‘Sports bikes‘ and ‘practicality’ are not terms commonly used together. A sports bike’s primary aim is to go fast and offer an aggressive, adrenaline-pumping riding experience. MPG figures, linear power delivery, and comfort often take the back seat in this type of motorcycle. But amidst the sea of pupil-dilating sports bikes, there are a bunch that are mature enough to bring about a balance of sportiness and practical appeal.
Many entry-level sports bikes automatically fall into this category as they are designed to help newbies enter the world of performance motorcycling. But there are a few middleweight sports bikes from the likes of Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, and even Triumph (to name a few) that also score high on practicality. We also have a practical Ducati and an electric sports bike on this list.
Here’s The Most Overlooked Sports Bike Currently On Sale
The most overlooked sports bike actually comes from one of the biggest sports bike brands
10
Zero SR/S
Price: $20,995
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Z-Force 75-10 Electric Motor |
111 HP |
140 LB-FT |
518 LBS |
While on the expensive side, this is one of the few electric sports bikes that actually interests with its highly practical side. It packs a huge 17.3 kWh battery pack that produces 111 horsepower and a grin-worthy 140 pound-feet of torque. It is on the heavier side at 518 pounds. In fact, it is the heaviest sports bike in this lot. But from an EV perspective, its weight is well controlled.
For reference, the 92.8-horsepower CBR650R E-Clutch is just 52 pounds heavier than this electric bike. Elevating its practical side is a low seat height of 31 inches, lots of assistive technology features, and even an optional battery pack to increase the size from 17.3 to 21 kWh. This also increases the riding range to around 200 miles (from the stock 171 miles).
9
Ducati SuperSport 950
Price: $15,495
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
937 CC L-Twin |
110 HP |
69 LB-FT |
478 LBS |
Ducati sure is flexing its exotic appeal when the most affordable sports bike from it is a $15,000+ middleweight. But unlike its aggressive and track-focused big brothers, the SuperSport 950 has a tamer, more practical side as well. Its L-twin engine has been around for a long time now, enough to give it a “reliable” tag.
This is also the only Ducati sports bike with a standard seat height of less than 32 inches to elevate its accessibility notably. Couple that with its low curb weight of under 480 pounds, and we have a Ducati that won’t feel challenging to ride in the city.
8
Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid
Price: $12,499
Kawasaki Ninja 7 HEV Hybrid
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
451 CC Parallel-Twin |
68 HP |
44.2 LB-FT |
502.7 LBS |
Embracing the niche world of hybrids, the Kawasaki Ninja 7 shows us that hybrid motorcycles needn’t be boring and slow. Despite packing a 451 cc engine, the Ninja 7 Hybrid produces more power than the Ninja 650, thanks to its 9 kW motor. This electric powertrain integration also elevates its acceleration and returns never-before-seen fuel efficiency ratings in this class. Its compact size, low seat height, and manageable weight make this hybrid Kawasaki a solid urban runabout.
Here Are The Cheapest Sports Bikes From All Popular Brands
Understandably, some of the cheapest sports bikes today come from Japanese brands
7
Honda CBR650R E-Clutch
Price: $9,899
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
649 CC Inline-Four |
92.8 HP |
46.4 LB-FT |
466 LBS |
Shooting the practicality levels to new heights for a middleweight track-ready sports bike is the Honda CBR650R with its E-clutch feature. Look at it as a smarter version of the standard quickshifter/auto-blipper. The e-clutch CBR650R can be upshifted, downshifted, and even rolled off from a standstill without using the clutch lever. This feature greatly improves this “hardcore” sports bike’s road-going ability, especially the ease of riding on tight urban roads. Its inline-4 is powerful and produces over 90 horses.
6
Suzuki GSX-8R
Price: $9,669
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
776 CC Parallel-Twin |
82 HP |
57.53 LB-FT |
452 LBS |
Similar to how the Daytona 660 was received, the Suzuki GSX-8R also bummed a lot of enthusiasts. It carries Suzuki’s sports bike baton forward from the famed GSX-R600 and GSX-R750. These two inline-4 screamers are known for their underdog track appeal. However, the 8R, with its parallel-twin engine and conservative performance curve, is designed to hit a more balanced chord between aggression and practicality.
