Sub-£5k superbikes: they might break the speed limit, but these sizzlers won't break the bank

Sales of new sportsbikes may have dwindled but the used market is as hot as ever – and that’s no surprise given the range of quality machinery on offer.

Look in any dealership and super sport 600 and litre sports bikes around the £5000 mark never sit around for long before they are snapped up by eager buyers.

Your cash will secure you a machine that is unlikely to throw up any serious issues – and it’ll also be one that’s already taken its major depreciation hit, so look after it and your investment will be safe.

Keep it long enough and you might even see the value start to rise again. So what are the best buys right now?

And don’t forget to check out our best kit for sportsbike riders!

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MCN Recommended: Aprilia RSV 1000R Factory – £3,000 – £6,500

2004-2010 V-twin is a riot of sophisticated performance

Spec:

• Power 143bhp
• Engine capacity 997cc
• Seat height 810mm
• Kerb weight 210kg

Aprilia’s V-twin has always represented great value and at under £5k you can’t go wrong with an RSV-R Factory. Boasting Öhlins suspension, Brembo radial brakes, OZ Racing lightweight wheels and more, the Factory model is worth paying a bit extra for over the stock R. The engine is reliable, the chassis (although a bit top-heavy feeling) agile and even the riding position is forgiving with a lovely big fairing. It might not be to everyone’s taste but in terms of bang for your buck, the Factory model Aprilia is very hard to argue against.

Aprilia RSV 1000R Factory used buying advice

● Check an RSV’s frame thoroughly as a low-speed crash can push the exhaust and pegs into the frame/swingarm, causing damage.
● A clattering sound from the left hand side of the engine when you start it means the sprag clutch is on its way out, which will cost about £400 to fix – so check it thoroughly.
● Stators aren’t that strong on the RSV, so check for a reading of around 14.5V across the battery using a multimeter when the engine is running.

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Honda FireBlade 954 – £3,000 – £5,000

Glorious 2002-03 model was Tadao Baba’s final Blade

Spec:

• Power 154bhp
• Engine capacity 954cc
• Seat height 815mm
• Kerb weight 192kg

The last sub-litre ‘Blade packs lots of lovely low and mid-range power. Build quality is superb and its chassis is sporty enough to enjoy but never over-the-top for road riding thanks to its natural balance. A truly wonderful example of a sportsbike designed with road riders in mind (it even has a flip-up under pillion seat storage area), there is nothing not to love about this generation of Blade (part from maybe the yellow paint scheme!).

Honda FireBlade 954 used buying advice

● The Blade has an exhaust valve in the section of pipe under the engine. Check it is opening and shutting freely as it may be seized solid, robbing the bike of low-end power.
● Check second gear engages smoothly and doesn’t hop out of mesh under hard acceleration.
● The Blade is quite an old bike now so check all of its bearings (head, wheels, swingarm linkages).

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Yamaha YZF-R1 5PW – £3,000 – £6,000

This 2002-03 beauty is injected with refinement

Spec:

• Power 152bhp
• Engine capacity 998cc
• Seat height 813mm
• Kerb weight 192kg

The first fuel-injected R1 model is the one to head for if you have £5000 to spend. A really superb sports bike that is a joy to ride, the hybrid carb/injection system gives it heaps of mid-range as well as a beautiful throttle response, while the chassis feels thoroughly contemporary. It might be worth fitting upgraded suspension and new tyres though.

Yamaha YZF-R1 5PW used buying advice

● Second and third gear are weak spots on the early R1’s gearbox, so ensure all is nice and slick during a test ride.
● The fuel injection system is beautifully smooth but if it feels a bit jerky or even lethargic, it may be down to either a blocked fuel filter or even a dirty injector.
● Watch out for seized suspension linkages, they should be stripped and re-greased every four years, but this job is often skipped on older bikes as owners dodge costs.

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Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R – £3,500 – £5,000

2006-07 Ninjas offer a stack of performance for the price

Spec:

• Power 181bhp
• Engine capacity 998cc
• Seat height 825mm
• Kerb weight 192kg

Rather unkindly dubbed ‘the wheelbarrow’ due to its twin under seat exhausts, the second generation of ZX-10R failed to capture the public’s imagination. Heavy and with sluggish-steering, it was generally shunned when new but in the used market is well worth considering. It’s an overlooked model that is actually a much better road bike than the original.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R used buying advice

● If they haven’t been changed already, swap the OE brake lines for braided items. The stoppers were never that great from new.
● Look for signs of track use and possible damage. Inspect behind the fairing for scrapes and be extremely wary of any bike that isn’t in standard Kawasaki colours.
● Lighter end cans are a welcome addition, but a lot of other stuff isn’t, so have a good check for unwanted extras that may fail an MoT and don’t pay extra for bolt-on bits.

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Suzuki GSX-R1000 K3/4 – £3,500 – £5,000

The 2003-2004 GSX-R makes for a highly refined road bike

Spec:

• Power 162bhp
• Engine capacity 988cc
• Seat height 820mm
• Kerb weight 195kg

The first update to the GSX-R1000 (or ‘Gixxer thou’ saw it gain radial brakes alongside a new look, revised chassis and enhanced motor. Less aggressive than the original, the K3/4 has a refined throttle action, making it less demanding to ride. Big, roomy and with a torque-filled engine, the K3/4 is extremely fast, but it doesn’t feel like it is trying to intimidate you at every opportunity.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 K3/4 used buying advice

● If you buy a silver or black/copper K3 be a bit wary of its paint. Suzuki used a new type of plastic for the fairing and the paint peels off quite badly. Oddly, the blue/white bikes seem to get away with it.
● Headlight misting is a common problem on the K3/4, so look for signs of water ingress.
● If the clutch is grabby, remove the front sprocket cover and clean and lube the worm drive. Try to avoid taking it apart as setting the clutch up afterwards can be tricky.