A Guide to Sport Bikes

Here in the UK we love our sport bikes! More so than any other country and every year we see more and more revamps and manufacturer tweaks. So which bikes still hit the mark? We take a brief look at what many riders consider to be the top 5 sports bikes.

Yamaha YZF-R1

Key Features

Displacement – 998cc
Transmission – 6-speed, constant mesh
Maximum power – 180ps/12,500 rpm

This seasoned veteran from Yamaha is now in its fifth generation and is better than ever. Acceleration is smooth and power delivery is maintained throughout the rev range. The R1 is also more comfortable to ride than many of its predecessors with slightly more room for your legs and less weight on the wrists which all adds up to a more enjoyable ride.

Ducati 1098 S/R

Key Features

Displacement – 1198cc
Transmission – 6-speed
Maximum power – 182ps/9,750 rpm

Throughout its history Ducati as a manufacturer has enjoyed a great deal of success on the track, also producing three British superbike champions while they were at it. The 1098 has taken over where the 916 left off with stunning looks and an incredibly powerful mid range to boot.

Kawasaki ZX-10R

Key Features

Displacement – 998cc
Transmission – 6-speed, return
Maximum power – 188ps/12,500 rpm

It has been a while since the ZX-10R Ninja from Kawasaki had a complete overhaul which is testament to its success in the UK Market. Compared to some of the other superbikes available today this offering from Kawasaki is well known to be a savage piece of kit. Forget about finesse, this bike produces power, and lots of it with 186bhp propelling you across the tarmac.

Honda CBR1000RR

Key Features

Displacement – 999cc
Transmission – 6-speed close ratio
Maximum power – 176ps/12,500 rpm

Cutting edge technology from Honda has lead to the latest example in the Fireblade range. Many riders consider the CBR1000RR as the top performance sports bike in the world – effectively a benchmark for the other manufacturers to work towards. Honda`s precision engineering have created this stunning state of the art superbike.

Suzuki GSX-R1000

Key Features

Displacement – 999cc
Transmission – 6-speed
Maximum power – 177ps/12,500 rpm

Over the years Suzuki have been the masters of mass production and have brought the GSX-R1000 to the masses. The sales figures speak for themselves every year, most probably due to the fantastic value for money. You get incredible power from one of the cheapest sport bikes on the market. But don`t let the smaller price tag put you off, the facts speak for themselves. In 2005 Troy Corser proved just how good the GSX-R1000 was by winning the 2005 World Superbike crown on one.

The sports bikes listed within this car blog are among the most advanced sports bikes in the world. If you want to feel like you are part of the Superbike Championship then any of these will put you right in the centre of the action.