A sensible option for sensible people, like er, Alan. I'll have to rethink that one. The Hornet rarely excels in this company but that's not say that competency isn't a useful trait. Its nimbleness and friendly power delivery makes it the easiest to ride in town but motorways expose a slightly underpowered motor while the Kawasaki and Triumph are much more fun in the bends.

My winner I reckon. I love the handling characteristics-sharp, eager, precise. I also love the look of the thing-the twin tail pipes, the way the motor just hangs off the rest of the bike like a big drop of water swelling under its own weight, and the exaggerated fatness of the tyres. The best round Paris too I'd say. Light easy controls and very well balanced on its wheels making balancing at the lights easy. It's hard to criticise. Snatchy throttle is annoying to some but I maintain this is a good thing 90 per cent of the time for its precision. Better suspension then. It didn't cope with that bend on the Peage on the road back to Calais as well as the Z1000 which probably sums it up. I don't mean it needs stiffening up because that would ruin the comfort: just better damping, compression and rebound.

This bike never did much for me. The fuel infection isn't very good (because you notice it), and after first gear the motor is boring. Alan put all sorts or exhausts on his long termer last year, yet none did much for the performance, and none of 'em sounded very good either. Why couldn't they just leave that FireBlade motor alone without re/detuning it? Then they would have a bike. As it is, it's nothing more than a spare parts bin special that doesn't exceed mediocrity.

The engine - 919cc - felt a bit slow to get a shift on in comparison with the others when we were pressing on, but in town it was as smooth as the Bandit and punchy enough. From a handling point of view it's one of the better bikes here, up there with the Kawasaki but the styling is a bit bland.