The new middleweight sportsbike class is rammed with epic machinery for 2024. But which one reigns supreme?
The notion of a thrilling middleweight sportsbike has changed drastically over the past 20 years. In the 2000s, sportiness and laptimes trumped everything – meaning that engine capacity and design concepts between the models sat incredibly close. Because of that, what you could buy was set to a certain extent; you were stuck with an uncompromising and brutal machine no matter what badge was on the side of the tank, which is why sales fell off a cliff. Now, not only has the supersport class evolved to encompass bikes of pretty much all shapes and sizes (literally, in this case) but a new segment has emerged: the softer, middleweight supersport.
Where once this class consisted of just a few offerings, the fact is, they always punched above their weight; last year, Honda’s CBR650R was the best-selling ‘supersport’ machine in Europe. And that’s why there are so many new models entering the class this year; Suzuki, Triumph and Kawasaki have all brought some new toys to the party, joining Yamaha, Honda and Aprilia.
This is a new era of sportsbikes, and these machines have a few things in common, such as they’re all under 100bhp and they’re all under £10,000. But aside from that? There’s literally a flavour for everyone and each machine is very different – from the engine size and configurations, to the amount of tech and level of aggression in the riding position and geometry. In order to find the very best of the best, we conducted a mega test over three days, with a range of riders.
So, with a load of mileage on the roads of Blighty along with a day of speed testing where we could let them loose on an airfield, how do the new generation stack up?
Honda CBR650R E-Clutch
Honda’s CBR650R has been an impressive seller since its release, and for good reason. It’s a classy all-rounder that’s roomy and comfortable, almost more akin to a sports-tourer than a supersport machine. And that’s the CBR650R’s DNA. It offers a pleasant and comfortable experience, with a roomy riding position and decent ride quality – making it a smart choice for larger riders who prefer life in the chilled-out lane. But because of the CBR’s impeccable manners it’s actually quite a forgettable experience, especially in this company – which is exactly why the Honda’s key was the one that each tester went for last.
Although there have been some small tweaks to the engine for 2024 it’s much the same as before, with the chunky inline-four unit offering a
