10 Cheap Used Superbikes That Can Smoke A Yamaha YZF-R1

The Yamaha YZF-R1 has been a benchmark superbike since its debut in 1998, and it remains one of the most recognizable names in the liter-class segment today. But benchmark status comes at a price — the current R1 carries a sticker that pushes close to $19,000 new, and while its quarter-mile time of around 10.4 seconds is genuinely impressive, it is no longer the fastest machine you can buy for that money. In fact, you do not need to spend anywhere near that much to find something quicker. The used market is stacked with former flagship superbikes that have aged gracefully, and several of them will leave an R1 behind without breaking a sweat — at a fraction of the cost.

2010 Honda VFR1200F

Price Range: $4,100 – $7,400

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13 autotech

Technically, it is not a superbike, or even a sports bike — just a ridiculously fast sports-touring machine. Honda had sunk a decade’s worth of R&D into this incredible V4 engine and then, somewhat bafflingly, decided it was not worth continuing. The VFR1200F was the last bike to receive that engine, and today it represents a genuine sleeper that will carry you pretty much anywhere you need to go at warp speed.

Specifications

Quarter Mile Time	10.33 Seconds
Read Also 3 week ago The Kawasaki Naked Bike That Feels Tailor-Made For Everyday Riding 34 autotech Engine Type	V4, Liquid Cooled
Displacement	1237cc
Max Power	170 HP
Transmission	6-speed (DCT option)
Weight	613 lbs

2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000

Price Range: $4,500 – $9,000

Ernos5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Back in 2005, something just clicked with Suzuki. The “K5” Gixxer is a coveted model, where the absence of electronic safety nets coincided with a massive leap in horsepower — making it one of the fastest, and frankly most demanding, motorcycles you can get your hands on. It has unbelievable balance and poise on track, but it is the last of the analog superbikes, so finding one that has not been in at least one crash is virtually impossible. Most examples sell for well below the original retail price because the frame has been bent at some point.

Specifications

2010 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Price Range: $5,000 – $9,500

Kawasaki

Naturally, there had to be a Ninja or two on this list, and this one sits near the top of the pile. Unfortunately, just like the aforementioned Gixxer, owners were prone to wrecking these bikes, so you need to pay careful attention to the condition of the frame. If it is straight and clean, this might be the best-value sports bike on the used market.

Specifications

2012 Honda CBR1000RR

Price Range: $5,500 – $9,500

Honda

If you were to name the mortal enemy of an R1, you would most likely think of the Fireblade. By 2012, the inline-4 sports bike horsepower war was still raging, but instead of chasing more power, Honda took a slightly different approach. The 2012 model received a host of updates, but the one thing that made it stand out was how approachable it felt compared to the race-oriented competition. While there is no such thing as a “new-rider friendly” superbike, this one inspires confidence in a way the other bikes simply cannot.

Specifications

2010 Ducati 1198 S

Price Range: $7,000 – $12,000

Ducati

Another Italian bike, another caveat. These are seriously highly strung V-twin engines, and with that comes significant heat and demanding maintenance intervals. If there is no service record, do not even consider the bike, no matter how attractive the deal looks. It will always be worth paying a little more for a bike that has been properly cared for. If the owner performed the services themselves, make sure there is clear documentation for each interval and receipts for the parts used. With everything checked out, all that remains is taking on a YZF.

Specifications

2012 Kawasaki ZX-14R

Price Range: $7,500 – $11,500

Kawasaki

Much like the aforementioned Hayabusa, if you do not mind trading some handling sharpness for comfort and straight-line brutality, this could be the way to go. With over 200 horsepower on tap, it is a freight train of a motorcycle. It is arguably better looking than the Suzuki, too — as long as you do not mind green, because most of them are very green.

Specifications

Second-Generation Suzuki Hayabusa (Early 2010s)

Price Range: $7,800 – $11,500

Suzuki

If you are after something with comparable handling to the R1, this will not be the right fit. If you simply want something with similar power, however, this might be better in just about every other way. By the early 2010s, the infamous Hayabusa had shed some of its hard edges while retaining all the power. It was already the finished article by that point — one of the few genuine superbikes that can double as a touring bike without compromise.

Specifications

2006 MV Agusta F4 1000S

Price Range: $8,000 – $13,000

MVParker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Arguably the best, worst idea. Like every good Italian motorcycle, the F4 has its fair share of quirks, but nothing on the road looks quite like it. If you are prepared to own a bike that may sit for prolonged periods waiting on parts or a specialist, then this could be the Italian superbike of your dreams — at what really is a bargain price. By now, a few of those Italian stallions would have left the stable, but if all the stars align and the bike is actually running right, it will blow that new R1 right out of the water.

Specifications

2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory

Price Range: $8,500 – $12,000

Aprilia

When Aprilia first launched the RSV4, nobody really knew what to expect. It was the first time Piaggio had developed an engine of this size and power, and in reality, it certainly had a few teething issues. By 2013, most of those issues had been rectified, leaving behind a truly sensational V4 superbike that remains underrated in its 1100 avatar.

Specifications

2012 BMW S 1000 RR

Price Range: $8,500 – $13,500

BMW

Ask anyone who has ridden one of these bikes and they will most likely tell you it is the best liter-class sports bike money can buy. The asymmetrical headlight design of these early models was polarizing, but the bigger concern is reliability. In many ways it is comparable to the Italian machines, though the outright performance may make it worth the risk — provided all the known issues have already been addressed by the previous owner. Those known issues include engine failure, so “buyer beware” on this one.

Specifications