Sport Touring

Sport touring bikes are designed with a longer distance riding emphasis. They typically feature more creature comforts than that of the average sport bike. Sport touring bikes are typically heavier, less powerful, and less performance oriented than super sport bikes, but have the added capabilities of storage, more comfortable rider ergonomics, and better practicality. Depending on the amount of emphasis on these touring capabilities, sport touring bikes can range from super sport bikes with more comfortable rider ergonomics to full-featured touring motorcycles with sport bike-like capabilities and features.



Examples include the Honda VFR800, Triumph Sprint ST, and Yamaha FJR1300 (picture).

Hyper Sport

Hyper sport bikes are very large displacement sport bikes with a strong emphasis on top speed and acceleration. They typically are powered by motors displacing 1,100 cc (67.1 cu in) to 1,400 cc (85.4 cu in). Hyper sport bikes are bigger and heavier than super bikes with wet weights generally being close to 500 lb (227 kg). The increased weight compromises race track capabilities in favor of stability at very high speeds that can exceed 180 mph (290 km/h). This compromise also allows manufacturers to design much more comfortable rider ergonomics.



Examples include the Honda CBR1100XX, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14, BMW K1200S and Suzuki Hayabusa (picture).

Super Bike

Super bikes are large displacement super sport bikes. They have characteristics similar to the smaller super sport bikes which are mainly focused on race track performance, but are powered by larger engines that are usually sized around 800 cc (48.8 cu in) to 1,200 cc (73.2 cu in). A typical super bike will carry a wet weight between 400 lb (181 kg) to 480 lb (218 kg) and can produce 180 bhp (134 kW). Super bikes with a displacement very close to 1,000 cc (61.0 cu in) are sometimes referred to as liter bikes as the engine displaces approximately one liter. Motorcycles in this class are usually eligible to participate in Superbike racing.



Examples include the Ducati 1098 (picture), Honda CBR1000RR, and Yamaha YZF-R1.

Super Sport

Super sport bikes (also known as middleweight sport bikes) are sharply focused for optimal performance on a race track. They are generally built around a high revving, small displacement powerplant that is usually sized around 600 cc (36.6 cu in) to 800 cc (48.8 cu in). Most super sport bikes will carry a wet weight between 375 lb (170 kg) to 450 lb (204 kg) and produce around 130 bhp (97 kW). Because of how strongly focused super sport bikes are on race track performance, riders with heights of 5 ft 2 in and below will generally find trouble being able to flatfoot (the placement of both feet completely flat on the ground while sitting on a motorcycle) these types of sport bikes. In turn, taller riders and heavier riders may find the rider ergonomics in the default position to be cramped and uncomfortable.



Examples include the Honda CBR600RR (picture) , Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R600 and Triumph Daytona 675.

History

Up until the late 1960s, motorcycles came in three basic formats:

• Working bikes: Generally below 250 cc (15.3 cu in) and low powered for the average working gentleman to get to work.
  
• General bikes: Generally below 500 cc (30.5 cu in) / 650 cc (39.7 cu in) for use as a working bike, but with a higher power output so it could also be used for fun on the weekends.
  
• Touring bikes: Anything above working/general bike sizes and built mainly for touring.
  
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The first company to crack this mold was arguably Vincent Motorcycles. Designed as a gentleman's touring bike, their model's turn of speed was astounding for days when motorways and freeways didn't exist. However, its handling was basic, and its shortcomings became clear when faced by a motorway - girder forks.

Then in the 1960s, two bikes were developed which could be both daily commuter as well as weekend racer. These were the first sport bikes. The first was the BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident, which was closely followed by the Honda CB750K.

It was the 1971 Kawasaki Z1, however, with its 900 cc (54.9 cu in) DOHC engine which finally ushered in the era of the modern sport bike. The Z1 was so successful in sales that by the end of that decade the Japanese manufacturers were all building competing machines that were copying the Z1 formula and its DOHC inline-4 engine configuration. The resulting "bike war" among the Japanese manufacturers and required investment in modern engine manufacturing contributed to the demise of the flagging British motorcycle industry.