10 Midweight Motorcycles That Deliver Maximum Fun With Manageable Power

Automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts love speed. The dance we do, of trying to cheat the laws of physics and getting in the fastest lap time possible, is what gets the adrenaline pumping. Motorcycles do this by stripping away pretty much everything that isn’t needed, and their lightness is what gives them their performance. However, somewhere along the way, more power became the standard by which a motorcycle’s fun quotient began to be judged. This is how the power race began, and to this day, manufacturers are trying to extract more power.

However, you don’t always need a lot of power to have fun on a motorcycle; in fact, if the power figure is a friendly one, you can concentrate more on making the most of it, rather than focusing on not dying or getting arrested. Look at naked bikes like supermotos, if you aren’t convinced. We’ve made a list of ten midweight motorcycles that deliver maximum fun with manageable power, because what is power without control, after all?

Honda CB750 Hornet

Price: $7,999

Honda

The Hornet series is Honda’s aggressive streetfighter style of street bikes. They are styled to look the part, and they also back it up with substance. The CB750 Hornet is the middleweight, and it is powered by the same driveline that also does duty in the XL750 Transalp. That means a sprightly 91 horsepower from the 270 degree parallel twin, an assist and slipper clutch, and a two-way quickshifter that is optional. You also get Showa suspension, Nissin brakes with wave discs and radial front calipers, traction control in the form of HSTC, ride modes, power modes, wheelie control, and the ability to adjust the intensity of the engine braking.

BMW F 900 R

Price: $8,995

BMW

We find a middleweight BMW as the second most-affordable motorcycle on this list, which is quite a surprise. The F 900 R is that rarest of things: a premium product that is also great value for money. You get a powerful 105 horsepower parallel twin that looks like a million bucks and rides really well. Standard features include rear spring preload and damping adjustability, cornering ABS, traction control, adjustable hand levers, a TFT, and two ride modes. If you want any other features like a two-way quickshifter, additional ride modes, adaptive headlamp, cruise control, and electronically adjustable suspension you’re going to have to get the optional $1,470 Premium Package.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R

Price: $8,999

Kawasaki

The Ninja ZX-4R is a throwback to the 1990s, when small displacement inline four sports bikes were very popular. It hasn’t started a revival from the other Japanese manufacturers, but judging by the response from the public and Chinese manufacturers, it definitely has a lot of excitement. It is a little dulled in the US market, making 56 horsepower at 11,500 RPM, while elsewhere in the world it is closer to 80 horsepower at 15,000 RPM. You also get a 4.3-inch TFT with Bluetooth connectivity. You also get dual front brake discs, radially mounted calipers, and the option of upgraded suspension and a two-way quickshifter with the ZX-4RR.

Harley-Davidson Nightster

Price: $9,999

Harley-Davidson

The Nightster is the entry point to the Harley-Davidson range, but it feels like anything but an entry-level bike. You get the most powerful cruiser under $10,000 for the money, and a surprisingly fun motorcycle as well. This is thanks to its trellis frame that uses the engine as a stressed member, saving weight. The engine itself is the 975 cc Revolution Max engine, which is fully liquid cooled, short stroke, and has variable valve timing to boot. H-D hasn’t skimped on the gearbox, either, offering six speeds. ABS, traction control, and drag torque slip control are standard.

Yamaha MT-09

Price: $10,799

Yamaha

The MT-09 has not had an update in a while, which is why it doesn’t occupy the spotlight much any longer. That’s a shame, though, because it doesn’t need any updates to be a thrill a minute. The crossplane engine alone is enough to put a grin on your face, and it is helped by the excellent chassis. You get enough features as well, with a six-axis IMU and a 5-inch TFT color display with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. For roughly $1,500 more the MT-09 SP will turn everything up to 11 by adding fully adjustable suspension from Ohlins and Kayaba, Brembo Stylema brake calipers, keyless ignition, more control over the parameters of the ride modes, and a display that is more racetrack focused.

Yamaha Tenere 700

Price: $10,999

Yamaha

The Tenere 700 doesn’t seem like much of a value proposition when you look at its price and then its power output. However, it is a really light motorcycle for its class, and that’s where it offers so much fun. You can go farther and faster off-road with a Tenere 700 than anything in its class except the models that are purpose built to go off-road. The Tenere 700 will be a better highway bike than them, too, especially now that it has the taller windscreen, and the optional two-way quickshifter. The ride modes offered by the by-wire throttle now make it an even easier bike to live with. The absence of cruise control seems like an error on Yamaha’s part, though.

Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory

Price: $11,499

Aprilia

The Tuono has always been the wild child of not only the Aprilia range, but of naked bikes in general. Aprilia has done a good job making sure that the middleweight Tuono retains this character as well. It is available in the US market with only all the bells and whistles, so you can expect absolutely everything to be present on it. That means an aluminum twin spar chassis with an adjustable swingarm pivot point, Ohlins fully adjustable suspension, Brembo brakes with a radial front master cylinder, a fixed caliper even at the rear, a 105 horsepower output, the best electronics this side of a track-special liter supersports bike in the APRC suite, and a curb weight of under 400 pounds.

KTM 690 SMC R

Price: $13,399

KTM via Dobler T

We couldn’t possibly leave out a supermotard when talking about fun bikes. The KTM 690 SMC R has recently got an update, and wrested the title of ‘most powerful single cylinder’ back from the Ducati supermoto. The additional power has come despite the compliance with stricter emissions norms. Other updates include the small TFT color screen that we first saw on the 390 Enduro R, which not only lays out information clearly, but also can show turn-by-turn navigation. The 690 SMC R is a simple, rugged motorcycle that is built for the kind of fun that is naughty, and we love it because of that.

Ducati Hypermotard 698

Price: $13,995

Ducati

The Hypermotard 698 surprised everyone when it launched, because it was the most powerful single cylinder bike at the time. Small wonder, as it is equipped with Ducati’s Desmodromic valvetrain. You get all the electronics you’d expect from a Ducati that chases performance, but in a superlight frame and body built for fun. Of course, you’ll still have to deal with the dreaded valve clearance checks, but seeing as how this is a thumper, and it is too uncomfortable to put too many miles on anyway, this is probably the only Ducati model we’re going to say where the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Ducati Panigale V2

Price: $16,495

Ducati

The Panigale V2 might have shrunk both its engine capacity as well as its power output, but it still stands taller than any other middleweight sports bike, thanks to a great power-to-weight ratio. Ducati has backed this up with better daily usability thanks to a more forgiving riding position and better torque delivery. This doesn’t mean in any way that it is neutered, though; take it to a racetrack and you’ll discover it is just as quick as the old bike, and possibly more enjoyable for the vast majority because it is so forgiving. You get the full set of Ducati electronics and features – this is a premium bike, after all!