ENGINE

Fireblade: 954cc in-line four - injected

Killer! Instant throttle response, with big grunt right off idle. Ferocious acceleration, linear powerband. The fuel injection provides for remarkable throttle response but at the expense of a very jerky ride, particularly on bumpy ground. Some will like it, some won't

ZX-9R: 899cc in-line four - the only bike in it's class still using carbs

Very different feel. Massive top end but not as much lowdown grunt as the blade. Slower & heavier throttle than the blade will not please many riders, but I much prefered it: less jerky ride while still offering crisp engine response.

Feels weaker than the blade until you start to hit 6-7,000 revs, where it really starts to boogie. Probably has a stronger top-end but there's little in it. And face it, this carbed engine just fucking screams above 7000rpm, giving the yummiest sound in the bike biz, and ensuring you're gonna be spending your riding time at higher revs

Being carbed, the ZX-9R takes much longer to warm up in the morning and requires a lot of dicking around with the choke, which is a pain.

HANDLING & SUSPENSION

Blade wins here on agility. Much quicker steering and an 18kg weight advantage (168 vs. 186kgs) means the 'blade will leave the ZX9 struggling in the twisty stuff. The handling on the blade is - quite simply - stunning.

Blade wins also on the suspension front, at least as pure "sports" riding is concerened. Simply a firmer, tighter setup from the world go.

The Kawasaki has very "road-oriented" suspension: softer settings for a more comfy ride. Front fork dives a bit under very hard braking. Still very much a sports bike, but definitely not as sharp as the 'blade.

Personally, for road use, I much prefer the feel of the Kawasaki. Yes, it's less nimble in the twisty bits but's it's still proper fast, and the added comfort and stability more than make up for it's extra bulk.

BRAKES & OTHER GEAR

Both bikes have massively powerful stoppers, with the blade having the strongest. Again though, I prefer the feel of the Kawasaki brakes - this year's four-pot stoppers have loads more feel than last year while still being able to haul your ass to a halt in quick time. Eh, who cares - they're both phenomenal in this area.

Instrumentation/switchgear: The Honda wins easily - tidy dash with excellent digital speedo/trip meters/clock plus a fuel readout & warning light. The Kwaka looks dated, with analogue speedo, small LCD odometer/clock which is blocked from view by the clutch cable. Looks messy and old.

The switchgear on both bikes is excellent.

The kawasaki has another dated feature: the bloody reserve switch. Give us a warning light please Mr. Kawasaki. Having your engine stall with a truck up your arse is no fun. Having a nice little light blink at you gets the message across just fine. The bloody switch is impossible to change on the move.

COMFORT AND TOURING

Kawasaki wins easily: it's a supremely comfortable bike: not too much weight on the wrists or the ass, little vibration, a much nicer seat than the Honda. The fairing offers much better wind protection too.

The blade - while much more comfortable than the GSXR or R1, still has far too much weight on the wrists - I was in agony after 30 minutes. The seat is too hard as well.

Yep, the Kawasaki is the go for the long haul - you'll still be riding while Mr. Honda is stretching at the petrol station, and not just for comfort reasons: the Kwaka has a much better fuel range

Both bikes carry luggage well, but the Kawasaki has great fold-out loop straps under the pillion seat, and quite a bit of under-seat storage space. Check out the third photo on the right: two large bags strapped securely to the seat without need for ocky straps: to Andy Strapz hooked thru the fold-out luggage hoops worked a treat. The Kwaka has a nice looking rear-seat cowl you can fit if you're not carrying luggage.

AESTHETICS

Looks-wise, it's very much a personal thing. I love the gold of the ZX-9R but the striping is crap. The 'blade looks awesome in red but crap in the other colours.

The 'blade is the more compact, "high-tech" looking of the two machines. It definitely has a better looking cockpit. The ZX-9R is bigger and has more "presence", despite looking a tad more dated.

Dunno, I guess it's a tie as far as looks go, but as far as sound is concerned, fuggedaboutit!!! The incredible sounds the ZX-9's carbs produce when the tap are opened is unequalled in motorcycling. Produces a yummy gurgling noise at idle too. By comparison, the blade is whisper-quiet.

OVERALL

It's no secret that I bought the ZX-9R. It's an inferior bike on paper: no injection, heavier, slower steering, some dated features.

But the Kawasaki is greater than the sum of the parts: it's something you want to get on and ride.....all day. A great looking and awesome-sounding machine, with a rock-solid chassis, great comfort and a stonking engine.

The 'blade, despite it's apparent advantages, just didn't stir the soul as much. Don't get me wrong, it's a stunning piece of machinery, but it's relatively uncomfortable ergonomics and narrow-minded racetrack focus made this a bike I respect rather than love. Still, if you're a more hard-core sports rider who doesn't do more than a few hours of riding on your day off, you'll probably find the 'blade more to your liking: sharper, meaner and leaner.

Regardless, what you have are two machines capable of giving you a woody every time you ride 'em. They are simply the best experience you can have on two wheels.

If you have the time, I highly recommend checking them out.