Best Sport Bike

Sport Bike Preview: 2008 Yamaha YZF-R1

The most popular sport bike top honors can occasionally bounce around from the big four manufacturers. It seldom, however, fails to stop at one time or another on Yamaha's storied YZF-R1. Inspired by Moto GP racing, the YZF-R1 is the distilled essence of what a sport bike should be. Heralded as the most advanced open-class production motorcycle ever built, the Yamaha flagship sport bike features such innovations as fly-by wire throttle system, aluminum Delta box frame, and a blisteringly fast short-stroke 998cc DOHC four cylinder engine. All this adds up to make the YZF-R1 one of the fastest motorcycles in its, or any other, category.

The sixteen valve, liquid cooled engine is controlled by what Yamaha calls its Chip Control Throttle, a 32-bit ECU fuel injection system which provides superior power delivery when mated to the fly-by-wire throttle system. Mated to a dual ram air system, the 998cc engine delivers smooth, powerful acceleration while its oversized front six-piston brakes provide smooth, effortless braking from even the highest speeds. The cylinder heads have been redesigned, utilizing a lay-flat design which optimizes weight distribution, straightens the intake tracts, and allows the frame to pass over the engine rather than around it to improve strength and narrow the chassis.

The close-ration six speed transmission is also an advancement, offering a highly compact package with great strength and quick acceleration. Also adding to the smoothness of the transmission is the Ramp-type slipper clutch, which smooths out the chore of downshifting while braking, allowing you to get into and out of the twisties faster than ever.

At $11, 699 for any of the three available color schemes for the YZF-R1, blue and white, Candy Red, or Raven, the 390-pound dry weight sport bike is affordable, and a quick, reliable way to get out on the track sometime to really learn how to handle a bike like this.

While it may seem that these bikes come from the Yamaha factory with about everything you could ever want on a sport bike, you'll find that Yamaha has graciously given us the ability to build up the YZF-R1 any way we want, including race-type wiring harnesses, high-flow air filters, and carbon slip-on mufflers, as well as a wealth of aftermarket tuning devices for the fuel injection system.

When I played with the build your own option, I added everything I could to the bike, and still came up under fourteen thousand dollars. All together, that's not a bad deal for one of the best motorcycles on the street today which can as easily be a stock racer right off the showroom floor.

By Don Kress - I am currently available on a contract basis for freelance projects from technical writing to ghostwriting. My areas of specialty include small business administration, auto repair and auto/motorcycle restor...

Best Sports Bike for a Beginner?
Im 16 years old. 5'9" / 1.8m tall and weight around 145. I was woundering what the best sports motorcycle would be, i Have my eyes on the 600cc's class like the Kawasaki Ninja 650R and the Suzuki SV650S, but i've heard a lot of people saying the Kawasaki Ninja 250R is also good, but i'm to tall for it and i might find it to "weak" and end up trading it. and the 500R looks bad in my opinion so i was wondering what bike would be better and would you recommend starting on the 250 or the 600cc bikes?

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Who makes the best sports bikes?
Who makes the best sportsbikes? Yahama, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Aprilla, BMW, Ducati, anyone I missed? who makes the best or the best looking? Im usually not to fond of Japanese products... Is Buell American? If so I would buy but... they look kinda ugly... I think the BMW s 1000rr is coolest Oh just found out Buell going out of Buisness.. they were so ugly anyways... I know I sound Crazy but I wish Cadillac Made a sports bike..and your right I should be worried about which I feel best on but Im big on looks.. the bmw s1000RR was $13,800 not $17,000 im pretty sure I saw the 13.8k price advertised

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What is the best sport bike for a Beginner to purchase?
I am thinking about getting a Suzuki GX-750 Sport Bike. Is this a good bike to start with?

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What is the best sport bike for a beginner?
Hey, Im 19 and im looking for the best beginner sport bike. I plan on attending a motor bike safety course before owning a bike. I really want a bike in the 600cc category. I have a love for Honda, and thought the cbr600f4i was a good fit based on power, handling, reliability, comfort, etc. Of course I plan on purchasing a used bike hopefully for around 5k. Im about 5'11'' and 150 pounds if this plays a factor. It would be a daily driver, not a long commute, just a 30-45min. drive to school and back and around town. What is the best bike for me? Thanks!

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what is the best sportbike for a beginner?
What is the best sport bike for a beginner? Hey, Im 19 and im looking for the best beginner sport bike. I plan on attending a motor bike safety course before owning a bike. I really want a bike in the 600cc category. I have a love for Honda, and thought the cbr600f4i was a good fit based on power, handling, reliability, comfort, etc. Of course I plan on purchasing a used bike hopefully for around 5k. Im about 5'11'' and 150 pounds if this plays a factor. It would be a daily driver, not a long commute, just a 30-45min. drive to school and back and around town. What is the best bike for me? Thanks!

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