Not long ago, pretty much every motorcycle manufacturer was making a high-end sports bike. An expensive halo model that allowed engineers to show off what they were capable of. The market has since moved on, with consumers gravitating towards other kinds of motorcycles that are altogether more practical, yet no less sophisticated.
Several of these once expensive halo-bikes have since depreciated into affordable bargains on the used market. With the motorcycle industry currently in something of a slump, there are already several great new motorcycles to choose from that are all getting discounted. The knock-on effect is that the carpet has come out from under several older models.
10 Cheap Used Sports Bikes For Speed Junkies
If you are looking for speed on a budget, consider one of these used sports bikes that promise serious horsepower
10
2003 Aprilia RSV Mille R
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
998 cc V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
126 HP |
6-speed |
463 lbs |
After simply being content with 2-stroke racing success, Aprilia bit the bullet and developed a superbike of its own. With the help of esteemed engine supplier Rotax, Aprilia was able to develop a fun yet ultimately outgunned V-twin sports bike. Back in the early 00s, the RSV Mille was more expensive than the Japanese competition, but today, it represents fantastic value.
9
2006 MV Agusta F4 1000S
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
998 cc Inline-4, liquid-cooled |
166 HP |
6-speed |
419 lbs (dry) |
At this price point, the mid-00s F4 is desperately hard to ignore. Between its timeless design and the inline-4 Ferrari helped develop, this is a motorcycle with undeniable pedigree. But, like most things Italian, it was never the most reliable of motorcycles, and there is always a risk that you will simply end up with $10k worth of yard art. On the upside, it is still pretty enough to be actual art…
8
2008 Ducati 1098R
Price Range: $9,000 – $11,000*
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1,198 cc L-Twin, liquid-cooled |
186 HP |
6-speed |
397 lbs (dry) |
The words Ducati and affordable are usually mutually exclusive, but these highly strung V-twins are not yet quite as collectible as some models, and are more or less at the bottom of the depreciation curve. This more racy R version adds a little lightness and exclusivity to the equation, and with these bikes being made in limited numbers, we have no doubt the value will increase over time. Most of these bikes have been stored in a garage for the last decade or so, and those low-mileage bikes are going for closer to $20k. Remember, once upon a time, this was a $40k superbike.
10 Cheap Used Sports Bikes That Can Smoke A 2025 Ducati Panigale V2
While there is a lot to love about the latest Panigale V2, there are several old supersports that are both cheaper and faster
7
2010 BMW S 1000 RR
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
999 cc Inline-4, liquid-cooled |
193 HP |
6-speed |
450 lbs |
The words “catastrophic engine failure” are very hard to digest. These first-gen bikes were prone to just that, and it is the elephant in this particular room addressed. Further than that rather disturbing fact, this was quite simply the fastest motorcycle on the planet for a time, with BMW effectively bringing the curtain down on the “Gentleman’s Agreement” years.
6
2010 Ducati 1198 S
Price Range: $9,000 – $11,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1,198 cc L-Twin, liquid-cooled |
170 HP |
6-speed |
373 lbs (dry) |
It might seem rather bizarre that this is in the same price range as the aforementioned R model, but it is clear that not all Ducati motorcycles depreciate equally. One rule you do need to stick to here is to pay more for a good example than less for what might be a never-ending project. It is worth reiterating the fact that Ducati had not gotten a handle on quality control at the time these bikes left the production line, and every bike will also have its own unique set of “quirks.”
5
2011 Ducati 848 EVO
Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
849 cc L-Twin, liquid-cooled |
138 HP |
6-speed |
370 lbs (dry) |
This has to be one of the most underrated bargains on the used market right now. This is a proper supersport that will – in the right hands – show the latest Panigale V2 a clean pair of heels. It is impossibly light and impossibly unreliable. Its V-twin is right on the ragged edge of its performance ceiling, which makes it a bit of a maintenance nightmare. Finding a good one at this price point will be incredibly rewarding, though.
10 Expensive Motorcycles That Have Depreciated Into Affordable Bargains
High-end luxury motorcycles are usually the first to feel the sting of depreciation, and these are the hardest hit models
4
2012 Honda CBR1000RR
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
998 cc Inline-4, liquid-cooled |
176 HP |
6-speed |
430 lbs |
While the Fireblade wasn’t the most expensive superbike back in 2012, it was Honda’s halo bike and got a host of updates that year. It was this model that essentially evolved into the modern CBR1000RR, which is still on sale today, and serves as one of the more streetable superbikes you can buy. With less aggressive ergos and Honda reliability, this is a far better real-world superbike than most of the competition.
3
2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1,000 cc V4, liquid-cooled |
180 HP |
6-speed |
401 lbs (dry) |
Aprilia went all-in on developing its own V4 engine. While it is very much the finished article today, that was not the case back in 2013. Most of the issues have been rectified, especially since the displacement went up to 1100cc, and the 2013 model is affordable today for a reason. Italian wiring does not age like fine wine, much closer to milk in fact. So that will always be hanging over your head, but that V4 is a peach… when it runs.
2
2013 KTM 1190 RC8 R
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1,195 cc V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
173 HP |
6-speed |
410 lbs (dry) |
Once upon a time, KTM made a fully-fledged superbike. It was fast, raw, and awesome. Technically, the older bikes are cheaper, but we suggest spending a little more on the 2013 model because it has a slipper clutch. If you are keen on a V-twin superbike and you are a seasoned rider, you need not think twice.
10 Premium Bikes That Have Depreciated Into Affordable Bargains
Some of these have almost 200 horsepower while selling for under $10,000
1
2014 EBR 1190RX
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
|
Engine |
Max Power |
Transmission |
Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1,190 cc V-Twin, liquid-cooled |
185 HP |
6-speed |
419 lbs |
This is actually powered by another engine Rotax had a hand in developing. Tech is kept to a minimum in the name of weight saving, and boy, is it light. Light and razor-sharp, in the right hands, this will give any modern superbike a serious run for its money around a track. Buell recently relaunched this as the Hammerhead, and while there are some differences, you won’t have any issues with parts.