Best Budget Sportbikes 2024

It wasn’t so long ago that sportbikes only came in three flavors: 600cc, 1,000cc, and Italian. One of them was exciting, high-revving, and impractical, and the other two were street-legal superbikes.

Tightening emissions controls and declining consumer demand have been choking the life out of road-going racebikes for years, but the explosion of budget-friendly sportbikes that’s taken their place is a silver lining worth appreciating. Below we’ll take a look at the seven best budget sportbikes of the year as well as who they’re for and what makes each special.

If maximum performance for your hard-earned dollar is what you’re looking for, you’re in the right place. Also check out our Best Bargain Performance Used Motorcycles article for alternative used motorcycle selections. Looking for faster bikes? Read the The Best Superbikes of 2023 and Fastest Production Motorcycles of 2019 write-ups.

MSRP: $11,549

Horsepower: 100 hp @ 10,500 rpm

Torque: 49.4 lb.-ft. @ 8,500 rpm

Weight: 403 lb.

While Aprilia’s RS 660 is the most expensive bike on our list (read/watch our official reviews during the 2021 Aprilia RS 660 First Ride Review and 2021 Aprilia RS 660 MC Commute Review articles), it’s easily the best sportbike on a budget if uncompromising quality and performance are what you’re after. It may not pack the 217 hp punch of its RSV4 sibling (read/watch our recent test rides during the 2021 Aprilia RSV4 MC Commute Review and 2021 Aprilia RSV4 Factory Review), but the chassis, technology, and components are cut from the same cloth, which can’t be said for any of the other budget bikes on this list.

Case in point would be the RS 660′s six-axis IMU, the catalyst behind the Aprilia’s class-leading APRC electronics package which includes lean-sensitive ABS, traction control, wheelie control, and even cruise control. Combine that with 100 hp, Brembo brakes, fully adjustable KYB suspension, and a 403-pound curb weight and you’ll start to see the value proposition on offer here.

Related: Fastest Naked Bikes 2024

MSRP: $5,299

Horsepower: 51 hp @ 10,000 rpm

Torque: 31.7 lb.-ft. @ 7,500 rpm

Weight: 377 lb.

You’ve got more options than ever for beginner-friendly sportbikes nowadays, but Kawasaki’s twin-cylinder Ninja remains the undisputed fan favorite for good reason: It’s an excellent all-around bike, and it’s undefeated when it comes to affordability.

Related: 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500

The latest Ninja 500 gets a bump in displacement over the outgoing 400, but performance remains relatively unchanged due to its slight increase in weight. Luckily the price has also held steady at just $5,299, beating out entry-level offerings from Yamaha, KTM, Aprilia, and even CFMoto by a decent margin. Despite the unchanged price over the old 400, Kawasaki still managed to upgrade the Ninja with sharper looks and full LED lighting, so bang for your buck has never been better.

MSRP: $9,899

Horsepower: NA

Torque: 29 lb.-ft. @ 11,000

Weight: 415 lb.

You’ve gotta hand it to Kawasaki: We never imagined we’d see another low-displacement/high-performance inline-four in our lifetimes, and then Big Green drops the ZX-4RR on us in 2023. Yes, it’s only $1,500 less than the ZX-6R below, and no, it’s no better around town than any other hard-revving four-banger, but the Kawasaki ZX-4RR earns its place on this list as a singularity that’s both beginner-friendly and expert-oriented.

We’re keen on the RR version because it includes all the bells and whistles like added adjustability on the suspension and a bidirectional quickshifter, but if you’re really looking to save money, the standard R model can be had for $500 less. Either way you’re getting a full-color TFT dash, four ride modes, two power modes, three levels of traction control, and the sweet, sweet song of a 16,000 rpm redline for under $10K.

