6 - Yamaha YZF-R1
When you leave the city and hit the open road, you quickly realize what the YFZ-R1 is made of and what its intentions are. When it comes to sharp, no-compromise performance, the machine used by AMA champion Josh Hayes (the only one in this top 10 to feature a cross-plane crankshaft directly derived from MotoGP competition) is a serious force to be reckoned with. Challenging on both the road and the track, it becomes one of the fastest and most exhilarating bikes to ride when you've finally tamed its ferocious nature.

Photo: Yamaha