Superbike
How to tell the difference between a pro’s superbike and the amateur model
The mighty beasts of machinery raced in the Superbike World Championship aren't much different to those bike enthusiasts ride on the road. Here's how to spot the difference between the two.
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Unlike fancy bespoke vehicle tournaments, the WorldSBK (FIM Superbike World Championship) has strict rules to prevent teams from deviating too far from the production version of bikes. This can make it tricky to tell the difference.
But with this guide to the key differences of the major models taking part in Superbike, keen bike spotters should be able to differentiate between the professional and amateur models with nitro-charged speed.
Honda CBR1000 RR
What to look out for: Tyres
One of the easiest ways to spot the difference between a road bike and its souped-up competitive version is the perennial favourite exercise of second-hand car buyers – namely checking out the relative baldness of the tyres.
In order to create a level(ish) playing field for teams, the tyres for all world championship superbikes are supplied by Pirelli, who manufacture four types of tyres – two slicks and two for wet conditions. Tyres with the distinctive sandpapery grain of slicks mean the bike is almost certainly built for sports.
If you do spot a Honda CBR1000 RR with slicks on the road, it’s more likely they’re just cheaping out on replacing their rubbers and will eventually find out that this doesn’t go down as well with the police as it does with the racing authorities.
Mounting racing tyres also requires specialist skills that most riders and even mechanics don’t have. Pirelli provide fitters and balancers for all WorldSBK races and the 16 staff will perform 2,000 tyre changes over course of a race weekend.
Honda CBR 1000 RR
© Oli Pendrey
Ducati Panigale R
What to look out for: Exhaust
Exhausts are one of the few major components of superbikes that the world championship rules allow to be completely changed in design, function and the choice of materials.
As well as improving performance, the Panigale’s lighter exhaust makes several critical kilos of difference to the bike’s racing weight. But, unbound by EPA pollution limits, the exhausts are also designed to maximise airflow, which is a major victory for high performance over environmental ethics.
These street-illegal exhausts are made extra prominent by their unusual location, with race exhausts generally mounted at the bottom instead of under the seat.
While Ducati pioneered the use of under-seat mufflers in road bikes, this latest racing model eventually bowed to peer pressure and now favours the same low-slung pipes positioning as the other WorldSBK teams.
Ducati Panigale R
© Oli Pendrey
Aprilia RSV4 RF
What to look out for: Profile
As with all WorldSBK entrants, the Aprilia has to maintain the same profile to conform to the tournament’s rules. That is to say, it has to have the same shape and dimensions of the production version, and the frame and chassis must look the same from the sides, back, and front.
This rules out the kind of creative aerodynamics you see in MotoGP. But it doesn’t mean it’s entirely impossible for makers to streamline the frame.
In the interests of keeping the bike's weight down, and making more room and available power for internal electronics, the bike eschews non-essential road regulation fripperies such as headlights and wing mirrors.
So if you see an RSV4 with mirrors that aren’t attached with suction cups, it’s safe to say it’s the regular road version.
Aprilia RSV4 RF
© Oli Pendrey
BMW S1000 RR
What to look out for: Electronics
A cluster of buttons positioned not-so-discretely on the left handlebar reveals the racing intentions of the Beemer superbike.
Although these look like James Bond-like controls for the dispensing of oil slicks and caltrops, they’re actually the controls for the bike’s electronic brain.
AI is obviously a big thing in WorldSBK. But unlike F1 constructors, superbikers aren’t allowed (and can’t afford) live telemetry teams to rejig the bike’s performance on the go, but the bikes themselves are equipped with all manner of automatic driver assistance.
The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) uses a network of internal sensors to know what’s happening in, on, around, and under the bike, and respond to the conditions accordingly. It does this using preset maps of different conditions.
These presets effectively function like the room presets on your average home stereo amp, except put together by an orchestra conductor who knows every song on your playlist.
BMW S1000 RR
© Oli Pendrey
Kawasaki ZX10 R Ninja
What to look out for: Wheels
This is the only other major element that can be completely replaced. But expensive future materials like carbon fibre and titanium are explicitly banned as construction materials to ensure smaller, cash-poor teams remain competitive.
The Kawasaki features forged wheels produced by Marchesini. The magnesium-aluminium alloy they use is 30 percent lighter than standard composites, with massively improved rigidity and lower friction.
By forging the wheels as a single piece, the finished product has hugely increased tensile strength, meaning the spokes can be made a few degrees thinner, making them lighter and maximising airflow to cut down on air resistance.
The optimally aerated design is distinctive, and the Kawasaki has particularly spidery spokes, which are less self-consciously "bad ass" than the cosmetic forged wheels the average poser has.
Kawasaki ZX10 R Ninja
© Oli Pendrey
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