Superbikes are awesome. Fast and powerful, they provide some of the most thrills and spills of the automotive world. Few experiences come close to what a superbike can offer. However, some of the latest ones are somewhat expensive.
That is where the second-hand market comes in. Plenty of excellent superbikes are available for much less than what a brand-new bike will cost.
This list contains some of the best superbikes. We’ve factored in their speed and performance, as well as their overall value for money.
2008 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
Japanese manufacturer Honda’s core business is motorcycles. It was bikes that made Honda a household name, and superbikes are no exception. One of their best offerings is the 2008 CBR1000RR Fireblade.
This monster of a superbike has a lightweight, compact chassis and an excellent engine that produces 175 horsepower. Its ability to rev from 2,000 rpm to 13,000 rpm added to its appeal.
2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale
Like Honda, Ducati is one of the kings of the superbike world. The Italian manufacturer knows a thing or two about fast bikes, and it is currently dominating the competition in the MotoGP world championship. A look through the classified ads will show you that the remarkable 2012 1199 Panigale is available for less than $10,000.
The 1199 Panigale, with its V-twin engine producing 177 horsepower, was the first bike in the Panigale range. The 2012 1199 Panigale is a masterpiece to ride and look at.
2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Suzuki is another manufacturer that produces truly spectacular superbikes. The 2012 GSX-R1000 is one of them, with this incarnation featuring a few updates over previous models. Most notable were the new forks and brakes; however, the bike stuck with the tried-and-tested inline-four engine.
The GSC-R1000’s power was rated at 185 horsepower and 86 lb-ft of torque. It is a striking machine that should be at the top of any superbike fan’s shopping list.
2012 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to see more than one Honda Superbike on this list. Weirdly, this bike was criticized for producing “only” 180 horsepower, although if you want anything more than that and, you might as well try and ride a MotoGP bike.
But the 2012 CBR1000RR Fireblade was exceptional. Not only did it look good, but it rode well, too. It had super sharp handling and retained the lightness of previous Fireblades.
2009 Aprilia RSV4-R
Many overlook Aprillia because it is smaller than rivals such as Ducati and Honda. However, the Italian company, now a MotoGP race winner, is a standout in the superbike world, and the 2009 Aprillia RSV4-R is a fine example of its work.
With 177 horsepower, it’s certainly no slouch, and it has the exceptional handling you would expect from an Italian superbike. Most impressive is just how light it is, and it is rapid off the starting line.
2010 BMW S1000RR
While many people think of BMW as a car manufacturer, the German company also knows a thing or two about superbikes. The 2010 S1000RR is one of their best, changing perceptions of what a superbike should really be.
The 999cc inline-four engine produces an astonishing 193 horsepower and 82.6 lb-ft of torque. Plus, you can pick one of these incredible superbikes up for around $10,000. It is a bargain for a bike that also comes with a full suite of rider aids, such as traction control.
2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000
One of Suzuki’s other excellent superbikes is the 2005 KGSX-R1000. This legendary superbike is still in high demand, and its 178 horsepower was awe-inspiring for the mid-2000s.
The 2005 GSX-R1000 was a monster. That year, it won the World Superbike Championship and became the first bike to do so with an inline-four engine.
2009 Yamaha YZF-R1
Japanese manufacturer Yamaha, much like its sibling Honda, is no stranger to the superbike world. One of the best that money can currently buy second-hand is the 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1, a year that marked the debut of Yamaha’s MotoGP-inspired cross-plate crankshaft.
This enables the 2009 YZF-R1 to have a fantastic exhaust sound, which sounds unlike any other inline-four motorcycle engine. Plus, it aids in smoother torque delivery, with the throttle able to be opened much earlier in a corner with a lower chance of traction loss.
2012 Yamaha YZF-R1
Later versions of the Yamaha YZF-R1 are also exceptional superbikes. Take the 2012 model, for example, which was a reaction to the superior BMW S1000RR and the various electronic rider aids and safety features that the German bike had.
The 2012 YZF-R1 was a step in that direction for Yamaha. It featured traction control, which became quite crucial on an 182-horsepower bike. Yet this didn’t come at the expense of the superb handling the YZF-R1 was known for.
2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R
Out of all the manufacturers that challenged the BMW S1000RR, Kawasaki was the quickest to respond. This saw them release the final version of the previous-generation ZX-10R.
This bike was exceptional, with 200 horsepower and 84.3 lb-ft of torque on offer from its 998 cc inline-four engine. The motorcycle also introduced some new driver aids to the Yamaha lineup, such as traction control and various power modes to control the engine’s output.
2002 Honda RC51 (SP2)
If you fancy a Honda Superbike from over 20 years ago, then look no further than the RC51 SP2. This bike came about as Ducati started to dominate superbike racing, thanks to the rule favoring the V-twin engine.
Honda introduced the exceptional RC51, which also went by the names VTR1000 and RVT1000R. This remarkable superbike won the World Superbike Championship in its first season of competition. Its power came from a 999cc V-Twin engine producing 133 horsepower.
2010 Kawasaki ZX-10R
Like its successor, the 2010 Kawasaki ZX-10R is an exceptional superbike. The 2010 model moved the goalposts further, thanks to its lightweight design and vast and powerful inline-four engine.
The 998cc powertrain produced a staggering 197 horsepower with ram air, and the 2010 ZX-10R was very light, weighing just 459 lbs. It was one of the last major moves from a Japanese superbike manufacturer, with its rivals from Europe starting to control the market.
2008 Buell 1125R
The 2008 Buell 1125R is an exciting machine from the company’s founder, Erik Buell. The Buell 1125R came about because Buel himself wanted to create the superbike of his dreams. He had seriously extracted everything from the previous XB, so a new machine was required.
That is where the 1125R came in. This incredible V-Twin machine had a 1,125 cc engine under the hood, producing 146 horsepower. As production was limited, these are hard to find second-hand and can often command a pretty high price.
2013 KTM 1190 RC8 R
Austrian manufacturer KTM is perhaps best known for some of its off-roading motorcycles. However, it can also produce an excellent superbike, as we can see with the 2013 1190 RC8 R.
The KTM is striking in the company’s trademark orange, but sadly, low sales for the RC8 R cut the project short. Yet despite that, the Austrian company had produced a masterpiece with a 1,195cc V-Twin powering the bike, providing up to 173 horsepower. For a bike that weighs just 437 lbs, that is an incredible amount of power.