THE MCN TEST
● THE HOTTEST BIKES ● EVERY WEEK
£12,254 Yamaha R9
● 890cc inline triple, liquid-cooled, DOHC 12v ● 117.3bhp @ 10,000rpm ● 195kg (kerb)
£17,171 Ducati Panigale V2 S
• 890cc V-twin, liquidcooled, DOHC 8v • 118.3bhp @ 10,750rpm • 191kg (kerb)
The times they are a-changing - especially when it comes to sportsbikes. Sales of supersport bikes have been in freefall throughout the last decade and the litre sportsbike class isn’t looking too healthy either, with some big players jumping ship. But rather than an extinction event for this genre of motorcycle, we are seeing a shift in their evolution.
A new breed of ‘road sportsbikes’ is emerging, such as the Triumph Daytona 660, Yamaha R7 and Suzuki GSX-8R, that all offer sensible prices and easy-going…