[/quote]
Precisely my thoughts, really great bike, but not one that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Such machines are few and far between, and I can think of Suzuki T500,
Honda CB750, Kawasaki Z900, Yamaha RD350, Suzuki GSX-R 750 "pre-sling". These were all a huge step forward.
[/quote]
I would add as of late the BMW 1000RR (not even the HP4 - even while i own one it came from the rr). The rr started the electronics revolution in terms of rider aides and set new levels of performance and comfort for the average man on the street. It also put the cat amongst the pigeons and the likes of Dugatti and Kawa had to play catch-up as far as electronics go. So i feel the rr has a place in history. Whether the H2 now sets again the bar i am not sure. Slapping a supercharger on in my humble view does not set the bar. There are guys who turboed the rr. That said, i like all bikes and think Kawwa has made a damn good looking bike.
Upping the performance of a bike does not set the bar (those who are old enough would recall the epic battels between the Hybusas and the Black Birds). Those bikes could do 300 and those crazy enough to slap turbos on even faster. It is how a bike handles the power, the overall package that sets the bar.
and for that - as much as i like the Kawwa, only time will tell as only a luckly few had to privilege to ride one.