Street-legal motorcycles come with specs designed for wild performance and furious speeds. They are the closest any rider would ever come to owning a MotoGP race bike. The technology employed when building track-only motorcycles is so advanced, and the materials are top-notch — which explains why a rider will need to part with a huge chunk of money to throw a leg over one.
The bikes featured here come with everything a race bike has. They are built with high-end quality materials and equipped with some of the most advanced performance features. And even though they are built to ride comfortably on public roads, their race-spec features are a clear sign that they were built for the track.
8 Ronax 500
The Ronax 500 is one of the rarest street-legal superbikes ever made — only 46 units were ever produced. It is powered by a 500cc four-cylinder two-stroke engine. The motor produces 160 horsepower, which is transmitted to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox.
The Ronax 500 is fitted with MotoGP-spec Brembo disc brakes to ensure the rider rides faster and brakes deeper into corners. Its lightweight body, top-spec cycle parts, and a manic 2-stroke motor translate to the Ronax 500 flying to a top speed of 186 mph, making this beast a blast to ride.
7 Honda RC213V-S
Honda came out with a production version of its MotoGP bike called Honda RC213V-S to give fans and enthusiasts a feel of what it's like riding a MotoGP bike. The RC231V-S boasts a 999cc liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4-valve V4 engine that pumps out 215 horsepower and 87 lb-ft of torque with the Power Kit installed.
The S in the name stands for the street. The production line of this bike is limited to 213 machines, making it a pretty rare gem to own. And with a top speed of 200 mph, the RC213V-S is also one of the fastest motorcycles ever made.
6 Aprilia RSV4 RF
The Aprilia RSV4 RF is a road-legal version of the bike that won the Superbike World Championship in 2010. The RF is no slouch as it comes equipped with a staggering 65 degree 1000cc V4 engine churning out an impressive 201 horsepower and 84 lb-ft of torque. Mated with a cylinder head with revised porting, a CNC-machined combustion chamber, new titanium exhaust valves and inlet valves, the RSV4 RF cruises into a top speed of 185mph.
Its enviable lightweight forged aluminum wheels, and fully adjustable Ohlins forks, shock, and steering damper, and graphics make this bike physically small and agile.
5 Ducati Desmosedici RR
The Ducati Desmosedici RR is a limited production road-legal version of the Desmosedici MotoGP race bike. This speed demon packs a 989 cc liquid-cooled, 90-degree, 4-stroke V4, twin pulse firing DOHC Desmodromic engine with four titanium valves and gear-driven cams. Combined with a six-speed gearbox, this machine puffs out 197.3 horsepower, enough to push the RR to a top speed of 188 mph.
The fairing, mudguard, heel guard, and fairing bracket are carbon fiber, while the exhaust heat shield is from a carbon composite. Released June 2006, Ducati made 1,500 Desmosedici RR models available for public purchase.
4 Yamaha YZF-R1 M
The exquisite engineering of this bike and its road presence makes it a must-have for any MotoGP bike enthusiast. The YZF-R1M steps into the scene with the Yamaha's Crossplane Crankshaft engine. This 998cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC inline twin-cylinder; 4-valves per cylinder, fuel-injected engine delivers a punch of 200 horsepower and 82.9 pound-feet of torque.
One of YZF-R1 M's notable features is a Communication Control Unit, which logs every detail of the bike while on the road. In addition, it has a top speed of 186mph.
3 Yamaha R7
When Yamaha introduced the R7 in 1999, it was the most advanced race-spec street-legal motorcycle ever produced by the Japanese bike manufacturer. Also called the OW-02, the bike was built to adhere to the World Superbike Championship homologation rules — only 500 units were built. Although the bike came with many aesthetics relating to the other YZF-R models, underneath the R7's exotic bodywork lay an entirely different beast.
The bike came with a liquid-cooled, 749cc, four-stroke, 20V, DOHC, inline-four engine mated to a tri-axis, vertically-stacked race-spec six-speed close-ratio transmission with a wet multi-plate clutch. In addition, the gearbox came with a "back-torque limiter" that acted as a slipper clutch to keep the rear wheel from locking up under hard downshifts.
2 Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition
The Ducati 1299 Panigale R is not only a superbike but also a collector's item. This final edition Ducati was made to celebrate Ducati's most potent twin-cylinder engine. It represents the perfect mix between a high-performance engine and racing chassis. Its 1285cc liquid-cooled Desmodromic 4 valve L twin-cylinder engine gives out 209 horsepower, translating to speeds of up to 190mph.
Its friendlier chassis set-up, advanced electronic rider, new livery, red rims, and titanium exhaust make the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition a unique bike.
1 BMW S1000RR
BMW S1000RR is one of the most powerful motorcycles and was considered the best-equipped sportbike in the 1000 cc category. The S1000RR is powered by a 999 cc four-cylinder engine producing 199 horsepower. Moreover, it comes with an anti-lock braking system and optional electronic traction control. In addition, it's factory-fitted with an ABS and dynamic traction control, a first for a road-going superbike.
It has three riding modes, Wet, Sport, and Race, with an additional riding mode, Slick, available only after a dongle is connected to a special jack under the seat. BMW Motorrad made this race-oriented sportbike for championship races but is now in commercial production, ready-made for the road.