Although sportbikes have seen a drop in demand over the last two decades, they're still one of the most popular categories of motorcycles. People love sportbikes for their lightweight frames, powerful engines, and more aggressive riding posture. Sportbikes may not be suitable for long-distance rides, but their speed, handling, and aggressive riding positions make them an absolute joy. Most sportbikes also have eye-catching designs and loud engines that turn heads everywhere they go.
With so many legendary sportbike models produced over the years by different manufacturers, it's almost impossible to choose the best. However, these ten are clearly a class above the rest, and every motorcycling enthusiast should ensure that they ride them at least once in their life.
10 Kawasaki Ninja H2
Kawasaki has produced some of the most popular Japanese motorcycles over the years, loved for their incredible power and sleek designs. Introduced in 2015, the Ninja H2 is the kind of bike sportbike lovers grow up dreaming of riding. For one, it has one of the most eye-catching designs and looks like it was sent back from the future.
However, what makes the H2 special is its engine. It is powered by a 998cc supercharged inline-four engine producing up to 210 horsepower, allowing it to reach over 200 mph. These numbers may sound scary — particularly to inexperienced riders — but a clever design and advanced technologies ensure that riders can keep it under control.
9 Honda VTR1000 SP2
In the 90s, Ducati was dominating the Superbike World Championship, thanks to its V-Twin engines. At the time, the V-Twin configuration was more useful in racing as it gave bikes the upper hand when coming out of slow-speed corners. Knowing this, Honda developed the VTR1000 in 2000 for one reason — to prove to the Italians that it could also win on the track using a V-Twin.
The VTR1000 was powered by a 999cc liquid-cooled V-Twin pumping out 133 horsepower in the road-going version, allowing it to reach a 168-mph top speed. The VTR1000 was such a success that it recorded 11 WSBK wins.
8 Ducati 1299 Panigale Superleggera
Ducati has produced several Panigales over the years, but none of them are as special as the 2017 Superleggera. To build this incredible bike, Ducati took the stock Panigale 1299 and equipped it with the most powerful factory twin ever made - a 1,285cc Superquadro V-Twin cranking out 215 horsepower and 108 pound-feet of torque.
To maximize the engine's potential, Ducati knew it had to keep its weight at a minimum. They did this by using aluminum instead of steel components and using carbon fiber for the frame, subframe, fairings, swing arm, and wheels.
7 BMW S1000RR
In 2009, BMW released 1,000 units of the S1000RR as a homologation special. The model was so well-received in the market that BMW decided to put it into production from 2010 onwards. The S1000RR became BMW's first modern superbike, leaving a lasting impression that resonates to this day.
Everything about the S1000RR was special, from the 998cc inline-four engine with 193 horsepower on tap to the Brembo brakes, Bosch electronics, and ABS. Buyers who wanted something even more special could opt for extras like Race ABS, Dynamic Traction Control, and a quick shifter.
6 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
The ZX-10R is probably the most popular Kawasaki Ninja bike ever produced. Since its debut in 2004, the ZX-10R has been an icon in the motorcycle racing scene, scooping over 65 WSBK wins — more than any other bike in history.
The ZX-10R has a cool design and the power to match, thanks to a 998cc liquid-cooled inline-four pushing out 155 horsepower and 76 pound-feet of torque. It also uses a titanium exhaust system to help improve its power-to-weight ratio. The result is a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 182 mph.
5 Yamaha YZF-R1
The Yamaha vs. Kawasaki debate has been ongoing for many years, but even those on the Kawasaki side can agree that the first R1 was an exceptional bike. Introduced in 1998, the YZF-R1 raised the bar significantly and revolutionized what a liter-class sportbike was capable of.
The R1 was the most powerful bike in its class, thanks to a carbureted 998cc liquid-cooled DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 150 horsepower. Weighing in at just 448 pounds, the R1 was also the lightest liter-class sportbike and was even smaller than some 600cc bikes of the day. A top speed of 168 mph made the R1 a weapon on the road and track.
4 Ducati 916
In the early 90s, Ducati needed a new bike to dominate the racing scene, so it built the 916. The 916 is easily one of the best bikes Ducati has ever built, loved by many for its striking bodywork, power, and race-proven handling.
The 916 came with a 916cc desmodromic V-Twin designed by the legendary Massimo Tamburini. The engine produced up to 114 horsepower and 67 pound-feet of torque, allowing the 916 to hit 160 mph. Aside from the powerful engine, the 916 had a chrome-moly trellis frame, a single-sided swingarm, aerodynamic bodywork, and impressive under-seat exhausts. It's no surprise that the 916 won four WSBK titles.
3 Suzuki Hayabusa
In the late 90s, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers were in a tough battle to produce the world's fastest production motorcycle. Kawasaki did it first with the 1990 Ninja ZX-11, Honda took over in 1996 with the CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, the Suzuki beat them all with the incredible Hayabusa in 1999.
The Hayabusa was powered by a 1,299cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine with double-overhead cams driving sixteen valves. This configuration resulted in an output of 173 horsepower, allowing the Hayabusa to achieve a top speed of 194 mph. The Hayabusa was so fast that it inspired regulators to impose a 186-mph speed limit on all sportbikes.
2 Honda VFR750R RC30
Honda has built many affordable sportbikes for the masses to enjoy, but with the RC30, it aimed to build a superbike for the elite. Honda limited the RC30's production to just 3,000 units and slapped a $15,000 price tag on it, making it one of the most expensive bikes of the 80s.
The RC30 was expensive but worth every penny. For starters, many of its components were hand-built by HRC race technicians. The engine was a 748cc V4 with sophisticated components, including titanium connecting rods, race-inspired gearing, and gear-driven camshafts. Other sophisticated parts included a slipper clutch, a single-sided swingarm, an aluminum twin-spar frame, and a fully adjustable Showa suspension.
1 Suzuki GSX-R750
Unlike the Honda VFR750R RC30 introduced two years later, the Suzuki GSX-R750 was designed to bring sports performance to the masses. The GSX was one of the first real race replicas ever produced and featured a real race-inspired paint job, awesome twin headlights, and endurance-racing fairings that made it look like it had just left the track.
Suzuki also wanted the GSX to be faster than any other superbike produced before it, so they equipped it with a narrow air-cooled inline-four producing 100 horsepower and 52 pound-feet of torque. With a top speed exceeding 140 mph, the GSX is still fast, even by current standards.