2 of the Best Middleweight Sportbikes You Can Buy in 2023
The middleweight sportbike category is a mix of carryover models that manufacturers aren’t ready to let go of just yet, and fully modern options like the Ducati Panigale V2.
The adage “There’s no replacement for displacement” probably started with hot-rodders, and it’s a good one for them. The problem is, when it comes to sportbikes, it’s just flat wrong. Go to any trackday and you’ll find that good riders on production 600s can show their tail feathers to average riders on premium literbikes. That’s the great thing about motorcycling: It’s so much about the rider. And that’s precisely why the nine middleweight sportbikes presented here make so much sense. Displacing from 599cc to 955cc and priced from ~$12K to ~$18K, they both offer a mix of performance and accessibility. And for less dough than the flagship offerings across each manufacturer’s lineup.
Sure, the class has changed quite dramatically over the years, and manufacturers are still redefining the “middleweight” term. But that evolution has created some great options in nearly every manufacturer’s lineup. And in the case where manufacturers have resisted change, the result is classic 600cc performance that still appeals to certain riders. That’s to say that, regardless of what you’re looking for in terms of performance or tech, one of these is probably a middleweight sportbike for you.
Ducati V2 Panigale
2023 Ducati Panigale V2, $18,595 ($18,895 for Black on Black livery)
For over 50 years, Ducati’s desmodromic V-twins have earned success—and the accompanying respect—on racetracks worldwide. A pinnacle of Ducati twin-cylinder performance, the Panigale V2 punches out a Cycle World tested 132 hp at the rear tire from its 955cc engine, stretching the definition of “middleweight.” Power flows through race-derived straight-cut primary gears to a six-speed gearbox paired with a slipper clutch and quickshifter.
Hidden under svelte Italian bodywork is a unique monocoque aluminum frame that helps keep the curb weight to just 441 pounds for predictably quick handling. The $18,595 Panigale V2 is equipped with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tires and Brembo Monoblock front brakes. A healthy suite of electronic rider aids—configurable via the 4.3-inch TFT color screen—includes wheelie control and cornering ABS, selectable ride and power modes, a lap timer, and a data analyzer with GPS. Would you expect anything less from a performance-first manufacturer like Ducati? Probably not.
Browse our inventory of the Ducati Panigale V2
Honda CBR600RR
2023 Honda CBR600RR, $12,099
Honda’s CBR600RR is the most classic and authentic middleweight on the market, if only because Honda hasn’t adjusted the formula—or updated the bike—for years. Finished in Honda’s distinctive Grand Prix Red color scheme, the CBR600RR at least looks fully modern and in line with its larger-displacement siblings.
The CBR’s 599cc DOHC inline-four uses highly oversquare bore/stroke dimensions (the 67mm cylinder bore is a whopping 58 percent greater than the 42.5mm piston stroke), promoting ultra-high rpm capability for its quartet of 150cc cylinders. This is classic, high-rpm middleweight riding. Then, to help the CBR600RR perform well around town, each cylinder has two fuel injectors: One devoted to high-rpm response, and the other for clean running at low revs.
Honda paid close attention to weight savings when it designed the CBR600RR, and as a result this supersport weighs just a claimed 410 pounds ready to ride. For snappy handling, mass centralization is aided by a low-mounted 4.8-gallon gas tank. An electronic steering damper automatically adjusts the damping level—less at low speeds for lighter steering, more at high speeds for added stability. For 2023, the long-running CBR600RR retails for $12,099, with ABS costing $1,000 more. But keep in mind, parts of the bike will feel outdated.
Browse our inventory of the Honda CBR600RR