Superbikes are the closest thing you can get to MotoGP performance with a license plate. These machines are blisteringly fast, sharply engineered, and packed with high end components. Whether European or Japanese, every bike on this list offers a unique riding experience, serious capability, and pure mechanical satisfaction. Here’s the definitive list of the most thrilling superbikes you can buy in the United States today.
1. Ducati Panigale V4 S
Price: $28,995
Italian engineering at full tilt. The V4 S houses a 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale engine with a counter rotating crankshaft derived from MotoGP. Producing 210 horsepower, it delivers relentless acceleration and a spine tingling exhaust note. Every control feels wired into your brain. Ride modes, slide and wheelie control, engine braking, and cornering ABS work through a polished suite of electronics.
Suspension duties are handled by semi active Öhlins units front and rear, with fine tuned damping that reads the road and track in real time. The Brembo Stylema brakes deliver uncompromising stopping power, and the aerodynamic winglets keep the bike planted at triple digit speeds. This is a full blooded track missile that’s surprisingly manageable for experienced road riders.
Why own it: Blistering performance and MotoGP soul wrapped in one of the most seductive designs in motorcycling.
2. BMW M 1000 RR
Price: $33,345
The M 1000 RR is BMW Motorrad’s flagship sportbike and their first motorcycle to wear the M badge. It starts life as an S 1000 RR, but BMW has added everything from lightweight M carbon wheels to aerodynamic winglets for downforce. The 999cc inline four screams to over 14,500 rpm and puts out 205 horsepower.
You get launch control, pit lane limiter, data logging capabilities, and a brilliant 6.5 inch TFT dash. On track, it’s incredibly refined. The electronics feel seamless and the chassis is stable under hard braking and committed lean angles. On the street, it’s surprisingly friendly at lower speeds, though it’s built with lap times in mind.
Why own it: It’s a WorldSBK spec machine with German refinement and relentless accuracy.
3. Yamaha YZF R1M
Price: $26,999
The R1M borrows directly from Yamaha’s MotoGP program. The 998cc crossplane inline four makes 200 horsepower and offers one of the most linear, predictable powerbands of any superbike. The engine character is addictively smooth, yet brutally effective at high rpm.
This version of the R1 adds Öhlins ERS semi active suspension, a lightweight carbon fiber tail, and an upgraded electronics package with GPS telemetry support. With the R1M, Yamaha delivers a superbike that feels alive beneath you without being intimidating. The way it flows through corners and puts down power on exit is confidence inspiring.
Why own it: A visceral ride with pro level suspension and a soundtrack that’s unlike anything else.
4. Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100
Price: $25,999
The RSV4 Factory is Aprilia’s magnum opus. Its 1,099cc V4 puts out 217 horsepower and sings with a feral howl. Every detail of the bike is race focused: lightweight aluminum frame, forged wheels, aerodynamic winglets, and the acclaimed APRC electronics suite.
The RSV4 is a serious rider’s bike. The throttle response is razor sharp, and the Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension adapts instantly to riding conditions. Handling is where this bike truly shines. Turn in is intuitive, corner stability is rock solid, and transitions are effortless. It’s one of the few bikes that rewards aggression without biting back.
Why own it: Brilliant engine, telepathic handling, and exotic Italian engineering in one compact, ferocious package.
5. Honda CBR1000RR R Fireblade SP
Price: $28,900
Honda reimagined the Fireblade with outright power and track sharpness in mind. The 999cc inline four revs to 14,500 rpm and delivers 214 horsepower. Built with input from Honda’s F1 program, this is their most focused superbike ever.
The bike features Öhlins semi active suspension, Brembo Stylema calipers, and a finely tuned chassis that demands precise inputs. The Fireblade thrives under pressure. On track, it begs for lean angle and full throttle corner exits. It’s surgical in its feedback, requiring the rider to step up, not the other way around.
Why own it: Honda’s most potent superbike to date with refined aggression and bulletproof build quality.
6. Kawasaki Ninja ZX 10RR
Price: $30,499
The ZX 10RR is the track special version of the standard ZX 10R, created for WorldSBK homologation. It features lightweight Pankl titanium rods, a single seat setup, and forged Marchesini wheels. Power from the 998cc inline four sits around 204 horsepower.
This bike feels like a scalpel on track. The Showa Balance Free Fork and rear shock offer incredible feedback. The electronics suite includes launch control, engine brake control, and cornering management tuned for performance. Kawasaki didn’t design this bike to be pretty, but its function first approach makes it a serious track day tool.
Why own it: No nonsense racer’s edge with superb durability and pedigree from years of WSBK domination.
7. Suzuki GSX R1000R
Price: $18,199
The GSX R1000R remains a fan favorite because it delivers on all fronts: power, comfort, reliability, and price. The 999cc inline four puts down 199 horsepower. While it doesn’t dominate the spec sheet, it feels right when ridden hard.
