Supermotos – sometimes called supermotards because of their largely French heritage – are one of motorcycling’s most peculiar biking categories but also one of the most fun.
Originally born out of the televised, U.S. Superbiker race series of the late 1970s, which saw leading dirt and track racers compete on a combined dirt/road track aboard motocrossers converted with street wheels, brakes and tyres, the idea then crossed the Atlantic to France for a series of high-profile events – hence the French connection. The popularity of those races in the ‘80s and early ‘90s inspired largely French home-built street replicas based on the likes of Yamaha’s XT600 trail bikes, which in turn led to production interpretations.
While supermoto racing on purpose-built competition machines continues, road legal production versions remain niche and have limited practicality – you wouldn’t want to go touring or take in motorways on a supermoto. At the same time, though, they also deliver some of the purest, punchiest motorcycling fun anywhere.
The bikes are ultra lightweight and incredibly nimble; they look great so can be temptingly cool for learners (as long as you can cope with the sometimes very tall seat height), and their punchy single or twin cylinder engines makes up for meagre power and top speed figures with masses of punch and acceleration which makes wheelies and skids almost inevitable.
What’s more, they’re relatively simple and (mostly) affordable and today come in a variety of sizes, spec levels, performance and prizes so there’s now a supermoto for everyone. Here’s our pick of the current best – in price ascending order.
Aprilia SX 125 - £3,530
Aprilia SX125 2025
Probably the definitive and best all-round ‘learner’ supermoto (although KTM may have something to say about that with its new-for-2025 offering). The SX125 was launched in 2008 then comprehensively updated in 2018. It’s the supermoto ‘sister’ bike to Aprilia’s RX125 trail bike with both derived from the Italian exotica specialist’s better-known RS125 sportster.
Both use that bike’s 15bhp liquid-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder motor but in a bespoke chassis with off-road style bodywork and cycle parts. The RX has larger, trail style wheels and tyres while the SX has 17-inch wire wheels, both have an LCD dash, lots of Italian style and quality touches and, perhaps most impressively of all, both are also pretty decent value.
Rieju MRT125LC SM – £3,699
Rieju MRT125LC SM 2025
Rieju is a Spanish company which specialists in lightweight, learner legal 125s and the MRT 125 LC SM is its cheaper 125cc supermoto offering (they also do 50cc and top spec ‘Marathon’ versions). Previously two-stroke powered by a liquid-cooled, single cylinder motor, the firm now uses four-stroke version which haven’t quite the same hooligan appeal, but considering the class’s 15bhp restriction, makes little practical difference.
Adding to the appeal are cast 17-inch wheels, flashy styling and disc brakes and the overall result is stylish, fun, lightweight and makes an enviable first bike. On the slight downside, build quality isn’t as robust as some and its UK dealer network is patchier than, say, Aprilia or KTM.
KTM 125 SMC-R - £4,899
KTM 125 SMC-R 2025
New for 2025 and, on paper at least (it’s still so new we haven’t actually tested it yet) it looks set to become one of the most desirable 125cc A1 class learner bikes of all. It’s from proven off-road and supermoto specialists KTM, is based on the proven mechanicals of the more ‘street’ 125 Duke, which has been the class-leading, fun-packed learner roadster since 2009 and, with one of the best engines in the category, quality cycle parts, smart supermoto styling and largely proven mechanicals, it looks to have everything required to become the new class king.
One downside, though: at £4899 it’s also the priciest supermoto 125 currently on offer and is nearly £1500 more than the Aprilia.
KTM 390 SMC-R - £5,699
KTM 390 SMC-R 2025
Also new for 2025 (and also, as we write, untested), the new 390 SMC R is again from Austrian off-road competition kings KTM and, as with its more roadster Duke 125/390 duo, the bigger 390 SMC R is virtually identical to its A1 class, 125cc little brother, but this time with a punchier, 399cc, A2-class compliant, 44bhp four-stroke single cylinder powerplant.
And, again, like the 390 Duke, the result promises to be an absolute hoot. With thew cute proportions and light weight of the 125, but this time with impressively punchy 44bhp performance, it looks set to be a mouth-wateringly fun-packed ride. On the downside, practicality certainly isn’t its forte, is likely to be a chore over any kind of distance and is £800 more expensive than the 125, too. But if you want a fun, ‘toy’ sunny Sunday motorcycle, this is almost certain to be one of the best.
Suzuki DR-Z4SM - £ TBA
Suzuki DR-Z4SM 2025
Yes, yet another newcomer for 2025 (told you supermotos were getting interesting again) – although, this time, at least there’s proven history to draw on. Again, so new we’ve not actually tested it yet, the new DR-Z4SM is, as its name suggests, the supermoto, street-wheeled sibling to Suzuki’s equally new DR-Z4 trail bike.
