#2001KawasakiZX9R

We’ve come a long way in 20 years, brothers and sisters, not only in terms of motorcycles but also in terms of how we describe the feelings they arouse. Speaking of aroused, you’ll have to forgive MO for some of its sexist descriptors herein; 20 years ago, we had not yet undergone gender sensitivity training. We’re better now. If anything, we deserve credit for avoiding any hint of racism, even though 20 years ago the Open Class Shootout was an all-Japanese affair, a classic Big Four blow-out. (Dunno why there’s no Ducati 998?) In any case, looking backward at six months before 9/11/2001, the world was our far less-tense, eight-wheeled oyster.