The chassis is stable yet flickable, and Showa’s Balance Free suspension provides excellent support on road and track. It comes with a bi directional quickshifter, cornering ABS, and launch control. On twisty backroads, it’s incredibly fun. On track, it’s consistent and forgiving.
Why own it: Underrated excellence with an engine and chassis that still hold their own.
8. MV Agusta F3 800 RC
Price: $25,998
Though under 1000cc, the F3 800 RC earns its place by feeling like a proper superbike. The 798cc triple makes 147 horsepower, but its light weight and explosive delivery make it feel far quicker. Limited in production and rich in detail, this is a purist’s ride.
Handling is razor sharp, and the sound from the triple is spine tingling. Brembo brakes, Marzocchi forks, and a sculpted frame contribute to its tight, aggressive feel. It’s less about comfort and more about razor precision.
Why own it: The most exciting middleweight on the market with superbike level emotion.
9. KTM RC 8C
Price: $39,599
KTM’s RC 8C isn’t street legal, but for those who frequent the track, it’s one of the most focused motorcycles available. With a 889cc LC8c twin from the Duke R, it produces 128 horsepower, but the bike weighs just 313 pounds dry. That power to weight ratio is blistering.
WP Apex Pro suspension, Brembo race brakes, and Moto2 grade ergonomics make it feel like a factory GP bike. Everything about the RC 8C is built around precision and feedback. It doesn’t care about road manners, this is a track scalpel.
Why own it: One of the purest, lightest, most rider focused track bikes money can buy.
10. EBR 1190RX
Price: $13,995 (last available MSRP)
Erik Buell’s 1190RX is an American superbike icon. The 1190cc V twin delivers 185 horsepower and features a unique chassis that doubles as a fuel tank. The perimeter front brake is unconventional but delivers immense stopping power.
Its riding dynamics are raw and involving. It’s not as refined as the European or Japanese entries, but it’s packed with character. The bike feels connected, loud, and mechanical in all the right ways.
Why own it: Bold American design, rare on the road, and full of visceral appeal.
11. Bimota Tesi H2
Price: $72,000
Bimota’s return to form comes courtesy of Kawasaki. The Tesi H2 pairs the H2’s 228 hp supercharged engine with Bimota’s signature hub center steering and carbon chassis. The result is a futuristic machine that handles and accelerates like nothing else.
The bike is a collector’s dream. With just 250 units worldwide, it’s as exclusive as it is outrageous. Every surface is sculpted carbon or billet aluminum. Riding it feels like piloting a prototype.
Why own it: The wildest combination of tech, power, and design available to the public.
12. Kawasaki Ninja H2
Price: $32,700
The original supercharged street legal sportbike. The Ninja H2’s 998cc engine delivers a ferocious 228 horsepower with a distinctive blow off valve sound. It’s not the sharpest track tool, but it devours straights and dominates highways.
The H2 is built for speed, but it’s also surprisingly refined. The TFT dash, electronic rider aids, and build quality are excellent. It’s more of a hyperbike than a superbike, but it’s earned its place through sheer audacity.
Why own it: Supercharged insanity with Japanese engineering and peerless acceleration.
13. Suzuki Hayabusa Gen III
Price: $19,099
The Gen III Hayabusa may not chase dyno records anymore, but it’s smoother and more refined than ever. The 1,340cc inline four produces 187 hp and 111 lb ft of torque, offering seamless acceleration and long legged cruising.
Updated electronics bring the Hayabusa into the modern era: ride modes, traction control, cornering ABS, and cruise control all make it an excellent sport tourer with brute strength. Few bikes offer this level of comfort while still pulling like a freight train.
Why own it: A legend reborn, blending muscle and modern tech with everyday usability.
14. Norton V4SV
Price: $49,995
The V4SV is a boutique British superbike, hand assembled with premium components. The 1,200cc V4 makes 185 hp and is housed in a hand polished aluminum frame. Leather seat, billet parts, and carbon trim make it a rolling sculpture.
Handling is stable and confidence inspiring. It’s not the sharpest or lightest, but it’s fast, rare, and oozes personality. This is a collector’s piece that still backs up its looks with real performance.
Why own it: Handcrafted exclusivity with road going performance and timeless beauty.
15. MV Agusta F4 RC
Price: $46,998 (when available)
The F4 RC was MV’s swansong to its inline four platform. Making 212 hp in race trim, it features a titanium exhaust, race ECU, carbon fiber panels, and Öhlins suspension. It’s raw, loud, and spectacular.
Every bolt screams Italian artistry. Handling is aggressive, and the ride is firm, but the thrill is immense. Only 250 were made, making it a prized possession for superbike purists.
Why own it: A limited edition high revving masterpiece with sharp edges and heart pounding beauty.
Super Options
These superbikes represent the pinnacle of engineering, design, and speed. Each one has a purpose, whether that’s cutting lap times, turning heads, or delivering unmatched road presence. For riders who want more than just horsepower numbers, this list offers machines that stir emotion every time you twist the throttle.
