Any new year includes looking forward to all the wonderful things it will bring. We eagerly await the arrival of all the amazing Top superbikes. Here are seven sports bikes that we are eager to get behind the wheel of in 2023.
Since its announcement in 2018, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory has been one of the best superbikes for sale to consumers. In 2021, we drove a later model for a test drive and were incredibly impressed. The up-spec Factory has semi-active Ohlins suspension, a reduced total curb weight, and a 1,099cc V-4 that produces a tonne of useful power across the rev band. This combination makes the Factory a scalpel around the corners. Thanks to an opened-up cockpit, the bike is ergonomically comfortable for a wider spectrum of riders, and the pricing is extremely reasonable for such a race-ready vehicle.
2023 BMW M 1000 RR: $32,995: $32,995, Top Superbikes
The 2022 M 1000 RR is one of the best-handling BMWs we’ve ever driven on a racetrack, according to our recent test drive. The bike also has a strikingly more aerodynamic design for 2023. We can’t wait to test out the claimed considerable improvements in peak speed and cornering performance. There will also be an M RR Competition Package available for riders who want to go all out. This package replaces plastic components with carbon fiber, adds cooling ducts to the front brakes, and reduces overall weight with a lighter swingarm and more bells and whistles.
2023 Ducati Panigale V4 SP2: $39,500, Top Superbikes
The manufacturer’s hype for new bikes is frequently exaggerated. The Ducati Panigale V4 SP2, however, showed that the Italian company wasn’t entirely mistaken when it claimed to have developed the “perfect racing machine.” The 2022 version’s uncompromising power, silky smooth transmission, virtually effortless handling, and extremely capable and reliable braking system completely won us over when we drove it around Misano. The entire time I was riding in Race B mode. In Race A, there is, even more, to wring out of the bike. A top-notch electronics package and too many MotoGP-derived components to count are there. The V4 SP2 is tough to match for a truly exhilarating track bike right out of the showroom.
2023 Ducati Panigale V4 R: $44,995, Top Superbikes
However, if you were trying to purchase a Ducati that was even more race-ready, the 2023 V4 R might be the best option. This motorcycle claims to have 240 horsepower and a curb weight of 415 pounds when the full racing exhaust is mounted. That is a power-to-weight ratio of 0.57. The bodywork, suspension, and chassis geometry are all equipped with race technology, as are the transmission, electronics package, and the rest of the bike. One of the most potent, efficient, and effective track weapons to hit the market in 2023 will be this one.
2022/2023 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP: $28,900, Top Superbikes
Honda has not yet made a model-year 2023 announcement for the Fireblade SP, so 2022 will have to do. This is due to the fact that Honda’s WSBK homologation model has been excellent in recent years, and we anticipate that 2023 will be no different. Consider the 2021 model, which we examined in the 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP MC Commute Review, 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP MC Commute Second Review. That motorcycle boasts fantastic brakes, superb handling, a competitive electronics package, and great power delivery. It has a much stronger value proposition than some of the other computers on the list because it is also on the more reasonable end of the price range for the class.
We’re excited to see this platform continue even though the GSX-R1000R is unchanged for 2023 and even though its spec sheet is less spectacular than many of the bikes on the list. During the 2021 Suzuki GSX-R1000R MC Commute Review, we had a good time riding it, and the GSX-R1000R has shown that it is a capable and approachable superbike on both the street and the track. After a significant overhaul in 2017, it now benefits from race-derived technology and will continue to be more than an adequate bike for the more casual track day riders and backroad adventurers.
2023 Yamaha YZF-R1M: $26,999, Top Superbikes
As tested in the 2021 Yamaha YZF-R1M MC Commute Review and the 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1M Review MC Commute, the Yamaha YZF-R1M has long been one of our favorite superbikes. The 23rd edition retains all the qualities we’ve grown to appreciate. A cross-plane inline-four engine that is really magnificent, tuned Ohlins electronic suspension, striking aesthetics, and a tonne of race-derived technology will keep you competitive with your pals at the track. The R1M is a bike we always look forward to riding again, which counts for a lot in a field this packed. It might not be as flamboyant as the V4 R or M 1000 RR.
