With A2 licences restricting riders to 47hp, you’ll be pleased to know there are a few 'smaller' sports bikes that are ideal for new riders or riders on an A2 licence.

This being said, in this blog, I’m going to be running down the top ten best A2 Compliant sports bikes on the market for 2025!

So let’s get into it, shall we?

2025 KTM RC 390

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
373cc Single Cylinder	43hp	37Nm	172kg (Wet)	£5,899

Our tenth spot today goes to our first returner from the last list, the trusty KTM RC 390!

Powered by a 373cc liquid-cooled single cylinder with a six-speed gearbox producing 43hp and a fantastic 37 Nm of torque at 7,000rpm, the KTM will see a top speed of 112.5 MPH. Fully laden, it weighs 172kg, so with those excellent power figures, acceleration is very spritely up to 60mph.

Now onto tech, and the RC is loaded with a full-colour TFT display, gear indicator, traction control, KTM’s supermoto ABS giving you some rearward sliding flexibility, cornering ABS, a quick shifter, and a slipper clutch.

Coming in at £5,899, in my opinion, the KTM RC390 is a lot of bike for its price tag.

• Awesome tech bundle
• Great performance and agility

• Might be too race-focused for some

2025 Kawasaki Ninja 500

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
451cc Parallel Twin	45hp	42.6Nm	171kg (Wet)	£5,999

In at ninth, we have the Kawasaki Ninja 500 - it's light, it's potent, and it’s probably got the best power-to-weight ratio on this list.

Powered by a 451cc liquid-cooled parallel twin pumping out 45hp horsepower, the Ninja has a six-speed gearbox and will reach a top speed of 118mph. Admittedly, it sits a few ponies behind some of its competitors, however, I’d argue it packs enough of a punch to keep you satisfied.

Coming onto tech, the Ninja also comes packed with a classic-race-style analogue tachometer, LCD speedo, gear indicator, ABS, an Assist Slipper clutch and LED headlights. Once again, this bad boy is feeling a little light on tech here from the Japanese.

When it comes to the colourway options for the brand-new model, you will only be able to pick yourself up a 500 in one standard colour (this being the Metallic Carbon Grey/Candy Lime Green) option - this is something I do hope will grow as the years pass by!

• Excellent performance
• Great acceleration and top speed

• Tech feels underwhelming

2025 Fantic Imola 500

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
Euro 5+ 460cc	44.5hp	TBC	TBC	TBC

Moving onto our eighth spot, we have a bike that is due to hit the A2 market very soon: the Fantic Imola 500…

The 500, alongside its younger sibling the 125, were both unveiled back at EICMA a few months back (alongside the Stealth), due to be powered by an all-new Euro 5+ 460cc engine. Also rumoured to be inside the Stealth 500.

The reason why I have added the Imola to my list today really comes down to the design and attention to detail within the styling. The sporty, full tuck riding position in combination with the subtle front winglets have both been inspired by Fantic's recent success within the Moto2 category.

Many of the spec and tech details regarding this bike haven’t been announced yet; however since the 125 version of the Imola costs around £5,600, we’d expect the 500 version to come in around the £7,000 mark.

• New to the market

• Reliability unknown at this time

2025 Triumph Daytona 660

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
660cc Inline 3 Cylinder	93hp	69Nm	201kg (Wet)	£8,595

Sitting pretty in seventh is the all-new Triumph Daytona 660…

Now, the Daytona will require you to install a restrictor kit to make it A2 compliant, however, one bonus to doing this means that once you’ve passed your full motorcycle licence testing, you can pop your restrictor off and enjoy your bike to its full capacity - without needing to upgrade!

With that being said, the Daytona packs an inline 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine capable of producing 93hp and 69Nm of torque at 11,250 rpm (or 47 hp with the addition of the restrictor). Also makes it one of the most powerful models we will be discussing on our list.

One thing I do like about the Daytona, aside from its good looks has to be the riding position set-up. Thanks to the race-style clip-on handlebars and top/yoke peg placement, this bike has been given the perfect ratio for optimised balance - ideal for sports riding.

So, if you’re feeling tempted by the Daytona, you’ll be pleased to know that you can pick yourself up the 660 in three different colourway options including Snowdonia White/Sapphire Black (standard), Carnival Red, and Satin Granite/Satin Jet Black (for an additional £100).

• A great bike for both A2 & Full Licence
• Looks stunning

• Will need to purchase a restrictor kit (extra ££)
• A little more on the expensive side

2025 Ducati Panigale V2 S

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
890cc 90 Degree V2 Engine	120hp	93.3Nm	179kg (Wet)	£16,995

In sixth, we have the Ducati Panigale V2 S…

The V2 S is the single-seater edition of the Panigale, allowing this bike to be A2 accessible. And comes equipped with an 890cc 90° V-twin engine that has been restricted to 43.5hp in order to stay in line with licencing regulations.

Something I do quite like about the V2 S has to be the high-end electronics, including (but not limited to) a 5-inch TFT dash, three rider modes, cornering ABS and traction control, a six-axis IMU as well as Ohlin suspension and M50 monobloc calipers.

Onto the price and as you can imagine, this is by no means going to be an option to consider if you are on a budget. However, if you do have a spare £16,995 and you like the look of the Ducati - then this might be the one for you.

