🔥 The Death & Rebirth of the 1000cc Superbike Class — And Why Manufacturers Are Building Them Again

Are superbikes getting too complicated with all the aero? Are they just too expensive?

For years, the 1000cc superbike class reigned supreme. These machines were the poster bikes of an entire generation — dripping with power, packed with the latest racing tech, and blessed with the kind of desirability that made grown riders stare at brochures like kids with toy catalogues.

But somewhere between 2015 and 2023, the class quietly… died.

Or at least, it faded into the background so dramatically that many manufacturers either stopped producing their flagship litre machines or scaled back development. Riders moved on. Dealers stopped stocking them. And manufacturers focused on middleweights, retros, adventure bikes — anything but superbikes.

Then suddenly, over the last two years, something changed.

Manufacturers — Honda most notably — are bringing superbikes back.

So what killed the class? And why the dramatic comeback?

Let’s break it down.

💀 Why the 1000cc Superbike Class Died

1. They Got Too Expensive

Superbikes spiralled into the financial stratosphere.

What used to be a £9,999 fire-breathing litre bike became:

• £15,000

• then £18,000

• then £22,000

  
  

Special editions suddenly cost more than a used car and a trackday van combined.

The message from manufacturers was clear: “These aren’t for everyone anymore.”

And the message from riders was clearer: “Fine. We’ll buy something else.”

2. Roads Became the Enemy

Let’s be honest — superbikes are built for aggression, commitment, and speed.

UK roads in 2025 are built for:

• potholes

• 50 mph averages

• 20 mph zones

• speed cameras

• phone zombies in hatchbacks

  
  

Riding a 200bhp superbike on the road became an exercise in frustration and risk management, not enjoyment.

3. Midweight Machines Became Seriously Good

MT-09. GSX-S750. Hornet 750. Z900. Trident 660.All cheaper. All easier to ride. All stupidly good fun.

Manufacturers accidentally created a midweight class that was so capable — and so affordable — that superbikes felt unnecessary for the average rider.

The market shifted overnight.

4. Trackdays Became a Rich-Person Hobby

Trackdays have always been the natural home of superbikes.

But when the cost of a single day now looks like this:

• £220 trackday fee

• £120 tyres (per session, if you’re keen)

• £60 fuel

• £200 van hire

• £60 food and accommodation

• brake pads and consumables on top

Taking a £20k superbike to a trackday became financially daft for most.

5. Emissions Regulations Hit Hard

Euro 4… Euro 5… Euro 5+…

Every new regulation made superbikes harder and more expensive to produce.

Brands like Suzuki stepped away. Yamaha slowed development. Honda paused certain models. Kawasaki took a breather.

It wasn’t that superbikes weren’t loved — they were simply expensive, regulated to death, and commercially risky.

🔥 So Why Are Manufacturers Bringing Superbikes Back Now?

Because the market has shifted in ways nobody expected.

1. Chinese Brands Forced a Total Repricing of the Industry

When CFMOTO, Voge, Benda, QJ and others arrived offering big power, big spec and small prices, Japanese manufacturers were forced to wake up.

Honda’s reaction?

The CB1000 Hornet (2025)The CB1000 Hornet SP And now the CB1000GT (2026) at £11,999 OTR.

It’s not an accident. It’s a strategic reset.

Superbikes suddenly look affordable again next to rising middleweight prices.

2. The Tech Is Cheaper Now

What once required MotoGP-level budgets is now:

• mass-produced

• modular

• shared across models

Electronics, IMUs, TFT displays, ride modes — all cheaper to manufacture than a decade ago.

This brings the cost of litre bikes back down to earth.

3. Nostalgia Is Selling Like Crazy

Riders aged 40–55 are returning to motorcycling and want that “big bike experience” they dreamed about when the Fireblade ruled the world.

Manufacturers know this. Superbikes are aspirational again — but this time, more financially reachable.

4. Trackdays Are Quietly Stabilising

More trackday providers, more circuits pushing motorcycle days, and more riders looking for premium experiences rather than pure budget options.

Manufacturers see an opportunity.

5. Honda Lit the Fuse

Honda’s aggressive pricing strategy has forced other manufacturers to respond.

The CB1000GT isn’t just a bike — it’s a statement:

“We can build litre-class performance at a price riders can actually afford.”

Superbikes are suddenly relevant again.

⭐ Final Thought: The Superbike Didn’t Die — It Priced Itself Out. Now It’s Back.

Manufacturers are rediscovering that the litre-class bike is:

• a halo product

• an aspirational machine

• a brand flagship

• and now… surprisingly attainable

  
  

Honda’s CB1000GT might not be a pure superbike, but it’s the clearest indication yet that the industry is returning to value-driven performance, not price-driven exclusivity.

And honestly?

This could be the start of the most exciting era for superbikes since the early 2000s.

If Honda can deliver this bike at £11,999, the real question is:

Why the hell were we paying so much more all these years?

And manufacturers might not want to answer that one.