Sport bikes have earned an undeserved reputation as prima donnas that require a lot of attention to keep running well. This is absolutely true with some models packed to the gills with electronics, since the more things there are, the more things there are to go wrong. It is also natural for an engine with a high specific output to not be as reliable as other engines. With sport bikes offering horsepower per liter that would embarrass some turbocharged engines, it is no wonder that they can and do fail sometimes.
However, sport bikes are also very alluring. So what do you do if you want something reliable and sporty? Happily, there are certain sports bikes that do the same. There are many sport bikes that offer a hassle-free ownership experience, and will last just as long as any other type of motorcycle if taken care of properly.
Yamaha YZF-R3
Price: $5,499
The R3 recently got the update to the cyclops look, bringing it in line with Yamaha’s current styling philosophy for its sport bikes. It has also been given gold inverted forks, Y-spoke alloy wheels, and the size of the exhaust muffler has been reduced. However, there aren’t any mechanical changes; you still get the 41-horsepower engine and the 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch. There haven’t been mechanical changes for a while, so you know the YZF-R3 will last for a long time.
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Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
321 cc |
|
Max Power |
41.5 HP @ 10,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
21 LB-FT @ 9,000 RPM |
Honda CBR300R
Price: ~$5,200
The CBR300R has officially been discontinued. But you can still pick up a new example as long as stocks last. If you’re a beginner or just new to the sports bike segment and want a low-cost way to try it out, there is nothing better than the CBR300R for you. It has a single-cylinder engine that is shared among a number of small Hondas, it makes a decent amount of power that will keep you engaged in the city, and the handling is good and predictable. Bargain hard for a discount, and try to find one with the optional ABS if you can!
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Engine Type |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
286 cc |
|
Max Power |
30.4 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
19.9 LB-FT @ 7,250 RPM |
Honda CBR500R
Price: $7,399
With the discontinuation of the CBR300R, the CBR500R is now Honda’s most affordable sports bike. It’s not a bad way to start. It has a parallel twin engine but an older 180-degree firing order, so you have to rev it out to extract maximum performance. Honda has made sure its other components match up to the engine’s 47 horsepower output, with Showa big piston inverted forks at the front, and a rear shock with five steps of preload adjustment. A 5-inch TFT display rounds out the features, but the CBR500R isn’t about the features; but the ease of ownership.
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Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
471 cc |
|
Max Power |
46.9 HP @ 8,600 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
31.7 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
10 Most Overlooked Sports Bikes That Will Last A Lifetime
In the world of sports bikes, reliability is not always a priority, and that is why these motorcycles continue to get overlooked
Kawasaki Ninja 500
Price: $5,399
Kawasaki offers the Ninja 500 in different trims. They all have the same engine, transmission, suspension, and brakes, which means that they’re all going to be dead reliable. It is the feature set that differentiates them. Add $400 to the base price, and you can get ABS. For $1,100 over the base price, you can have a TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation, keyless ignition, a larger windscreen, and a pillion seat cowl, among other things.
|
Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
451 cc |
|
Max Power |
51 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
31.7 LB-FT @ 7,500 RPM |
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Price: $7,599
The Ninja 650 is a simple but usable sport bike that Kawasaki has had on sale for a very long time. It was recently updated with a by-wire throttle, which brought along traction control and a TFT with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. ABS is still a $600 option, though. The suspension is conventional forks and a preload-adjustable monoshock. Twin front brake discs with conventional calipers complete the simple but long-lasting cycle parts.
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Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
649 cc |
|
Max Power |
67 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
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Max Torque |
48.5 LB-FT @ 6,700 RPM |
Honda CBR650R E-Clutch
Price: $9,499
The CBR650R is available only with the E-Clutch in the US market. This makes it possibly the most practical sports bike on the market. The E-Clutch system is the equivalent of a semi-automatic gearbox; you still have to shift gears yourself, but the clutch lever is completely optional. This can be turned off as well. Couple this with features like ABS, a TFT color display, and a four-cylinder engine focused on drivability rather than outright power, and you have a recipe for a long-lasting product.
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Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
649 cc |
|
Max Power |
93.8 HP @ 12,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
46.4 LB-FT @ 9,500 RPM |
10 Affordable Sports Bikes That Refuse To Break Down
These supersports offer an ideal balance between performance, reliability and affordability
Honda CBR600RR
Price: $11,499
The CBR600RR is the opposite of the CBR650R E-Clutch. This product is made solely to attack apexes and gives up pretty much everything else in this single-minded pursuit. 600 cc supersport motorcycles have some of the highest specific outputs of naturally aspirated engines in history, but since we have the older-gen CBR600RR that has been on sale since 2013, it is safe to say that this one will keep going for a very long time. ABS is a $1,000 optional extra, but it should be standard, what with all the electronics it has.
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Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
599 cc |
|
Max Power |
113 HP @ 13,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
47 LB-FT @ 11,250 RPM |
Suzuki GSX-R750
Price: $13,249
The GSX-R750 is one of the OG supersport bikes. It has been around even longer than the CBR600RR, and if you seek a pure sport bike experience, there is probably nothing better. It is a 750, so you get a great mix of power and torque no matter where you’re riding, and you know you’re the one being the hero. That said, we wish Suzuki would give it just a simple ABS to make it more usable in different situations, because it is one motorcycle that will take whatever punishment you throw at it.
|
Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
749 cc |
|
Max Power |
148 HP @ 13,200 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
63.7 LB-FT @ 11,200 RPM |
Honda CBR1000RR
Price: $16,999
If you see a pattern here, it is because it is true. Honda once again has eschewed a headline power figure for practicality. The CBR1000RR makes just over 180 horsepower, which is a figure liter nakeds surpass with impunity these days, and is a full 30 horsepower (you read that right) short of the most powerful liter sport bikes on sale today. That means the Fireblade is not just more practical for daily use, but is also unstressed. Meaning of all the liter bikes, it will last the longest. Once again, ABS is a $300 option on a liter-class missile.
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Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
999 cc |
|
Max Power |
183 HP |
|
Max Torque |
76.7 LB-FT |
10 Best Budget-Friendly Inline-Four Motorcycles
It is no secret that manufacturers are slowly phasing out inline-4 engines, but for now we still have a few great bikes to choose from
Suzuki Hayabusa
Price: $19,499
The Hayabusa has one of the largest-displacement inline four-cylinder engines ever seen on a motorcycle, and yet the official figure is barely more than the Fireblade above. This is because the new model focuses on torque over peak power. However, there is a whole industry based on tuning Hayabusas to within an inch of their lives and making them drag strip monsters. This can’t be possible without an engine and chassis that can take the punishment, which is why, in stock form, the ‘Busa will probably last forever.
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Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
1,340 cc |
|
Max Power |
186 HP @ 9,700 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
110 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
Sources: Honda Honda Powersports, Suzuki Cycles