CONCLUSION

Well that’s it, part one of USB 2020 is over and it might not come as a massive surprise to some of you that the model that’s come out on top is BMW’s all-singing, alldancing, mighty S 1000 RR. But that’s not to say that the other bikes in this mammoth test are second rate, heavens no. In fact Carl’s just bought himself a Ducati Panigale V2, last year I bought myself a Kawasaki ZX-10R which I absolutely love (granted it wasn’t the more expensive RR that we featured in this test) and Bruce was until very recently the proud owner of a Suzuki GSX-R1000 L7 – bikes that came ninth, eighth and fifth in this test respectively; how’s that for putting your money where your mouth is? The point that I’m trying to make is that all of these bikes are top class. Just to qualify for a place in this prestigious test is testament to each and every one of these bikes’ abilities. Take the V2, for example, the model that brings up the rear in our USB standings – it’s a great little bike with a lot going for it; great brakes, decent tech, mega comfortable… but it’s never going to have the legs to outrun a 1000cc superbike. Likewise the Triumph Daytona 765 Moto2, which is not only a barrel overflowing with laughs, it looks awesome and is a piece of history – but it’s still not a thou’. The Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki all performed brilliantly, which is exactly how we expected them to, but all three are starting to get a bit long in the tooth, with small foibles that in a test as competitive as this really makes the difference. The Kawasaki with its lacklustre bottom end, the Yamaha with its below-par brakes and the Gixxer with its pants dash and scary

ABS. If each of these manufacturers could find a cure for these little niggles, they might just find themselves with a bike that places a bit higher in Fast Bikes’ USB and maybe, just maybe, sell a few more units. The boys and girls at Ducati will likely be a little bit upset to see their Panigale V4S drop out of the top three this year, and understandably so. Unfortunately the issues with the Duke that plagued last year’s model haven’t quite been ironed out as well as we’d hoped they would. It’s still an incredible bike with more character than all the other bikes put together, but that wasn’t enough to secure its place in the USB Finale. The machines that did make it into the top three, thus securing a place in the final at Portimão next month, were the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP (that also won the trophy for the longest name), the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory, and the BMW S 1000 RR M Sport, and for very good reason. USB is all about the best of the best. These three models are the best of the best of the best, sir. Don’t get me wrong, they can all be critiqued if you really want to, but we found them to be pretty close to perfect. Part two of USB 2020 and the Grand Finale of our mega test will take place in Portimão, where we’ll be doing our very best to clock the fastest lap time on all three of the finalists. There can be only one winner at Portimão. Will the BMW retain the crown for a second year? Will the Aprilia’s electronic suspension be what it needs to pip the Beemer to the post? Or will the all-new Honda’s track prowess shine through in Portugal? We can’t wait to find out…