bikes...Superbikes Superbikes are the pinnacle of high-performance sportbike motorcycles. Superbikes are often referred to as literbikes, or liter-class sportbikes, referring to their large-displacement 1000cc and higher engines. The apogee of production roadracing, most manufacturers deliver full-factory support of their flagship superbikes in the world’s roadracing series – the most notable being the Superbike World Championship (SBK) and various national level series like American Superbike and British Superbike. The Big Four Japanese OEMs have long dominated the Superbike class, with Inline-Fours like the Honda CBR1000RR, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Yamaha R1. Ducati superbikes, like the 999, 1098 and current 1198, hold their own with the Big Four thanks to the torquey Twin powerplant and its current 200cc handicap. Past Japanese models have also embraced the Twin, most notable modern superbike being the Honda RC-51. Other European superbike models include European Twins like the Aprilia RSV1000RR and KTM’s first production superbike – the KTM RC8. Aprilia also produces a four-cylinder superbike with its V-Four-powered RSV4. Another European four-cylinder is the BMW S1000RR, and Inline-Four and the first true superbike racer produced by the Bavarian marque. The American-made Buell 1125R is the first liquid-cooled Buell and features a Rotax Twin powerplant. Defined by racing success, the win on Sunday sell on Monday philosophy is at definitely at work in the superbike class. As such, superbikes are often a showcase for developing motorcycle technology and racers often drive off-track marketing and brand ID. Just look at Mat Mladin's decade-long domination of AMA Superbike aboard the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Troy Bayliss's three titles with Ducati Superbikes, or the incomparable Valentino Rossi, whose MotoGP star power is used to hawk the Yamaha R1. Motorcycle USA gathers the superbike class together annually to test on street and track. The result is our most popular test of the year, the Superbike Smackdown. Stay tuned for Smackdown VI, as the best keep getting better in the high-performance superbike class. Superbike Smackdowns 2011 Superbike Smackdown VIII Street Friday, May 06, 2011 Motorcycle USA rides the latest 2011 liter-class sportbikes on the street in our annual Superbike Smackdown VIII sportbike shootout. Find out what motorcycle gets crowned champ this year. 2011 Superbike Smackdown VIII Track Monday, April 11, 2011 Another year, another crop of brand-new liter-class sportbikes and MotorcycleUSA puts these motorcycles to the test in the Superbike Smackdown VIII Track shootout. 2010 Superbike Smackdown VII Street Monday, May 17, 2010 Motorcycle USA puts the latest 2010 Superbikes to the test in our annual Superbike Smackdown VII motorcycle shootout. 2010 Superbike Smackdown VII Track Friday, May 07, 2010 MotoUSA takes the latest liter-bikes and put's them to the test in our annual big-bore shootout. Welcome to the 2010 Superbike Smackdown VII! 2009 World Superbike Comparison Monday, November 30, 2009 MotoUSA goes to Portugal following the final round of the World Superbike Championship to ride all seven factory WSBK machines and bring you the ultimate Superbike comparison! 2009 Superbike Smackdown VI Track Monday, May 18, 2009 Motorcycle-USA takes the latest liter-bikes and put's them to the test in our annual big-bore shootout. Welcome to the 2009 Superbike Smackdown VI. 2009 Superbike Smackdown VI Street Monday, May 11, 2009 Motorcycle USA tests five production superbikes to see what literbike comes out on top in the competitve world of liter-class sportbikes. See the street ride results in the 2009 Superbike Smackdown VI Street comparison. 2008 Superbike Smackdown V Monday, March 31, 2008 Five motorcycles of the highest performance, we get the best from Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Ducati for a little Smackdown. 2007 Superbike Smackdown IV Monday, May 07, 2007 The Big Four's latest batch of literbikes - CBR1000RR, ZX-10R, GSX-R1000, and R1, we'll put them through the motions on the track and street. 2006 Superbike Smackdown III Monday, April 03, 2006 We assemble the gnarliest wheelie-popping class of sportbikes for a big-bore brawl to see if the mighty Gixxer Thou can be knocked off its high perch. 2005 Superbike Smackdown II Street Monday, May 16, 2005 There's more power on tap in any of these 400-pound bikes than you'll find in a 3200-pound base-model Honda Accord. Hang on tight! 2005 Superbike Smackdown II Track Monday, May 16, 2005 We open up a can of whup-ass at PIR for the second portion of our Superbike Smackdown II. 2004 Superbike Smackdown Saturday, March 27, 2004 Better than you and not afraid to show it, these bikes epitomize the high-performance motorcycle. Oh yeah, and they're freakadillishly f-f-fast! 2004 Superbike Smackdown Track Wednesday, May 19, 2004 We already told ya which literbike was best on the street. iIt's track time, wound out to the max by former AMA champ Steve Crevier. Superbike Smackdown Results 2011 - BMW S1000RR 2010 - BMW S1000RR 2009 - Honda CBR1000RR 2008 - Honda CBR1000RR 2007 - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2006 - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2005 - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2004 - Kawasaki ZX-10R World Superbike Champions 2011 - Carlos Checa - Ducati 1098R 2010 - Max Biaggi - Aprillia RSV4 2009 - Ben Spies - Yamaha YZF-R1 2008 - Troy Bayliss - Ducati 1098R 2007 - James Toseland - Honda CBR1000RR 2006 - Troy Bayliss - Ducati 999R 2005 - Troy Corser - Suzuki GSXR1000 2004 - James Toseland - Ducati 999R 2003 - Neil Hodgson - Ducati 999R 2002 - Colin Edwards - Honda VTR 1000 2001 - Troy Bayliss - Ducati 996R AMA Superbike Champions 2011 - Josh Hayes - Yamaha YZF-R1 2010 - Josh Hayes - Yamaha YZF-R1 2009 - Mat Mladin - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2008 - Ben Spies - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2007 - Ben Spies - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2006 - Ben Spies - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2005 - Mat Mladin - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2004 - Mat Mladin - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2003 - Mat Mladin - Suzuki GSX-R1000 2002 - Nicky Hayden - Honda RC51 2001 - Mat Mladin - Suzuki GSX-R750