.When you have such a popular machine any change is going to upset an established fan base, but what Yamaha did in 2004 almost put a nail in the Fazer’s coffin. The FZ6 was all new and came with a re-tuned version of the company’s R6 sportsbike engine

on the supersport 600 class. Which isn't that surprising when you consider that four of the five bikes, six if you include the Ducati 749, are brand new machines.But for many riders 600cc sportsbike are just too extreme. And while there is no denying bikes like

impact when it was launched. Yamaha's RD350LC shaped a generation of two-stroke fans, Honda's FireBlade showed what a sub-litre sportsbike should be and Ducati's own 916 made jaws drop the world over on looks alone. And it performed on track

Monster, and it was the first modern streetbike.In 1993, the term “street bike” or “naked” bike didn’t exist. With the introduction of the FireBlade in 1992 sportsbikes were kings and rider’s minds were either focused on going fast or touring

."Initial impressions not good then. But when you're used to the lure of sportsbikes it's all too easy to overlook smaller capacity, less sharply-focussed bikes and write them off instantly. It's all about context, and these bikes aren't thrill seekers. Still, I know

-cooled, sportsbike-engined competition, but it is about a grand cheaper.Over by the also-revised Hornet Niall was making odd cooing noises. This actual bike is going to be his longterm test bike for the year, and it's the first time he's seen it in the flesh. "It

."Initial impressions not good then. But when you're used to the lure of sportsbikes it's all too easy to overlook smaller capacity, less sharply-focussed bikes and write them off instantly. It's all about context, and these bikes aren't thrill seekers. Still, I know

. It's better than the other trailies in its price bracket but the BMW still rules.EVOLUTION:1992: Triumph launch the Tiger 900 using a slightly retuned 885cc triple motor from the Daytona 900 sportsbike1998: The Tiger gets a complete update as Triumph

-led and could cruelly be described as 'throw away'.Just one year on and your latest and greatest sportsbike is often reduced to an also-ran. What do you mean it doesn't have radial brakes/inverted forks/titanium valves? Oh, that's so last year darling.But Yamaha

naked version of an already existing faired bike. The Speed Triple had come of age, and was a more important model to Triumph than a big capacity sportsbike brother.So, three years down the line what’s new with the 2008 bike? To be fair not a great deal