9781422285206

Therefore, manufacturers must produce (at least) an agreed number of the models for sale so that their superbike can enter these competitions. Generally, profile, appearance, and frame must stay the same, although wheels, brakes, suspension, and swingarm may vary. But for look and feel, your ride can get very close. So, for instance, you, too, like the great Max Biaggi, can

ride bikes such as the Aprilia RSV4 1000 or the Factory model, the successor to the Aprilia RSV1000R, on which he became Superbike World Champion in 2010 and 2012 respectively. This may be the correct technical definition for a superbike since these various championships began, but obviously some models preceded these dates and yet are still worthy of being described as superbikes. Think of the Norton Commando, the Honda CB750, and the Suzuki GT750, which blazed the trail in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

You’ll find brief sketches of all these already mentioned here, together with other outstanding models from the four great Japanese marques, including Kawasaki and Yamaha; thrilling American machines, such as those from Buell, Harley-Davidson and MTT; glorious and hugely successful Italian designs from Ducati and MV Agusta; and powerhouse mid- European superbikes from BMW. Many of these bikes have been, at one time, the fastest production bikes in the world. One still is… They are all, without doubt, superlatively exciting in their different ways. So it’s time to begin to follow the magic formula: read, see, ride.

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