This is the first, and only, bike I've bought brand new. That was in 1992 and I still have it. I can't really think of a better bike. I don't want to to go any faster than this will - it can still go very quickly. I've tried Fireblades, GSX-R 750s, quicker Ducatis etc. the only bike that tempted me was a Honda VTR-1000 SP2 when I noticed I was scraping pegs at XXX mph with all that great V-twin drive and flexibility and yet it was comfortable. I would have lost my (still clean) licence if I'd got one though. The 900SS handles beautifully. Not ultra qickly but ultra precisely. On a nice Yorkshire B road it is fabulous. You might go (just) faster on something else, but I don't think you'll enjoy it as much.