10 Roadsters That Make You Forget About Horsepower

7 minutes reading

Saturday, 11 Jul 2026 11:31 0 4 autotech

We like motorcycles for several reasons. Among these, performance is usually right at the top, considering they are light and small. So even with barely 100 horsepower, the power-to-weight ratio is intense enough to smoke some properly expensive sports cars. However, horsepower isn’t everything.

Yamaha XSR700

Price: $8,599

Rider on a Yamaha XSR700 acceleating on private road, fron third quarter cinematic shot

Yamaha Motorsports

Yamaha’s 700 cc machines have all got updates in 2025, barring the XSR700. That does not mean that it is a lesser product; if anything, it is the most well-rounded Yamaha you can buy today. Its simplicity helps with longevity, with XSR700s known to hit high mileage figures with no big problems. It helps that it has timeless looks as well, and a very sweet chassis backing it up.

Read Also 1 week ago Why The Hyundai Veloster Feels Like A Used Car Cheat Code 9 autotech Engine Type	‘CP2’ 270° I2
Displacement	689 cc
Max Power	72 HP @ 8,750 RPM
Max Torque	49.4 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM

Royal Enfield INT650

Price: $6,149

The Super Meteor 650 gets a lot of love because it is a cruiser that offers big road presence without high costs. But we tend to forget its roadster sibling: the INT650. It is an excellent effort with decent performance and lovely handling, and is now a mature platform with an upcoming model that will have an even bigger engine. More so, the reliability has been top-notch, which is not something that we expected from Royal Enfield at the time of its launch in 2018.

Engine Type	270° I2
Displacement	648 cc
Max Power	47 HP @ 7,250 RPM
Max Torque	38.6 LB-FT @ 5,650 RPM

Yamaha XSR900

Price: $10,599

The XSR900 is literally the bigger brother of the XSR700. This is a thoroughly modern motorcycle based on the MT-09, so you get a six-axis IMU, by-wire throttle, and two-way quickshifter. The engine pushes you to ride harder, the chassis is extremely agile, and the styling is quite timeless, making it feel more premium than bikes that cost $5,000 more. The only reason to not get one might be because there is a Honda that is available at the same price which is bigger — but not necessarily better. There is not much to fault here.

Engine Type	Crossplane I3
Displacement	889 cc
Max Power	117 HP @ 10,000 RPM
Max Torque	69 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM

Honda CB1000F

Price: $10,599

The CB1000F is one of the newest entrants into the roadster space, and it has truly set the cat amongst the pigeons. That’s thanks to the price, which is exactly the same as the XSR900, albeit offering a four-cylinder liter bike experience. It also has a six-axis IMU and a by-wire throttle, so it is not short on features either. The only place where you might pick fault with it is that it is bigger and heavier than the Yamaha. What isn’t in question is that it quietly offers the best value in its segment.

Engine Type	I4
Displacement	999 cc
Max Power	122 HP @ 9,000 RPM
Max Torque	76 LB-FT @ 8,000 RPM

Moto Guzzi V7 Sport

Price: $10,990

The V7 Sport is one of the modern classics that bring retro cool without the headaches because of its much better features list for a relatively modest increase in asking price. It has twin front brake discs from Brembo with radial monobloc calipers, paired with a safety net, comprising a six-axis IMU, by-wire throttle, and cruise control. What also impresses here is its longitudinal V-twin engine whose heads stick out from underneath either side of the fuel tank. Its orientation also means that it is one of the few motorcycles here that is available with a driveshaft.

Engine Type	Longitudinal 90° V-twin
Displacement	853 cc
Max Power	67.3 HP @ 6,900 RPM
Max Torque	58.3 LB-FT @ 4,400 RPM

Triumph Speed Twin 900

Price: $11,495

The Speed Twin 900 might be at the opposite end of the range as the sportiest Speed Twin, but it is no slouch. That gloriously retro exterior might distract you from the fact that this is also a motorcycle that is truly enjoyable to ride. For instance, it has a strong 59 pound-feet that kicks in at a very low 3,800 RPM. Also, it is awash with all the modern electronic features you might want, like a by-wire throttle, six-axis IMU, and even an assist and slipper clutch.

Engine Type	270° I2
Displacement	900 cc
Max Power	63.1 HP @ 7,500 RPM
Max Torque	59 LB-FT @ 3,800 RPM

Kawasaki Z900RS

Price: $12,899

Kawasaki’s Z900RS follows the same recipe as the XSR900 and the CB1000F, but it has one big advantage over the two of them: the Z900RS Cafe. This is one of the few retro-style roadsters that has a fairing kit available for it in the US market. It looks stunning even without it, but the Cafe looks next level. If you are willing to spend more money, you can also get a more premium variant with quality suspension upgrades, but the chassis and engine remain easygoing with a focus on blending performance, comfort, and real-world reliability.

Engine Type	I4
Displacement	948 cc
Max Power	110 HP @ 8,500 RPM
Max Torque	72.3 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM

Triumph Speed Twin 1200

Price: $15,395

The Speed Twin 1200 RS grabs headlines because it feels like a modern classic. But if we are honest, we would rather have the Speed Twin 1200 if we had to ride it every day. It has similar performance but without the committed riding position, trading it instead for all-day comfort. It has quality parts as well, like Marzocchi suspension, by-wire throttle, six-axis IMU, and massive torque at low RPM. A two-way quickshifter isn’t available on it even as an option, though.

Engine Type	270° I2
Displacement	1,200 cc
Max Power	103.6 HP @ 7,750 RPM
Max Torque	82.6 LB-FT @ 4,250 RPM

BMW R 12 S

Price: $17,245

The BMW R 12 nineT is the roadster version of the R 12, which is a sleeper cruiser that everyone overlooks. And this is a cafe racer based on the nineT platform. While the base price of the R 12 S is listed at a little over $17,000, when you add the bits you see in these photos like the fairing, it goes all the way up to over $22,000. Still, you get a light, rev-happy, lively roadster that is full of features and feels entirely unique because of the boxer-twin engine, shaft drive, and all the quirks that make a BMW a BMW.

Engine Type	Longitudinal boxer twin
Displacement	1,170 cc
Max Power	109 HP @ 7,000 RPM
Max Torque	85 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM

Indian FTR 1200

Price: $13,499

The FTR stood for a long time as the only true roadster from an American brand, and sadly, it did get killed off recently. There is a chance that you can pick up one new right now, but used models from last year’s new sales should cost you around $12,185. The top-spec Carbon version with all the upgraded bits (Öhlins suspension, for example) should run you a little over $16,035. Even the base model had ZF Sachs fully adjustable suspension, Brembo brakes with T-Drive rotors, and a 120 horsepower liquid-cooled V-twin engine. It is truly a shame that the FTR is not around anymore, because it was the Indian to buy if you wanted to ride every weekend.