5 times when used is better than new…

Nothing beats the feeling of owning a brand new bike, but in some cases new doesn't necessarily mean better…

1. KTM 690 Duke R

A perfect example of having to be more things to more people, the once aggressively styled road-going supermoto is these days a user-friendly package with a far wider appeal. On paper, the current Austrian-built 690 Duke R and the 2010 model are very similar – same weight (148kg, dry), same capacity (690cc), same seat height (865mm), same oomph (70hp) and even the same aggressive steering head angle (63.5 degrees) – but ride them back to back and they feel like two very different beasts. Not least because the 2010 R-version of what was then a hugely niche segment was very much a dirtbike with high-end road-going running gear, whereas these days the 690 has very much evolved into a well-mannered roadbike.

Click here to see examples of the KTM 690 Duke R for sale on Bikesales.com.au.

2. Honda CBR250RR

This applies to any of the in-line four-cylinder 250cc sportsbikes of days gone by. Sure, the recently unveiled parallel-twin CBR250RR will offer you things like switchable engine maps, anti-lock braking and a sophisticated digital dash, but the high-revving grey imports of the 1990s stir something within red-blooded motorcyclists and represent an era long since passed. Replicas of their much-bigger supersport and superbike siblings of the era, they boasted a twin-spar aluminium frame, a twin-disc front end and true superbike styling. They weighed in the low 140kg range (dry) and had a power capability of 40-odd horsepower – quite impressive when you compare it to today's single-cylinder CBR300R, which weighs in the high 160kg range and has a power output of almost 20hp. There are plenty for sale for under $5000, too.

Click here to see examples of Honda's CBR250RR for sale on Bikesales.com.au.

3. Aprilia Tuono

If you're a tall rider, then the latest Aprilia naked bike won't always offer the all-day comfort straighter-backed nakedbikes ought to. Shame, too, because the diminutive RSV4-powered 1100cc Tuono is one of the best there is. The good news though is that its predecessor was a ripper – and quite a bit roomier. It's powered by the highly regarded RSV1000 Mille engine and in its un-detuned form – which was what Aprilia used – was good for 130-odd horsepower (97kW). It was built for nine years between 2003 and 2011 but the most powerful ones came from 2005 onwards. Their Italian design means they've aged gracefully and, to the uninitiated, a 10-year-old Tuono 1000 still looks on-trend and fresh. And you can pick a clean one up with relatively low kays for less than $10,000.

Click here to see examples of Aprilia's Tuono for sale on Bikesales.com.au.

4. Suzuki GSX-R750

First released in 1985, the GSX-R750 is the only fully faired four-cylinder 750cc sportsbike left on the market. The good news for would-be midsize sportsbike owners is the bike in its current iteration, internally named the 'L' series, is the longest series produced in its 31-year history. So what that means is that if you purchased a low-kilometre 2011 GSX-R750 L1, you're more or less buying a 2016 GSX-R750 L6 model. The bike's enormous fan base will mean many will argue an even earlier model would be money better spent (and they might be right), but in terms of current model features, nothing separates the six years of production runs between 2011 and now.

Click here to see a Suzuki GSX-R750 for sale on Bikesales.com.au.

5. Ducati Hypermotard

If you've got your eye on a current-model 939 Hypermotard (and why wouldn't you?), it may be worth considering the S model of the original 1100 version. Sure, the brand spanker is liquid-cooled and boasts Ducati's vast suite of electronic rider aids, but who can forget Rueben Xaus's one-handed, thumbs-up, sideways-into-the-corner promotional shot of the air-cooled 1100? Those electronics mean you'll never get your Rueben on. The current model is a 937cc V-twin capable of 113hp while the 1100 S used the 1078cc engine pushing out 90hp, but the 939 weighs in at 181kg where the 1100 S was almost 5kg lighter. And on a fun, flickable bike like the Hyper, those extra kilos matter. Not to mention the tasty goodies that come with the up-spec S model. It was produced for six years between 2007 and 2012 and, much like the Tuono, a late model would certainly hold its own in the styling department.

Click here to see a Ducati Hypermotard 1100 S for sale on Bikesales.com.au.

5 times when used is better than new…

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