Forget Superbikes, These Cheap Used Motorcycles Pack Insane Horsepower With All-Day Riding Comfort
A powerful motorcycle becomes a different proposition when its handlebars stop making you fold yourself over the tank. Yamaha, Suzuki, and their rivals spent years combining proper engine performance with riding positions better suited to ordinary roads. Today, depreciation makes those machines interesting alternatives to smaller new motorcycles. The following five examples span 2007 through 2016 and run from highest to lowest J.D. Power average retail value. Those figures are valuation benchmarks rather than guaranteed asking prices, and the horsepower figures describe engine output, not current rear-wheel dyno measurements.
7
2012 Yamaha FZ1 $6,945
The FZ1 makes its intentions obvious through its conventional handlebar setup and half-fairing. Underneath is a fuel-injected, 998cc inline-four; a direct descendant of Yamaha’s YZF-R1 engine, with five valves per cylinder and roughly 150 horsepower in unrestricted specification. Yamaha paired that engine with an aluminum frame rather than treating the motorcycle as a budget commuter with an oversized motor. Adjustable inverted forks and substantial front brakes complete a package that retains serious sporting hardware. J.D. Power places the 2012 model at an average retail value of $6,945.
Its appeal is more than its relationship to the R1. The handlebar brings the rider into a more upright position, while the fairing and windscreen provide protection missing from most naked alternatives on this list. That combination gives buyers a reason to consider the Yamaha even though it tops this list on price. The FZ1 still has a sporty riding position, so it deserves a proper sit to feel out legroom and seat comfort before purchasing. For riders who split their time between commuting, back roads, and longer highway trips, its equipment makes a persuasive case.
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2016 Suzuki GSX-S1000 $6,114
Suzuki reached into its own superbike history when developing the GSX-S1000. The 999cc inline-four traces its architecture to the 2005–2008 GSX-R1000 generation, with different camshafts and tuning aimed at street use. Output sits around 145 horsepower, making it considerably more than a comfortable-looking middleweight alternative. Suzuki also supplied three selectable traction-control settings, plus the option to switch the system off. At J.D. Power’s $6,115 average retail valuation, the base 2016 model costs less than the Yamaha example above.
The chassis gives that engine appropriate company. A twin-spar aluminum frame, adjustable KYB inverted fork, and radial-mount Brembo monoblock front calipers were part of the original specification. A Renthal FatBar replaces the low clip-ons associated with the GSX-R, changing the rider’s relationship to the machine without abandoning its sporting purpose. Buyers should distinguish the base model priced here from the separately valued ABS version. The faired GSX-S1000F is another option for more wind protection, but its pricing belongs in a separate comparison.
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2011 Honda CB1000R $5,820
The CB1000R gives you plenty of Honda’s superbike hardware to admire, starting with the CBR1000RR-derived 998cc inline-four sitting out in the open. Honda retuned it for low-end and midrange performance, putting the emphasis where a street bike spends much of its time. An aluminum frame and single-sided swingarm give the engine a suitably serious home. Up front, it has a fully adjustable 43mm inverted fork and radial-mounted calipers, with twin 310mm discs completing the package.
The handlebar is what makes all that equipment easier to enjoy on an ordinary ride, allowing an upright posture with room to move. You give up the Fireblade’s wind protection, which becomes a consideration when the commute turns into a long highway trip. Still, the Honda makes a convincing case for taking the scenic route home. J.D. Power’s $5,820 average retail valuation puts the 2011 model comfortably within this company.
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2010 Kawasaki Z1000 $5,610
The 2010 Z1000 is a clear evolutionary step up from Kawasaki’s earlier 953cc machines. Its new 1,043cc inline-four produced approximately 136 horsepower. An aluminum frame replaced the previous generation’s steel structure, and Kawasaki introduced a horizontally mounted rear shock, making the redesign more than just a cosmetic update. The motorcycle retained an upright riding position despite its angular styling and compact profile. J.D. Power lists an average retail value of $5,610 for this model year, putting it below both four-cylinder rivals above.
The Kawasaki’s distinction is its combination of a larger engine and relatively compact naked-bike packaging. Its broad handlebar offers a different posture from a Ninja superbike, although the exposed layout provides little relief from sustained highway wind. That makes the Z1000 worth considering for riders whose routes favor back roads and city use over long freeway stretches. The low-slung exhausts and sharply shaped tank also give it a different appearance from the more conventional Yamaha. This entry specifically concerns the 2010 generation; earlier Z1000s are essentially a different bike.
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2007 BMW K1200R $5,400
BMW’s K1200R brings a different flavor to this group, combining a 1,157cc inline-four with shaft drive and deliberately exposed mechanicals. BMW advertised 163 horsepower, giving its unconventional roadster the muscle to support its appearance. The engine sits tilted forward by 55 degrees, beneath an aluminum frame shared with the K1200S. Revised handlebars put the rider in a more upright position than on that fully faired sibling.
The unusual engineering continues at the front wheel, where BMW’s Duolever suspension replaces a conventional telescopic fork. Its design helps control brake dive while separating suspension movement from steering forces. A six-speed transmission and Paralever rear suspension round out a package with considerably more going on than its minimal bodywork suggests. At J.D. Power’s $5,400 average retail value, the 2007 model offers an intriguing alternative to the more familiar Japanese fours.
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2008 Aprilia Tuono R 1000 $3,800
The Tuono pulls this list away from inline-fours. Its liquid-cooled, 998cc, 60-degree V-twin comes from Aprilia’s RSV superbike family and produces roughly 137 horsepower in the later specification. A six-speed gearbox and aluminum twin-spar frame reinforce that connection. The standard R also carries adjustable Showa front suspension and Brembo brakes, giving it something other than its engine to justify its sporting credentials. J.D. Power’s average retail valuation is $3,800, which is a substantial drop from the three Japanese motorcycles preceding it.
Aprilia retained an exposed handlebar and small nose fairing instead of the RSV’s full fairings and racing crouch. The result offers a more upright upper-body position while keeping a recognizably sporty seat-and-footrest arrangement. It is worth checking that balance personally rather than assuming every upright motorcycle provides generous legroom. Buyers should also keep in mind the difference between the standard Tuono R and the more expensive Factory version, whose upgraded components can muddy comparisons. The price quoted here buys you the V-twin generation, and not the later Tuono V4.
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2007 Triumph Speed Triple $2,585
At $2,585 in J.D. Power’s average retail valuation, the 2007 Speed Triple finishes as the least expensive motorcycle in this selection. Its 1,050cc inline-three produced approximately 131 horsepower and 77 lb-ft of torque in Triumph’s published specification. That adds a third engine configuration to the list and provides a very unique style for riders who dare to be different. Fuel injection and a six-speed gearbox were standard on these. The twin round headlights, love them or hate them, are a huge part of what makes this bike special, along with its beautiful single-sided swingarm.
The riding position uses a conventional handlebar rather than superbike clip-ons, but the chassis retains adjustable inverted forks and radial front brake calipers. There is little bodywork to interrupt the wind, which matters more on a long highway ride than the handlebar position alone suggests. As the oldest example here, its maintenance history and present condition deserve particular attention when comparing actual advertisements with the guide value. Though it’s getting up there in age, this bike has a lot ot offer with its substantial three-cylinder performance and sporty chassis equipment at the lowest benchmark price in this group.
Source: Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Aprilia, Honda, BMW, Triumph, JD Power, Bring a trailer
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