Part of entering any new year is thinking ahead to all the great stuff the future brings. We’re looking forward to all the incredible superbikes coming to market. Here are seven sportbikes that we’re really looking forward to spinning some laps on in 2023.
2023 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100: $25,999
The Aprilia RSV4 Factory has been one of the top-class superbikes available to consumers since it was announced back in 2018. We took a later model out for a spin in 2021 and couldn’t help but be impressed. The 1,099cc V-4 gives copious amounts of usable power throughout the rev range, and the up-spec Factory features semi-active Öhlins suspension and a lighter overall curb weight which makes it a scalpel through the corners. The bike is ergonomically comfortable for a broader range of riders thanks to an opened-up cockpit, and the price tag is highly competitive for such a race-ready machine.
2023 BMW M 1000 RR: $32,995: $32,995
We just took a spin on the 2022 edition of the M 1000 RR and found it to be one of the best-handling BMWs we’ve ever experienced on track. And for 2023 the bike gets a more aerodynamically advanced design that is striking. It promises some notable gains in both top speed and cornering performance, which we’re itching to put to the test. For riders who want to really go all out, there will also be an M RR Competition Package available that swaps out plastic parts for carbon fiber, adds cooling ducts to the front brakes, and drops overall weight thanks to a lighter swingarm and bells and whistles.
2023 Ducati Panigale V4 SP2: $39,500
More often than not, company hype around new bikes is hyperbolic. However, with the Ducati Panigale V4 SP2 we found that the Italian brand wasn’t completely off base saying it had created the “ultimate racetrack machine.” When we turned laps at Misano on the 2022 edition, we were enamored with the unyielding power, silky smooth transmission, almost effortless handling, and highly competent and consistent braking package. And that was all while riding in Race B mode. There’s even more to extract from the bike in Race A. There are too many MotoGP-derived parts to count and a world-class electronics package. For a truly thrilling trackbike straight off the showroom floor, the V4 SP2 is hard to beat.
2023 Ducati Panigale V4 R: $44,995
Although, if you were looking to get an even more race-capable Ducati, the 2023 V4 R might be the place to put your money. This bike promises 240 hp and a claimed 415-pound curb weight with the full racing exhaust installed. That’s a 0.57 power-to-weight ratio. Race tech abounds throughout the rest of the bike as well, from the transmission to the electronics package to the bodywork, suspension, and chassis geometry. It will be one of the most powerful, streamlined, and effective track weapons to come to market in 2023.
2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP: $28,900
As of the writing of this article, Honda has yet to announce a 2023 model-year edition of the Fireblade SP, so 2022 it is. That’s because Honda’s WSBK homologation model has been a ripper for the past few years and we expect 2023 to be no different. Take the 2021 model, which we reviewed during the 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP First Ride Review, 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP MC Commute Review, and 2021 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP MC Commute Second Review. That machine has great power delivery and superb handling, excellent brakes and a competitive electronics package. It’s also on the more affordable end of the spectrum in the class, making it a much more compelling value proposition than some of the other machines on the list.
2023 Suzuki GSX-R1000R: $18,199
Even though the GSX-R1000R is unchanged for 2023, and even though its spec sheet is less impressive than a lot of the bikes on the list, we’re still pumped to see this platform carrying forward. We enjoyed our time on it during the 2021 Suzuki GSX-R1000R MC Commute Review and the GSX-R1000R has proven itself to be a competent and approachable superbike both on the streets and on the track. It benefits from race-derived technology thanks to a major update back in 2017, and will continue to be more than enough bike for the more casual trackday riders and backroad explorers.
2023 Yamaha YZF-R1M: $26,999
Yamaha’s YZF-R1M has long been one of our favorite superbikes as tested during the 2021 Yamaha YZF-R1M MC Commute Review and 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1M Review MC Commute. The ‘23 edition carries over all the characteristics we’ve come to love. An absolutely stunning crossplane inline-four engine, dialed Öhlins electronic suspension, aggressive and eye-catching styling, and plenty of race-derived technology to keep you competitive against your friends at the track. It might not be as flashy as the V4 R or M 1000 RR, but the R1M is a bike we always look forward to riding again, which counts for a lot in a field as crowded as this.
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com