KAWASAKI'S new ZX-10R is being hailed as the new king of the superbikes, with more power than Suzuki, Yamaha or Honda can muster.

Its rounded, more aerodynamic fairing has had many bikers turning their noses up at its chunkier looks, but one there's one thing everyone is sure about - and that's how good this bike feels to ride. I took to the damp, slippery roads in Berkshire in sub-zero temperatures, all in the name of duty. Yes, it was uncomfortably cold and somehow my numb fingers still managed to burn with pain.

But despite that, the ride was huge fun every throttle-twisting moment of it. When I returned the new Ninja to Kawasaki's HQ later that day, my face was frozen stiff and my mouth felt as though I'd just come out of some particularly sadistic dentist's surgery. But I had a smile on my face that even the Joker would have been proud of. This bike is seriously ice cool.

I remember watching the first leg of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch in 2004. Kawasaki's lean, mean, green machine was sitting on the grid with the keys still in it. Here was a bike so fresh from the crate, that the mechanics hadn't had time to remove the starter motor before the beginning of race one. And boy was it competitive!

Fast track two years to the new ZX-10R and Kawasaki has surpassed itself with a monstrous bike that looks like it means business the moment you see it. Despite its squat, almost wide nose, this Ninja is a track tool. It looks right, it looks tidy and it looks fast. Which is why a bike like this is so difficult to test on the road.

Most of my job entails some degree of self-discipline as most of the bikes I ride can be pretty bloomin' quick. But the ZX-10R is quite honestly ridiculous, and I love it. My first impression as I cocked a leg over the seat was that it felt high at 825mm. I was angled forwards in an aggressive riding stance, and yet it didn't feel uncomfortable. As the day progressed, I even found myself imagining a lengthy tour abroad.

The pressure on my wrists was minimal, my lower back didn't ache excessively and even with my long legs, I didn't feel too squashed up. And if I had, I doubt I would've cared that much anyway. It does feel roomy though. It's not been designed with comfort in mind, rather track times and out-right performance. But as I slid my bum back further and further until I touched the front of the pillion step, I was surprised at how far I could tuck myself in.

The screen is low and it houses a very trick hybrid dash. The speed is displayed digitally over the rev counter, giving you all the information you need with even the quickest of downward glances. There's a lap timer and clock included and, to top it off, it's backlit with LED's and has four levels of brightness to choose from with a push of a button.

Technically, the ZX-10R has evolved considerably from last year's model. The engine has been redesigned to improve throttle response and mid-range power. It's also been mounted higher in the alloy frame to raise the centre of gravity. That means that it's easier to throw on its side, and yet it still feels incredibly secure once it is banked over. The swingarm pivot has been repositioned and the rear tyre is fatter, offering more traction and rider feedback.

The list of revisions read as though the ZX-10R isn't a newer version of the '05 model at all, but a brand new concept altogether. I tucked in low and wound the throttle slowly back, sucking in the noise from the all-new titanium dual exhausts. At 6,000rpm, the bike feels ready to pounce, but equally easy to control. I rode through the villages on the outskirts of Maidenhead, and slowed to a walking pace in denser traffic. And throughout, the ZX-10R behaved impeccably.

The needle on the rev counter hovered at the 8 o'clock position, tempting me to drive it round to 12 o'clock and onwards towards the 13,000 red line. The full 175ps is unleashed at 11,700rpm and with 77lb/ft of torque storming in 2,000 revs lower down, I knew all the action was higher up the rev range. And how. The ZX-10R takes off like a rocket, blurring the path ahead and throwing your furthest point of vision way past your head in an instant. Stopping in a hurry is no problem though. The brakes will haul you to a standstill while your brain is still in overdrive. Awesome!