Expert guide to £1500 brilliance! Astounding bikes and ownership pride for not much money at all

What can you get for £1500? You could buy a pointlessly-large TV, a flash watch or an iPhone Xs Max (yes, folk really pay £1500 for a phone). Or you could buy an amazing motorbike. There’s not really been a duff new bike in the last 20 years, and society’s fondness for new means the used market is chock-full of desirable, proven metal for eye-rubbing prices. There’s so much affordable temptation…

• Related: Budget helmet buying guide

Read on for our expert guide to £1500 bargain bike heroes!

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MCN Recommended: 1998 Honda Firestorm – £1350

MCN’s Best Buy

Spec:

• Power 996cc
• Engine capacity 105bhp
• Seat height 810mm
• Kerb weight 214kg

If you want a focused V-twin sportsbike buy a Ducati. If you’d prefer a flexible, high-quality, usable, real-roads V-twin then get a Honda FireStorm. There are loads about, starting at less than £1000, so for £1500 you can be choosey – go for a 2001-on model for the bigger tank and better forks, maybe with things like heated grips and rumbling pipes. Some dealers are trying their arm with prices, in the hope that the ‘modern classic’ thing has extended to VTRs. It hasn’t (yet). Don’t pay over £1750.

Honda Firestorm used buying advice

Quality and finish isn’t quite the same as legendary late 80s/early 90s Hondas, but is still very good. Forks get pitted and the engine and exhaust get blasted with road muck. Expect scruffiness. Motors are pretty much bulletproof and do big miles, but the camchain and tensioner might need attention over 40,000. Rear header pipes blow where they meet the rest of the exhaust; it’s system off to fix, and bolts may be seized. Don’t expect a full dealer history for a £1500 bike that’s 20 years old, but make sure the valve adjustments have been done. The motor chomps through cush drive rubbers, too. Brakes soon deteriorate if grubby and neglected.

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2004 Ducati M620 Monster – £1650

The Stylish Option

Spec:

• Power 1203cc
• Engine capacity 103bhp
• Seat height 790mm
• Kerb weight 179kg

All the looks, sound, image and charisma of the original brand-saving M900 Monster for half the price. The V-twin won’t ignite your underwear, however the M620 Monster is a breezy bend-swinger with ample feel-good. Dark models start at £1500 or so, but with haggling or online auction luck you can get a 750 or even an 800 at this price.

Ducati M620 Monster used buying advice

Talking cambelts is predictable with a two-valve, air-cooled Ducati, but it’s worth reiterating. They need regular changes, so make sure it’s been done (though worrying more about miles than time). Ensure valve checks have been done, too. Got a booming pipe, and maybe the fairly common airbox mods? Make sure the ECU has been tweaked to suit. Otherwise reliability is good and there shouldn’t be the electrical problems that folklore (wrongly) says older Italian bikes suffer.

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2002 Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 – £1750

Fast, Friendly And Fun

Spec:

• Power 636cc
• Engine capacity 174kg
• Seat height 820mm
• Kerb weight 174kg

More handling and revs than most of us know what to do with, but with a degree of road-friendly flexibility thanks to the glorious motor. The Ninja 636 is not a wrist-busting riding position, either. Mint examples with desirable extras (double-bubble, single seat cowl, Gilles rearsets) might be nearing £2k, but there are good, clean 636s around for £1500 or so.

Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 used buying advice

Finish on all the painted chassis parts suffers in the British weather, and the rear shock linkage can seize up if it’s not been looked after. They don’t stand up very well in a prang, and new frame paint might indicate a repair. Radiators are prone to stone damage, and a dirty bunged-up rad will cause overheating and head gasket bother. The inline four is good for miles, though – don’t be put off by a bike with 50,000 miles or more, as long it passes the usual checks (noise, smoke, leaks, etc).

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2008 Triumph Daytona T595 – £1495

Iconic But Still Cheap

Spec:

• Power 955cc
• Engine capacity 125bhp
• Seat height 815mm
• Kerb weight 188kg

Not as light, sharp or powerful as rival superbikes of its time, but the Daytona T595 is a better road bike – stable, roomy, flexible and fast. Great noise, too. Mint bikes are getting valuable, so expect a rough bit of lacquer and a few furry fasteners at this money. It doesn’t matter… and there’s every chance you’re buying in a future classic.

Triumph Daytona T595 used buying advice

A slow starter probably has issues with the sprag clutch, especially if there’s squealing too. Fourth and sixth gears can fail, so test you can get all ratios (up and down the ’box). The engine’s paint flakes off too, though it’s nothing to worry about. Has the suspension linkage been greased to the 12,000-mile service schedule? It can seize if not. So can the eccentric adjuster for the rear wheel on the single-sided swingarm – replacement is the only option. The T595 warps its brake discs, too.

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2007 Yamaha MT-03 – £1450

Under-Rated Bargain

Spec:

• Power 660cc
• Engine capacity 45bhp
• Seat height 805mm
• Kerb weight 175kg

Yamaha’s original MT-03 (not the 321cc twin) was misunderstood when launched and is overlooked now. Its XT660 single-cylinder engine has punch at sensible speeds, the tall chassis rides on great suspension and handles well, and quality and finish are excellent. Cool bazooka exhausts, too. It’s also A2 legal. Looking at the current MT-03? Get one of these instead.

Yamaha MT-03 used buying advice

Quality is superb and the XT motor is apocalypse-proof. It can occasionally get a thirst for oil, though, so listen for ominous rumbling that might indicate it’s run with a low level. Water sometimes gets in the electrics and causes issues, and some owners reckon that fitting heated grips has caused problems with the electrical system. Watch out for bikes with aftermarket ’bars and brush guards – they can clobber the tank. Despite the quality, watch for rust – small blemishes spread once it’s got hold.