Test: Jeff Ware Photography: Heather Ware

When we look back at the 1990s and the evolution of the Japanese sportsbike there are few names that stand out more than Suzuki and GSX-R. The sports war was about to hot up when the M rolled off the production line in late 1990. Yamaha and Honda were not truly in the public access game just yet, with an ageing FZR1000 for most punters more realistic than an exotic FZR750 OWO1 and Honda punters having to opt for a VFR over a more desirable RC30! What was cool, though, was the FIM spec World Superbike Championships that were really hotting up development of the water-cooled bikes.