Kawasaki ZX-14R

Let there be no doubt the ZX-14R is a special motorcycle. It’s the quickest accelerating production vehicle in the world, able to dust off even a 1200-hp Bugatti Veyron Super Sport down a dragstrip. The $2.7 million Veyron takes 9.9 seconds to get through the quarter-mile sprint, according to Road & Track. In our testing, a bone-stock 14R shredded the strip in a paltry 9.36 seconds. And keep in mind that, at $14,699, you could nearly buy three ZXs for the price of just one set of the Veyron’s tires!

But the ZX-14R is more than a one-trick pony. For a record-setting speed king, the biggest Ninja can be an astoundingly docile tool when dealing with everyday traffic situations. Throttle response is silky, and its agility is excellent for a bike of its 540-pound (tank-empty) size. And on the highway, the 14R becomes the world’s fastest sport-tourer, gliding serenely through

the air with only a whisper of vibration from the 188-hp engine. Your only concern will be where to pack your clothes. Add a traction-control system that’s smart enough for a dragstrip and can be switched off if you dare, and you’ve got one of the most impressive motorcycles we’ve ever ridden.

Soon you’ll be able to read our shootout between the ZX-14R and Suzuki’s Hayabusa, so you’ll have to stay tuned to find out exactly how this duo compares and what sets them apart from each other. But now you already know the outcome…