Since the early seventies if you wanted a performance motorcycle in the United States you had your choice of four Japanese makes. If you had deep pockets and wanted to be different perhaps you could have some exotic Italian machinery in you garage. After decades of sport bike market being heavily dominated by the big four we are starting to see some new life. An explosion of new bikes has given this segment more diversity than ever. Motorcycle manufacturers have developed a hunger for the sport bike market. Could it be younger demographic, the need to diversify their offerings, or simply because they want to build the most impressive motorcycles imaginable? Whatever the reason I for one welcome this fresh blood into the world of sport bikes.
First we have the Aprilia RSV4. Aprilia is no stranger to the sport bike market. Their RSV1000 is a great bike, but has been around since 1998. 1998 is ancient history in the fast paced world of sports bikes. Thankfully Aprilia has just finished their new V4 powered RSV4. There hasn't been a V4 repli-racer since Honda's RC45 in the late nineties. It's too early to tell how will this bike will do on the track, and in showrooms, but so far it looks like Aprilia will have a bright future with their new RSV4.
When you think of BMW motorcycles you probably don't think about sport bikes. That's probably because they haven't really made any, ever. Until now that is. BMW has their sights set on a true WSB contender with the new S1000RR. And for the street riders will soon have the option for the S1000R, and all new sport bike from the Bravarian company. With an inline four the S1000R offers a tradition design (well not very traditional for BMW). It seems asthough BMW had to make this bike different in some way, and chose to give the bike asemetrical headlights.
KTM has been growing into road going markets nicely. Now the 1190 RC8 has been on the market for a year now, but KTM has upped the ante with the universal "R" model. The new RC8 R makes KTM's super bike even convincing.
First we have the Aprilia RSV4. Aprilia is no stranger to the sport bike market. Their RSV1000 is a great bike, but has been around since 1998. 1998 is ancient history in the fast paced world of sports bikes. Thankfully Aprilia has just finished their new V4 powered RSV4. There hasn't been a V4 repli-racer since Honda's RC45 in the late nineties. It's too early to tell how will this bike will do on the track, and in showrooms, but so far it looks like Aprilia will have a bright future with their new RSV4.
When you think of BMW motorcycles you probably don't think about sport bikes. That's probably because they haven't really made any, ever. Until now that is. BMW has their sights set on a true WSB contender with the new S1000RR. And for the street riders will soon have the option for the S1000R, and all new sport bike from the Bravarian company. With an inline four the S1000R offers a tradition design (well not very traditional for BMW). It seems asthough BMW had to make this bike different in some way, and chose to give the bike asemetrical headlights.
KTM has been growing into road going markets nicely. Now the 1190 RC8 has been on the market for a year now, but KTM has upped the ante with the universal "R" model. The new RC8 R makes KTM's super bike even convincing.
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