More than any other category of motorcycle, the sport bike is the one that has undergone the most change in the past 50 years. In the early 70s, a sport bike was relatively unknown as a model in its own right. Bikes such as the Triumph Trident 750 or the Honda CB750 were certainly ‘sporty,’ but no manufacturer was making a motorcycle in the manner of today’s race-replica superbikes. By the 80s, things were changing and fairings were becoming the defining element of a sport bike, along with increased performance from 1000cc+ engines and improved chassis technology. In the 90s, Honda redefined the sport bike with the first of the CBR900RR FireBlade models, a recipe that every other Japanese manufacturer followed.

Today manufactures not only make sport bikes of every displacement, they also produce them as naked variants, which are more practical and street oriented machines. Top-of-the-range modern sport bikes can cost more than $20,000, and not everyone can justify spending that much on a bike. As an antidote, here is our list of the cheapest sport bikes.

Updated October 2023: Getting the best bang for your back continues to be a struggle in a market that is more competitive than ever. Manufacturers continue to refresh and update their lineups while introducing newer models that cater to certain needs. To keep our readers up to speed with all these developments, we keep this article updated with fresh information.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R

Starting MSRP: $11,399

Looking for a hardcore supersport for maximum fun? Then, Kawasaki's new ZX-6R is the one for you. It's not for the average Joe and requires proper skills of a Schwantz or Hayden to get the best out of it. This is a bike for the sheer enthusiasts--the sort of bike the Japanese used to build and sell in their droves before their core market got too old to fold arthritic bones into a tucked position.

Performance Specs

The engine revs into the stratosphere, the chassis is top-spec, as are the electronics and, to top it all off, it’s well-built and (relatively) inexpensive. Whether you’re in the right mood or when the day is right and so are you, there is little that will thrill as much as this pristine 600cc rocket.

Pros

• Authentic supersport experience
• Proper track-spec mechanical components
• Abundant power to keep all riders entertained

Cons

• Not comfortable for the streets
• ABS isn't standard

Honda CBR650R

Starting MSRP: $9,899

The CBR650R is another brilliant sport bike for those for who want a screaming inline-four beast. It's not a full-on race-replica sport bike, instead serving duty as a sports bikes for the real world. That's not to say the CBR can't take on the racetrack or entertain your hoon riding days.

Performance Specs

Yes, it’s softer than a Fireblade, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun! Practical, with plenty of alluring character (which isn’t something you can always say about Honda). It will blow away the cobwebs in your head with a capable perimeter chassis and great suspension setup by Showa. The typical Honda build quality, although it’s not the best-equipped bike in this class, further elevates your living experience with this Japanese offering.

Pros

• Rare inline-four powerhouse
• Looks aggressive
• Do-it-all ergonomics

Cons

• Barely any standout features
• Power is peaky, so not a lot of tractability

Yamaha YZF-R7

Starting MSRP: $9,199

The new R7, with its MT-07-derived parallel twin-engine, is the perfect illustration that power isn’t everything. It proves a fantastic chassis will give you all the thrills you could ever need, while it’s committed riding triangle ensures you can attack corners with ease. Very good-looking and well-built are two other adjectives that define the R7 well.

Performance Specs

It might not have the highest specification, but the performance is on the right side of safe. To not need endless rider aids chiming in when you get too enthusiastic with the throttle is to enhance the purity of the riding experience. With enough of everything to satisfy expert and novice alike, the joy of the R7 is in winding it up and carrying plenty of corner speed, something the chassis and suspension set-up permits.

Pros

• Looks razor sharp
• Trusty engine

Cons

• Simple features
• Sub-75-HP can get boring after some time

Kawasaki Ninja 650

Starting MSRP: $7,999

Much like its baby sibling, the Ninja 400, the Ninja 650's reputation precedes it. What a marketing dream this name was, when it was first introduced. And to think, it was the American division of Kawasaki that gave it its name. In the 1980s, Tom Cruise drove many a young person to enlist in the navy after watching his latest blockbuster, Top Gun.

Performance Specs

But he'd also managed to inspire a different group of people to take up motorcycling, when he was seen riding a 900cc Ninja. Flash forward multiple decades, and here we are. Still talking about Ninjas. There's just something about its movie-star status and looks that'll make you want to ride it again and again, regardless of whether you're on a track or not.

Honda CBR500R

Starting MSRP: $7,299

Honda has been at the forefront of the sport bike segment for a long time, thanks to the iconic 'CBR' moniker. The CBR900RR, CBR1000RR, and CBR600RR are all big names in their respective categories, and the CBR500R wants to do the same in the sub-500cc segment. How, you ask? Well, by offering a big bike-like experience at an easy on the pocket price.

Performance Specs

The sport bike-like experience is courtesy of the CBR500R's big proportions, enough to turn heads wherever you go. At the same time, its near-500cc, twin-cylinder mill promises ample performance to keep new and experienced riders entertained all day long. It's also very approachable, with a 31.1 inch seat height, and practical, with a 4.5 gallon tank and an estimated 72 miles per gallon!

