2008-2009 International Bike of the Year

Let's cut right to the chase: If you read the current issue of Cycle World, you already know that the International Bike of the Year, as voted on by 13 moto-magazines worldwide, is the Honda CBR1000RR, Big Red's lightened-up and laser-focused repli-racer. Matthew Shields from Australian Motorcycle News put it best:

"For a machine to be a clear winner in every respect in the superbike class is something that doesn't happen often. This is the most hotly contested market segment in motorcycling—on both the road and track—one that lists keystone models like the K5 Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1998-model Yamaha YZF-R1, Ducati 916, original Fireblade, 1989 Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP, Honda RC30 and Yamaha FZ750 as the defining and redefining models of this class. The 2008 Fireblade (simply called the CBR1000RR in the U.S.) stands to be one of these keystone models and, perhaps, go bar-to-bar with Ducati's 916 and Honda's RC30 as the ultimate sportbike of its time. It's been 16 years since Honda first released the Fireblade, and finally it is back to its roots—brilliant handling, exciting and revolutionary. It has redefined the superbike class on track, but what's more, it's just as good a machine in the company of its peers on the road. This is the year of the Fireblade."