The word "sportbike" is a catch-all term that encompasses both ordinary commuter bikes and truly monstrous vehicles. However, regardless of their realistic use, we are both intrigued and enthralled by sports bikes when we see them.
It's no simple task to compile a list of the greatest sportbikes ever made. Sportbikes, by their very nature, are about testing limits and getting outside of one's comfort zone, and each rider has his or her own set of limits. What works for one rider may not be suitable for another. They may not all be ‘superbikes' as we know them now, or have won several world or national championships, but they paved the way for a new way of building and designing bikes. Below, we remember the 10 greatest sportbikes ever made.
10 Suzuki GSX-R750
The one that started it all. With flat-slide carbs, an alloy frame, and four-pot calipers up front, all it needed were some yellow headlights to turn it into a Bol d'Or racer for the road.
The GSX-R750 had a narrow air/oil-cooled inline-four engine that produced 100 horsepower, 52.1 lb-ft of torque, and top speeds of over 140 mph. It not only delivered the goods, but it also looked the part. It had amazing twin headlights, a race-inspired paint job, and endurance-racing fairings that made it clear you were riding the real thing.
9 Honda CBR900RR Fireblade
The arrival of the CBR900RR marked the start of a new era in the world of superbikes. Suzuki's solid, but hefty (200kg+) Suzuki GSX-R 1100 was the closest thing we had to a full-fledged superbike before this. The superbike game was forever changed when the Fireblade was launched.
The FireBlade shocked the world when it debuted in 1992, weighing 205kg and producing 128hp, which was way superior to any other bike at the time.
8 Vincent Black Shadow
The automobile press went into a frenzy when the Vincent Black Shadow was released in 1949. The term "revolutionary" is sometimes used, but the Black Shadow can genuinely claim to have altered the future of high-performance motorcycles. Most riders hadn't seen anything like it before, and the Shadow's inventions go far beyond its monstrous engine.
The C Shadow, a tuned version of the earlier bike, had a powerful 998cc V-twin engine that produced 55 horsepower. It was able to break the magical 120mph barrier - 124mph to be exact. This was the equivalent of hitting the double ton in the 1950s.
7 BMW S1000RR
The original S1000RR didn't seem to be particularly unique at first glance. It was built with a 998cc inline-four engine, ABS as standard, Brembo brakes, Bosch electronics, and plush suspension, all bundled up in an aerodynamic box. Later, BMW made some amusing changes.
The S1000RR was created with the goal of world dominance in mind. The S1000RR changed the game by at least five years, with a 200bhp (at the crank) 999cc inline-four mated to a stacked gearbox and a complex electronics suite.
6 Yamaha YZF-R1
The first generation of R1 models came with everything good. It was not only the most powerful motorcycle in its class, but it was also the lightest. When compared to the competition, the R1 was also easily the smallest, even smaller than some 600s.
The R1 had an output of 150 horsepower, 72.7 lb-ft of torque, and reach speeds of up to 168 mph thanks to Yamaha's Genesis engine, a carbureted 998 cc liquid-cooled, 20-valve, DOHC, inline four-cylinder unit. All of this comes in a 448-pound bag. All these things made it an absolute hit in the market, and it became a bestseller in no time.
5 Ducati 916
One of the most famous bikes of the 1990s was the Ducati 916. The 916 is one of the finest sportbikes ever made, and easily one of the best motorcycles ever produced by Ducati, with striking bodywork, a powerful engine, and race-proven handling.
A 916cc 90-degree desmodromic V-twin engine powers the 916. The V-twin engine produced 114 horsepower and 67 lb-ft of torque, and the 916 could reach speeds of up to 160 mph. The 916 won four Superbike World Championships and has left an indelible mark on the sport.
4 Suzuki Hayabusa
The first Hayabusas made quite an impact when they were first introduced to the press in 1999. The Hayabusa's abundant strength at any engine speed made it easy to ride by allowing the rider more gear selection options for a given speed and breathtaking acceleration.
The Hayabusa is renowned around the world for its monstrous engine capacity (1300ccm), drag-bike configuration, and status as the fastest street-legal superbike for at least a decade. Surprisingly, the large engine's dependability and cost-effectiveness were unaffected.
3 Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja
In 2004, Kawasaki released the ZX-10R, arguably the best Ninja in their series, to reintroduce the Ninja into the game. No matter which generation you're talking about, the ZX-10R is consistently regarded as one of the best sportbikes on the market.
The Ninja outperformed everything else. It was powered by a 998 cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine that produced 155 horsepower. 76.1 lb-ft of torque, over 180 mph maximum speed, and a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds.
2 Kawasaki Ninja H2
This supercharged motorcycle provided a much-needed boost to the motorcycle industry. Unlike the formidable and outrageous H2R, the H2 was conceived in the streets rather than on closed circuits. It has the feel of a high-end bike, with excellent fit and finish on all components. And the price was a startling $25,000 when it first entered the market.
It should come as no surprise that the H2 can attain speeds of over 200 mph, given its 210 horsepower. The H2 is the first production supercharged unit of its kind, with a supercharged 998cc inline-four engine. Kawasaki's supercharger was designed exclusively for the H2 engine, rather than relying on third-party hardware.
1 Honda VTR1000 SP2
The Honda VTR1000 SP-2 RC51 is a genuine historical motorcycle. This bike was not only the last time the mighty HRC got interested in making a road-going homologation special, but it also marked the end of a golden age of World Superbike racing.
It's a blast to fly, with a roaring exhaust note and massive torque stacks, and unlike the sluggish Ducati desmo engine, Honda's 90-degree V-twin sounds quick-revving and ready to react. It is not the most cost-effective bike to use, since it needs maintenance every 4000 miles and is costly due to the amount of precision needed at 16,000 miles.