Ninja ZX10R is an absolutely mental bike, and can be scary if you haven't read something that fast.
05/06 Suzuki GSXR 1000 is one of the most incredible super bikes out at the moment. It is so fast, but easier to ride than the ZX10R as its power delivery is much smoother.
Yamaha's R1 is still a very accomplished ride, and reshaped the superbike with its light weight, responsive throttle, and agile handling that everyone now tries to copy.
Fireblade is always a possibility, but they can be a bit wooly when compared to the lean, mean competitors, but is quick by any standards, and more comfortable over a large distance.
Of course if money is no object, there is always the Ducati 999S/R or the MV Agusta F4 1000... Various iterations of the above are awesomely fast and beautiful. MV Agusta is my preference, as their bike is pure metal porn, and the whole bike exudes aggressiveness.
My best bet is to buy a few superbike mags (I don't know what you get in the US), and start reading what they have to say about the different bikes. Don't take just one opinion as some are biased to one brand or another.
* This post has been modified
: 19 years ago