This fall, Moto123.com pitted two of the fastest and hottest production superbikes ever built against each other, namely the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R ABS and 2011 BMW S1000RR.

Our matchup included a track day at Autodrome St-Eustache near Montreal, where the organizer, Éric Moffette, who used to race in the Canadian 600 Series championship, agreed to test both models before commenting on them. No modifications had been made to the bikes save for an upgraded suspension courtesy of ProPulsionracing.com (BMW) and acceltechracing.com (Kawasaki), as well as new exhaust lines.



A beast?
Delivering breathtaking performance on the strength of an exceptional and irresistible engine-transmission combo, cutting-edge driving aids (dynamic traction control, wheelie control and race ABS), and one of the segment's best chassis, the BMW S1000RR won just about every superbike comparison in 2010. Engineers developed this new thoroughbred for five years, making sure it would live up to BMW's leading technology and prestige. The S1000RR needed to maintain the success if not the supremacy of the German manufacturer on every track, every road.

Two years later, these goals have been fully achieved, except maybe in the World Superbike Championship. On the other hand, the S1000RR has won multiple titles in high-profile, superstock-type series such as the 2010 STK1000 with Ayrton Badovini, and the 2011 CSBK with Bret McCormick.

Green rocket
A state-of-the-art frame, phenomenal power, intelligent anti-lock brake system (KIBS), sport traction control (S-KTRC), and aggressive styling combine to make the new Kawasaki ZX-10R ABS a real game-breaker. With all these amazing attributes, the company clearly paints a target on the S1000RR, the only other bike in 2011 to use both ABS and traction control. Granted, Ducati will strike back next year with the 1199 Panigale S featuring ABS brakes and its famous DTC system, but we'll have plenty of time to arrange another duel.

A state-of-the-art frame, phenomenal power, intelligent anti-lock brake system (KIBS), sport traction control (S-KTRC), and aggressive styling combine to make the new Kawasaki ZX-10R ABS a real game-breaker. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)