Around the late 90s and early 00s, we saw the rise of the supersport motorcycle. The original supersports were all 600cc inline-four sports bikes, all of which seemed to rev to the moon. Although there are still a handful of these machines on the market, they are all shadows of their former selves and updates are few and far between. These bikes served as the canary in the emissions restriction coal mine. Although small, these screamers were never particularly efficient, or quiet for that matter. They were also – for the most part – hopelessly impractical.
As much as enthusiasts lament the demise of this kind of supersport, a new supersport has risen to fill the void. Modern supersports largely stick to the same middleweight class, there is just less incentive to stick with a certain capacity. So it is more to do with weight and power output. All of these new supersports are based on modular platforms – mostly parallel-twins – in an effort to save money and improve reliability. They also have better ergonomics in an effort to make them more user-friendly. This has led to some losses in the performance department, with one rather noteworthy exception.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Aprilia. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
10 Most Practical Sports Bikes Of 2025
The level of practicality in some of the sports bikes in this list is insane. One is even without a clutch lever for better urban riding.
The Aprilia RS 660 Balances Speed, control, And Street Comfort
MSRP: $11,749
Technically, the RS 660 is Aprilia’s first middleweight sports bike. Although they have brought out a few middleweights in the past, all of those bikes competed in other segments. It is important to remember that right up until the 90s, this was a small company, laser-focused on racing small-capacity motorcycles. This only serves to underscore what an impressive effort the RS 660 really is, and even though there are several great options in this new supersport category, it stands out in a big way.
Suzuki poured a huge amount of money into developing a modular parallel-twin platform, but it has so far flattered to deceive. Just like the naked bike and adventure bike versions, the GSX-8R is good, but falls short of its key competitors in most respects. The Kawasaki Ninja 650, on the other hand, has been around forever and is about as proven a motorcycle as can be. It shares a platform with the Versys, so we know it will last forever. Unfortunately, it is now outgunned by pretty much every other supersport on the market.
If you want a real inline-four supersport, there are still a few genuinely great options available. Honda will hand over the keys to a CBR600RR for around the same price as the RS 660, but it offers an entirely different riding experience. It is not the new updated 600 that you will find in other parts of the world, but rather the previous generation, which has been around for over a decade now. It is devoid of modern electronics, and most certainly not for the uninitiated.
The RS 660 Has A Punchy Parallel-Twin
Power: 105 Horsepower
Aprilia did a great job of making the 660 feel like half a V4. Its 270-degree crossplane crank makes it feel like a V, and certainly helps sell the illusion. All we ever wanted was a baby RSV4, and that is precisely what we got. While 105 horsepower might not seem like much by modern standards, it is more than enough for a bike this light. Like any middleweight, it offers good midrange performance, but top-end performance was not sacrificed to achieve this, at least not for the RS and Tuono.
A Twin That Tugs At The Heartstrings
This was the first model Aprilia brought out, and it was clear from the very beginning that the brand really put a lot of effort into developing this sports bike. It wasn’t like the Tuono and Tuareg were afterthoughts; this was just the priority, it is what carries the brand identity. Like pretty much any Italian manufacturer, Aprilia understands that a sports bike is still an emotional purchase. As practical as these new middleweight sports bikes are, there still needs to be an element of theater to the riding experience, and both this and the Tuono deliver that in spades. The Tuareg offers a more practical tune, but the RS 660 really tugs at the heartstrings.
The RS 660 Has A Proper Supersport Chassis
*Factory variant shown
With more relaxed ergos, the RS 660 is clearly designed to work in the real world, and isn’t just a track day hero like supersports of yore. But, while this certainly offers more street comfort, it certainly isn’t slow. Most of the other modern supersports make use of budget-friendly steel backbone frames, while the little Italian gets a twin-spar aluminum chassis.
As a result, it is significantly lighter, more stable in the corners, and will outshine any of those bikes on a decent canyon road. It also has adjustable suspension, so you will be able to dial it in to your riding style and preferences. Ultimately, its chassis is the real point of difference and is the reason why you would consider getting it over any of the more affordable competition.
A Comprehensive Electronics Suite Rounds Out An Impressive, Value-packed Package
Another point of difference is how comprehensive the electronics suite is. It is one of the few bikes in this class that gets a six-axis IMU. This gives it cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control. In the past, this was something reserved for halo models. These features genuinely make the bike safer to ride. It also has a ride-by-wire throttle, ride modes, cruise control, and a quickshifter fitted as standard equipment. Even with all these features, it remains unbelievably light with a wet weight of just over 400 pounds.
It is easy to see why so many enthusiasts long for the “good old days” where we were getting one magical supersport after another. Those bikes are still incredible, but pretty much useless anywhere outside a closed course. The RS 660, on the other hand, offers an ideal balance between performance, safety features, and comfort. It is the ideal modern sports bike for the street.