200 PS is the Norm! Top-3 Fastest Liter Supersport Motorcycles

The roots of the liter-class Supersports motorcycles were to provide agile riding on winding roads on public roads, and later they came to play the role of base models for racing. This time, models with displacements that do not take racing regulations into consideration are being manufactured again, but the main objective is still to go fast. So, which is the fastest among the many Supersports?

It depends on the rider's skill.

The CBR900RR, which is considered a pioneer of "Supersports" rather than a racer replica, was first introduced in the 1992 model year. At that time, the maximum output was still 124 PS. The latest model, the 2020 model, achieves 218 PS. In recent years, the number of models exceeding 200 PS has been increasing.

Which liter supersport is the fastest? The most correct answer to this question is that it depends on the rider's level and riding style. To begin with, 200 PS or more is the norm for the latest liter Supersports. Even though they are fully equipped with electronic controls such as traction control systems, there are very few riders who can trust their performance and open the throttle wide on the exit of a corner on a circuit, open it up on the straight, and use it all the way to the rev limit of the engine. It seems a bit nonsensical to think about "which one is faster" when you are not able to fully demonstrate the performance of the motorcycle.

However, the mindset of a rider who loves sportbikes is to still wonder which one is the fastest. In this issue, we will put aside the fundamental question of whether the performance can be fully utilized and focus on horsepower to determine which of the current liter Supersports motorcycles is the fastest.

Target Motorcycles
HONDA CBR1000RR-R Fireblade/SP YAMAHA YZF-R1, YZF-R1M SUZUKI GSX-R1000R KAWASAKI Ninja ZX-10RR, Ninja ZX-10R/KRT Edition BMW M1000RR, S1000RR M Package, S1000RR DUCATI Panigale V4 SP2, Panigale V4S, Panigale V4 APRILIA RSV4 Factory

200 PS is now at the NORM level!

*Graphs were prepared by the editorial staff based on manufacturer information as of August 2022. Weight and maximum power output may vary by manufacturer and should be used as a guide only.
*Vehicle weights are expressed in terms of equipment weight and include some vehicles at 90% fuel.
*Maximum output is expressed in PS. If it is described in kw or hp on the manufacturer's website, the kw description is converted to PS.
*The numbers in red are the best three for the same title.

An examination of Supersports from major manufacturers that are officially sold in Japan as of August 2022 shows that many of them have a maximum output of over 200 PS. The most powerful among them is Honda's CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, which delivers a maximum output of 218 PS. Incidentally, the most powerful current general production motorcycle is the Kawasaki Ninja H2 Carbon equipped with a supercharged engine, with 231 PS. This model is definitely a sports bike, but it uses a steel tube frame with a trellis structure, so it is a little different from the purely "speedy" models, so it was omitted from this ranking.

Ducati also launched the Panigale V4R as a 2019 model, which is a homologated model for racing, and this one had a 998cc liquid-cooled V4 engine with 221 PS, but it is not a current model, so it is omitted. Incidentally, a special limited-volume production model called the Superleggera V4, based on this model was also launched in 2020, with 224 PS.

By the way, no matter how much horsepower is available, if the vehicle weighs too much, acceleration will be slowed down. Therefore, we also looked into the power-to-weight ratio, which is basically the weight of the vehicle with a full tank of fuel, but for some models, it is 90% fuel divided by the maximum output, for reference. About 20 years ago, it was considered great if the power-to-weight ratio was less than 1 when the vehicle was dry weight with no fuel, etc., but now there are many models in the 0.9 kg/PS range even when the vehicle is equipped with a full tank of fuel. Ducati's Panigale V4 series is strong in this power-to-weight ratio, followed by the CBR1000RR-R and Aprilia's RSV4 factory.

1. HONDA CBR1000RR-R Fireblade/SP

Honda, the top-notch, has been snapped up for this ambitious project!

Honda once considered an engine manufacturer, introduced the RR-R in 2020 as the successor to the CBR1000RR to overcome its inferior status, boasting a maximum output of 218 PS. Designed for use in superbike racing, the liquid-cooled 4-stroke, parallel-four engine has a displacement of 999 cc, but is superior to the RSV4 Factory and Panigale V4 series, which are equipped with larger engines.

Of course, it is loaded with electronic control systems that assist the rider's operation, but the riding position and other features give it a spartan, racy feel that is not typical of Honda, which has an image of an honors rider. It may be quite challenging for an ordinary rider to fully utilize this performance.

2. APRILIA RSV4 Factory

Displacement setting that does not consider racing participation

Italy's Aprilia has marked a good performance in the world's most prestigious road race, MotoGP, in 2022. Its flagship model, the RSV4 factory, has had the displacement of its liquid-cooled V4 engine increased to 1099cc for the 2021 model year. Maximum output is announced at 217 PS and top speed at 305 km/h. Aerodynamic efficiency has also been improved with winglets and a two-layer fairing, and maneuverability has been enhanced with an electronic control system that has been under development for some time.

When used as a base model for Superbike racing, the 4-cylinder engine must be under 1000cc, but this model has its own displacement setting for ease of handling and speed on circuits and winding roads, not with a view to racing participation.

3. DUCATI Panigale V4/S/SP2

The power-to-weight ratio is also quite excellent

Ducati's Panigale V4 series included the V4R, a 998cc version designed for racing, but all other models were equipped with a 1103cc liquid-cooled V4 engine. The V4R series was also available in a 998cc version for racing purposes, but all other models were powered by a 1103cc liquid-cooled V4 engine. Meanwhile, the vehicle weight is less than 200 kg for all models in the series at 90% fuel tank capacity and equipped weight (figures based on EU regulations). Even if two more liters of gasoline were added, the V4S and V4SP would still weigh less than 200 kg.

Maximum output has been increased by 1.5 PS to 215.5 PS for the standard type as well, thanks to minor changes for the 2022 model year. The maximum output has been increased to 215.5 PS, almost surpassing that of Honda and Aprilia.