Motorcycle fleets: when two wheels are a better bet than four

FOR user–choosers and fleets interested in the cost benefits and convenience of motorcycles, the MCN Show offered a chance to see the latest models on display before they hit the UK showrooms.

More and more fleets are discovering the cost benefits of running two wheels over four – particularly in London, where motorcycles avoid congestion charging. The MCN Show at the Alexandra Palace, London, provided the perfect opportunity to see all the top bikes of the year before they arrive in showrooms.

Whether superbike, supersport, trail or cruiser, all the latest bikes took centre stage – from Kawasaki's new ZX-10R, the most powerful production bike in the world, to Triumph's enormous superbike-eating 2.3-litre Rocket III. We take a look at some of the latest machines.

Kawasaki finds the Holy Grail

KAWASAKI ZX-10R
Price (est): £8,800
Power: 182bhp
Weight: 170kg

KAWASAKI has always produced bikes with powerful motors. But even by its standards, the ZX-10R is something special. With a claimed 182bhp, it's got the sort of power a GP bike would have been proud of a few short years ago. And weighing in at just 170kg gives it more than 1bhp per kg – a target that has been the Holy Grail of bike designers for years. But the figures can't convey how big a step forward the ZX-10R really is.

In the metal, it's smaller than its 600cc sibling – the ZX-6R – and makes other superbikes look podgy.

If you hadn't had the chance to see one in the flesh, it was worth making the trip to the Alexandra Palace just to sit on this bike and see how compact it really is. Not only is it small, the design instantly makes other machines look seriously outdated and outgunned with its concave top of the fuel tank and the stunning slim-spoked wheels. Kawasaki is back on the top of its game and the ZX-10R has got to be a serious contender for the title of top superbike of 2004.

##KawaZX--none##

Thruxton harks back to rocker era

TRIUMPH THRUXTON
Price: £5,999
Power: 69bhp
Weight: 205kg

TRIUMPH is breathing life into the classic British cafe racer with the new Thruxton.
The bored-out, Bonneville-based Thruxton harks back to the golden era of Triumph's past, when no rocker worth his salt would have been seen on anything less than a Bonnie, complete with dropped clip-on bars and megaphone pipes.

The new Thruxton is based on the Hinckley factory's new Bonneville, so it won't leave the same oil stains on your garage floor as an original. The Bonnie is already Triumph's best-selling bike, so the better-looking, faster Thruxton looks guaranteed to be a success.

##TriThruxton--none##

Meet the all-new FireBlade

HONDA FIREBLADE
Price: £8,799
Power: 172bhp
Weight: 178kg

FEW machines can claim to have been as influential in the history of modern sports bikes as the Honda FireBlade.

This all-new version is a dramatic step forward and, once again, it could show the future of superbikes.

The new FireBlade was designed by the same team that created the unbeatable RC211V, which has taken Valentino Rossi to two consecutive world titles. No production bike has ever been as close to a full-on MotoGP machine. From the shape of the fairing to the frame design and the swingarm, the racer's bloodline is clearly carried through to the FireBlade.

And few bikes have ever looked as cohesive – every single component is new and developed exclusively for the new Blade.

You could spend hours soaking up the details and still find another neat design point the next time you looked. MCN test rider Michael Neeves is one of the exclusive few to have ridden the bike. After trying the new Blade, Neeves said: '172bhp has never been so easy to ride.'

Latest spec at the lowest prices

SUZUKI GSX-R750/GSX-R600
Price: £7,649/£6,849
Power (claimed): 148/120bhp
Weight: 163kg/161kg

WHILE the latest litre bikes are making headlines with immense power figures, the new GSX-R750 is poised to upset them all by combining usable power with light weight and a price tag within spitting distance of some 600s.

The GSX-R750 tips the scales at just 163kg and should make in excess of 140bhp, enough to give it 180mph performance. And at well under £8,000, it massively undercuts the bigger machines.

The new GSX-R600 offers almost as much as the 750 for even less money. You get upside-down forks, radial calipers and 2kg less.

The GSX-R name has been around for 20 years now but these two machines show it just keeps on getting better with age.

A saner choice for fleet riders

HONDA CBF600
Price: £4,599-5,199
Power: 78 bhp

##HondaCBF--none##

THE new Honda CBF600 is a high-spec, low price ride ideal for new bikers and fleets. It has been designed as an unthreatening and confidence-inspiring introduction to motorcycling.

Featured at the show, the CBF600 is the sensible side of biking, offering a practical middleweight choice for riders who find the rev-hungry motor of the Fazer or the hooligan antics of Honda's own Hornet not to their taste.

Everything about the bike is rider-friendly. The engine and chassis have been taken from the Hornet and both have been tweaked to soften the riding experience.

Internal modifications to the motor have boosted mid-range and capped top-end power. Softer suspension settings and a longer wheelbase have calmed down the flighty characteristics of the Hornet.

Honda claims the CBF can be tailored to fit, no matter what your size. With an adjustable seat height and bars, dealers can make sure the bike fits you perfectly before you leave the showroom.

There is plenty of choice, too. The unfaired model starts at £4,599 without ABS and stretches to £5,199 for the fully-loaded faired ABS version. Pitched between Suzuki's Bandit and Yamaha's Fazer, the CBF has the credentials to be a true all-rounder. All of this adds up to the new CBF600 being one of the best first bikes around, with a well-proven and capable engine and chassis coupled with excellent comfort.

Verdict:

THE CBF is a highly competent machine that should make a sensible and reliable choice as a first bike, especially if high speed thrills aren't top of your list. It is comfortable, fast enough for high-speed cruising and one of the most co-operative bikes around. Get used to the slightly top-heavy feel and you'll soon be its master – it won't scare you or make special demands on your ability.

The ABS option is a great advantage, especially if you do a lot of winter and town riding, helping to make the bike feel safe and secure when stopping in an emergency, whether you've been riding for 10 days or 10 years.

Compared to the Hornet and Fazer it feels slow and ponderous and doesn't have the scope for 'growing into' like some of its rivals. You could do a track day on a CBF, but it wouldn't be half as much fun as a Hornet or a Fazer. But if you just need a good-looking practical bike for commuting and spirited Sunday rides, it is well worth a look.