If you are like most of us, you have a regular day job that doesn’t really offer much excitement or thrills. And if you are a gearhead like us, you know that track days on weekends are one of the perfect occasions to fill that empty void of thrills inside of us. But, not all of us have a track-tearing performance vehicle that helps us achieve this high that we have been chasing. Now, there are a lot of track-ready cars available to choose from, but before you make space for it in your garage, you look at their insanely high prices, and suddenly, you start doubting if they're even worth the massive investment.
They're probably not, but that doesn't mean you can't have an insanely fast motorcycle! Fortunately, getting a performance bike for cheap is much less of a hassle than getting a good sports car for the track. If you only have $10,000 or less to satisfy your need for speed, then you can easily find a sports bike that is more than capable of delivering no matter where you are in the country. Here are 10 such examples that you might wanna look into.
10 2016 BMW F 800 R
The F 800 R is a carryover for the 2016 model, with an MSRP of $9,995. Like with its cars, BMW knows how to make a bike that can blend in the city and the track with relative ease. The bike might not look outstandingly sporty, but if you were to tell someone that it is track-ready, most will not doubt it either.
The F 800 R has got a 4-Stroke, 798cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, Parallel Twin engine that makes 90 hp at 8000 rpm and 62 lb-ft of torque. It’s also lightweight and a bit easier to ride as well. You can find used examples here.
9 2002 Honda RC51
Also known as RVT1000R in the US, the RC51 VTR 1000 was said to be the next big Honda performance bike when it debuted. Honda developed this bike to compete in Honda's racing teams for the Superbike World Championship. It won in 2000 and 2002; that’s enough proof that this bike is no joke on a track.
The 2002 edition had a 128-hp engine and can go 170 mph! The looks are timeless, and its agility was ahead of its time as well. This bike is an amazing deal for such a low price these days.
8 2011 Honda CBR600RR
Another Honda, another great bargain. We get a liquid-cooled 600cc inline-four engine that makes one of those definitive sounds that we associate with a sports bike. By then, Honda had got the design for an agile-yet-powerful-looking bike nailed, and the CBR600RR shows that.
A Close-ratio six-speed transmission lets this charmer reach 161 mph. At the price that it is available right now, this makes it a very safe and easy choice for a reliable performance bike that we can afford.
7 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400
Let’s be honest, we all knew there would be a couple of Kawasakis on this list right from the start. It’s because the brand makes such great bikes without costing a fortune. The Ninja 400 finds its way here because it provides ample rigidity without adding a lot of weight thanks to a new spatial steel frame of the cage type.
Its aggressive styling, decent performance (49 hp at 10,000 rpm), and superb comfort make it one of the best performance bikes for beginners if you only have around $5,000 to spare.
6 2005 MV Agusta F4 1000 S
The F4 1000 S is one of the most exhilarating superbikes in its price category, with a 1.0-liter inline-4 DOHC engine. The aesthetic of a classic performance bike never goes out of style. Growing up, many of us associated this design with a high-performance motorcycle.
With 166 horses and 80 lb-ft of torque, you've got yourself a perfect blend. Furthermore, when you rev the engine at 10,000 to 11,000 rpm, it generates a sharp sound that melts hearts in an instant. This is easily one of the best bikes for under $10,000.
5 2015 Ducati Monster 821
When you think about Italian performance cars, you think about Ferrari or Lamborghini. Similarly, when you think about Italian performance bikes, you think about Ducati. Its 821cc engine generating 112 hp at 9250 rpm and 65.9 lb-ft of torque 7750 rpm make it a monster (pun intended) on the track.
It looks brutal, it goes fast, and it handles well. What more can you ask for? And most importantly, a used 2015 model will sell for less than $10,000. If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, we don’t know what will.
4 2015 Yamaha YZF-R6
Yes, more than half of this list is filled with Japanese performance bikes. Japan is known all over the world for making reliable and affordable vehicles, be it two-wheeled or four-wheeled. Adding yet another 4-cylinder DOHC engine to this list, the YZF-R6 boasts an impressive 123.7 hp at a soaring 14,500 rpm! The bike can go 159.6 mph in a straight line.
When not going in a straight line, you will find it ideal that the performance-oriented bike is built to be quite nimble while cornering. Some used models go for slightly more than $10,000, but you can also find examples below that budget limit if you look a bit harder.
3 2018 Kawasaki Z900 ABS
The Z900 ABS is simply one of the best naked bikes available in the industry right now. Especially in the price range that we have been looking at. Not only that, but it is one of the easiest bikes to zip around a track too. All that is thanks to the impeccable balance between power and agility.
The power comes from a 948cc inline-four making 123 hp. The agility comes from its steering-head geometry giving it a 25-degree rake and 4.1 inches of the trail. You can get one for anywhere between $6,000 to $9,000.
2 2018 Honda CBR650R
The CBR650R, which is based on the Honda CBR1000RR (aka the almighty Fireblade), appears to have spent a lot of time in a wind tunnel before hitting the streets. The same 6-speed 649cc DOHC in-line four from the CBR650F now produces an additional 8 horsepower, bringing the total to 94 hp.
The engine can rev to 11,500 rpm, and once you hit 9,000 rpm, your ears will thank you for the wonderful sound it makes. When you consider that it costs between $9,500 and $10,000, it really isn't bad at all.
1 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650 ABS
Kawasaki's Ninja series of sports bikes is universally regarded as one of the best in the industry. The new Ninja 650 ABS has been treated with some facelifting, and now it looks even more aggressive. It has modern amenities like LED lights, a TFT display, 41mm telescopic forks at the front, and a horizontal back-link suspension with preload adjustment at the rear. Now that comfort is out of the way, let’s get down to business: The engine. It's one of the best and most refined engines in a bike this side of the $10,000 limit.
The liquid-cooled parallel-twin 650cc engine produces 67 horsepower and 48.5 lb-ft of torque. Hence, the performance is not bad either. This bike can provide you one of the best track experiences and it sells for around $8,000 only.