Which are the best sports bikes in the world for professional cyclists?

Which are the best sports bikes in the world for professional cyclists?

Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:20 PM

Let us all agree that some of the most beautiful sports bikes in the world are made in Italy. Even though these sports bikes have a reputation for being high maintenance, they are so fantastic that their flaws become shadowed. Which are the best sports bikes in the world for professional athletes? Well, let's find out.

What are the best bikes in the world?
Which are the best sports bikes in the world for professional cyclists? Photo: Yu Chun Christopher Wong (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Italian bikes being the best sports bikes of all time has, however, become an old-age cliché as other European makes are growing and challenging various Italian designs.

Top 10 best sports bikes in the world

Sports bikes often have one goal in mind: going as fast as possible, and maintaining grip on the ground to maintain balance. This is only achievable by minimizing weight while at the same time maximizing power and thrust.

According to recent data, here are some of the most popular sports bikes in the world.

10. Ducati Panigale V2

What are the best sports bikes?
Team Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider Josh Herrin riding a Ducati Panigale V2 during the Moto America Super sport race 2 on 5th June 2022 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. Photo: Lawrence Iles
Source: Getty Images

Ducati has evolved from the Panigale 959 into the V2 with V4 style bodywork, a single-sided swingarm, a modern TFT dash, and a small exhaust. Additionally, it is fitted with cornering ABS, a lean angle-aware traction control, LED lighting and a comfier seat.

Price

$18,519.68

Engine

V-Twin

Capacity

955 cc

Power

153 bhp/114 kW

Top speed

160 mph/257 km/h

9. Kawasaki ZX-10R

Which is the best sports bike in the world?
Randy De Puniet leads the pack on his Kawasaki ZX-10R at the beginning of the 81st Bol d'Or 24-hour motorbike race on 16th September 2017, in Le Castellet, southern France. Photo: Boris Horvat
Source: Getty Images

At the ninth position sits the Kawasaki ZX-10R, which is more of a renovation of the previous model. It has been fitted with LED lighting, improved front brakes, cruise control, and a modern TFT dash.

Additionally, one more exciting feature is the fact that it adds forged wheels, stickier tyres, lighter engine internals, and a 400 rpm higher redline.

Price

$19,260.20

Engine

Inline Four

Capacity

998 cc

Power

200 bhp/149 kW

Top speed

185 mph/298 km/h

8. Suzuki GSX-R1000R

Most popular sports bikes in the world
The Suzuki GSXR-1000R at the 2018 Intermot trade fair on 2nd October 2018, in Cologne, Germany. Photo: Marc Pfitzenreuter
Source: Getty Images

Even though the Suzuki GSX-R1000R comes in various colours, one that often gets to bike enthusiasts is the sky blue one. Launched in 2017, the Suzuki sports bike is a significant re-design focused on more power from a Variable Valve Timing, VVT engine.

Today, it is categorized among the prettiest sports bikes in the world, thanks to its subtle colour variants.

Price

$20,743.40

Engine

Inline Four VVT

Capacity

1,000 cc

Power

199 bhp / 148 kW

Top speed

185 mph/ 298 km/h

7. Yamaha YZF-R1

What are the best bikes in the world?
Koda Nozane from Japan riding the Yamaha YZF R1 during the World Superbike Free Practice at Assen TT Circuit on 22nd April 2022, in Assen, Netherlands. Photo: Robert Broger
Source: Getty Images

Notably, the Yamaha RI series has been rocking since 2015. However, for the 2018 series, the machine gained a 2-level quick-shifter, launch control, and an anti-wheelie system, making it more attractive.

Other notable renovations of the 2015 model include a more rigid airbox design, a new lighter throttle sensor, suspension steering damper tweaks, updated tyres, and some Euro 5 exhaust tweaks.

Price

$21,224.52

Engine

Inline Four

Capacity

998 cc

Power

197 bhp/147 kW

Top speed

185 mph/298 km/h

6. Honda Fireblade

Greatest sports bikes of all time
The Honda Motor Co.'s Fury, CBR Fireblade (center) and CBR 250R motorcycles on display at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi, India, on 6th January 2012. Photo: Graham Crouch
Source: Getty Images

The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade is a new remake of the 2020 model, with a more compact and powerful engine, more prominent front discs, winglets integrated into the new bodywork, a fancy new TFT dash and a specially designed exhaust.

