Bikes.(NEWS)

2008 KAWASAKI NINJA 250R

ENGINE: 25-hp, 16-lb-ft, carbureted 249-cc four-stroke parallel-twin; six-speed transmission PRICE: $3,499 ("08s sold out, "09s, $3,999) MPG: 45 (AW), 61 (mfr) 0-60 MPH: 5.0 seconds (AW)

With its superbike looks, low cost and the manufacturer's claimed 61 mpg, the all-new 2008 250R is Kawasaki's best-selling bike. It's so popular that all the "08s are gone. The "09s should reach dealerships about the time you read this, but at $3,999, they cost $500 more than the "08s. Kawasaki would make more, but the factory has only so much room.

We liked the screaming Kawasaki-green paint job on the MotoGP-looking fairings. Parked outside the Rock Store, no one needs to know that it's not a full-on superbike. You will know when you leave the parking spot, but once up to speed, you can have as much fun through the canyons as on a larger-displacement motorcycle.

It wasn't all rosythe engine vibrated a bit more than some other bikes, and the dearth of horsepower shows itself relative to larger-displacement machines when you want to launch quickly. But the bike had no trouble keeping up on the freeway and got into triple-digit speeds easily. And if you want more displacement, Kawasaki has just about anything you could ask for in its lineup. We recommend the 1,000-cc ZX-10R, if you're asking.

2008 HONDA CBR600RR

ENGINE: 106-hp, 45-lb-ft fuel-injected liquid-cooled 600-cc I4; six-speed manual PRICE: $9,599 MPG: 43 (AW) 0-60 MPH: 4.0 seconds (AW)