Today, not many bikes can punch above their weight for a lower cost. For good reason, too, as the market is more competitive than ever. We’re also seeing manufacturers decrease MSRPs quite often rather than bumping them year-on-year. This is even more true in the sports bike segment. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R serves as a prime example. It briefly sold for under $9,000 while it was first launched for almost $9,500 in 2024.
Thus, finding a sports bike that punches above its weight for a lower cost was a rather tricky affair. Unsurprisingly, though, our pick here comes from a massive Asian bikemaker, known for its competitively priced bikes (regardless of the segment). Here’s what we went with.
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The CFMoto 675SS Is The Sports Bike That Punches Above Its Weight For A Lower Cost
Our pick here is the new CFMoto 675SS. It’s a middleweight sports bike, priced super aggressively regardless of how you look at it. For reference, the $7,999 MSRP makes the SS $1,400 less than the Yamaha YZF-R7 and $1,700 less than the Suzuki GSX-8R. The Honda CBR650R sits almost $2,000 higher, meanwhile. Its closest price-wise middleweight rival is the Triumph Daytona 660, which costs $1,196 more.
Price aside, the 675 punches above its weight by offering class-leading performance under $10,000. All of its rivals–be it from Japan or Britain–have less peak power. The R7 and GSX-8R, in particular, are leagues behind. In addition, CFMoto has equipped the sports bike with quality components all over, such as a gullwing swingarm, aerodynamic wings, adjustable KYB suspension, and a gear linkage you can reverse for GP shift.
Other than the 675, the Aprilia RS 457 can fit the bill, too. Yes, its $6,799 MSRP is considerably higher than rivals like the CFMoto 450SS and Kawasaki Ninja 500. But the equipment you get here is comparable to much bigger bikes. For instance, you get an aluminum chassis here–something you won’t even find on the aforementioned middleweight sports bikes. You also get an adjustable suspension and a premium electronics package.
The CFMoto 675SS Has A Punchy Triple-Cylinder Engine
Under $10,000, there are only two triple-cylinder sports bikes you can buy. And the 675SS enjoys the title of the most powerful one. Its 675cc, triple-cylinder engine features quality internals such as cobalt alloy valves, forged pistons, and a low-inertia crankshaft. This helps the mill churn out 95 horsepower and 51.6 pound-feet. That’s higher than the Daytona 660, and both figures kick in sooner in the RPM, too. At the same time, it also trumps the R7, GSX-8R, and CBR650R.
Serious Speeds Are Fairly Easy On The 675SS
CFMoto has thrown in a six-speed transmission to put all the power down efficiently. This setup has a trick setup to allow reverse shifting on the track by using basic tools. A slipper clutch is also present. You can see speeds of up to 150 miles per hour on the speedo if you find a long enough straight. Think that’s slow? Well, then you can put in an exhaust and an ECU flash. This can unlock 12 percent more power straight off the bat.
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Quality Components Help The 675SS Remain Lightweight
Diving deeper, the 675SS has no shortage of likable elements. It has a new steel chassis, paired with an aluminum subframe and swingarm. This, along with the cast alloy wheels, helps it weigh just 429 pounds wet. That’s 13 down on the Daytona 660 and 37 down on the CBR650R. At the same time, the seat height remains accessible (under 32 inches), and the wheelbase is tight (55.1 inches).
Adjustable KYB Suspension Lets You Fine-Tune The Ride
As for suspension, CFMoto has looped in the specialists at KYB. You get 41 mm USD forks and a monoshock, both with adjustability. So you can harden/soften the setup depending on how you like your ride. What about brakes? Well, they remain simple, with dual discs at the front and a single rear disc at the rear, with J.Juan calipers for all three.
The CFMoto 675SS Has All The Necessary Features
Chinese bikes are rarely low on features, and the 675SS is no exception. A 5-inch TFT instrument cluster sits as the centerpiece in the cockpit, which comes equipped with smartphone connectivity, a lap timer, and a tire pressure monitoring system as standard. Traction control, dual-channel ABS, and a quickshifter are also standard. Blipper remains absent, though.
CFMoto 675SS Vs Rivals
This is a heated segment in 2025. So the 675SS might have a staggering price, but it has no shortage of rivals. We’ll skip the twin-cylinder ones, since they are considerably down on power. The most direct competition then comes from Triumph in the form of the Daytona 660. It has an inline-triple engine like the CFMoto, along with similar performance. You also get slightly better components and features. Of course, Triumph is better established as well. But for all that, you pay around $1,200 more.
The next biggest rival is the updated Honda CBR650R. It has an extra cylinder over the CFMoto, a proven reliability record, similar performance figures, and a more modern set of features. The latter is headlined by the E-clutch tech that omits the use of the clutch lever not only while shifting but also while moving from a standstill. For these pros, you pay a hefty $1,900 more, though.