Fancy a used hyperbike? Here are my tips, with a few wildcard superbikes thrown in for good measure

Suzuki’s Hayabusa has long been the king of speed. From 1999 to 2018 and then from 2021 to today, the superfast Suzuki dominated the hyperbike niche and still has a massive cult following but that doesn’t mean you have to pay top dollar to own one.

Better still, there are plenty of hyperbike alternatives out there and some can be yours for under two grand on a private sale. Here’s some of the best…

Related: Best sports touring tyres tried and tested

Read on for our expert guide to affordable used hyperbikes and their alternatives!

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MCN Recommended: 1999-2018 Suzuki Hayabusa – from £3750

MCN Best Buy

Spec:

• Power 1299cc
• Engine capacity 175bhp
• Seat height 805mm
• Kerb weight 215kg

For under £4000 you can own a genuine piece of motorcycling history and one of the fastest vehicles on the road. As a flagship model, the Suzuki Hayabusa is really well built and most owners take real pride in them, meaning that their overall used condition is good. Despite the urban legend that original models were capable of over 190mph, a standard early Busa’s outright top speed – regardless of age – is 185mph. The speed limiter can be removed by those in the know, which means that later models fitted with a pipe (and a tail wind) can top the magical 200mph. There seems to be an abundance of used Hayabusas available, many of them are low mileage too, so it’s a buyers’ market with deals available.

Suzuki Hayabusa used buying advice

Original early 1999 models suffered with cracking subframes. This usually happened when the 4-into-2 exhaust was replaced with an aftermarket item, as the standard silencers added rigidity to the subframe. The brakes have always been criticised for being a bit weak, but there are various easy fixes in the form of aftermarket pads or upgraded master cylinder.

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2000-2006 Kawasaki ZX-12R – from £3299

Best For B-Roads

Spec:

• Power 1199cc
• Engine capacity 178bhp
• Seat height 843mm
• Kerb weight 241kg

The Kawasaki ZX-12R was all new in 2000 and boasted a new aluminium monocoque chassis for increased rigidity and high-speed stability. The fuel-injected, 16v engine also features RAM air, where charge is forced into the engine via a large intake that protrudes from under the headlight. The result is staggering performance, capable of smashing past 185mph straight into the speedlimiter. Although not as grunty as the Hayabusa, the ZX-12R is sportier and more agile. It’s a lot of bike for your money.

Kawasaki ZX-12R used buying advice

The ZX-12R has a reputation for being reliable, there are no major issues with the engine. Service intervals are every 3500 miles so it’s fairly easy for maintenance to be missed. For this reason make sure the paperwork supports a comprehensive service history.

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1997-2005 Honda Super Blackbird – from £1790

Best For Touring

Spec:

• Power 1137cc
• Engine capacity 164bhp
• Seat height 810mm
• Kerb weight 223kg

The fastest production bike of the pre-Busa era, in 1998 MCN recorded a top speed of 179.1mph from the Honda Super Blackbird. Despite not being as fast as the competition, the Blackbird still has a wide appeal and its 23-litre fuel tank gives it an impressive range making it a brilliant long-distance tourer. An excellent bike with beautiful build quality, it can be much improved with the fitment of modern sports touring tyres, and maybe firming up the softish suspension.

Honda Super Blackbird used buying advice

There are plenty of Blackbirds for sale, some of which can be bought for as little as £1800. Try to go for machines that are in stock trim with a good service history. Super reliable even at high mileages, just watch for the age-old Honda problems of cam chain tensioner and regulator/rectifier failures.

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2009-2011 BMW S1000RR – from £6491

Best For Tech

Spec:

• Power 999cc
• Engine capacity 190bhp
• Seat height 820mm
• Kerb weight 204kg

BMW introduced the S1000RR, their first real superbike, in 2009, and it changed the path of every litre sportsbike that followed. Not only did it have more electronic rider assists than anything before it, it also had an unrivalled power-to-weight ratio to give it a clear performance advantage over many of its rivals. With its ‘Slick’ mode activated (via a plug-in dongle under the seat) MCN managed to get 190mph from a stock Gen 1 S1000RR. But aside from all that, on the road the S1000RR is roomy, safe, flexible and practical. That’s why they command such good prices on the used market.

BMWS1000R used buying advice

Steer clear of early models that have been regularly used on track, as there are reports of these bikes developing serious gearboxes problems. As long as there is plenty of evidence of it only being used on the road it should be a safe buy.

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2001-2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000 K1 – from £4649

Best For Fun

Spec:

• Power 988cc
• Engine capacity 160hp
• Seat height 830mm
• Kerb weight 170kg

Amazing value for money. The original Suzuki GSX-R1000 still has a kick ass motor; it’s flexible throughout its rev range and has none of the Euro4 refinements that affect current bikes at low rpm. In fact, the Suzuki has so much grunt from tickover, it will pull a 12 o’clock wheelie with just a sniff of throttle – you have been warned! Despite the fact it has a claimed dry weight of just 170kg, it’s stable at speed and capable of almost 185mph.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 K1 used buying advice

Check the bodywork is original and not pattern stuff. A good owner will have pride in ownership, so tell-tale signs like a clean, well-lubed chain and good tyres should tell you all you need to know. Abused bikes will feel ropey with poor clutch modulation, and will be difficult to get from first to second gear.