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Premium Motorcycles That Went From Dream Bikes To Shockingly Affordable Used Buys
The used motorcycle market has never been a better hunting ground for riders who want serious performance without a serious price tag. As modern bikes pile on electronics, rider aids, and connectivity features, their older counterparts have quietly slipped into bargain territory — and many of them are genuinely exceptional machines. Depreciation is a buyer’s best friend, and right now it’s working overtime on some once-aspirational hardware.
If cutting-edge tech isn’t a priority, the used market is stacked with premium bikes that have aged into remarkable value propositions. These machines were all considered cream of the crop in their day, yet today you can pick up most of them for around $10k. From cruisers to adventure bikes, there is an old premium bike out there for every kind of rider. Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research and proceed with caution.
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2007 BMW R 1200 GS
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
If you are serious about taking an adventure bike through uncharted territory, an older air-cooled GS like this might actually be the best bet. It delivers more than enough power for both touring and the rough stuff, and it’s as proven as any adventure bike on the planet. Its relatively low weight makes it a little easier to pick up after a spill, and the inherent simplicity of an air-cooled engine means roadside repairs are genuinely possible when you’re far from the nearest dealer.
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2010 Honda VFR1200F
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
We still can’t quite understand why Honda doesn’t make a V4 anymore. While this was initially an engine architecture developed for racing, the VFR line evolved into one of the very best touring bikes money could buy. Even though it is pretty heavy, it can still hang with superbikes in a straight line, and still offer all-day riding comfort.
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2010 BMW S 1000 RR
Price Range: $9,000 – $11,000
This level of depreciation is certainly not uncommon with superbikes. It is just far worse for this first-generation BMW because reliability wasn’t its forte, and something like “catastrophic engine failure” is never completely off the table. It is still one of the fastest production motorcycles ever made, and that reason alone makes it hard to overlook at this price point.
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2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
As the appetite for adventure-touring bikes grew toward the end of the 2000s, nearly every major manufacturer had something on offer. The Multistrada had always leaned more toward sport touring, but this 150-horsepower Ducati forced other manufacturers to re-evaluate what a premium adventure bike should look like. Crossover bikes like this are commonplace today, but back in 2011, this was the first of its kind.
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2012 Yamaha VMax
Price Range: $9,000 – $11,000
Few motorcycles offer more bang for the buck right now. The second-generation VMax offered more muscle than any other cruiser when it was new, and it still holds that reputation today. Bikes in near-perfect condition are becoming increasingly valuable, but the vast majority were used the way nature intended and can still be had for under $10k.
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2012 Aprilia RSV4 R
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
Before we dare sell you on how wonderful this V4 was, we have to admit these bikes were always frightfully unreliable. Most of the problems were related to its Italian wiring, which is now aging Italian wiring, and officially not for the faint of heart or the weak of wrenching ability. For those with a little mechanical nous, this really is an unbelievable bargain.
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2012 MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
The same engine found in the F4 superbike was retuned and transplanted into this hypernaked, with the emphasis shifted toward mid-range grunt rather than top-end power. That comparatively mild state of tune made these bikes meaningfully more reliable, and the depreciation on used examples is substantial. Running costs, however, don’t depreciate — so budget accordingly for maintenance.
3
2013 Ducati Diavel
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
The first-generation Diavel was not particularly reliable, and values have declined steadily as a result. Die-hard cruiser fans were also never quite convinced it was a “real” cruiser, given its mid-mount controls and superbike-derived engine. It certainly is a cruiser — just a much faster one — and if you are willing to gamble on reliability, the rewards are there for all to see.
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2014 Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
If you are after a bagger on a budget, few can match the stylish Moto Guzzi. Unlike the other Italians on this list, the Moto Guzzi is more guilty by association than anything else — it has actually proven to be quite reliable. It is not the fastest, but its stable, predictable chassis makes it relatively easy to ride by bagger standards, and it has more than enough power to hold a steady highway cruise. That’s really all you need from a touring bike.
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2015 Motus MST
Price Range: $13,000 – $15,000*
While that Moto Guzzi transverse V-twin adds to its Italian charm, the Motus counters with an even more intriguing transverse V4 engineered to evoke a Chevy V8 — a proudly all-American piece of engineering. Components are sourced from the top shelf, and every one of these bikes was hand-built, so while it may be the most expensive entry on this list, we feel it is worth every penny.
Sources: OEMs
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