Purists tend to put themselves on a higher pedestal when it comes to performance. Motorcycle enthusiasts even tout bikes as superior machines, however, bikes did not transition onto the silver screen as well as their four-wheeled alternatives.

Back in the first half of the 2000s when we were introduced to Torque- a movie which was popularly dubbed as Fast & Furious for bikers, the film performed poorly at the box office but did manage to stimulate a need for speed amongst generations to come.

RELATED: These Legendary Sportbikes Were Total Gamechangers

In the following decades, the popularity of two-wheelers continued to decline and things don't seem to be changing anytime soon as 2020 so far has been one of the most challenging years of the 21st century.

The automotive industry as a whole is also feeling the effect and repercussions of the ongoing pandemic but these 10 motorcycles have enough grunt to win back hearts and destroy any racetrack one can throw at them.

10 KTM Super Duke 1290 R

Super Duke 1290 R is the most powerful lightweight motorcycle from the Austrian bike manufacturer and uses a space frame chassis. Its compact dimensions and state-of-the-art equipment make it a total beast around the track. The 75-degree, 8-valve, V-twin engine delivers around 180 BHP of power and over 100 lb-ft of torque.

The powerplant comes mated to a very capable 6-speed transmission that shifts quickly between gears. The 2020 KTM Super Duke R is one of the best sports bike money can buy.

9 Honda CBR1000RR

The latest iteration of Honda CBR1000RR is the 7-generation of the nameplate and the latest installment is just as capable and reliable as its predecessors. The motorcycle features a 998cc inline four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine which churns out a whopping 190 BHP at 13000 RPM and only weighs 430 lbs.

The motor is paired to a 6-speed gearbox that gets a quickshifter and with its 1,405 mm wheelbase, the rider can throw 1000RR into corners effortlessly. Its mechanical prowess is one of the many reasons that make Honda CBR100RR a fantastic bike to own.

8 Suzuki Hayabusa

Hayabusa took the world by storm when it first hit dealerships around the world back in 1999 and soon became the world’s fastest production motorcycle. The world-famous nameplate held this title for eight years. The current model is no slouch either and gets a 1.3-liter, 197 BHP four-cylinder engine.

RELATED: Here Are The 15 Best Sportbikes Of 2020

1340cc, liquid-cooled engine gets dual 10-hole fuel injectors and with its 6-speed constant mesh gearbox, the motorcycle can accelerate to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Hayabusa is one of the most coveted motorcycles that Suzuki ever made.

7 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R

We first got a glimpse of Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R back in 2005 at the Tokyo Motor Show and the superbike hit the streets the following year and was hailed as the brand’s most powerful offering at the time. Hayabusa is Ninja ZX-14R's arch-rival in the segment and powering Kawasaki’s warrior is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder motor.

The 1441 cc motor produces a 197.2 BHP of power and around 117 lb-ft of peak torque. This allows Ninja ZX-14R to achieve a top speed of 205 MPH making it one of the fastest Kawasaki Superbikes ever made.

6 Suzuki GSX-R1000R

Over its thirty-year production run, Suzuki has managed to sell more than a million units of GSX-R1000R and for the 2020 model year, the legendary Japanese bike manufacturer has updated its popular offering making it even more exciting. The bike gets an all-new aluminum frame and a new engine that churns out 199 BHP.

RELATED: Here's Why You Should Avoid These Sportbikes Like The Plague

The 999.8cc, four-cylinder engine produces around 87 lb-ft of peak torque. Its affordability and reliability make Suzuki GSX-R1000R one of those motorcycles that you can find in every motorcycle club around the world.

5 Yamaha YZF R1

The current installment of Yamaha YZF-R1 Supersport gets the Japanese bike manufacturer’s CP4 powerplant. The engine produces 194.3 BHP of power but when it comes to sheer speed YZF-R1 benefits from Yamaha’s 22 years of motorsport innovations and experience. Mechanical updates like Yamaha Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), throttle by wire system is exclusive to the new model.

The 998 cc C4 motor produces around 83 lb-ft of peak torque and as long as the rider shifts immaculately through the 6-speed gearbox, the bike will hit a top speed that's north of 182 MPH. This makes Yamaha YZF-R1 Supersport one of the fastest bikes in a straight line.

4 BMW S1000RR

The outgoing model of BMW S1000RR has come a long way since its introduction. Its predecessor even made a small cameo in the fifth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise- Rogue Nation. The new version of Tom Cruise’s steed of choice only weighs 427 lb and is propelled by a four-cylinder motor that produces 205 BHP.

With 83 lb-ft of torque peaking at 11,000 RPM, BMW claims S1000RR can hit a top speed of 190 MPH. The BMW S1000RR is one of the latest and fastest bikes a speed junkie can buy.

3 FGR Midalu 2500 V6

What happens when you take an engine capable of powering a sports car and install it into a lightweight motorcycle? You get the FGR Midalu 2500 V6. This Czech motorcycle is powered by a 90-degree, 2.5-liter V6 engine which produces a peak power output of 240 BHP and comes mated to a 6-outlet exhaust system.

The motorcycle is an immaculately designed naked bike that only weighs 577.6 lbs. The rider has to use a 6-speed transmission to access the power this monstrous liquid-cooled V6 produces.

2 Lightning Motorcycle’s LS-218

Lightning Motorcycles LS-218
Via New Atlas

Electric motorcycles offer instantaneous torque which is one of their most attractive qualities. Readily available torque translates into flabbergasting acceleration. The LS-218 electric superbike is powered by a 150 KW powertrain which is liquid-cooled and propels this almost silent motorcycle to 218 mph.

The battery-powered drivetrain produces a peak power output of 200 BHP and 168lb-ft of torque courtesy of the LS-218's IPM electric motor. Lightning Motorcycle's LS-218 is the world’s fastest battery-powered bike and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.2 seconds.

1 Kawasaki Ninja H2R

Kawasaki Ninja H2R
Via Gaadi Waadi

Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki one-upped itself by introducing a track-only version of its Ninja H2 superbike which was called the Kawasaki Ninja H2R. The motorcycle has been on sale since 2015 and since then this superbike had continued to hold the title of the world’s fastest production motorcycle.

Kawasaki Ninja H2R is powered by a 998 cc inline-4 cylinder engine which produces a peak power output of 310 BHP. The supercharged motor of the motorcycle allows the bike to achieve a top speed of 249 mph in controlled conditions.

NEXT: 17 Naked Motorcycles We'd Rather Ride Than A Sportbike