Best Motorcycles For Honing Your Racetrack Skills In 2024

Talk to any motorcycle enthusiast who’s been to a racetrack, and they’ll tell you what an entirely different ball game it is over road riding. It’s the ultimate test of your riding skills, as you get acquainted with doing things you’d never do on the road (not in your right mind, anyway). For example, scraping your knees while leaning, stopping hard from over 124mph and leaning into a corner, or simply sliding the rear wheel on a corner exit.

The level of adrenaline and dopamine these things give you is borderline addicting. So once you get a hang of it, you’ll be thinking about honing your skills to cut down tenths of your lap times. After all, fast times are the biggest flex when you’re at the track.

But to hone your skills, you need a suitable motorcycle for the job. A motorcycle that has enough power to excite you, lets you get the basics right, and most importantly, can be fixed easily (crashing is an integral part of the game). Seems like a hard-to-find combination, right? It is, but lucky for you, we’ve done our homework and come up with the 10 best bikes for the job.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from manufacturers. The motorcycles are arranged in order of power and we haven’t included any liter-class bikes as they can be way too intimidating on the track. Remember, this is about honing YOUR skills to become fast, not riding a fast bike.

10 Yamaha YZF-R3

If you’re a newbie entering the world of track riding, not many bikes are better than the Yamaha YZF-R3 for you. This is a simple yet engaging motorcycle with a proven 321cc twin-cylinder powerhouse that’s not intimidating but still promises to reach 100mph with ease. So you can focus on the bare basics rather than worrying about being launched to the moon.

What adds to the experience is the likable chassis and suspension. Sure, the latter isn’t adjustable, but this will only ensure you exploit the stock setting before getting into the nitty gritty. Yamaha’s extensive parts availability also means you won’t be stranded for months if you crash.

9 KTM RC 390

Back in 2014, the KTM RC 390 debuted as one of the first track-focused sub-400cc motorcycles. Fast forward a decade, and it still serves that duty well. Whether you want low clip-on bars, rear set footpegs, or a punchy thumper of an engine, the RC checks all the right boxes. Aside from this, you get adjustable USD forks and monoshock to fine-tune the riding dynamics, along with adjustable bars to increase the aggressiveness of the posture.

In its last update, the bike also gained new wheels, brakes, and subframe–all focusing on reducing weight and improving handling. The result is a bike you can throw around corners with little effort. Once you are in sync with it, you can even smoke average riders with middleweight bikes on tight tracks!

8 Kawasaki Ninja 400

Yes, we know the Ninja 500 is out as a replacement for the Ninja 400. But the latter is still better suited for honing your track skills for a few reasons. One of the biggest is the extensive amount of aftermarket parts available for the 400. This means you can change virtually anything on the bike if you dump it in a low-side crash (or worse, a high-side!). It also means you have access to a long list of parts for improving the motorcycle as your skills level up.

Other than this, a special mention goes to the beautiful, world-renowned 399cc, parallel twin engine. It’s powerful enough to reach serious speeds while remaining predictable so you can learn the basics like throttle control. A capable trellis chassis and an uber-low curb weight are also likable aspects for track duties.

7 Aprilia RS 457

The RS 457 is arguably the most capable sub-500cc bike for track duties. Why? Two reasons: its engine and its chassis. The RS employs a 457cc, twin-cylinder engine that produces a class-leading 47 horsepower and 32 pound-feet. This means some serious performance on the track, with a top speed of nearly 124 miles per hour.

As for the chassis, Aprilia has built its entry-level offering around an aluminum perimeter frame. It’s much more capable than the steel trellis we usually see, which should ensure riding dynamics like no other 400-500cc sports bike. If that’s not a recipe for a kickass track bike to hone your skills, we don’t know what is.

6 Yamaha YZF-R7

Let’s face it, the new breed of mid-capacity sports bikes is hardly suited for track duties. They focus more on comfort, with raised handlebars, mid-set pegs, and tractable engines. But there’s one slight exception: the Yamaha YZF-R7. What makes this a great track tool is the aggressive ergonomics somewhat inspired by the YZF-R6.

The clip-on bars sit below the triple-tree, while the footpegs are rear-set to increase cornering clearance. Its adjustable suspension, slim aesthetic, and low curb weight further elevate its track riding potential. Just don’t think of it as a YZF-R6 replacement because this will be much slower around a racetrack.

5 KTM 690 SMC R

This right here is the oddball entry in the list. But believe us, it belongs here. One of the biggest reasons is its stripped-back design. With barely any bodywork, the 690 SMC eggs you to push yourself without worrying about crashing. That not only helps you cut down tenths on your lap times but also enables you to try different techniques (backing it in, sliding out of corners) you’d otherwise be scared of on a fully faired bike.

Another reason is the versatility. From tiny go-kart tracks to parking lots, the SMC can be ridden anywhere with ease. After all, it’s as light as the Honda CB300R! Finally, there’s the engine. KTM’s 690cc mill might be a single, but it promises over 70 horsepower and 50 pound-feet. So you have enough juice to get used to middleweight levels of power before stepping up the order.

4 Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo

Getting back to sports bikes, the next option is the Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo. This is a motorcycle for the serious track aficionados who don’t mind splurging to get the best of the best. While the stock RS 660 is quite good as it is, this one brings all sorts of track-focused upgrades.

For starters, you get no road-legal elements like headlights, plate holders, or mirrors to keep the weight down. This, along with the race-spec fairings and wheels, limits the weight to just 337 pounds. Then, there’s the KYB forks with a cartridge kit from Misano By Andreani, paired with an Ohlins AP948 monoshock–both fully adjustable. Add to this the race dash and switchgear, and you have the perfect track bike to elevate your skills once you’ve outgrown your 300-400cc offering.

3 Honda CBR600RR

The 600cc supersport class might be dying, but the CBR600RR is a proven track beast you can still take home in 2024. It has had ample racing success in the WSSP class, while its engine has been proven in the Moto2 class before the 765 era. In its stock form, the CBR spoils you with sharp riding dynamics and a capable perimeter chassis. This, along with the light alloys and adjustable suspension, promises to set racetracks ablaze.

As for the powerhouse, there’s a 599cc, inline-four screamer at your helm. It’s good for 119 horsepower, all of which comes in at the top. So this will teach you how to ride hard like a racer before stepping up to a liter-class offering.

2 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R

Like the CBR600RR but want a more modern product? Then, there’s the Ninja ZX-6R for you. It promises to do everything the RR can while promising a more up-to-date experience. That’s because it just underwent an overhaul last year where it gained a TFT dash, a few rider aids, and a new bodywork. As for its track credentials, you get aggressive ergonomics, sharp rake, perimeter chassis, and a powerful four-cylinder engine for an unmatched riding experience. The power output is eight ponies up from the 600RR once the RAM Air does its thing.

1 KTM RC 8C

Imagine you’ve nailed 400cc bikes and now you want to experience the next best thing. Something that boasts Moto2 levels of performance but doesn’t come with the peaky power delivery of inline-fours. That’s where the RC 8C comes in. It’s currently KTM’s flagship sports bike, armed with track-focused elements from head to toe.

The highlight here is the 890cc, twin-cylinder engine. It’s borrowed from the 890 Duke but comes armed with a race exhaust and internal upgrades to produce an impressive 132 horsepower and 72 pound-feet. So you can punch out of corners harder than anything other mid-capacity bike here. Another highlight is its race-ready underpinnings comprising WP XACT Pro forks, Apex Pro monoshock, and forged aluminum Dymag wheels!