[cycleworld.com] - 9 Middleweight Sportbikes You Can Buy in 2023

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Middleweight sportbikes have received less attention than smaller- and larger-displacement models recently, but there are still great options.

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The middleweight sportbike category is a mix of carryover models that manufacturers aren’t ready to let go of just yet, and fully modern options like the Ducati Panigale V2. (Ducati/)The adage “There’s no replacement for displacement” probably started with hot-rodders, and it’s a good one for them. The problem is, when it comes to sportbikes, it’s just flat wrong. Go to any trackday and you’ll find that good riders on production 600s can show their tail feathers to average riders on premium literbikes. That’s the great thing about motorcycling: It’s so much about the rider. And that’s precisely why the nine middleweight sportbikes presented here make so much sense. Displacing from 599cc to 955cc and priced mostly in the $9K to $13K range (with some exceptions in the higher range) they all offer a mix of performance and accessibility. And for less dough than the flagship offerings across each manufacturer’s lineup.

Sure, the class has changed quite dramatically over the years, and manufacturers are still redefining the “middleweight” term. But that evolution has created some great options in nearly every manufacturer’s lineup. And in the case where manufacturers have resisted change, the result is classic 600cc performance that still appeals to certain riders. That’s to say that, regardless of what you’re looking for in terms of performance or tech, there’s probably a middleweight sportbike out there for you.

Aprilia RS 660


2023 Aprilia RS 660, $11,499 (Aprilia/)In the 1960s, the No. 2 rental car outfit, Avis, adopted the slogan “We try harder” to differentiate itself from the big gorilla, Hertz—and it worked. Arguably not the best-known sportbike brand, Aprilia has put major effort into building track-ready bikes that really work. That effort trickles down into the RS 660, Aprilia’s take on the modern middleweight sportbike, and a bike that’s equally at home on the track as it is on the street.

Priced at $11,499 (add $200 for Acid Gold paint), the liquid-cooled 659cc parallel twin dishes up a claimed 100 hp (89.16 on the Cycle World dyno) with plenty of rider-friendly technologies on the side. A partial summary of features includes: five different preset ride modes, adjustable traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, an engine-brake control function, and even cruise control. Most impressive for riders looking to head to the track or even race, a six-axis inertial measurement system (IMU) improves stability and control as rider’s approach the bike’s (and their own) dynamic limits.

Ducati V2 Panigale


2023 Ducati Panigale V2, $18,595 ($18,895 for Black on Black livery) (Ducati/)For over 50 years, Ducati’s desmodromic V-twins have earned success—and the accompanying respect—on racetracks worldwide. A pinnacle of Ducati twin-cylinder performance, the Panigale V2 punches out a Cycle World tested 132 hp at the rear tire from its 955cc engine, stretching the definition of “middleweight.” Power flows through race-derived straight-cut primary gears to a six-speed gearbox paired with a slipper clutch and quickshifter.

Hidden under svelte Italian bodywork is a unique monocoque aluminum frame that helps keep the curb weight to just 441 pounds for predictably quick handling. The $18,595 Panigale V2 is equipped with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tires and Brembo Monoblock front brakes. A healthy suite of electronic rider aids—configurable via the 4.3-inch TFT color screen—includes wheelie control and cornering ABS, selectable ride and power modes, a lap timer, and a data analyzer with GPS. Would you expect anything less from a performance-first manufacturer like Ducati? Probably not.

Honda CBR600RR


2023 Honda CBR600RR, $12,099 (Honda/)Honda’s CBR600RR is the most classic and authentic middleweight on the market, if only because Honda hasn’t adjusted the formula—or updated the bike—for years. Finished in Honda’s distinctive Grand Prix Red color scheme, the CBR600RR at least looks fully modern and in line with its larger-displacement siblings.

The CBR’s 599cc DOHC inline-four uses highly oversquare bore/stroke dimensions (the 67mm cylinder bore is a whopping 58 percent greater than the 42.5mm piston stroke), promoting ultra-high rpm capability for its quartet of 150cc cylinders. This is classic, high-rpm middleweight riding. Then, to help the CBR600RR perform well around town, each cylinder has two fuel injectors: One devoted to high-rpm response, and the other for clean running at low revs.

Honda paid close attention to weight savings when it designed the CBR600RR, and as a result this supersport weighs just a claimed 410 pounds ready to ride. For snappy handling, mass centralization is aided by a low-mounted 4.8-gallon gas tank. An electronic steering damper automatically adjusts the damping level—less at low speeds for lighter steering, more at high speeds for added stability. For 2023, the long-running CBR600RR retails for $12,099, with ABS costing $1,000 more. But keep in mind, parts of the bike will feel outdated.

Related: A Swan Song for the Inline-four Sportbike?

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R


2024 Kawasaki ZX-6R, $11,299 (Kawasaki/)Kawasaki’s “6R” has earned its stripes within the hard-fought supersport class. Debuting for 1985 as the Ninja 600R, the model raced from success on the track to success on the showroom floor over nearly four decades, ultimately evolving into today’s immediately recognizable Ninja ZX-6R. Revisions for 2024 include new styling, plus electronic upgrades like LED headlights, a new TFT color instrument panel, and smartphone connectivity. Consider this a blend of traditional inline-four middleweight performance and modern tech for the modern rider. That rider will also appreciate such features as the standard quickshifter.

