Sports

All singing and dancing version with better suspension, Marchensini wheels and gold frame

Triumphs attempt to take on the Japanese sportbikes. It failed to do so.

Yamaha launched the YZF-R1 after redesigning the Genesis engine to offset the crankshaft, gearbox input and output shafts. This "compacting" of the engine yielded a huge dividend in that the total engine length was now much shorter.

Redesigned ZX-6R with rounded bodywork and classic induction noise.

Tamburini designed slice of Italian exotica, the F4-750 radiates class.

The first place to look for 50cc sportsbike cool

Sounds great, quirky looks, poor build quality lets it down

Obviously Kawasaki UK didn't have one, it being a deleted model and all, but as I trawled my contact book's worth of friendly dealers across the country, I found the same story everywhere.

TZR looking single cylinder race bike with Deltabox chassis and 1/2 fairing

Lovely road bike. Big range, big motor, eye-bulging brakes. Good value

Recently relegated from the cutting edge by newer, sharper sports middleweights, the Ninja 600 is a genuine allrounder with some edge

Fruity handling, peach of a motor and banana in colour

Much more flexible than the Italian 125s in restricted form and cheaper, too

Anonymous but sturdy workhorse with one half of an old GPZ1000RX motor

Replacement of the 750 Sport, disappointing performance from the 748 motor

Fully-faired screaming 2-stroke looks the part, but not as trick as its Italian competitors

Can't live with the GSXR750 or FireBlade on the road. Needs to be worked hard