10 Fastest European Sports Bikes You Can Buy In 2024

In the late 1960s, Honda opened the door to modern sports bikes by releasing the CB750, widely recognized as the first superbike. But racers have been using bikes that were manufactured all over the world. Plenty of European bikes were posting impressive performance numbers as well. The original Triumph Bonneville was named so, after Jack Dale broke the speed record at the Bonneville salt flats on a Triumph Thunderbird. BMW, Bimota, and Ducati had also notched many racing victories throughout the years.

And there’s just something inherently different about sports bikes that come from European manufacturers. While Japanese motorcycles are known for their reliability, precision, and performance, European bikes, on the other hand, tend to have more personality, uniqueness, and style. That’s not to say that bikes from Triumph, Ducati and BMW lack performance as a trade-off. On the contrary, some of today’s fastest motorcycles come from England, Italy, and Germany. And in the list below, you can see which European performance machine may be the right one for you to swing a leg over in 2024.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Cycle World, MotorCycle News, and Motorcyclist Magazine. The models on this list have been arranged from the slowest top speed to the fastest.

10 BMW R 1250 RS

Top Speed: 135 MPH

You may be wondering, ‘why even bother’ when it comes to looking at the R 1250 RS. The S 1000 RR is sitting right there. But we’ve got three very good reasons for you: price, comfort, and the boxer engine. Yes, the S 1000 RR is a true sports bike (more on that model later), but the R 1250 RS is the more practical choice, despite it being slower in the top speed department. The ergonomics are made for longer rides, the price is a full $5K cheaper, and the boxer engine is the same proven unit used up until recently on the R 1250 GS.

Engine Specifications

9 MV Agusta Superveloce

Top Speed: 150 MPH

MV Agusta certainly has pedigree when it comes to motorcycle racing. Their history is ripe with victories, podiums, and championships. To celebrate what the company has been able to achieve in the past, MV Agusta released a stunner in 2023, called the Superveloce. At once a futuristic design exercise and a callback to a simpler time, the Superveloce was nothing if not a gorgeous motorcycle.

At its center beats an 800 cc triple-cylinder engine, which outputs a respectable 147 horsepower and a top speed of 149 miles per hour. This legacy inspired bike was an instant success for MV Agusta. And if you’re in the mood for some retro flair, this may be a fantastic choice for your garage (though Triumph may have something to say about that a bit later).

Engine Specifications

8 MV Agusta F3 RR

Top Speed: 150 MPH

While the MV Agusta F3 RR has the same engine as the Superveloce, it looks nothing like it. If the Superveloce is MV Agusta’s glance at the past, the F3 RR is their look into the future. This is the bike you take to the track, while the Superveloce is just too pretty to risk a lowside on.

But even if the F3 RR is not as handsome, it’s still a heck of a lot more unique and interesting than your average R7, Ninja or Gixxer, which tend to populate your typical track day. But you had better have your wits about you, as that kind of attention will inevitably attract the competitive sort, and you’ll have your work cut out for you every time you go out for a few laps.

Engine Specifications

7 Ducati SuperSport 950

Top Speed: 153 MPH

Ducati has several bikes on this list, and rightfully so. It also speaks volumes that their slowest offering here is a bike called the SuperSport, which tops out at 153 miles per hour. Still, this seems to be Ducati’s attempt at producing an entry sports bike, with it being cheaper than any of the Panigales or the Superleggera V4. This being Ducati, however, they didn’t skimp on the goodies, and though it is comparatively cheaper, it is by no means inexpensive, costing north of $15k.

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6 Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR

Top Speed: 165 MPH

This is one of those situations where a street bike is masquerading as a sports bike, but the Speed Triple 1200 RR looks so damn good, we just don’t care enough about this technicality. Besides, despite Triumph unveiling a new Daytona 660 this year, if we’re being honest, it’s a bit on a slower side when it comes to sports bikes.

So the Triple 1200 RR remains Triumph’s singular sports bike offering, at least for the time being. And that’s totally fine by us, as it is not only gorgeous to look at, but thrilling to ride as well.

Engine Specifications

5 BMW S 1000 RR

Top Speed: 186 MPH

Remember that heavy, old-school R 1250 RS at the top of the article? Well, who needs boxer twins anyway, when you have a screaming in-line four under you. Bred specifically for the track, and loaded to the gills with premium technology, the S 1000 RR is a speed demon born of legendary German precision and engineering know-how.

It looks mean and menacing, and rides like it. And though it may have developed a reputation for being a bit too sterile, unpredictable behavior from a bike can be a liability when it comes to riding on a racecourse.

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4 Aprilia RSV4 1100

Top Speed: 186 MPH

Aprilia has a few bikes on the market, and with the recent addition of the Tuareg 660, it’s starting to slowly branch out into other categories. But anyone that has ever spent any time in the saddle of the Aprilia RSV4 1100 will readily tell you that it is this bike that’s responsible for the ultimate, intoxicating experience.

The ride is only bested by the noise this thing makes. It looks like a classic sports bike too, with clean, minimal livery and tons of character. It’s a superbike, through and through, and the glowing reviews only serve to confirm it.

Engine Specifications

3 Ducati Panigale V4

Top Speed: 192 MPH

Nestled comfortably between Ducati’s SuperSport and the limited edition Superleggera, the Panigale V4 needs no formal introduction. The bike comes preloaded with a reputation for being one of the best modern sports bike, regardless of whether it’s a V2 or a V4 version. And with Ducati’s unending march to the podium in MotoGP, it’s easy to see how the Panigale got so popular. It certainly helps that it provides a breathtaking ride, no doubt helped by the various premium technological components that Ducati crammed into its lightweight aluminum alloy chassis.

Engine Specifications

2 Norton V4SV

Top Speed: Unconfirmed

Norton is a troubled company these days. Recently rescued from a financial controversy, it is slowly trying to make its way back into the public’s good graces. And producing a problem-free V4SV would go a long way in achieving that. Nevertheless, the bike, as it is now, certainly looks fantastic and performs just as well.

Engineered with a premium feel in mind, the V4SV is the British answer to the MV Agustas, BMWs and Ducatis of the world. However, while technically it is available for purchase, those of us on the wrong side of the pond will have to wait a bit longer to get it, as it is only approved for use in the UK.

Engine Specifications

1 Ducati Panigale V4 R

Top Speed: 198 MPH

The buck stops at the Panigale V4 R, when it comes to the fastest European sports bikes you can buy. It is a properly mental machine, boasting 22 more horsepower than the base V4 model and a top speed that’s nearing 200 miles per hour. It is an epic motorcycle, on par with anything that the Big Four have come up with.

Furthermore, it’s loaded with track tech, while looking like a proper Ducati, evolved from decades of passionate Italian design and engineering. Yes, it’ll set you back a pretty penny, but no one ever said that perfection would be cheap or easy to get.

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