MORE and more often, I look at new motorcycle prices and I think 'How much?! The world's gone mad.'
Despite the rise of the £15,000 motorcycle, there is a growing hunger within the industry to go back to basics and produce cheaper new motorcycles. Bikes like the MT-09, CBR500R, SV650S and to an extent, Street Triple ABS restore my faith in the new model market. They offer a lot for the money.
The second hand market is equally bonkers. There are some real bargains to be had, especially on models that were never quite the cutting-edge. However the used motorcycle market also has some absolute howlers. The rise of the 'Practical Sportsbike' means that anyone with a bike over 15 years old thinks they're sitting on a pension plan and not a 15-year old nail. Six grand for a tired old GSX-R750 Slingshot? I think not.
But there are some good bargains to be had, especially in the 600 supersport market. Sure, the modern-day bikes are that much better, but only really in terms of out-and-out performance and lap times. Do you need to spend £10,000 on a 600cc supersport bike that you use for Sunday blasts and a bit of commuting? No way.
In this feature I've put together five great 600s, all for under £3,000, a third of what you'd pay for a new 600 today. I've tried to keep them as low-mileage as possible, with full (if not decent) service history, in as close to standard trim as possible and the fewer owners, the better.
If you're thinking of buying a supersports motorcycle this year, take a look at some of these: