Best Middleweight Streetbike: Kawasaki ZX-6R - Ten Best Bikes 2011

For a third year running, Team Green has been the envy of its class. It can be argued that Kawasaki retained the Best Middleweight crown last year by default due to an uncharacteristic void of new challengers, but 2011 witnessed Suzuki stepping up with its all-new GSX-R600. Although the latest Gixxer has closed the gap, it too came up short in both overall performance and value. Consider the whopping $1600 price disparity following the ZX-6R’s MSRP getting slashed mid-year to $9999. It’s small money for a well-rounded streetable sportbike with good midrange power followed by a 112-hp knockout punch. Lunch time or lap time, the ZX-6R is ready.