Yamaha Mt-07

"The best value middleweight naked money can currently buy used."

The MT-07 is one of those rare bikes that punches well above its price point, and the used market makes it an absolute steal. Yamaha's CP2 parallel-twin is genuinely brilliant — torquey from practically idle, smooth through the midrange, and it'll spin to the redline without complaint. The chassis is light and flickable in a way that makes experienced riders grin and beginners feel immediately capable. It's not fast in a straight line by modern standards, but you'll rarely notice. On used examples, check the subframe area around the grab handles — owners drop these things in car parks constantly, and that's your first damage indicator. Clutch slave cylinders can weep fluid on higher-mileage units, and the stock suspension is soft enough that previous owners may have fitted aftermarket units, which is actually a bonus. Chain and sprocket wear is worth scrutinising; these bikes get ridden hard. Avoid anything with crash damage repaired cheaply, and budget for bar-end mirrors because the stock ones vibrate into uselessness around 6,000rpm.