Supersport Bikes

Supersport motorcycles can refer to any class of fully-faired sportbikes purpose-built for the racetrack. In more specific terms supersport refers to a distinct sportbike motorcycle segment best typified by the 600cc Inline Four racebikes. The little siblings to the superbike class, supersports are characterized by top-end biased powerbands and the highest redlines on production motorcycles.

The current supersport class is made up of the Inline Four 600s from the Big Four: Honda CBR600RR, Kawsasaki ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R600 and Yamaha R6. Other manufacturers produce variants on the 600 formula in different engine configurations. Ducati produces the 848 Twin, Triumph the Inline Triple-powered Daytona 675. Other manufacturers have recently jumped into the segment, one of the most notable being the sleek MV Agusta F3 – also a 675cc Triple.

Some of the top sellers in these OEM lineups the supersports are also campaigned in numerous racing championships across the world. The premier world title is the FIM World Supersport Championship, which has been dominated in recent years by the Ten Kate Honda team. Supersport classes are also found in numerous national racing series, like AMA Pro Racing, where the Supersport class was a hotly contested support class. Supersport machinery also made up the AMA Formula Xtreme grid for a time. Currently supersports are campaigned in two AMA series, Daytona SportBike and SuperSport, the latter being a feeder class for up and coming racing talent. Supersport classes can also be found in various road racing exhibitions, like the Isle of Man TT.