Fully faired Sports motorcycles are becoming a rarer sight with the rise in popularity of naked streetfighters and semi-naked sports bikes. That doesn’t mean they aren’t as cool as ever though, it’s just that modern tastes have changed and technology has improved to allow for awesome-looking motorcycles with half the fairings. However, if you have a thing for a fully faired motorcycle but you don’t quite want the sheer power of a liter-class bike, you’re going to love this list of middleweight Sportbikes coming to the market in 2023.
2023 Kawasaki Ninja 650 Performance
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 Performance is available for purchase in 2023 for $11,174 and has some excellent performance enhancements that make it a viable middleweight contender, and knowing the engine performance of the Ninja 650 - it might hold its own on the track as well.
Featuring a liquid-cooled four-stroke parallel twin engine, producing 650 horsepower and 47.2 pound-feet of torque at 6500 rpm this motorcycle is a testament to the capability of the Ninja 650 engine. The 2023 release has a bunch of improvements over the 2022 model, which makes it a desirable motorcycle moving into the New Year.
The 2023 Ninja 650 features Kawasaki's innovative traction control system or KTRC as it’s officially known. This feature has two modes for sport riding and low traction riding respectively - track enthusiasts will be keen to note that you can turn traction control off completely. Also coming as standard on this model is the renowned Akrapovic exhaust system, titanium, and carbon fiber construction materials meaning this strips 2.15kg from the original weight.
Another feature as standard on the 2023 model is smartphone connectivity via a Bluetooth chip built into the instrument panel. The instrument cluster is in color, a first for the 650cc class from Kawasaki - there are also display features that are unavailable in previous models. Lighter tires, more powerful headlights, thicker seats, and more edgier styling make this a significantly upgraded motorcycle that could come top of its class in 2023.
2023 Kawasaki Hybrid
The Kawasaki Hybrid is a secretive bike, and the Hybrid is not even its official name. Revealed at EICMA 2022, we can hope for a road released in 2023. The reason Kawasaki is so tight-lipped about this motorcycle is that it would be the first-ever hybrid motorcycle produced for road use. No other manufacturer has successfully created a motorcycle that utilizes energy from a battery at low speeds, and an Internal Combustion Engine at high speeds.
There’s a reason for this though, it’s difficult to package a large battery into a motorcycle whilst keeping the weight down and high production costs have left this source of alternative power untouched by manufacturers.
If Kawasaki does release this bike in 2023, it will circumvent low-emission zones in cities - as you trundle around in city traffic this motorcycle will use power from its battery only, and the roar of the engine will kick in once you leave the built-up streets for the highway.
2023 Aprilia RS 660 Extrema
Aprilia is known for getting the most out of smaller-capacity engines, and this 2023 middleweight release is no exception. The 659cc parallel twin-cylinder engine hasn’t changed from the base model, it still produces 100 horsepower but the overall frame is stripped of 3kg of weight, meaning faster acceleration.
The 2023 Aprilia RS 660 Extrema model has some similar features to the Limited Edition Stars and Stripes model, with an up-and-down quick-shifter and a single-seat unit. One notable and welcome change from the base model is the SC-Project exhaust with carbon silencer - it exits from the side of the bike rather than sitting under the engine.
Looking the part, the Extrema has carbon fiber mudguards and a belly pan which help with that weight reduction. Aprilia already claims the best-in-class power-to-weight ratio, and all this does is further cement that position.
2023 KTM RC 8C
This motorcycle is unfortunately a track-exclusive model, but it caters to a niche that many manufacturers don’t. The last model was only available in the United States and featured the same engine as the KTM 890 Duke. The 2023 model, however, has made some changes for track performance.
The 889cc parallel-twin engine is fed by a larger than previous 48mm throttle body, the titanium valves have been lightened, the piston rings are compressed to a higher ratio, and the new and lighter connecting titanium rods allow the engine to rev to 12,000 rpm. This motorcycle weighs in at just 141kg (dry weight). Add an Akrapovic exhaust and KTM claims this combo delivers ‘increased power and torque’.
New customizable suspension, a MotoGP dash, and lightweight winglets make this the ultimate track motorcycle. KTM is only going to produce 200 models, and it’ll set you back $39,599 - which is a serious price considering you could get a superbike for cheaper. But if lightweight performance is what you’re after, and you have the cash for a one-purpose motorcycle - this could be the one for you in 2023.
2023/24 Yamaha R9
The Yamaha YZF-R9 is a widely anticipated motorcycle that Yamaha aims to release in the second half of 2023. Falling just short of liter-bike status, the R9 is still a big brother to the now discontinued YZF-R6 and its 'replacement' the YZF-R7. The YZF-R9 will likely use the MT platform, borrowing the 889cc engine from the hugely successful MT-09; it's a triple-cylinder engine that produces 117 horsepower and 68.6 pound-feet of torque.
Despite the addition of fairings, the YZF-R9 should be close to the MT-09s wet weight of 418 pounds. For an engine this size, that's a maneuverable weight that makes this motorcycle a valid track contender. Official specifications for this motorcycle are not yet released, Yamaha has trademarked the R9 name and logo in multiple countries; leading us to believe the YZF-R9 will be available to the public sooner rather than later.