LAMS sportsbike buyer’s guide

Engine: 659cc parallel-twin
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 47.6hp (35kW) at 10,500rpm and 67Nm at 8500rpm
Weight: 169kg (dry, claimed)
IMU: Six-axis
Electronics: Ride-by-wire throttle, cornering ABS and traction control, engine braking, cruise control and wheelie control. Five riding modes: Commute, Dynamic and Individual for the road, and Challenge and Time Attack for track use (with pitlane limiter and a switching dash display from speedo to lap timer).
Fork: 41mm upside-down KYB, fully adjustable, 120mm travel
Shock: Sachs monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound, 130mm travel
Seat height: 820mm
Wheels: Aluminium alloy
Fuel tank: 15L
Warranty: Two years/unlimited kilometres
Price: $17,990 (plus on-road costs)
Notes: The Aprilia RS 660 is the most technologically advanced LAMS-approved sportsbike currently on the market. You can opt for a naked Tuono version for $700 less than the fully faired version.

Click here to view examples currently listed for sale on bikesales (but be sure sure to check whether they’re full power or LAMS variants)

Engine: 292.4cc single-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 29.1hp (21.4kW) at 8750rpm and 25.3Nm at 7250rpm
Weight: 165kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: No
Electronics: ABS
Fork: 37mm upside-down fork, non-adjustable
Shock: Non-adjustable monoshock
Seat height: 780mm
Wheels: Five-spoked alloy
Fuel tank: 12L
Warranty: Three years/unlimited kilometres
Price: $6290 (ride away)
Notes: The CFMOTO 300RS has received an update for the 2022 model year. The improvements include a slipper clutch, Euro 5 compliance, a five-inch TFT dash which includes navigation as well as greater security thanks to the new internal-tooth key.

Engine: 399cc parallel-twin
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 45.4hp (33.4kW) at 10,000rpm and 38Nm at 8000rpm
Weight: 168kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: No
Electronics: Economical riding indicator and ABS brakes
Fork: 41mm conventional fork, non-adjustable
Shock: Monoshock, with adjustable preload
Seat height: 785mm
Wheels: Five-spoke alloy
Fuel tank: 14L
Warranty: Two-year/unlimited kilometres
Price: $7129 (plus on-road costs)
Notes: Kawasaki’s LAMS-approved sportsbikes have been hugely popular for the Japanese firm over the last decade. Starting with a 250cc version, it grew to 300cc and now the smallest Ninja is the 400. It currently makes up half of the field in the 2022 WorldSSP300 category including the Team #109 Kawasaki Ninja 400 ridden by Australia’s Harry Khouri.

Engine: 649cc in-line four
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 47.6hp (35kW) at 12,000rpm, torque n/a
Weight: 208kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: No
Electronics: ABS and traction control
Fork: 41mm USD Showa SFF fork, 120mm travel
Shock: Monoshock, adjustable preload, 44mm travel
Seat height: 785mm travel
Wheels: Cast aluminium
Fuel tank: 15.4L
Warranty: Two year/unlimited kilometres
Price: $11,399 (ride away)
Notes: The only LAMS-approved in-line four-cylinder sportsbike left as brands struggle to keep the more complex engines within ever-tighter Euro 5 emissions regulations. As well as a naked LAMS-approved version, there’s a full-powered version of both machines, though Honda Australia only opted to import the LAMS variants.

Engine: 649cc parallel-twin
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 51.4hp (37.8kW) at 8000rpm and 59Nm at 6500rpm
Weight: 192kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: No
Electronics: ABS, smartphone connectivity
Fork: 41mm conventional fork, non-adjustable
Shock: Horizontal back-link monoshock with adjustable preload
Seat height: 790mm
Wheels: Five-spoke alloy
Fuel tank: 15L
Warranty: Two year/unlimited kilometres
Price: $10,959 (plus on-road costs)
Notes: The bike with one of the highest power outputs on this list, but also the heaviest by a decent margin. Despite this, it’s very reliable and relatively popular, so spare parts should be really easy to come by. And given its 650cc capacity, the need to upgrade may not be as pressing as on a smaller LAMS machine.

