Best Good-looking bikes in 2021

The last few years have been an unusually good time to buy a motorcycle. Starting after the 2008 recession, manufacturers increased their efforts to earn new customers and replace the riders who are aging out of ownership. That economic pressure has resulted in affordable, practical, and wonderfully strange new designs. In 2020, that means high-tech safety features such as traction control and even clothing that deploys personal airbags. It means keyless start/stop, transmissions that can predict and prevent you from stalling, and enough options to make choosing an electric motorcycle kind of difficult. Read on for advice on buying your own and reviews of the best rigs out there today.

1.KAWASAKI NINJA H2R

It's the tamed road-focused version of the crazy 306 bhp H2R and worth looking at if you want to win at Top Trumps.

The engine is supercharged plus between 2017 and 2019 it gained all the modern tech you could want, such as the up / down quickshifter, cornering ABS, Ohlins TTX36 shock, Brembo Stylema brakes, self healing paint and a fancy TFT dash. Of course 200 bhp isn't enough so they added another 40 bhp (with ram-air) while they were at it!

Key Specs

RRP: £ 22,000
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 30 mpg / 9.4 L/100km
Range: 110 miles / 177 km
Seat Height: 825 mm / 32.5 inches
Wet Weight: 238 kg / 525 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.828 bhp/kg

2. MV AGUSTA F4

Exotic Italian bike maker, MV Agusta, has added a limited-run variant of its litre-class F4 sports bike – the F4 RC. Only 250 of these bikes will be produced worldwide. Of these, the single bike allotted for India is priced at a whopping Rs 51.91 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The F4 RC is hand-assembled by a team of specialists to ensure optimisation at the top levels of production. Each motorcycle gets a certificate of authenticity, which makes it unique and exclusive. As a result, the model will hold good value as a collector’s edition.

The F4 RC uses the 998cc, four-cylinder engine from the standard F4 that has been tuned to produce 205hp and 115Nm of torque as against the base bike’s outputs of 195hp and 111Nm. Additionally, the RC comes fitted with a race kit comprising a titanium Termignoni exhaust system and a retuned ECU which bumps up power to 212hp.

With the race kit, the bike weighs just 175kg, making it a whole 16kg lighter than the F4. The weight loss, along with the added power, helps the RC attain a claimed top speed of 302kph, with the F4 maxing out at a claimed 291.2kph.

3. DUCATI PANIGALE V4S

No sports bike top ten would be complete without a beautiful Ducati, in this case the new for 2018 V4 powered Panigale V4 S.

It sets the bar high on looks, power, weight and features all the tech you would expect.

There's Ohlins electrically adjustable suspension, cornering ABS, slide control, a lean angle aware quickshifter, gorgeous TFT dash and of course the stunning single sided swingarm with no massive exhaust to ruin the lines.

For 2021, if you have the required £32,300, there's also the range topping V4 SP with Carbon wheels, Brembo Stylema R calipers and a dry racing clutch.

Key Specs

RRP: £23,900

Engine: V4

Capacity: 1,103 cc

Power: 211 bhp / 157 kW

Top Speed: 200 mph / 322 km/h

Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km

Range: 120 miles / 193 km

Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches

Wet Weight: 195 kg / 430 pounds

Power to Weight: 1.082 bhp/kg

4. YAMAHA R1

It builds on the standard R1 with semi-active Ohlins electronic suspension, a new ERS NPX fork, Carbon bodywork / front fender / tail cowl and a range of apps to set custom ride modes, track all the data from the bike and to display a re-run of the race on Google Maps.

It's a limited production run with the number stamped on top of the tank.

Key Specs

RRP: £22,000
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km
Range: 130 miles / 209 km
Seat Height: 860 mm / 33.9 inches
Wet Weight: 200 kg / 441 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.985 bhp/kg

5. BMW S1000RR

The S1000RR was game changing when it launched in 2005 although the asymmetric looks did divide opinion.

BMW have been constantly evolving it and three generations later the 2019 model is a brand new bike.

The wonky headlight is gone, power is up from a new Variable Valve Timing engine, weight is down, the dash is now a fancy colour TFT job and it can be fully spec'd up with semi-active electronic suspension. The new M Pack even adds Carbon Fibre wheels but you won't see much change from £20,000.

If £20,000 is too cheap for you BMW launched the £30,935 track focused M1000RR for 2020. It's more powerful, lighter and includes most of the options list.

