Sport Bike

PROS +

  • Engineered for performance
  • Good position for experienced rider
  • Instant response to rider input
  • Perfect bike for TRACK
  • Many power ranges available

CONS -

  • Kills more Marines than all other categories combined
  • Can often be too much bike for street
  • Expensive insurance
  • Expensive to repair
  • Bad rider position for novices

“So what are sport bikes?  Where did they come from?” asks California Superbike School president Keith Code. “They are 100% trickle-down technology from racing.  The seating position, how you relate to the motorcycle…how you operate (it)…all comes down from championship riders riding these things.  And that’s what you’re handed when you go to any dealer and buy any sport bike.” Sport bikes are built for speed, maneuverability, and rapid acceleration and deceleration.  High performance motors are tightly mounted in lightweight frames behind aerodynamic fairings. Wide performance tires allow higher cornering speeds at steeper angles. Some are built with such high performance that they are track and race ready right out of the showroom.

“A sport bike can certainly be used on the road to get from point A to B,” Keith continues,” but I would really look at how you are going to use that technology safely on the road. If you do not plan on taking your sport bike to the track, you should ask yourself if you really need a bike with that much performance.” Because while sport bikes are highly popular, they are the most deadly on the street. Of the 58 Marines killed in motorcycle accidents in the last three years, 81% were on Sport Bikes (USMC Traffic Safety FY09 PMV2 Annual Report). “ “We know that not everyone is going to buy a dirt bike, (and) I would never tell someone not to buy (a sport bike) as a street bike.” Keith concludes.  “But I would certainly ask them to think twice about trying to figure out how to use that technology on the road…because that’s not what it’s built for.”
Popular Uses

COMMUTING

A sport bike can be suitable for commuting for the experienced rider. Just be aware, most  sport bikes are track ready; learning to ride streets on these high performance machines creates significant challenges and hazards.

TRACK RIDING

If you own a sport bike, this is where you want to be. This is exactly what the bike is designed for and once you experience the track, you will understand why the bike is designed like it is and why the track is the best place to use it. 

SHOW BIKES

Let’s face it, sport bikes just look cool. Some people take it to the next level with custom paint, after-market parts and other customizations. Just be careful not to undermine the machines engineering with and mods, and be aware it is still a beast under all that paint.

STUNTING

Stunting is a specialty discipline of sport bikes for the dedicated rider. When done in a controlled environment with NO TRAFFIC  it makes for a tough athletic challenge. When done on public roads and highways…well, it’s just stupid.

DRAG RACING

Drag Racing is an even more specialized discipline. Only serious riders who participate at a professional drag strip are legit. Street drag racing just makes no sense no matter how good you are.