You should take a look at the 2022 model, which has a lower-geared base model for improving mid-range acceleration, intake, and exhaust gas flow.

Price

$24,394

Engine

Inline Four

Capacity

1,000 cc

Power

215 bhp/160 kW

Top speed

185 mph/298 km/h

5. Kawasaki Ninja H2

Most popular sports bikes in the world
New Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX bike on display during the Auto Expo 2018 motor show at the India Expo Mart on 7th February 2018, in Greater Noida, India. Photo: Burhaan Kinu
Source: Getty Images

Also referred to as the tamed road-focused version of the crazy 306 bhp H2R, the engine of this particular one is often supercharged. Between 2017 and 2019, it gained all the modern technology anybody could wish for.

Its matte grey finish places it among the most beautiful sports bikes in the world.

Price

$31,733

Engine

Inline Four

Capacity

998 cc

Power

197 bhp/147 kW

Top speed

185 mph/298 km/h

4. Yamaha YZF-R1M

What are the best sports bikes?
French biker Mickael Di Meglio on his Yamaha YZF-R1M, competes during the 81st Bol d'Or 24-hour motorbike race, on 17th September 2017, in Le Castellet, southern France. Photo: Boris Horvat
Source: Getty Images

At this point, you can tell that Yamaha has produced numerous sports bikes. Building on the standard R1 with semi-active Ohlins electronic suspension, it is fixed with a new ERS NPX fork, front fender, tail cowl, and a range of apps set to track all the data from the bike.

Additionally, it often displays the re-run of the race on google maps.

Price

$27,587.82

Engine

Inline Four

Capacity

998 cc

Power

197 bhp/147 kW

Top speed

185 mph/298 km/h

3. Honda Fireblade SP

Top 10 best sports bikes in the world
The Honda CBR 1000 Fireblade SP at the 2018 Intermot trade fair on 2nd October 2018, in Cologne, Germany. Photo: Marc Pfitzenreuter
Source: Getty Images

Another impressive Honda make is the Honda Fireblade SP. It is a brand-new make for 2020, and the only notable difference is that it has a more compact and powerful second-generation electronic suspension engine.

Honda recently marked a special 30th-anniversary edition with new colour schemes, white, blue, and red.

Price

$28,672.35

Engine

Inline Four

Capacity

1,000 cc

Power

215 bhp/160 kW

Top speed

185 mph/298 km/h

2. BMW S1000RR

What are the best sports bikes?
Lee Glen Johnston of Great Britain driving the Ashcourt Racing BMW S1000RR during Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix - 53rd Edition on 16th November 2019, in Macau. Photo: Yu Chun Christopher Wong
Source: Getty Images

First, let it not be a surprise that the BMW company also produces sports bikes. The S1000RR became a game changer in 2005, although the asymmetric look was more self-opinionated.

The BMW company has constantly been evolving and has created three generations of BMW sports bikes.

Price

$19,459

Engine

Inline Four VVT

Capacity

999 cc

Power

204 bhp/152 kW

Top speed

185 mph/298 km/h

1. Ducati V4S

Best sports bikes in the world
Steve Heneghan driving the Reactive Parts Ducati V4S during Macau motorcycle Grand Prix edition warm up session on 16th November 2019, in Macau. Photo: Yu Chun Christopher Wong
Source: Getty Images

If you want to purchase one of the most beautiful sports bikes in the world, you sure should have Ducati V4S at the top of the list. The 2022 model has new thinner winglets with less drag, 212.5 bhp at 13,000 rpm, and a more prominent exhaust outlet.

Although it has different colour variants, the red Ducati V4S appears cleaner and more sophisticated. Therefore, if there is a question about which the best sports bike in the world is, you sure have the Ducati V4S.

Price

$31,099.80

Engine

V4

Capacity

1,103 cc

Power

211 bhp/157 kW

Top speed

200 mph/322 km/h

Finding some of the best sports bikes in the world is no mean task. Today, different countries have come up with other models of bicycles, overpowering the prominent Italian models most people were used to.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.