Engine: 373cc single-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 43.5hp (32kW) at 9000rpm and 37Nm at 7000rpm
Weight: 164kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: Yes
Electronics: Cornering ABS and traction control
Fork: 43mm upside-down WP Apex fork, adjustable compression and rebound, 120mm travel
Shock: Fully adjustable WP Apex monoshock, 150mm travel
Seat height: 824mm
Wheels: Cast aluminium
Fuel tank: 13.7L
Warranty: Two years/unlimited kilometres
Price: $7515 (ride away)
Notes: Not as electronically advanced as the Aprilia, but the KTM RC 390 changes the game in terms of componentry. There’s lean-angle sensitive ABS and traction control, otherwise unheard of in this category, but it also runs top-shelf WP suspension found on bikes three and four times its price.

Engine: 124.4cc single-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 15hp (11kW) at 10,000rpm and 11.5Nm at 8000rpm
Weight: 134kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: No
Electronics: None
Fork: Conventional fork, non-adjustable
Shock: Monoshock, adjustable preload
Seat height: 785mm
Wheels: Aluminium alloy
Fuel tank: 11L
Warranty: Two years/unlimited kilometres
Price: $4190 (ride away)
Notes: While the naked GSX-S125 is still available, the fully faired GSX-R125 is currently out of stock, but gets a mention in this list because of its price tag. Priced at $4190 (ride away), it is the least expensive LAMS-approved sportsbike by a good whack and with features such as a keyless ignition and a digital dash, a well-looked-after secondhand model could be a good proposition.

Engine: 321cc parallel-twin
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 42.0hp (30.9kW) at 10,700rpm and 26.9Nm at 9000rpm
Weight: 167kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: No
Electronics: ABS
Fork: 37mm upside-down non-adjustable fork, 130mm travel
Shock: Monoshock, adjustable preload, 45mm travel
Seat height: 780mm
Wheels: Cast aluminium
Fuel tank: 14L
Warranty: Two years/unlimited kilometres
Price: $8199 (ride away)
Notes: Despite remaining unchanged since 2019, the price has risen the last couple of years and it’s expensive compared to its fellow 300cc counterparts as a result. It loves to rev though and performs better than its on-paper specs suggest, making it a pretty capable and sporty LAMS offering.

Engine: 655cc parallel-twin
Transmission: Six-speed
Output: 52.1hp (38.3kW) at 8000rpm and 57.5Nm at 4000rpm
Weight: 188kg (wet, claimed)
IMU: No
Electronics: ABS only
Fork: 41mm KYB upside-down fork, fully adjustable
Shock: KYB monoshock, adjustable for rebound and preload
Seat height: 835mm
Wheels: 10-spoke alloy
Fuel tank: 12.9L
Warranty: Two years/unlimited kilometres
Price: $14,049 (ride away)
Notes: What it lacks in electronic rider aids, it more than makes up for in looks and (for an extra $600) it’s even offered in Yamaha’s iconic 60th Anniversary red, black and white livery. It follows on from the naked MT-07, rather than the other way around, and carries a $1300 premium.

If you’re new to motorcycling or making a sportsbike-inspired return to two wheels, there’s a decent mix of fully faired LAMS-approved sportsbikes available, catering to a range of different levels of experience and budgets. In no particular order, here are our top five…

1. KTM RC 390. If you want a LAMS-approved tool for the track for under $10K, they don’t come any sharper than the Austrian firm’s single-cylinder sportsbike.

2. CFMOTO 300SR. In terms of bang for buck, CFMOTO’s 300SR is as good as it gets. The Chinese brand is about a decade ahead of its compatriots in terms of reputation and reliability, too.

3. Aprilia RS 660. Aprilia has raised the bar in terms of electronics made available on learner-approved machinery. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s top-shelf gear.

4. Yamaha YZF-R7LA. Superbike styling in a LAMS-approved package. Lack of electronic rider aids keeps the price significantly lower than the Aprilia.

5. Honda CBR650R. This makes the cut simply because it’s an in-line four-cylinder in a sea of parallel-twins and singles. Will hold its resale value as a result, helped along by the Honda badge.