Honorable Mention – Honda CBR1000RR

If you want a literbike that handles like a 600, the lightweight and whippet-quick CBR is for you. It's as light as some 600s but has a burly midrange that out-muscles its 1000cc rivals Already a year old in '09, to win our annual literbike shootout in the face of high-profile new challengers from Yamaha and Suzuki is remarkable.

In the literbike class, the CBR1000RR marries the lightest weight, sharpest steering and most potent midrange punch to create our favorite 1000cc sportbike.