The Kawasaki ZX-9R (another in the Ninja series) is a 6 gear, 16v in-line four, which started out as a sports bike but ended up as a sports tourer instead - and a good one. Too big and heavy for the track, it has always been a superlative road machine and is comfortable with a pillion too. First gracing the scene in 1994 with bright ideas taken from the ZXR750 and the ZZR1100, the ZX-9R is a great performer, fast, tough and good looking.