10 Bikes Owners Say They’d Buy Again Without Hesitation
As it stands, the motorcycle market has never been more varied. There is a new motorcycle out there for every kind of rider, offering more features and more capability than ever before. In a world where connectivity has become such an obsession, you can even connect your smartphone to most new motorcycles.
To some, this is an added layer of convenience, but to others, it is just another “thing” they need to pay for and will never use. While these new bikes certainly offer more, they also cost more. If you have no desire for all the latest tech, it might be worth considering one of these used bikes. All these bikes are a little more simplified and offer a unique riding experience that sets them apart from the crowd.
Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research, and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest.
2008 Honda VFR800 Interceptor
Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000
The VFR800 is proof that reliable motorcycles do not need to be boring. Its exceptional V4 engine is at the heart of everything good about the model, offering more than enough power, and a dynamic enough chassis for it to be a fun bike to ride on a decent canyon road. At this price point, it is also now cheaper than virtually any new middleweight tourer, and while it might lack sophistication, it won’t let you down.
2011 Suzuki GSX-R750
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
By 2011, the legendary supersport had gotten its final meaningful update. Since then, it has just been one different livery after another, but underneath all the color, development had indeed come to a halt. For those after an analog sport bike, this is very much the bike to have. Unlike the aforementioned tourer, owners won’t always be as diligent with upkeep, and it is worthwhile paying more for a bike that has some form of service record.
2012 Yamaha VMax
Price Range: $10,000 – $12,000
For those looking for a cruiser, it is desperately hard to beat the second-generation VMax. With just shy of 200 horsepower, it really is the ultimate power cruiser, and late model bikes have become so desirable that some are selling for more than the original asking price. While it came out in 2009, 2012 seems to be the sweet spot in terms of used pricing, but as long as the bike has been looked after, there is nothing wrong with getting a slightly older model.
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2014 EBR 1190RX
Price Range: $10,000 – $12,000
This is effectively the Buell Hammerhead by another name. While the new version will set you back over $20k, these original bikes can be found for as little as $10k, or around half the price of the new bike. Unlike most of the bikes on this list that are known to be reliable, this is a bike that had its fair share of electrical gremlins when it came out (even though it doesn’t even have much in the way of electronics) and needs a pretty thorough check before purchase. Other than that, this offers an incredible riding experience thanks to its ultra-light chassis, immensely powerful twin, and glaring lack of modern electronic safety nets.
2015 Yamaha FJR1300
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
Technically, you can still go out and buy a new FJR1300 with electronic suspension, no less. But, for half the price of that bike, you can get a 2015 model, sans electronic suspension, and there is a good reason why this might actually be the better buy. That electronic suspension might add a layer of convenience to the bike, but it is also known to fail, and when it fails, you will need to replace it, not just repair it.
2016 Kawasaki Concours 14
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
The concours 14 represents a like-for-like alternative to the aforementioned Yamaha FJR1300. It will also cross the 100,000-mile mark without a fuss, offering prospective buyers thousands of comfortable, trouble-free miles. Even bikes with higher than average mileage are still worth considering, as long as the bike has no signs of visible neglect.
2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
People are quick to dismiss KTM when it comes to reliability, but those who do are forgetting about LC8-powered bikes. Over the years, it has grown in size, but back in 2017, KTM did something rather unusual with it. A slightly detuned version of the twin was installed in the 1090 Adventure R, and it was marketed as a middleweight purely because KTM didn’t yet have a bike to compete in this space. While it is rather obviously a little too heavy to be considered a proper middleweight ADV, it is no less competent off-road and has more power than any of its contemporary rivals.
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2017 Suzuki SV650
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
Simplicity is an often underrated feature when it comes to naked bikes. All you get with the SV650 is a decent chassis, a tractable, reliable twin, and a relatively comfortable seat. This is actually the latest version of the SV, and while the new bike is still affordable, the only thing you lose by choosing the older bike is the warranty.
2018 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
We sincerely doubt that prices for the stylish Desert Sled retro ADV will stay this low for much longer. What teething issues there were with the model were quickly fixed, and the only real issue you get with the bike is the same complaint leveled at any air-cooled Ducati: and that is the fact that they get pretty hot. Especially if you live in a part of the world with a warmer climate. Other than that, it is a highly competent machine.
2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan
Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000
The first-generation Himalayan has proven to be more endearing than pretty much anyone expected. The less said about the first few model years, the better, but by 2023, all the kinks (of which there were many) had been worked out, and it was very much the finished article. While the bike is not particularly fast, it offers an uncompromising go-anywhere-slowly package that proves you don’t need a big, fancy ADV to get out and explore.
Source: KBB
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