MSRP: $11,399

Horsepower: 122 hp @ 13,000 rpm

Torque: 52 lb.-ft. @ 10,800 rpm

Weight: 432 lb. (non-ABS)

The middleweight class may be dominated by torquey twins in this day and age, but when you’re craving an inline-four supersport screamer, nothing else will scratch the itch. While both Honda and Suzuki continue selling their long-in-the-tooth 600cc race replicas, there’s no denying Kawasaki’s ZX-6R delivers the best bang for your buck in this rapidly shrinking segment. (Read/watch our official test rides during the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R First Ride Review).

Kawasaki’s 636cc powerplant has always been the most well-rounded of the bunch thanks to its extra bump in displacement for better low-to-midrange power. What really sets the Kawi apart, however, is that despite its best-in-class $11,399 MSRP, the ZX-6R is the only option that includes traction control, selectable riding modes, a quickshifter, and a full-color TFT display as standard.

MSRP: $9,439

Horsepower: 81.8 hp @ 8,500 rpm

Torque: 57.6 lb.-ft. @ 6,800 rpm

Weight: 452 lb.

Heaps of praise have been leveled at Suzuki’s new parallel-twin platform since its launch, and we’re as guilty as anyone for gushing over the brand’s latest crop of middleweights. The fully faired GSX-8R is no exception, and if a do-it-all sportbike on a budget is what you’re after, the Suzuki is probably your best bet. Find out more in the Top 5 Features of Suzuki’s GSX-8R for Trackday Riders, Top 5 Things We Like About Suzuki’s GSX-8R for Street Riders and 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R Review With Videos articles.

Related: This Is What You Need to Know about Suzuki’s GSX-8R

Put simply, this bike does everything well. The engine is legitimately thrilling and torquey, the ergonomics are surprisingly comfortable on a long haul, and the suspension is good enough out of the box to handle the occasional trackday. Factor in the standard full-color TFT dash, up-and-down quickshifter, three selectable ride modes, and four levels of traction control and you’ve got a bike that punches so far above its asking price you really couldn’t ask for much more.

MSRP: $9,195

Horsepower: 95 hp @ 11,250 rpm

Torque: 51 lb.-ft. @ 8,250 rpm

Weight: 443 lb.

Nobody does a triple quite like Triumph, and the new Daytona 660 delivers the low-down punch, top-end rush, and sweet three-cylinder soundtrack we know and love for just over $9K. If you’re looking for maximum power per dollar spent, the Daytona is your ticket to ride, but this isn’t the hard-nosed track weapon of yesteryear by any stretch.

Triumph focused on making the new Daytona 660 an excellent all-around bike for the street, and Hinckley has clearly succeeded in that regard. The Daytona’s fairly soft nonadjustable suspension wouldn’t be our first choice for track duty, but paired with its comfortable seat and relaxed ergonomics, it’s just what the doctor ordered for city streets and weekend canyon blasts alike.

MSRP: $9,199

Horsepower: 72.4hp @ 8,750 rpm

Torque: 49.4 lb.-ft. @ 6,500 rpm

Weight: 414 lb.

If you’re a sportbike fan in the purest sense of the word, Yamaha’s YZF-R7 is the best deal going right now. Don’t believe us? Read/watch our 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Review, 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 MC Commute Review, and 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 Track Review test rides. We love the R7 because while it can’t quite match the horsepower or electronic sophistication of its competitors, it’s by far the lightest and sharpest-handling of the bunch for under $10,000, and also happens to be the fastest looking with its razor-sharp YZF-R6-inspired bodywork.

We’ll also note that it’s important to remember the affordability of a motorcycle depends as much on the cost of ownership as it does the sticker price, and by all measures the R7′s proven reliability and impressive 26,000-plus mile major service intervals bode well for long-term affordability. The Yamaha is also one of the few options in the segment that gets a fully adjustable front end from the factory which, combined with its committed ergonomics and Brembo master cylinder, makes it a shoo-in for track duty.

Related: 2024 Yamaha YZF-R7