Obviously, with its 998cc, 180-horsepower ram-air fuel-injected engine, the YZF-R1 is intended for riders who like their performance straight up.

Not so obvious is that years of Yamaha liter-bike evolution have produced a machine that offers unsurpassed refinement, control, and confidence.

Optimum weight distribution, along with advanced chassis design and power management software, produce a bike that puts the horsepower into harness and then reins it into control with the latest in braking hardware.

Add to that the sculpted fuel tank and narrow frame and you have an organic machine that nearly disappears beneath you at speed.

The result is the winner of Roadracing World and Motorcyclist magazines' Open-class comparison tests.