my favorite japanese bike by looks/performance... i would say the Yahmaha YZ 1000...
but by experience, i havent rident too many crotch rockets all that quickly, but a GSXR 600 was the best ive ridden, and god, did its accelleration feel good... (only crotch rocket ive full throttled). since i dont ride one often, its something i could see myself buying.
for sound, i love the Honda Superhawk... ~but still a Buel IMO smokes anything else in the sound department