Aprilia Rsv4

"The best used sportsbike money can buy, if you're careful."

The RSV4 is genuinely one of the best sportsbikes ever made, but buying one used demands homework. That V4 engine is a mechanical masterpiece — urgent, musical, utterly addictive — and the chassis will embarrass bikes costing twice as much on a twisty road. Pre-2015 bikes are getting long in the tooth now, so target the 2015-onwards RF or RR variants if your budget stretches. Service history is non-negotiable here. Valve clearances need checking every 15,000km and the bill isn't pretty if ignored. Electronics packages on later bikes are genuinely brilliant rather than gimmicky. Watch for crash damage religiously — these get track-dayed hard by owners who thought they were Biaggi. Check the frame sliders, inspect the subframe welds, and get the steering head bearings checked because neglect shows up there fast. Fuel pump issues plagued earlier models too. Budget an extra $800-1,200 for a proper setup service after purchase. Do all that and you'll own something truly special for supercar money.