Old bikes are big news: fun to ride, joyous to work on and a shrewd investment, too. That’s great for owners, but less so for buyers. Surely all the bargains have gone? Well think again. There are plenty of wallet-friendly classics out there, just waiting to find a place in your shed. Here’s our pick of the bunch for the Superbike Class !
Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD
Suzuki’s GSX-R750 SRAD has to be modern-classic era bargain of the moment. Little more than a grand gets you a proper superbike, developed from the firm’s RGV500 GP bike that reinvigorated the GSX-R name.
It’s also a Daytona 200, BSB and WSB race winner and a bike that, despite a 200cc deficit, gave Honda’s FireBlade a seriously bloody nose. Yet SRADs remain dirt cheap. If you want a bike-buying bargain, look no further – the SRAD is that machine.
Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD Specs
Engine : Four stroke, Inline-Four, DOHC 16-Valve, Liquid-Cooled
Bore x Stroke : 72 x 46 mm
Capacity : 749 cc
Induction : 4 x Mikuni BDSR 43mm Carbs
Max Power : 128 HP @ 12.000 RPM
Max Torque : 80.5 N.m @ 10.000 RPM
Transmission / Drive : 6-Speed / Chain
Frame : Alumunium Twin-Beam Frame
Front Suspension : 43 mm Upside Down Forks, Fully Adjustable
Rear Suspension : Rising-Rate Monoshock, Fully Adjustable
Front Brakes : 2 x 310 mm Disc, 6-Pot Calipers
Rear Brakes : Single 220 mm Disc, 2-Pot Caliper
Front Tyre : 120/70 - ZR17
Rear Tyre : 190/50 - ZR17
Wheelbase : 1.400 mm
Seat Height : 830 mm
Weight : 179 Kg
Fuel Capacity : 18 Litres
Price :
Needs Work : £750 - £1000
Rider : £1100 - £1500
Minter : £1700 - £2500
Laverda 1200 Mirage
Forget Kawasaki Z1s, Suzuki GS1100s and Honda CB900Fs. Laverda’s epic Jota is the true ’70s superbike, but because of that you need pockets deeper than its booming triple exhaust note to own one. There is another way, however...
You can have the looks of a Jota, but with the added advantage of more grunt, with the 1200 Mirage. The hairy arse is still there, and controls that act like an on-the-move gym workout, along with a fat roll of crisp tenners in your back pocket that you haven’t spent. Paint it orange and most folk will never know. Wallet-friendly exotica? This could catch on...
Laverda 1200 Mirage Specs
Engine : Four stroke, Transverse Three Cylinder, DOHC 6-Valve, Air-Cooled
Bore x Stroke : 80 x 74 mm
Capacity : 1.115 cc
Induction : 3 x 32 mm Side Throttle Dell'Orto
Max Power : 75 HP @ 7.900 RPM
Max Torque : 77.5 N.m @ 6.600 RPM
Transmission / Drive : 5-Speed / Chain
Frame : Tubular Steel Double Cradle Frame
Front Suspension : 38 mm Marzocchi Telescopic Forks
Rear Suspension : Twin Marzocchi Shock Absorber, Adjustable Preload
Front Brakes : 2 x 280 mm Disc, 2-Pot Calipers
Rear Brakes : Single 280 mm Disc, 2-Pot Calipers
Front Tyre : 4.10 - 19
Rear Tyre : 4.25 - 18
Wheelbase : 1.473 mm
Weight : 227 Kg
Fuel Capacity : 19.5 Litres
Price :
Needs Work : £3500 - £4000
Rider : £4500 - £6500
Minter : £7000 - £8000
Yamaha FZR1000
The Yamaha FZR1000 Genesis drips with Suzuka tested tech: huge Deltabox frame, forced induction, enormous front discs – the list goes on. In 1987 it was a big, big deal.
The Genesis has long been forgotten in favour of the EXUP, but this has kept values low. Today it’s a bike without the torturously focused ’90s riding position, but with a motor that will still say hello to 160mph. All for less than the price of a shagged FS1-E...
Yamaha FZR1000 Specs
Engine : Four stroke, Inline-Four, DOHC 20-Valve, Liquid-Cooled
Bore x Stroke : 75 x 56 mm
Capacity : 989 cc
Induction : 4 x Mikuni BDS37
Max Power : 135 HP @ 10.000 RPM
Max Torque : 102 N.m @ 8.500 RPM
Transmission / Drive : 5-Speed / Chain
Frame : Alumunium Deltabox Frame
Front Suspension : 41 mm Telescopic Forks, Adjustable
Rear Suspension : Monoshock, Adjustable Preload
Front Brakes : 2 x 317 mm Disc, 4-Pot Calipers
Rear Brakes : Single 264 mm Disc, 2-Pot Caliper
Front Tyre : 120/70 - VR17
Rear Tyre : 160/60 - VR18
Wheelbase : 1.470 mm
Weight : 204 Kg
Fuel Capacity : 20 Litres
Price :
Needs Work : £500 - £800
Rider : £900 - £1300
Minter : £1400 - £1800