Top-Five Most Exciting Used Motorcycles

In an issue devoted to the senses, let’s look at motorcycles that were built to target each and every one of them.

There are lots of candidates for the prettiest motorcycle ever built, but a common favorite will always be Massimo Tamburini's Ducati 916. It was such an instant classic that in our recap of the 1990s, we only had one thing to say about all of 1994: "Ducati 916 debuts. Did anything else happen that year?"

If you’re just in it for the looks, then you should also consider the 996, 998, and even the 748 because they all share similar styling, with Ducati’s lovely single-sided swingarm and underseat exhaust. But the 916 is the OG. A 1994 fire at the paint shop in Ducati’s Bologna plant delayed initial production, and 2,663 of the first 916s were instead put together in Varese, mostly by hand. You can identify a Varese bike by looking at the 11th digit of the VIN—it should be a V. Of the Varese bikes, 641 were sold in the U.S. As the 916 hits the 25th anniversary of its release, values are starting to creep up on this classic, and you may need to budget $7,000 for a regular 916 in excellent condition. But if you have a heart set on a Varese bike, you’re looking at nearly five figures.

For those who grew up when two-strokes ruled the street, there's no better trip down nostalgia lane than the smell of a smoker. The Yamaha RZ350 was a notable first for Yamaha—it was the company's first streetbike in the U.S. to utilize a perimeter frame, and the first to come with catalytic converters. But it was also a notable last: a final mass-produced highway-legal two-stroke motorcycle, thanks to the tightening noose of emissions regulations. Despite the performance-choking smog equipment, the RZ350 was still an excellent choice for the King Kenny fan, especially since Yamaha sold the bike as a Kenny Roberts edition in yellow and black or white and red, both with the classic speed-block livery. Ditch the smog equipment and enjoy the sweet smell of burnt two-stroke oil for around $6,500.

In 2004, Yamaha solved the conflict of inertial torque interfering with combustion torque in an inline-four motor with the introduction of a cross-plane crankshaft to its YZR-M1 MotoGP racebike. The furious sound caused by an uneven firing order was unmistakable. It wasn’t until 2009 when Yamaha decided to bring its crossplane engine to production, and motorcyclists have been treated to the aural delight of half a muscle car V-8 ever since. We called the ’09 R1 a “game changer,” noting that it “sounds nothing like an inline-four” and “instead suggests an extremely high-revving V-4.” Look for one that’s as close to stock as possible, and keep $6,000 tucked away for the privilege.

If you’re licking your bike, I can’t help you. But certain bikes illustrate that their owner has excellent taste, and a perfect example is the Moto Guzzi Griso. Introduced in 2005 as a uniquely styled roadster, it was soon upgraded with the 1,150cc 8V motor in 2007 so that it finally had the grunt to match the looks. It’s handsome in most colors, but what you really want is the 2012 SE, which was adorned in beautiful Tenni Green paint that’s reminiscent of Guzzi’s racebikes of the ’50s. It came with additional extras such as spoked wheels and a brown leather seat. Look to spend a shade over $9,000.

When BMW released the K1 in 1988, it was bound to a manufacturer-imposed limit of 100 horsepower for motorcycles sold in Germany. With a cap on power, the company decided the best way to improve performance was to focus on aerodynamics. The resulting bodywork not only gives you plenty to touch, but it also yielded the best drag coefficient of any production motorcycle of the time: 0.38. At the claimed top speed of 150 mph, the drag advantage over competitors was said to be worth approximately 30 horsepower. The K1 was also ahead of its time, with features like ABS and the Paralever driveshaft. Patience and $7,000 should get you an example in good condition where the fairings haven't cracked at the screw holes, which happens too often. BMW offered a few color options, but the most shocking is the ketchup-and-mustard combination of red and yellow.

Motorcycling is appealing because it’s so visceral. No matter what you’re riding, we hope it gets all of your senses tingling.