The Best Sports Motorbikes (2022)

If you want to get from A to B as quickly as possible on the road then a sports bike is probably for you.

To achieve this they sacrifice comfort for an aerodynamic advantage and maximum lean angles, make use of the latest technology and tend to be quite expensive. What is a sports bike?

1st

DUCATI V4S

What Is It?

No sports bike top ten would be complete without a beautiful Ducati, in this case the new for 2018 V4 powered Panigale V4 S. It sets the bar high on looks, power, weight and features all the tech you would expect.

There’s Ohlins electrically adjustable suspension, cornering ABS, slide control, a lean angle aware quickshifter, gorgeous TFT dash and of course the stunning single sided swingarm with no massive exhaust to ruin the lines.

For 2022 there are new thinner winglets with less drag, 212.5 bhp at 13,000 rpm, maximum torque at 9,500 rpm, a new oil pump, larger exhaust outlets, new gear ratios, Low / Medium / High / Full power modes, 5 mm more suspension travel, Track Evo dash display mode and an improved seat.

Key Specs

RRP: £25,200
Engine: V4
Capacity: 1,103 cc
Power: 211 bhp / 157 kW
Top Speed: 200 mph / 322 km/h
Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km
Range: 120 miles / 193 km
Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
Wet Weight: 195 kg / 430 pounds
Power to Weight: 1.082 bhp/kg

2nd

BMW S1000RR

What Is It?

The S1000RR was game changing when it launched in 2005 although the asymmetric looks did divide opinion. BMW have been constantly evolving it and three generations later the 2019 model is a brand new bike.

The wonky headlight is gone, power is up from a new Variable Valve Timing engine, weight is down, the dash is now a fancy colour TFT job and it can be fully spec’d up with semi-active electronic suspension. The new M Pack even adds Carbon Fibre wheels but you won’t see much change from £20,000.

If £20,000 is too cheap for you BMW launched the £30,935 track focused M1000RR for 2020. It’s more powerful, lighter and includes most of the options list.

Key Specs

RRP: £15,590
Engine: Inline Four VVT
Capacity: 999 cc
Power: 204 bhp / 152 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km
Range: 150 miles / 241 km
Seat Height: 824 mm / 32.4 inches
Wet Weight: 197 kg / 434 pounds
Power to Weight: 1.036 bhp/kg

3rd

HONDA FIREBLADE SP

What Is It?

The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is brand new for 2020 with a more compact and powerful engine, second generation electronic suspension, new Brembo Stylema calipers, larger front discs, winglets integrated into the new bodywork, a fancy new TFT dash and a specially designed Akrapovic exhaust as standard. It’s 100% track focused, as small as a 600 cc and has a really aggressive seating position.

For 2022 it gets lower gearing for improved mid-range acceleration via a 40 to 43 tooth rear sprocket change, improved intake and exhaust gas flow, a smoother traction control system and +5 mm wheelbase. To mark 30 years since the launch of the CBR900RR a special 30th Anniversary Edition with white/blue/red colour scheme is available.

Key Specs

RRP: £23,500
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 1,000 cc
Power: 215 bhp / 160 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
Range: 160 miles / 257 km
Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
Wet Weight: 201 kg / 443 pounds
Power to Weight: 1.070 bhp/kg

4th

YAMAHA YZF-R1M

What Is It?

It builds on the standard R1 with semi-active Ohlins electronic suspension, a new ERS NPX fork, Carbon bodywork / front fender / tail cowl and a range of apps to set custom ride modes, track all the data from the bike and to display a re-run of the race on Google Maps.

It’s a limited production run with the number stamped on top of the tank.

Key Specs

RRP: £22,600
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km
Range: 130 miles / 209 km
Seat Height: 860 mm / 33.9 inches
Wet Weight: 200 kg / 441 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.985 bhp/kg

5th

KAWASAKI NINJA H2

What Is It?

It’s the tamed road-focused version of the crazy 306 bhp H2R and worth looking at if you want to win at Top Trumps.

The engine is supercharged plus between 2017 and 2019 it gained all the modern tech you could want, such as the up / down quickshifter, cornering ABS, Ohlins TTX36 shock, Brembo Stylema brakes, self healing paint and a fancy TFT dash. Of course 200 bhp isn’t enough so they added another 40 bhp (with ram-air) while they were at it!

Key Specs

RRP: £26,000
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 30 mpg / 9.4 L/100km
Range: 110 miles / 177 km
Seat Height: 825 mm / 32.5 inches
Wet Weight: 238 kg / 525 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.828 bhp/kg

6th

HONDA FIREBLADE

What Is It?

