Advice: Supersport buyers’ guide

Middleweight sports bikes. This is going to be tough. You see, by its very nature purchasing a sports bike is based very strongly in emotion. And quantifying emotion is a difficult thing.

More than any other category, the sports bike field demands compromises from an owner/rider – compromises that buyers are often more than happy to make, it must be said. But, well, let’s have a go anyway.

Making a good decision on what type of bike to buy in just about any category relies on you honestly evaluating your own physical dimensions. This applies especially when considering sports tackle.

In fact, more so in the case of supersports – they are small, there’s no getting away from that. Big guys can ride them and many do but be aware that you’ll be folded up like a forgotten piano accordion when aboard a supersport if you happen to be extra long or wide.

First up, let’s see if you really want a middleweight sports bike. The inherent characteristics of the geometry of all current mid-sporties have at their heart one dimension – performance. That’s the design brief and most of them carry it out remarkably well.

This calls for low bars, rear set and high clearance footpegs, forward canted and small, hard seats, stiff suspension… Look, if you wanted to build a motorcycle to make a rider uncomfortable, you’d come up with a modern supersport bike, simple as that.

Comfort is pretty seriously compromised. Can’t cope with that thought? Stop reading, I’ve done you a massive favour right there. Keep an eye out for our next buying guide that might have something from another category, right up your alley. This is fun huh?

So, you’re still here? Well, cop this then. Carrying capacity is also very limited. Yes, there are tie-down points on middleweight sports bikes, but they are cursory at best. It’s pretty true to suggest that you can’t two-up tour on one and carry much at the same time. You can tour on one, and the chance to break loose on a long ride is hugely accentuated by being aboard a cutting edge, mid-sized sporty.

So, if long miles are your thing, think long and hard. A sports tourer will be just about as fast, much more comfortable and will carry a heap more. Including your spouse. Hmmm. Another reason to keep the sports bike focus?

All this is sounding like I’m trying to talk you out of a supersport bike. I’m certainly not. Some of my most memorable long rides have been while riding a balls-out sports bike and if you are happy to make the compromises mentioned above, you should seriously consider one as a purchase.

They are simply exhilarating to ride and offer the latest and greatest go-fast technology in the automotive world. In most cases, supersport bikes have far superior componentry to their four-wheeled brethren and in all cases are much, much faster. We like that.

Okay, we are in the market for a supersport bike and we are going to buy new. For our intents and purposes, we’ll look at the Japanese 600s, they are by far the big sellers in the category and are therefore most deserving of our attention.

The big Japanese four. This is a difficult area, they are incredibly alike for most purposes, Configuration, price, there really isn’t a whole lot to separate them, but that’s not helping you much, so I’ll give it a go.

An incredibly competitive sector, the major Japanese marques race these things to billy-o in order to attract you. You are, to them, ‘market share’. They are acutely aware that you could well be new to larger capacity motorcycles (stepping up from a 250 or LAMs) and that, given the fact that brand loyalty is a massive factor in the Australian market, if you buy their brand on this occasion, there’s every chance they have created a lifelong brand loyalist.

Related links:
2017 Yamaha YZF-R6 launch review
2011 Suzuki GSX-R600/750: launch
Launch: 2013 Kawasaki ZX-6R
Launch: 2013 Triumph Daytona 675

This is good news for you, they will talk turkey on price in this sector, more than just about any other. Don’t tell them I told you this, but push hard on price here, you will do well.

In the supersport category, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki all offer a great alternative. The first three listed feature a 599cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve, four-stroke, in-line four-cylinder, the Kawasaki the only to break the tradition with a capacity of 636cc. All are fuel-injected, all make use of a twin-spar aluminum main frame. See, I told you there wasn’t much to differentiate these.

• You like a brand and have had good buying and owning experiences in the past. That is as good as any reason to stick and is the main reason people choose a particular brand.
• While there really is a poofteenth difference in the dimensions, sit on them all. If you can test ride, do it. It’s surprising how a particular bike can feel ‘just right’.
• You don’t want to get an ugly one.Looks are important. We all like our bikes to appeal to the eye. If you love the look of one over another, go for it.
• Let’s make a deal. Run-out sales and the like can make for a hefty discount.

Middleweight sporties. Cheap, quick, loads of fun and possessing all the capacity a sports rider will ever realistically need. Just remember… Plushly comfy they are not.

Get it right however and this category can offer just about the most rewarding rapid ride possible.

Go for it.

Related link:
Used supersport machines for sale