With countless attractive sports bikes available in the market, selecting the best bike can prove to be a headache. Buyers usually consider factors like performance, handling, styling, and popularity. Most buyers looking for a sports bike will go for a Kawasaki Ninja 650, Yamaha YZF-R1M, or a Ducati Panigale V4S. Not like we can fault them; these sports bikes perform well and are popular.
However, the market has overlooked some incredible sports bikes despite their impressive power, handling, and styling. Some of these cool models were made by top manufacturers in the industry. Interestingly, there are a good number of these sports bikes that sell for low prices. We're not sure why these beasts are unpopular, but they prove that a bike's popularity doesn't necessarily say much about its quality. Therefore, in this list, we take a look at nine of the most underrated sports bikes ever manufactured.
9 1998 Honda CBR900RR
Otherwise known as the Fireblade, Honda's CBR900RR is a 900cc displacement sports bike. The manufacturer introduced the CBR900RR in 1992 and kept producing them till 2003. Honda fitted the 1998 CBR900RR with an in-line four, four-stroke engine that produces 130 horsepower and 67 lb-ft of torque.
Each cylinder in the bike has four valves, and the CBR900RR uses a 6-speed gearbox. As for the brakes, there are dual disc brakes up front and single disc brakes at the rear. The 1998 CBR900RR has an impressive acceleration of 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 170.9 mph.
8 2003 Yamaha R1
Yamaha started making the R1 in 1998, and production still goes on presently. The R1 is an open-class sports bike with near-perfect handling. In its first generation, the R1 sported semi-floating disk brakes. Incredibly the bike could accelerate 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds, joining the league of bikes that could challenge supercars.
Built for the track as well as the highway, the 2003 Yamaha R1 model has a fuel injection system, improved handling, and reduced weight. A liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine with five valves per cylinder was used for the model. It also has 152 hp, which is enough to push it to a top speed of 173 mph.
7 BMW S1000XR
The BMW S1000XR is a sport-touring bike, but most times, it's marketed as an adventure motorcycle. BMW introduced the bike model in 2015, and over the years, the S1000XR has reached a top speed of 170 mph. The sports bike is equipped with a liquid-cooled, four-stroke 999cc engine with sixteen valves.
The S1000XR uses four-piston caliper brakes at the front and single-piston caliper brakes at the rear for the brake system. With competition like the Triumph Tiger 900 and the Ducati Multistrada 950, it is easy to see why the BMW S1000XR remains underrated.
6 2000 Suzuki Bandit 1200
Suzuki has been making the Bandit since 1989, and as far as we know, these sports bikes are great. The manufacturer used both air-cooled and oil-cooled in-line four-stroke engines for their 2000 Bandit 1200 model. Suzuki's Bandit 1200 is an easy-to-ride bike with a nicely positioned seat.
The cruiser has 98.0 horsepower, 91.0Nm of torque, a top speed of 144 mph, and a 5-speed chain transmission system. You can get a used Bandit 1200 at about $3,000.
5 Ducati GT 1000 Sport
At a base price of $9,995, the Ducati GT 1000 Sport is hardly a cheap bike. However, you're bound to get your money's worth. The GT 1000 Sport features a 992cc, two-valves-per-cylinder engine. Inspired by the 750 Sport model from the '70s, the GT 1000 Sport offers an instantly recognizable retro design.
Ducati included a bag and a windshield on the bike. The GT 1000 has a top speed of 135 mph and develops 67 lb-ft of torque using a 6-speed transmission.
4 Kawasaki Z900
After Kawasaki stopped producing their Z800 model, they replaced it with the Z900 in 2017. The Kawasaki Z900 is fitted with a 948cc, liquid-cooled four-stroke, 16-valve engine. Like every other sports bike Kawasaki has produced, the Z900 is well crafted.
The bike rides well and is suitable for long-distance rides. 72 lb-ft of torque boosts the bike as it moves along the road. The Kawasaki Z900 uses a 6-speed gearbox and has a top speed of 157 miles per hour.
3 2004 ZX-10R
The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R is one of the best liter bikes of its era. 2004 was the first year for the model, and it features an in-line four, four-stroke engine.
With 174.03 horsepower at 11,700 rpm, 84 lb-ft of torque at 95,00 rpm, and a top speed of 186 mph, the ZX-10R is quite a performer. Kawasaki's Ninja utilizes a wet clutch and a 6-speed gearbox. For acceleration, the Ninja rocket to 60 mph in 3.12 seconds.
2 2006 Triumph Speed Triple
Triumph introduced its first Speed series bike in 1994. The 2006 Triumph Speed Triple is known as a Streetfighter sports bike. Triumph's 2006 Speed Triple has a 1050.0cc liquid-cooled, inline-three, four-stroke engine.
When the 2006 Triumph Speed Triple was released, its main competitors were the 2006 Yamaha FZ1 and the 2006 Ducati Monster 1100. The engine produces 130 horsepower. There are dual disc brakes at the front and single disc brakes at the rear. The 2006 Speed Triple model also uses an electric starter like most bikes.
1 Yamaha Tmax
The Yamaha Tmax is a sports maxi scooter designed with comfort in mind. Yamaha first introduced the Tmax in 2001, but it was last produced in 2021. The Tmax demands attention wherever it goes. When designing the Tmax, Yamaha decided to blend superbike performance with the everyday practicality of a scooter.
The result is a surprisingly sprightly 500cc water-cooled four-stroke engine with an output of 45.9 hp and a top speed of 100 mph. There's also CVT and later models that came with a power outlet.