Pros

• Potent parallel-twin engine
• Comfortable yet sporty ergonomics

Cons

• Vanilla feature list
• No major updates for a few years

KTM RC390

Starting MSRP: $5,899

KTM might be known primarily for its off-road and adventure bikes, but that’s not to say they don’t know how to make a great sport bike. You only have to look at the RC8C or their MotoGP winning RC16 to see that. The secret to the RC390’s success is a good power-to-weight ratio, courtesy of the high compression single-cylinder powerhouse. Plus, the 342 pound heft.

Performance Specs

It looks like a mini-liter-bike, with sharp fairings and a sleek tail. Add to this the well-developed chassis and excellent WP APEX suspension, and you're looking at an epic combination of sharp handling. To elevate things, cornering traction control, ABS, ByBre brakes, and a TFT are all standard equipment. It feels a little more cramped than the R3, thanks to higher-mounted foot pegs, but this just means more ground clearance if you have the confidence to push it to the limits on track.

Pros

• Punchy and capable powerhouse
• Exceptional cornering abilities
• Loaded with features

Cons

• Not exactly the most reliable in its segment
• Price is a few hundred bucks more than contemporaries

CFMOTO 450SS

Starting MSRP: $5,499

Love 'em or hate 'em, Chinese bikes are making a mark in America. And one of the most popular names as of now is the CFMoto 450SS (alternatively, 450SR). Priced to compete with the Yamaha R3, Kawasaki Ninja 400 and KTM RC390, this Chinese sport bike comes with 50 horsepower and 29 pound-feet to leave you enchanted. Not to mention, the weight is quite low at 370 pounds too.

Performance Specs

You also get Brembo brakes, beefy upside-down forks and a plethora of features. The latter comprises a TFT instrument cluster, all-LED lights, USB port, and smartphone connectivity, all of which are standard kit. Oh, and lest we forget, the 450SS has head-turner written all over it.

Pros

• Class-leading performance
• Unique design
• Quality underpinnings (Brembo M40 brakes)

Cons

• Service network is non-existent
• Chinese origin

Yamaha YZF-R3

Starting MSRP: $5,499

The YZF-R3 is Yamaha's youngest YZF-badged offering. It boasts enough R1 DNA to make it a proper sport bike, while being quite easy on the pocket too. The motorcycle possesses a capable chassis and suspension, which work in perfect harmony to ensure good riding dynamics on the road or track. There’s a parallel twin engine, producing 42 horsepower--enough performance to keep any rider happy.

Performance Specs

What Yamaha has also managed to do is make the R3 more comfortable than you would expect from a sport bike. Its seat is comfortable and the bars are easy to reach. It might seem cramped for taller riders, but Team Blue has worked magic to make it fit pretty much anyone.

Pros

• Proven engine and chassis
• Elaborate service network

Cons

• Lacks features
• No major updates for several years

Kawasaki Ninja 400

Starting MSRP: $5,299

One of the best, cheap "baby" sport bikes that money can buy, is the Kawasaki Ninja 400. It is a combination of the best bits of both the Yamaha R3 and KTM RC390. Kawasaki's 399cc parallel-twin pushes out 45 horses, two and three more than the KTM and the Yamaha, respectively. It weighs 360 pounds, more than the KTM but on a par with the Yamaha.

Performance Specs

With top marks for build quality and reliability, the Ninja 400 is easy to live with but exciting at the same time. The big-bike character, refinement, and splendid performance (117 mph top speed) further enhance the package. Yes, there are some misses, but none of them are deal-breakers.

Pros

• Possibly the best after sales support in the list
• Engine has an enjoyable character

Cons

• Sub-par features
• Feels basic against its contemporaries

Suzuki GSX-250R

Starting MSRP: $4,999

The smallest displacement model in this list is also the cheapest sport bike. But you shouldn't mistake low price or small engine for a lack of fun. The funky Suzuki GSX-250R follows up from a long lineage of Gixxer models to promise miniature sport bike aesthetics and heaps of capability.

Performance Specs

It employs a parallel-twin, 249cc engine that produces 24.7 horsepower and 17.1 foot-pounds This is topped by a six-speed transmission and an all-in weight of 399 pounds. Together, these figures will let you use all the performance all the time that is no short of intoxicating. If you want to learn how to ride fast, then bikes like the GSX-250R are perfect partners to do that since it'll help you exploit the full potential. Yes, other tidbits like the LCD instrument cluster, simple suspension, and now-aged design can feel dated, but it's the usability that's key here.

Pros

• One of the cheapest sport bikes in America
• Trusty Suzuki powerhouse

Cons

• Vanilla components (telescopic forks, LCD instrument)
• Quite aged and unchanged for years

Source: Suzuki