Thanks to its punchy 636cc DOHC inline-four motor, the ZX-6R can run toe to toe with bikes like the Ducati Panigale V2 or Suzuki GSX-R750, and it’s more enjoyable to ride than a traditional 600cc inline-four middleweight. The extra midrange grunt makes it far easier to ride the ZX-6R around town, to drive the bike off of a tight corner in the canyons, or even run laps around a racetrack. MSRP is $11,299, with ABS available for $1,000 more.

KTM RC 8C


2023 KTM RC 8C, $39,599 (KTM/)By the time you read this, it’s most likely too late to shuffle into your KTM dealer and buy a track-spec RC 8C. That’s because the company stated its intention to build just 200 units. That said, if you can land an RC 8C, you’ll get a bespoke track bike powered by an 899cc V-twin that produces a claimed 133 hp and can spin to 12,000 rpm when you twist its tail. Exotica found inside the cases include titanium connecting rods and valves.

Lurking inside the steel trellis frame are 48mm throttle bodies, and nestled alongside the chassis is an Akrapovi? racing exhaust. Racing bodywork includes MotoGP-derived winglets for enhanced stability and downforce at speed, plus a swingarm scoop for rear downforce. Helping the rider get comfortable, the entire ergonomic “triangle” is adjustable, including bars, pegs, and seat. WP suspension, Brembo brakes, and Pirelli slicks are race ready, as delivered. The tariff for 313 pounds of badassery? Only $39,599.

MV Agusta F3


2023 MV Agusta F3 R, $19,398 (MV Agusta/)MV Agusta isn’t known for modesty, calling its latest F3 “the ultimate machine for track days.” For 2023, the F3 lineup consists of the F3 R ($19,398 MSRP), the F3 RR ($24,298), and the F3 RC ($25,998). All models feature the company’s sweet-sounding 798cc inline-triple engine, a spiritual descendant of the company’s Grand Prix motors of the 1960–70s. However, the modern street version is way stronger, producing a claimed 147 hp at 13,000 rpm and powering the “Rosso Ago” (honoring MV racer and 15-time world champion Giacomo Agostini) painted machine to an estimated 149 mph.

Techno-trickery includes four selectable ride maps, traction control with eight settings, and a quickshifter (up and down). But the modern MV is known for more than just a splash of tech, as the F3 chassis is quite good and is well suited to track riding.

The F3 RR adds carbon fiber side fairings with downforce winglets. Atop the F3 lineup lurks the F3 RC, easily identified via its patriotic Italian white, red, and green livery. Weighing just 381 pounds, it adds CNC-machined controls, further aero efficiencies, forged wheels, and more.

Suzuki GSX-R600


2023 Suzuki GSX-R600, $11,699 (Suzuki/)The “modern” 600 supersport class has endured and evolved over nearly four decades. And much of what was learned in that time has been poured into the GSX-R600, in order for it to be as competitive as possible when it lined up for races on any given Sunday. A proven AMA Supersport title winner, the current middleweight Gixxer boasts a high-revving 599cc inline-four engine that incorporates technologies developed and perfected during Suzuki’s time in MotoGP. It’s a simple machine, and at the same time the result of years of R&D at the racetrack.

The beauty of the GSX-R600 is that the refinements made for racing also result in a package that’s equally as fun and enjoyable on the street. There’s not as much midrange grunt as the Panigale V2, ZX-6R, or Suzuki’s own GSX-R750, but the 600 is a great steppingstone for the rider moving up from a small-displacement machine. Standout Suzuki features include a Showa Big Piston Front Fork (BPF), electronic steering damper that automatically adjusts according to speed, and Suzuki Drive Mode Selector that lets the rider adjust the engine’s power delivery to suit the conditions.

Suzuki GSX-R750


2024 Suzuki GSX-R750, $12,999 (Suzuki/)Suzuki introduced the first GSX-R750 nearly 40 years ago, and remarkably the model continues apace today, after numerous generational changes. Priced at $12,999, the 2024 GSX-R750 provides a mix of light weight, flexible power, and handling just as the original Gixxer did back in ‘85 (the same year Back to the Future premiered!).

The liquid-cooled 16-valve 750cc inline-four is tuned to provide a hellacious hit at high rpm—as expected of track bikes—while also pulling hard at lower rpm for around-town duty. The motor hangs from a twin-spar aluminum chassis that directly connects the steering head and swingarm pivot points for optimal rigidity. Tunable Showa suspension, Brembo Monoblock front brakes, and standard luxuries like an electronic steering damper, a lap timer, and adjustable footpegs add value.

Yes, the GSX-R750 breaks some of the “rules” that define the middleweight category, but it does so in all the right ways, offering a happy middle ground between less-powerful machines and the outrageously quick literbikes sitting at the pointy end of the sportbike category.

Yamaha YZF-R7


2023 Yamaha YZF-R7, $9,199 (Yamaha/)Many of the engineering features found in the YZF-R7 follow established sportbike practices. This includes dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, electronic fuel injection, and liquid-cooling. However, what differentiates the R7 from key rivals is that the 689cc parallel-twin engine incorporates an unusual 270-degree crankshaft. Simply put, the crank’s staggered throws and uneven firing pattern help make torque delivery especially linear and predictable, while also helping to lessen vibration. This is Yamaha’s modern take on the middleweight category.

Priced at $9,199, the YZF-R7 benefits from reinvigorated Yamaha “R” styling (including a super-useful bifunctional LED headlight up front), improved shapes where rider and bodywork interface, an easy-to-use assist and slipper clutch, and updated suspension and brakes. If you really want to get around the track fast, a quickshifter is optional.