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, this machine is a serious force to be reckoned with -- the only one in our top 10 to feature a cross-plane crankshaft directly derived from MotoGP competition. Challenging both on the road and the track, it's one of the fastest and most exhilarating bikes to ride when you've finally tamed its ferocious nature.

Photo: Yamaha