In the mid-80s, motorcycle racing was dominated by two-stroke bikes. These bikes were incredible machines, but for the most part, impossible to ride. This made it desperately hard for manufacturers to sell proper replica race bikes to the public. Then, in 1985, all that changed. Suzuki brought out the GSX-R750, a fully-faired inline-4, four-stroke bike.
It was an era-defining motorcycle, and widely regarded as the very first true “sports bike.” This trend caught on fast. Each of the Japanese brands were quick to respond, building bigger, faster sports bikes every year, and it wasn’t long before these bikes were setting all sorts of records. At first, speed was the focus, but over time their attention would shift to power.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Kawasaki USA. Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research, and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to horsepower.
Honda CBR1000RR
Power: 189 Horsepower
2025 Honda CBR1000R
Honda
While technically still on sale as a separate model, this was the 2017 Fireblade. It was never the most powerful of all the Japanese superbikes, but it is the most comfortable. This is, in relative terms – comfortable for a sports bike, not a touring bike – and is easily the most usable in the real world. While the other bikes went after lap times, Honda went after consumers looking for the ultimate corner carver.
Specifications
Model Years
2017 to present
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
999cc
Max Torque
189 HP
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
432 lbs (dry)
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R
Power: 190 Horsepower*
A white 2005 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R parked on the road
2005 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R by 70_musclecar_RT+6 via Flickr
Kawasaki could certainly make a case that this would have been the fastest ever bike if not for the Gentlemen’s Agreement. With ram-air fitted, this made an astonishing-for-the-time 190 horsepower, and would blitz just about anything over a quarter mile. Today, these bikes represent amazing value on the used market, with some selling for as little as $5k!
Specifications
Model Years
2000–2006
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
1199cc
Max Torque
101 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
545 lbs
Suzuki GSX-R1000
Power: 194 Horsepower
Suzuki
The Gixxer 1000 finally got an update, but that 2026 model actually has a couple less horsepower. While this edition was down on power in the US market, it made 194 horsepower in the rest of the world, and it wouldn’t take much to get it into that spec. This is still one of the most accessible liter bikes on the market, and offers tremendous bang for your buck.
Specifications
Model Years
2017–2025
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
999cc
Max Torque
86 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
443 lbs
Suzuki Hayabusa (Second Generation)
Power: 194 Horsepower
An action shot of the second-gen Suzuki Hayabusa
Suzuki
Over the years, the Hayabusa has been refined into one of the finest sports bikes on the market. The second generation retains most of the design cues from the record-setting first-generation bike, but somehow looks considerably less offensive than the intentionally ugly original. By the time this went into production, it was very much the finished article, making 194 horsepower, yet still comfortable enough to double up as a sport touring bike come the weekend.
Specifications
Model Years
2008–2020
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
1340cc
Max Torque
114 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
586 lbs
Yamaha YZF-R1
Power: 197 Horsepower
Yamaha YZF-R1 cornering on a racetrack
Yamaha
For a brief moment, it looked like the end of the road for the legendary sports bike, but at the last minute Yamaha – not usually shy of discontinuing an aging platform – granted it a stay of execution. What you get with the modern R1 is the CP4 engine, one of the most unique-sounding inline-4 engines in the world, and also one of the most reliable. With several sophisticated electronic rider aids to go along with nearly 200 horsepower, we are glad it is still around.
Specifications
Model Years
2015 to present
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
998cc
Max Torque
83 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
448 lbs
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R
Power: 210 Horsepower*
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R
Kawasaki
Over the years, the Ninja ZX-14R has received several minor updates, and is now a little more toned down. It is still the undisputed “quarter-mile king.” Back in 2012 it got its last big bump in power, and with ram-air would make 210 horsepower. It would also do a quarter mile in around 9.5 seconds. Only a handful of modern superbikes will be able to keep up. We are not sure any would actually claim to beat it.
Specifications
Model Years
2012 to present
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
1441cc
Max Torque
113 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
584 lbs
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR
Power: 211 Horsepower*
Kawasaki
This year, Kawasaki don’t technically have a WordSBK representative, with the KRT team running the Bimota KB998 Rimini. Which leaves the homologation special without any race purpose, but in the right hands, this is still a highly capable race-proven machine. It is, however, worth mentioning that the current output is listed as 188 horsepower, but will achieve 211 horsepower – likely even more – with ram-air fitted.
Specifications
Model Years
2021 to present
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
998cc
Max Torque
82 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
456 lbs
Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP
Power: 215 Horsepower
2025 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is more powerful than the new Yamaha R1
Honda
Over the past decade or so, most Japanese manufacturers have been content to simply change the colors every year and call it good. This year, Honda gave the Fireblade a proper update. It has got new bodywork – not just a color change – a revised chassis, and improved midrange performance thanks to lighter internals, higher compression, and revised valve timing.
Specifications
Model Years
2025 to present
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled
Displacement
1000cc
Max Torque
83 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
445 lbs (no fuel)
Kawasaki Ninja H2
Power: 240 Horsepower
Rider on a 2024 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Carbon
Kawasaki
It is quite literally impossible to talk about the H2 without mentioning its supercharger. This supercharger hasn’t just been added to an existing platform, the supercharger is integrated, and the engine was extensively redesigned as a whole. Unlike superchargers from the automotive world, it is driven by a chain and runs at relatively low boost. This helps keep temperatures down, without the need for adding water cooling. Something that would have added even more complexity to an already complex design.
Specifications
Model Years
2015 to present
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled, supercharged
Displacement
998cc
Max Torque
105 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
525 lbs
Kawasaki Ninja H2R
Power: 322 Horsepower
Moving Shot of a 2023 Black Ninja H2R Speeding on a Racetrack
Kawasaki
While it could be argued that this is the same model, the track-only H2R is quite different from the road bike. It has a lower compression ratio and more boost than the regular H2. This equates to astonishing power, and will also result in more heat for the pilot to deal with. This is not a race bike, mind you, it exists quite simply to be the fastest and most powerful production motorcycle in the world.
Specifications
Model Years
2015 to present
Engine Type
Inline-4, liquid-cooled, supercharged
Displacement
998cc
Max Torque
122 LB-FT
Transmission
6-speed
Weight
476 lbs
* with ram-air
AloJapan.com