Both are revived and updated versions of Suzuki’s old DR-Z400 which was on sale between 2001 and 2009, widely respected not least for its liquid-cooled four-stroke single cylinder motor and solid build, and this new, slightly updated version promises much of the same. Instead, the biggest ‘unknown’ at the moment is price, with it likely to be north of £7000.
CCM Street Moto - £9,995
CCM Street Moto 2025
You can hardly have failed to have missed British brand CCM’s series of single-cylinder, retro café racer-inspired Scrambler family in recent years and the Street Moto is its latest – and most supermoto style – variant.
All are based around the same, ex-BMW, enduro machine engine producing a punchy 62bhp, which is then mounted in a hand-welded tubular steel frame.
Being supermoto-styled, the Street Moto has 17-inch wheels, bespoke fibre including side number ‘race plates’ and dirt style high bars and is well-specced and crafted. Performance is punchy and the style attractive, but it’s not arguably a ‘true’ supermoto and the enduro engine requires a service every 3500 miles but if you want to stand out in the hipster crowd, this is the one.
KTM 690 SMC-R - £10,399
KTM 690 SMC-R 2025
Arguably the purest, most potent supermoto on our list – at least until this year’s arrival of Ducati’s all-new Hypermotard 698 Mono – the 690 SMC R has long been recognized as one of the top examples of this breed of bike, especially if what you want is not a pose, but blistering performance and thrills. Built by Austrian off-road experts KTM, around for over a decade and most recently updated a couple of years ago, it’s currently available only as a 2024 model and based around a punchy 692cc single.
There is KTM’s usual, quality fully adjustable WP suspension, four-piston Brembo front brakes, slipper clutch, and, with KTM also owning Husqvarna and GasGas, it is also available in slightly modified forms at the £9599 GasGas SM 700 or £10,399 Husqvarna 701 Supermoto. You pays your money…
Ducati Hypermotard 698 - £11,295
Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono RVE 2025
All-new in 2024, Ducati’s new Hypermotard 698 is truly a wonder of modern motorcycling – not least for the apparent madness of actually building it! At its heart is a brand-new and currently unique single-cylinder engine which is effectively half Ducati’s old 1200 Panigale V-twin. The result is an ultra-short-stroke single which is not only the largest Ducati has ever produced but also currently the most powerful single in production.
That motor’s held in a lightweight and compact chassis which features top quality suspension and brakes, has latest electronics including riding modes and traction control and the overall result is one of the most entertaining and exciting B-road bikes you can buy.
Like most supermotos it’s not very practical and its tall seat means it can be awkward but it’s also not as intimidating as all that may sound, it can be ridden softly and smoothly and is also a beautiful piece of motorcycling metal. If you want a short-haul, selfish motorcycling toy, there are none better.
Zero FXE - £12,500
Zero FXE 2025
Electric bikes may still struggle to have made it into the mainstream but as a fun supermoto they actually make a decent amount of sense – or at least this offering from leading manufacturer Zero, does. The FXE was launched in 2021 as a replacement for the previous FXS model complete with new styling and a revised, lightweight, supermoto style chassis.
At a claimed 135kg it’s one of the lightest electric bikes on the market and, although its top speed is limited to 85mph to maximise battery life, in this supermoto guise that seems to matter little and, besides, with a whopping 78ft.lbs of torque on tap it’s still impressively lively. Battery range isn’t great, as with many electric bikes but, again, in a supermoto, it seems to matter less.
Nor is it exactly cheap. But the FXE is great fun, nimble, hilariously lively and one of the most compelling electric bikes currently available.
Ducati Hypermotard 950 - £13,095
Ducati Hypermotard 950 SP 2025
While Ducati’s all-new Hypermotard 698 (see above) has grabbed all the headlines in zooming straight to the top of the supermoto class, its predecessor, the Hypermotard 950, which lives on, is still more than worth a look. As a V-twin it may lack a single’s purity, but it also compensates for that with added versatility and long-leggedness.
First launched in 2007 as the air-cooled Hypermotard 1100, with 796, 821 and 937 versions following, the 950 arrived in 2019 and is still a bike that loves carving mountain hairpins.
The 113bhp engine has plenty of punch, is far more nimble than most bikes, is a blast to ride and, if you want more, Ducati also has the stylish RVE version for £14,095 and an upspeccced SP version with Marchesini wheels, longer-travel Ohlins suspension, carbon bodywork and Termignoni exhaust for £16,795.