• Comes packed with an all-new engine
• It’s a Ducati

• Wish it had a bit more ponies behind it
• Very expensive

2025 Aprilia RS 457

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
457cc Parallel Twin Cylinder	47hp	43.5Nm	175kg (Wet)	£6,630

Sitting in the middle of our list is this lovely little number from Aprilia - the RS 457.

At the heart of the RS 457, you will find a slimmed-down version of the RS660 liquid-cooled engine with a ride-by-wire throttle set-up, capable of producing a rather respectable 35kW/47hp to meet the limit imposed by the A2 licence class.

When it comes to tech, this is where the RS 457 really comes into play, coming equipped with a 5-inch TFT dash and switchgear, traction control, three riding modes, ABS, a USB port as well as LED lighting all around the bike.

From a distance, it would be difficult to tell the difference between the A2-friendly 457 and its bigger 660 siblings, and this is thanks to the inspiration (such as the aluminium frame, front winglets and aerodynamic side panels) from the original legendary RS range that really helped pave the way for super sports bikes today.

Lastly, onto the price and for 2025 a brand new Aprilia RS 457 will cost you £6,630 - placing it as one of the more pricer options we will mention on our list today!

• A great option for those on an A2 licence
• Packed with great tech & spec

• Wish the quick shifter came as standard

2025 Yamaha R3

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
321cc 4-Stroke	40hp	29.5Nm	169kg (Wet)	£6,650

Just missing out on a top-three spot is another returner from the previous list, the Yamaha R3.

Behind the R3 and working the show, we have a 321cc liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder engine, kicking out a rather healthy 42hp and 29.5 Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. With the addition of the six-speed gearbox, you will also see an indicated top speed of 112mph.

When it comes to tech, the R3 comes equipped with a simple LCD with a gear indicator, ABS, and LED headlights. So no, it is not the most tech-heavy bike we mention on this list, however, some people out there do prefer to keep it dialled back and without the frills.

For 2025, the Yamaha R3 will cost you £6,650 - putting it at a rather competitive price point!

• Good dimensions
• Yamaha reliability

• Light on tech
• Not the best acceleration

2025 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
649cc Parallel Twin	66hp	64Nm	193kg (Wet)	£7,539

Stealing the first top spot today is the Ninja 500s' older brother - the £7,539 Ninja 650!

Now, the reason why we have included the 650 alongside the 500 on our list today purely comes down to the improved tech features, including Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC), TFT colour dash, two rider modes, and LED lighting all around. 

In order to make this bike A2 compliant, similarly to the Paingale, you will need to purchase a restrictor kit to limit the power output down to 47hp. However, once you have passed your full licence, then you can take it off, and you have a beautiful bike well prepared for big bike life too!

The only area in which the 650 does struggle for me is when it comes to its 193kg weight, making it a little harder to maneuver around the bumpy British roads. But, if this isn't something that phases you, or you feel confident enough to tame the green giant - then the 650 might be the one for you.

• Looks fantastic
• A great bike for both A2 & Full Licence

• Very heavy

2025 CF Moto SR S

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
449.5cc 2-cylinder inline	46hp	39.3Nm	176kg (Wet)	£5,699

In at number two today, we have this neat little offering from CF Moto - the 450SR S!

Packing a 450cc, the 450SR S is capable of producing a maximum power output of 34.5kW (46hp) and 39.3 Nm of torque @ 7,750rpm. It also has a six-speed gearbox and slipper clutch, meaning you’ll reach top speeds of around 110mph smoothly and efficiently, which would be a welcome step up from the 125cc performance you may be used to.

However, the fun doesn’t stop there; for 2025, the 450 also comes equipped with intelligent ABS (enhancing road safety), a 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth & navigation projection, an enhanced rear braking system, a charging port, and LED lighting all around.

All in all, the 450SRS is a stunning bike with sporty ergonomics (thanks to the low handlebars and high footpegs) that allows you to safely push the riding boundaries—all for the price of £5,699!

• Budget price tag
• Lots of tech
• 4-year warranty

• Reliability unknown

2025 Honda CBR500R

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight	Price
471cc Parallel Twin	47hp	43Nm	191kg (Kerb)	£6,699

Taking the #1 spot is the Honda CBR500R, a well-known and loved model within the sports bike community.

Overall, Honda have really smashed it with their Honda CBR500R, and I think that is why it has stuck around for so many years. Coming packed with a 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine and a six-speed gearbox, the 500 is capable of 47hp, reaching top speeds of up to 116mph.

Onto tech, admittedly one of my favourite parts of the bike, the CBR500R comes equipped with an all-new, full-colour 5-inch TFT screen with Honda Roadsync, which looks great, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), a gear indicator, ABS, as well as full LED lighting throughout.

However, one area where the CBR does begin to fall behind is when it comes to its weight. Coming in at 192kg, you can definitely feel the weight difference in comparison to the lighter models in this list, however, it offers stability at higher speeds, making this ideal for highways and bigger roads.

For 2025, a brand-new Honda CBR500R will cost you £6,699 and can be picked up in two different colourways: the gunpowder black edition and the grand prix red (my personal favourite).

• Ultimate A2 performance
• Fantastic braking and suspension
• Incredible Fireblade-inspired looks

• Heavy weight

So there you have it, here is our list of just some of the A2 sportsbikes available to take 2025 by storm!

Lastly, if you have your very own A2 motorcycle you need to insure, make sure to get a motorbike insurance quote direct with Lexham!