Comparison Test: 2009 Middleweight Smackdown! - Rock, Paper, Scissors...

Triumph didn't make any claims on suspension changes other than the additional high-speed compression damping adjusters, but we think otherwise. The '09 model was much more composed over Buttonwillow's many bumps, with less of the overly-stiff spring/weird damping reaction of the previous model that would cause the bike to become unruly. Suspension compliance overall was much better, enabling the slim and flickable 675 to carry much better speed through the faster turns.

Yet despite extensive fiddling, there was still some harshness remaining that prevented the Triumph from really showing its true potential, and its tail-high chassis attitude often compromised aggressive braking because of the massive weight transfer that would inevitably occur. Compounding this issue are brakes that, while offering excellent initial bite and power, tended to lose feel towards the limit (although nowhere near as bad as the R6). Even though the three-cylinder engine's flywheel effect negated the need for a slipper clutch, "braking deep into corners on the Triumph is hard work, because the tall rear ride height wants to throw you over the bars," wrote El Jefe, "and the brakes demand a lot of concentration due to their numbness at the limit."

Nonetheless, there's no overlooking all of the Honda's numerous good aspects that resulted in its comparatively high scores from our testers. "Feels friendly immediately," wrote O'Connor about the CBR's amiable character, with Young concurring, "the Honda was very predictable and never startled me." There were some complaints with the CBR's ergos, with a couple of testers wishing for a bit more ground clearance from the footpegs, and the majority of testers felt that the Honda's lack of a slipper clutch was a glaring omission in this high performance group ("I find it odd that Honda felt it's OK to add 22 pounds with C-ABS, but not a few pounds with a slipper clutch," complained El Jefe). But other than those gripes, there was little else to single out with the CBR, and its low scores in the power department were more than offset by high scores everywhere else. For instance, the Honda carded the usual high ratings for its stable yet agile chassis manners and sharp steering characteristics, and all our testers loved the brakes—"Nice, crisp feel, with good power and modulation," wrote El Jefe. And although the top end was lacking, the CBR's impressive torque for an inline four was still present in spades that made for strong corner exit drives. "Makes you feel like you're setting hero lap times," said Kunitsugu, with the added caveat, "well, at least until you see the lap sheet at the end of the day."