Key Specs

RRP: £15,290

Engine: Inline Four VVT

Capacity: 999 cc

Power: 204 bhp / 152 kW

Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h

Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km

Range: 150 miles / 241 km

Seat Height: 824 mm / 32.4 inches

Wet Weight: 197 kg / 434 pounds

Power to Weight: 1.036 bhp/kg

6. CBR 1000RR FIREBLADE

The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is brand new for 2020 with a more compact and powerful engine, second generation electronic suspension, new Brembo Stylema calipers, larger front discs, winglets integrated into the new bodywork, a fancy new TFT dash and a specially designed Akrapovic exhaust as standard.

It's 100% track focused, as small as a 600 cc and has a really aggressive seating position.

Key Specs

RRP: £23,500
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 1,000 cc
Power: 215 bhp / 160 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
Range: 160 miles / 257 km
Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
Wet Weight: 201 kg / 443 pounds
Power to Weight: 1.070 bhp/kg

7. GSX-R1000

Competing directly with the Fireblade is Suzuki's new for 2017 GSX-R1000R. A major re-design focused on more power from a Variable Valve Timing (VVT) engine, aerodynamics and being more compact however the exhaust grew into a bit of a monster.

It builds on the £2,850 cheaper base GSX-R1000 with more advanced Showa suspension, a bi-directional quickshifter, launch control and a lighter battery.

Key Specs

RRP: £16,100
Engine: Inline Four VVT
Capacity: 1,000 cc
Power: 199 bhp / 148 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 40 mpg / 7.1 L/100km
Range: 140 miles / 225 km
Seat Height: 825 mm / 32.5 inches
Wet Weight: 203 kg / 448 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.980 bhp/kg

8. KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10R SE

New for 2018 the ZX-10R SE has a party trick when it comes to suspension. It's from Showa and electronically adjusts the damping 1,000 times per second although the pre-load is still manual.

There's also cornering ABS, Brembo brakes, Ohlins steering damper and launch control.

Key Specs

RRP: £18,950
Engine: Inline Four
Capacity: 998 cc
Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW
Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h
Economy: 45 mpg / 6.3 L/100km
Range: 170 miles / 274 km
Seat Height: 835 mm / 32.9 inches
Wet Weight: 206 kg / 454 pounds
Power to Weight: 0.956 bhp/kg

9.YAMAHA YZF-R1M

The standard R1 has been knocking about now since 2015 however for 2018 it gained a 2-level quickshifter, launch control, an anti-wheelie system and a fancy colour TFT dash.

For 2020 there's an upgraded chassis, fuelling tweaks, a sharper front end, new side fairings, a smoother tank, 5% improvement in aerodynamics, new lighter Titanium lower fairing and new multi level ABS and EBC systems.

Other improvements include a more rigid airbox design, new lighter throttle sensor, suspension / steering damper tweaks, updated tyres, updated launch control, better brake pads, new tail light design and some Euro 5 exhaust tweaks.

Key Specs

RRP: £16,800

Engine: Inline Four

Capacity: 998 cc

Power: 197 bhp / 147 kW

Top Speed: 185 mph / 298 km/h

Economy: 35 mpg / 8.1 L/100km

Range: 130 miles / 209 km

Seat Height: 855 mm / 33.7 inches

Wet Weight: 199 kg / 439 pounds

Power to Weight: 0.990 bhp/kg

10.SUZUKI HAYABUSA

Design

The new Suzuki Hayabusa is expected to feature a shaper and meaner design that will be an evolution of the previous motorcycle. That said, the new motorcycle does seem to retain the original's unique identity, albeit with contemporary design elements. Whether it is the large headlamp, the swooping fairing or the tail section, it is all reminiscent of the previous Hayabusa. The huge exhausts are another design element that makes the Hayabusa instantly recognisable.

Engine

Details about the new-generation model’s engine are still under wraps but a patent filing in 2019 suggests that the new Hayabusa gets a larger unit. The power and torque figures also expected to see a bump and it is rumoured to produce over 200hp. The teaser video shows the motorcycle hitting 290kph and it won't be surprising to see the Hayabusa cross the 300kph mark.

To transmit that power, there'll be a 6-speed manual gearbox although there are rumours that Suzuki may also offer a DCT option.

Electronics and chassis

While the previous Hayabusa only had ABS and power modes, the new Suzuki Hayabusa is expected to get a contemporary suite of electronics, including IMU-assisted traction control and ABS. Suzuki is also expected to offer the latest generation suspension, brakes and tyres on the new Hayabusa.

Availability

Suzuki will reveal the new Hayabusa on February 5, 2021, and it goes with saying that legions of ‘Busa fans are waiting to see what the all-new motorcycle is all about. Stay tuned for the updates.