Top five sports bikes in Bangladesh

Globally, sports bikes are some of the fastest machines you can buy—built for the racetrack, they capture the hearts and minds of thrill-seeking bikers. While the 165cc limit in Bangladesh bars many of these magnificent litre-class (1000 cc or above) beasts from coming into the country, the term "sport bike" is thrown around quite a bit, mainly used to describe kitted up basic bikes with warmed up engines. They might not have the performance to match actual sport bikes, but they're the next best thing if you want to look like you're doing a million km/h while barely doing 20 in Dhaka traffic. So here's our list for the top five sports bikes on the market, in no particular order. 

The underdog - Lifan KPR 165

Lifan is a relatively new name in the local market, even though this Chinese automotive giant has been around for almost three decades. Their KPR 165 is a surprisingly good option for its price. The fuel-injected 165 cc engine produces 17 HP and 12.5 lb-ft of torque, meaning she is fairly fast for a 150 kg vehicle. However, the bike's fit and finish leaves a lot to be desired and being a Chinese product, it may develop unwanted problems in the long run. Particularly, its fuel injection system may have trouble with the sub-standard octane available at our local fuel stations.

Price: TK 2,10,000

The dashing heavyweight - Taro GP1

The GP1 can easily compete with the likes of Ducati and Kawasaki when it comes to aesthetics. Unfortunately that look comes at the cost of a hefty 150 kg curb weight. Because of its weight, the 16 HP and 10.7 lb-ft of torque output of its 149.9cc engine feels much less than it should be to qualify as sporty. That being said, many people buy sports bikes for their looks and when it comes to turning heads, there aren't much better options.

Price: TK 3,25,000

The performer -Yamaha R15 V3 

Having a price-tag similar to a high mileage Toyota Levin or a beat-up classic Mercedes, the R15 V3 is the most expensive bike on this list. However, with 17 HP and 10.8 lb-ft of torque and only a 137 kg curb weight, there is no other bike on the road that can rival it in terms of sheer performance. And unless the rumour of a 250 cc permit proves to be true, she will remain the best sports bike one can buy for their money.

Price: TK 5,25,000 

The all-rounder - Suzuki Gixxer SF DD

The Suzuki Gixxer SF has been the go to choice for bikers who want a sports bike from a reputable brand but don't have the budget for a CBR or R15. As far as the balancing act between brand, price and performance goes, there are few that does it better. The SF is basically a standard Gixxer with an aero kit, meaning while the hard numbers are same, she performs a lot better at high speed and can go a few km/h faster.

Price: TK 2,49,950  

The balanced choice - Honda CBR 150R

Honda's offering in the sports bike segment mimics all of their other bikes. That is, while it does not excel at anything, it does everything pretty well. Out of the few top-end options, the CBR sacrifices some of its performance for ride comfort, better fuel economy, and cheaper maintenance cost. If you want to daily your sports bike without giving up performance, this is the best bike to get.

Price: TK 4,50,000