There’s ample tech and hardware for the price, too. It gets Showa suspension, Nissin brakes, and sticky Dunlop tires. Electronic features include three ride modes (Active, Basic, and Comfort), four levels of traction control, a bi-directional quick shifter, ride-by-wire, and Suzuki Low RPM Assist. For under $10,000, this is a worthy middleweight sports bike.
5
Triumph Daytona 660
Price: $9,195
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
660 CC Inline-3 |
95 HP |
51 LB-FT |
443 LBS |
When Triumph launched the baby Daytona 660, hardcore fans were bummed because it didn’t have the aggression of the iconic 675R. But eventually, everyone understood that Triumph’s motto for making a toned-down Daytona was to make it accessible to many and elevate its practical side. That doesn’t make this middleweight sports bike boring, though. Its three-cylinder engine produces 95 horsepower, and with a curb weight under 450 pounds, the power-to-weight ratio is solid. A seat height of under 32 inches makes this Triumph a very accessible bike as well.
4
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Price: $7,399 (Non-ABS) / $7,999 (ABS)
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
649 CC Parallel-Twin |
67 HP |
48.5 LB-FT |
421.2 LBS |
This is one of the most well-rounded entry-level middleweight sports bikes you can buy today. Its parallel-twin engine translates to a cozy and comfortable “sports bike” riding experience. The dimensions are compact, and with an impressive 50+ MPG rating, the Ninja 650 is a no-brainer city-friendly sports bike. Its early surge of torque and power also complements the urban-going appeal. Also, a seat height of 31.1 inches unlocks this reliable twin-cylinder sports bike for a lot of short riders. For under $8,000, the Ninja 650 offers impressive value for money.
10 Fast And Small Sports Bikes To Kickstart Your 2025 Riding Goals
This list ranges from frugal 25-horsepower urban runabouts to 50+ horsepower track-ready “civilized” monsters
3
Yamaha R3
Price: $5,499
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
321 CC Parallel-Twin |
41 HP |
21.75 LB-FT |
373 LBS |
The Yamaha R3 is one of the best beginner sports bikes today. It is a solid, no-frills daily driver. Its parallel twin is a screamer, but Yamaha has balanced things with its meaty mid-range torque and wider second through fourth-gear ratios for comfortable city-riding. According to MCN, this baby Yamaha sports bike returns an impressive 74 MPG. Its seat height of under 31 inches and a low curb weight of 373 pounds make this Yamaha a peppy urban runabout that short riders can enjoy.
2
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Price: $5,299 (Non-ABS) / $5,699 (ABS)
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
451 CC Parallel-Twin |
51 HP |
31.7 LB-FT |
370.4 LBS |
The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is a track-ready screamer, making peak power at 10,000 RPM. But it also has a softer side. One that offers a chunk of its power and torque in the lower RPM range. This elevates its city-friendly character. Also aiding its practical side is a low seat height of under 31 inches. Couple this with its low curb weight of under 380 pounds, and we have a sports bike that helps new riders be confident and not shy away from the fun.
1
CFMoto 300SS
Price: $4,599
|
Engine |
Horsepower |
Torque |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
298 CC Single-Cylinder |
29.5 HP |
19.9 LB-FT |
364 LBS |
The CFMoto 300SS might be a newbie, but it has been designed well as a well-rounded, practical sports bike. This entry-level offering is powered by a 298 cc single producing close to 30 horsepower and about 20 pound-feet of torque. Humble figures, yes. But its affordable price of under $5,000 makes this a desirable bike. Everything about this “aggressive-looking” bike is welcoming to new riders. It has a low seat height of 30.7 inches, is lightweight at 364 pounds, and produces peak power and torque figures quite early for a track-going sports bike. This helps it be a good urban runabout.