5 500cc sportbikes you can ride with an A2 license and cost less than €8,000.

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, still due to a lack of supply, many people bought supersport motorcycles with over 100 hp to use as everyday utility vehicles. This was a reckless move that ended in disaster: accidents increased exponentially, the motorcycle's dangerous image drove insurance rates through the roof, many potential users were scared away from two wheels, and RR motorcycles began a long journey through the commercial wilderness from which they still haven't emerged.

However, despite this, it seems that interest among many users in this type of machine is slowly growing again, probably due to the enormous impact of the World Motorcycle Championship and its riders. Fortunately, this time, brands aren't willing to repeat the same mistakes of two decades ago and have opted to offer models with "racing" aesthetics and ergonomics but with more affordable performance, capable of generating equally fun sensations.

They are motorcycles that can be driven with an A2 license , which are versatile enough - although this is not really their greatest virtue - to be functional in the city, suitable for weekend outings and even for daring to enter the circuit with them.

If there's one brand that has always believed in the concept of the mid-displacement sportbike, it's Aprilia. What they've done in Noale is to take all the experience from their larger-displacement RS models and translate it into a machine that stands out for its lightness, weighing only 175 kg (375 lbs) in running order. Its other strong points are its ease of handling and the technology that serves to maximize the sporty benefits of the 47 hp delivered by its 457 cc twin-cylinder engine. It's one of Aprilia's most modern engines, with a double overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder, and also features an electronic throttle and three riding modes.

It features ABS and three-level adjustable and disconnectable traction control, and a quickshifter can be added as an option for track use. The chassis features a configuration inherited directly from the "Reparto Corse": inverted forks with 41 mm stanchions and a rear monoshock mounted directly to the swingarm.

The Tornado represents Benelli's commitment to returning to the sporty segment that brought so much fame to the Pesaro brand, now revived by the Keeway group. The Tornado 550's aesthetics are simply spectacular; undoubtedly the most aggressive in its segment. The bike is powered by a 554 hp parallel twin-cylinder engine that delivers 56 hp in its free version, although it is also available with an A2 engine limiter.

Its multi-tubular chassis uses the engine as a supporting element, combined with adjustable Marzocchi suspension and Brembo brakes, all for a sporty feel. It also features a comprehensive range of features, including a 5" color TFT display with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth USB-C connectivity, ABS traction control, two optional driving modes, and tire pressure sensors.

Honda is phenomenal at making its mid-displacement motorcycles work for everything, and that's also true of this CBR 500. But beware, because the brand doesn't use the iconic acronym of its sports series in vain, and this 500 continues to have a completely sporty character. In fact, since its launch in 2013, the Honda CBR500R has accounted for almost 20% of the brand's sports bikes.

Its 471cc parallel twin-cylinder engine delivers the required 47 hp, making it suitable for an A2 license. It is equipped with a slipper clutch and ABS (traction control). The chassis features a conventional steel tube frame, and the suspension features a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear and preload-adjustable inverted forks with separate functions at the front. The TFT display can be synchronized with the "Road Sync" app.

What we say about Honda and its CBR applies exactly the same to Kawasaki and the Ninja name: the brand is not going to use that name in vain. For fans of Kobe's green motorcycles, saying "Ninja" refers to a very specific thing—maximum sportiness—and anything less would be sacrilege.

But obviously, the Ninja 500 must also be versatile, and what "Kawa" does is offer several versions of the same model, varying in scope according to the customer's tastes. Its engine is also twin-cylinder, naturally hovering around the A2 border of 47 hp and moving very comfortably in the high rev range, as is to be expected from a Kawasaki, but it's still flexible enough to be usable on the street.

As always, the Austrian brand displays the radical "Ready to Race" approach its slogan proclaims. KTM has poured a good deal of its racing experience into this bike. In fact, the 390's exhaust manifold is derived directly from the company's MotoGP machines, and the 390 is a machine designed to compete in the SSP300 World Championship. A supersport bike with "racing" ergonomics that leave no room for doubt as to the position it requires in front of the handlebars, and a single-cylinder engine that delivers 44 hp and feels more at home in the high rev range than in the mid-range.

On any other brand or model, this would be a brake, but it turns out that in this case, it's exactly what KTM and RC enthusiasts are looking for. The bike also weighs just 155 kilos and is equipped with electronic equipment such as cornering ABS, Supermoto ABS that allows controlled rear wheel slip, traction control, an optional Quickshift, and a TFT instrument cluster with connectivity. The WP Apex fork offers 30 clicks of compression adjustment on the left leg and 30 clicks of rebound adjustment on the right, and a WP Apex shock absorber at the rear offers 5-step spring preload adjustment.