Race-replica superbikes and supersports — the bikes built to win on track first, sell to road riders second.
Sport bikes are the category most affected by changing tastes. In 2006, every manufacturer needed a litre superbike to be taken seriously. By 2026, several haven't bothered to refresh theirs — the supersport class is technically dormant outside Kawasaki's stubborn ZX-6R.
The litre-class survives because the racing series do, and because the engineering (twin-spar frames, MotoGP-derived electronics, aero winglets) keeps pushing road-bike chassis forward. Buyers have shifted from track-day weekend warriors to a smaller, older, more committed audience — but the engineering being done at the top is still the most extreme on offer.
MotoGP for the road
649cc inline-four (vs 599cc CBR600RR)
Track-only in EU now
Spiritual successor, not direct
Restyled for Euro5+
Refined since 2021 update
Dropped from Suzuki UK's range for 2026
Euro5+ engine refresh
Gen 3 (2021+)
1137cc inline four — killed 2007
V4 since 2018
Euro5+ spec triple
Café-racer fairing, F3 underpinnings
TVS-redesigned, 428 of 900 components changed
All-new 1200cc 72° V4
First-ever middleweight Panigale
210bhp, ShiftCam variable valve timing
WSS 2025 champion machine
7-year gap closed with road-focused 660
All-new 776cc parallel twin, 270° crank
Updated 2025/26 with bigger throttle bodies + winglets
1099cc upgrade in 2021 — bigger displacement, MotoGP swingarm
889cc parallel twin (KTM 890 Duke platform)
899cc inline-four — killed 2003 for ZX-10R
996cc V-twin — killed 2003, no successor
749cc inline-four — only 750cc sportsbike still in production
689cc CP2 parallel-twin — R6 replacement, A2-friendly
999cc inline-four — BMW's first 'M' bike, WSBK homologation
1002cc inline-four with EXUP — killed 1995, replaced by Thunderace
1002cc EXUP four — stop-gap before R1, killed 2005
599cc inline-four with EXUP — killed 2007 by Euro 3
599cc inline-four — bombproof do-everything 600, killed 2006
996cc 90° V-twin — Honda's first big V-twin sport, killed 2005
999cc V-twin — WSBK homologation, Edwards 2000+2002 champ
1074cc inline-four — original litre-class superbike, killed for Hayabusa
599cc inline-four — friendly road 600, killed by Euro 3
675cc inline-three — British supersport that beat Japan, killed 2017
1085cc boxer-twin — BMW's first sportsbike in 25 years, killed 2005
998cc 60° V-twin Rotax — Italian alternative to Japanese inline-fours, killed 2009
984-1203cc Sportster V-twin — Erik Buell's signature engineering, killed 2009
1125cc Rotax V-twin — Erik Buell's clean-sheet engine, only 2 model years
849cc 270° parallel-twin café racer — killed 2000
399cc V4 — JDM grey-import classic, single-sided swingarm
937cc inline-four — GSX-R-derived sport-tourer, killed 1997
749-998cc inline-four — Tamburini Italian superbike, killed 2018
125cc 2-stroke single — Italian cult bike, killed 2007 by Euro 3
660cc Yamaha-engined single sport — German cult, killed 2003
955cc inline-three — sportier Sprint variant, killed 2004
471cc parallel-twin A2 faired sport
Last V-twin Ducati superbike — killed 2011
