxer, the 137hp, 1074cc inline four-cylinder that powered the GSX-R1100 eschewed liquid-cooling to…