The 2009 1000cc/Literbike Shootouts: Who Won?

Earlier this year we posted a preview of the 2009 lineup of 1000 - 1200cc sportbikes and superbikes, and the time has rolled around again where most of the major websites and magazines have put (some of) these machines head to head.

Unfortunately, probably due to availability or objections from the Japanese factories, bikes like the KTM rc8, Aprilia rsv4 and BMW S1000RR (which still isn't widely available for "first rides" at the time I'm writing this) are absent in most. The Ducati 1198 and 1198s were also sidelined from several.

MCN was somewhat of an outlier this year, ranking the Yamaha ahead of all other machines in it's class - even the RSV4. However it's overall "sportbike of the year" was the spectacular Triumph 675.

Motorcycle USA (which included the 1198 in their shootout) chose the Honda CBR1000RR as their #1 pick on the track with the new R1 rolling in at dead last with the slowest average lap time and a "disappointing" motor.

Roadracing World magazine (did not include the 1198) came to a simular conclusion, ranking the Honda first and Yamaha last of this years bikes. However where Motorcycle USA ranked the Suzuki in 2nd place, Roadracing World chose the Kawasaki ZX10R as this year's runner-up.

Motorcycle.com (which included the 1198 in a cheesy "side shootout" due to Japanese objections to it being directly compared to their offerings) also chose the Honda and ranked the Yamaha last, noting that with the right setup the Ducati would "leave them crying".

My personal favorite test (even though I can't read Spanish), the Masterbike test, which is a collaboration between Spanish moto mag Motociclismo and several other contributors (and usually has the widest variety of tested machines due to it's prestiege and handy location), chose the RSV4 as it's 2009 champion. This was over the likes of the KTM RC8, Ducati 1198, the "big four" Japanese machines, and the aging former champion due for a replacement, the MV Agusta F4.

While the Honda seems to be the overall preference in the literbike class (with exotics like the Aprilia and Ducati surpassing it in some areas, especially price), the supersport/600cc class is a bit more hotly disputed. The new Kawasaki zx6r has pulled off several major shootout wins, but you'll find many editors picking the CBR600RR as their "personal choice" due to the aftermarket appeal. MCN chose the Triumph 675 (which has been the reigning Masterbike supersport champion for multiple years now).