Middleweight twins are among the most popular used bikes. Here's why I think that is...

A BMW K1600 will blitz you, a passenger and more luggage than you can stuff into the boot of a sportscar across a continent in comfort. But supertourers like the Beemer can be… well, a bit unwieldy off motorways. Enter, the sports tourers.

Related: These used adventure-sports heroes will do it all, and I’ve found five bargains for less than £4k!

Sportsbikes are marvellous but as for carrying a pillion big miles? Forget it. So what you want is something with the comfort of the former with the ability of the latter. Here’s our choice

Read on for our expert guide to £5k Sports Tourers!

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MCN Recommended: 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400 – £3700 – £13,000

MCN Best Buy

Spec:

• Power – 200bhp
• Engine capacity – 1441cc
• Seat height – 800mm
• Kerb weight – 269kg

Sounds silly calling a 180mph bike a sports tourer, but that’s what it is. As quick as the supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2, and a damn sight more comfortable and economical to ride. Looks are subjective: it lost the smooth lines of the earlier 1100 and 1200 in favour of a set of railings which were attempting to emulate Ferrari F40 louvres. If you don’t like them you can comfort yourself with the fact you can’t see them as you are riding down the French Riviera. From 2012 it got revised suspension and an engine that delivers 119ftlb of torque. Traction control, modes and ABS all came standard.

KAWASAKI ZZR1400 used buying advice

Early ones sometimes suffered frame fractures, prompting a recall. This issue was resolved but it’s always worth checking that any 2006/2007 model you’re considering has been inspected under the terms of the recall. Also there were reports of engine failure on very early bikes. In general, the ZZR1400 is also pretty hard on its front end components, so expect to go through brake pads and even discs at an accelerated rate. Front wheel bearings are also prone to premature wear.

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2007 BMW K1200S – £1750 – £4500

The high spec one

Spec:

• Power – 165bhp
• Engine capacity – 1157cc
• Seat height – 820mm
• Kerb weight – 248kg

The K1200S was BMW’s first transverse four and, unsurprisingly, it wasn’t as refined as the best fours from Japan, where they’ve been building them for rather longer. BMW’s funny front-end and shaft final drive mean it’s a better proposition than the lardy Kawasaki GTR1400 shafty, though. Well finished, comfortable and brilliantly equipped if you find a high-specced one. Very torquey, extremely comfortable and has a good range.

BMW K1200S used buying advice

Quality control is iffy and parts prices are horrific. If the electronic suspension fails, replacing it costs more than the bike’s worth. Check all the electronics are functioning on any example that you look at. Coils fail sporadically. Getting at the spark plugs means dismantling most of the bike and as a result, servicing costs are pretty high.

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2014 Triumph Sprint ST1050 – £1250 – £7000

The sporty one

Spec:

• Power – 123bhp
• Engine capacity – 1150cc
• Seat height – 815mm
• Kerb weight – 210kg

Probably the sportiest option here. It’s fast, smooth, comfortable, torquey and faster than you’d expect from 123bhp. Superb FI, too, and the howl the three-cylinder engine makes is glorious. A big revamp in 2010 gave it better pillion accommodation, ABS and 117 litres’ worth of luggage as standard. It also gained a lower seat and revised footrest position. Was something of a bargain new (three grand cheaper than the VFR1200).

Triumph Sprint ST1050 used buying advice

A little short on toys, Triumph’s Garmin satnav is pricey as are major services, lots of quality niggles (reg/rec, stator, fork seals, corroding fasteners), iffy paint on early models. EBC hard pads wipe out the discs. Sprints are kept at their best with frequent oil changes using good quality oil, which also helps keep gearchanges smooth.

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2003 Yamaha FJR1300 – £1500 – £15,000

The solid one

Spec:

• Power – 146bhp
• Engine capacity – 1298cc
• Seat height – 805mm
• Kerb weight – 264kg

It’s been around for 18 years but was given a serious revamp in 2013. Older model is great value used, but from 2013 the suspension was improved, it was better finished, and there were other tweaks. In 2016 it got a sixth gear. 2017 saw USD forks, a slipper clutch and cornering lights, too. In 2018 it got electronic suspension. Obviously older than the opposition but that means a wide choice of ages and prices. There’s also a semi-automatic clutchless version which nobody seems to want, so is cheaper used.

Yamaha FJR1300 used buying advice

Regular greasing of the suspension linkages is a must every 12,000 miles. Wheel bearings can die early if axles are over-tightened. If you’re looking at an ES model with electronic suspension check the rear shock has damping, as this can be very expensive to replace.

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2011 Honda VFR1200F – £3500 – £9000

The V4 used bargain

Spec:

• Power – 160bhp
• Engine capacity – 1237cc
• Seat height – 815
• Kerb weight – 267kg

Not a success when launched. Too heavy, too expensive and the tank was too small. Lovely engine but the rest of it was sort of thrown together. No traction control, no electric screen, centrestand only an option, awkward switchgear… It just didn’t move the game on and looked poorly equipped compared with the opposition. The 2012 model addressed some of the complaints, but it’s been a slow seller. Depreciates like a brick down a mineshaft, so a bargain used.

Honda VFR1200F used buying advice

2010-2013 models had a recall relating to the driveshaft universal joint. Damping can go off after 10,000 miles and the preload adjuster can seize solid if not used. The V4 is thirsty and Honda recommend costly 98-octane fuel.