Kawasaki: 90.0
In a quite unexpected result, the ZX-6R scored well across the board and with all our testers to edge out the GSX-R in the street rankings. It's clearly the jewel of a chassis that bumped up the ZX in the rankings, as the engine is just as woefully anemic on the street as it is on the track. "Surprisingly good on the street," wrote Kento in his notes. "Much better than I expected after its drubbing on the track. The chassis works decently, with nice steering habits and stable handling. The suspension has a really nice balance between track-firm and street-compliant and absorbed the big hits well. The ergos aren't too bad for the street, and once you're riding aggressively in the canyons, the 6R's riding position feels natural."
The Kawasaki may have posted the lowest scores for power, but that power is easily accessible. The transparent slipper clutch, smooth off/on throttle response and snickety-snick transmission make it easy to slip into first gear for a tight corner, where the other bikes are gasping in second or their riders are struggling with the additional shifting. The Bridgestone BT-015 tires are clearly an iteration behind the 016s on the GSX-R, but they still offer plenty of grip and neutral, light steering. Aside from the poochy engine there's not much to complain about with the ZX-6R: Wind protection is severely lacking on the freeway, the low windscreen can block the instruments for taller riders and the riding position does get tiring after a time in the saddle.
Honda: 90.5
With top scores in five categories, the Honda eked out a narrow win in the street rating, although in subjective terms it was the distinct favorite of just two of our testers. Essentially, the CBR is the Swiss Army Knife of middleweights and does everything well: Its light, neutral chassis is nicely complemented by an engine with a linear powerband and smooth response. "A very easy bike to ride well," commented Holst. "The ergonomics and control inputs are instantly familiar and it doesn't have any major flaws. Its power delivery is the most user-friendly down low and in the midrange, yet it climbs in the most satisfying way to an impressive top end." Other high points include strong, crisp brakes, a light transmission and the most upright riding position of this quintet.
All is not rosy with the Honda, however. The engine is buzzy compared with the silky-smooth Kawasaki and Triumph, and all of our testers again noted that the CBR was a very discernible step back from our test unit of last year in both the engine and chassis departments; this explains why the scores are closer this time. "The CBR just felt loose and not put together all that well compared to last year's bike," noted Kunitsugu.
 Honda The Honda's cockpit...  Honda The Honda's cockpit features a clean gauge package, very good mirrors, adequate wind protection and high clip-ons, making longer rides not out of the question. The CBR is the only bike here with a fuel gauge and one of just two lacking a gear indicator. |  Suzuki The Suzuki has the...  Suzuki The Suzuki has the highest-rated instruments and controls, with an easily read tach and large gear indicator. Wind protection is arguably the best in this group, mirrors perhaps the worst. "S-DMS on a 600? Come on, gimme a break," says Troy. |  Yamaha Many of our testers...  Yamaha Many of our testers felt the R6's gauges sacrificed usability for style, and they were rated the lowest for street use. There is no gear indicator, and the buttons are difficult to reach with gloved hands. The tiny windscreen works to a certain extent, as do the mirrors. |
 Kawasaki Forward-set mirrors...  Kawasaki Forward-set mirrors on the Kawasaki provide a surprisingly OK view, and the white-faced tach is easily read. The bar-graph gear indicator takes some getting used to. The low, flat windscreen offers little wind protection and can obscure the gauges. |  Triumph The Triumph's instrument...  Triumph The Triumph's instrument panel is somewhat deceiving, as the large LCD panel shows additional information while the speedometer is set low into the tach. The set of rev lights is easily seen, while the gear indicator is not. Mirrors and wind protection are barely adequate. | |
Troubling Totals
The only definitive point we can make about the total scores from this year's smackdown is that the Triumph is a distinct step behind its Japanese counterparts. Throw a mix of street and track riding into the equation, and picking a winner from the remaining foursome is virtually impossible: The Yamaha's less-than-stellar street performance offsets its incredible track prowess, while the remaining 600s are as adept on the street as they are on the track. For the editorial we, the numbers add up to the Honda scoring highest with strong showings at both venues. Despite our suspicions about our particular test unit, there's no denying that the CBR600RR is the most well-rounded middleweight and a deserving winner for the second year running. Note that on overall SR Ratings just 1.2 points (out of a possible 100) separate first through fourth place-practically a tie in the grand scheme of things. Read the SROs to see how each of our testers felt the results should shake out, and consider carefully how you intend to use whichever bike you decide upon.
 Honda The Honda's Tokico...  Honda The Honda's Tokico brakes have a good combination of feel and power, and it helps that they have less weight to slow down. The Showa fork is a bit harsher than we remember last year's unit to be, but it still soaks up both large and small hits with equal ease. |  Kawasaki Petal rotors and...  Kawasaki Petal rotors and Nissin calipers on the ZX-6R do a fantastic job, although some testers noted that the brake lever is a long reach even on its closest setting. All five bikes have four-piston radial-mount pads, but the ZX-6R has four pads per caliper, the others two. |  Triumph The Daytona 675's...  Triumph The Daytona 675's Kayaba fork and Nissin brakes are on par with the other bikes' setups, and the Triumph benefits from the fitment of Pirelli Supercorsa Pro tires and stainless steel brake lines as standard equipment. |
 Suzuki New brakes for the...  Suzuki New brakes for the GSX-R have different piston sizes in both the master cylinder and the calipers and work great once they have some heat in them. The front fork and standard Bridgestone BT-016 front tire (not shown here) drew rave reviews from our riders. |  Yamaha The combination of...  Yamaha The combination of Sumitomo mono-bloc calipers and Brembo master cylinder should give the R6 an edge in the braking department, but feel and feedback are well below par for this crowd. The front fork has both high-speed and low-speed compression damping. | |