The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade is brand new for 2020 with a more compact and powerful engine, larger front discs, winglets integrated into the new bodywork, a fancy new TFT dash and a specially designed Akrapovic exhaust as standard. The range topping SP version adds a quickshifter, fancy Ohlins electronic suspension and the latest Brembo brakes.

For 2022 the base model gets the same lower gearing for improved mid-range acceleration, improved intake and exhaust gas flow, a smoother traction control system and +5 mm wheelbase as the SP.

Key Specs

Launch RRP: £20,000
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 1,000 cc
Power: 215 bhp / 160 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
Range: 160 miles / 257 km
Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
Wet Weight: 201 kg / 443 pounds
Power to Weight: 1.070 bhp/kg

7th

YAMAHA YZF-R1

What Is It?

The standard R1 has been knocking about now since 2015 however for 2018 it gained a 2-level quickshifter, launch control, an anti-wheelie system and a fancy colour TFT dash.

For 2020 there’s an upgraded chassis, fuelling tweaks, a sharper front end, new side fairings, a smoother tank, 5% improvement in aerodynamics, new lighter Titanium lower fairing and new multi level ABS and EBC systems.

Other improvements include a more rigid airbox design, new lighter throttle sensor, suspension / steering damper tweaks, updated tyres, updated launch control, better brake pads, new tail light design and some Euro 5 exhaust tweaks.

Key Specs

RRP: £17,400
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km
Range: 130 miles / 209 km
Seat Height: 855 mm / 33.7 inches
Wet Weight: 199 kg / 439 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.990 bhp/kg

8th

SUZUKI GSX-R1000R

What Is It?

Competing directly with the Fireblade is Suzuki’s new for 2017 GSX-R1000R. A major re-design focused on more power from a Variable Valve Timing (VVT) engine, aerodynamics and being more compact however the exhaust grew into a bit of a monster.

It builds on the £2,850 cheaper base GSX-R1000 with more advanced Showa suspension, a bi-directional quickshifter, launch control and a lighter battery.

Key Specs

RRP: £17,000
Engine: Inline Four VVT
Capacity: 1,000 cc
Power: 199 bhp / 148 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km
Range: 140 miles / 225 km
Seat Height: 825 mm / 32.5 inches
Wet Weight: 203 kg / 448 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.980 bhp/kg

9th

KAWASAKI ZX-10R

What Is It?

The new for 2021 ZX-10R builds on the previous model with LED lighting, improved front brakes, cruise control and a modern TFT dash.

They also offer the range topping ZX-10RR which is designed purely for the track however only 500 will be produced worldwide. It adds forged wheels, stickier tyres, lighter engine internals and a 400 rpm higher redline.

Key Specs

RRP: £15,800
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 200 bhp / 149 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
Range: 170 miles / 274 km
Seat Height: 835 mm / 32.9 inches
Wet Weight: 207 kg / 456 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.966 bhp/kg

10th

DUCATI PANIGALE V2

What Is It?

For 2020 Ducati have evolved the Panigale 959 into the V2 with V4 style bodywork, a single sided swingarm, modern TFT dash, small exhaust, cornering ABS, lean angle aware traction control, LED lighting and a comfier seat. Doesn’t it look good!

Key Specs

Launch RRP: £15,200
Engine: V-Twin
Capacity: 955 cc
Power: 153 bhp / 114 kW
Top Speed: 160 mph / 257 km/h
Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km
Range: 130 miles / 209 km
Seat Height: 840 mm / 33.1 inches
Wet Weight: 200 kg / 441 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.765 bhp/kg

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How Did We Rank Our Top Ten?

We looked at all the best road focused sports bikes you can buy new and picked the top contenders, taking into account style, power, technology and value for money.

What Is A Sports Bike?

Sports bikes have one goal in mind, which is going as fast as possible from A to B. They achieve this by minimising weight while at the same time maximising power (ideally around 1 bhp per 1 kg of weight), a low aggressive riding position, full aerodynamic fairing, state of the art technology and the best lean angle possible for cornering as low as possible. The most expensive bikes are usually closely related to the manufacturer’s MotoGP race bike of the time.

Sales have been suffering recently though because they aren’t that comfortable, pillion friendly, economical or really that practical for everyday riding and if you can only have one bike an Adventure or Sport Touring model probably makes more sense, particularly if you won’t be taking it anywhere near a track.

The middle capacities, around 600cc, have suffered the most though with the only real option still on sale the Aprilia RS 660.