The list of ‘proper’ classic motorcycles is long and distinguished and there are no doubt some absolutely lovely motorcycles on that list.

The issue with ‘proper’ classic motorcycles is the price tag usually attached to them. There are rarely cheap ways into these areas; there are very few budget Brough Superiors or discount Honda RC30s, never mind Ducati 916s and BSA Gold Stars!

So we’ve taken a slightly different look at some of the overlooked bikes that have some potential for classic status but are still very affordable and, more importantly, fun to ride today.

Triumph Daytona T595

The Triumph Daytona T595 wasn’t the first of the ‘modern’ era of Hinckley Triumphs to come from the period under the ownership of John Bloor, but they are widely regarded as one of the best-looking and can be picked up in decent condition for low prices.

The 955cc, three-cylinder, T595 was launched in 1996. It was the first Hinckley Triumph to move away from the modular design concept and was an immediate hit – even if there were some bumps along the way with some bikes needing to be recalled for new frames when there were some issues with cracks forming on a very few bikes. This was quickly resolved and sales went well.

The combination of the swooping styling, characterful and great sounding three-cylinder engine and decent riding experience made them popular. They were never at that sharp edge of sportsbike handling or power but that’s not what owners wanted. 

These days, you have to remember the earliest bikes are heading towards being 25 years old and they aren’t going to be trouble free if they have been sat around gathering dust for a long time. Electrical and fuel system problems can be common if the bike has sat unused for a long time but they remain a reasonably-priced way into owning a potential future classic; especially the earliest T595 models. Later models were renamed the T955i, as the original T595 (which was the internal development code) caused some confusion with buyers who thought the model was only a 600cc.

Ducati Multistrada 1000DS

The Ducati Multistrada of today is a honed and mighty performance take on the adventure sport motorcycle that attracts a large portion of Ducati’s global sales thanks to high-technology, great style and handling to almost match a superbike.

The original Ducati Multistrada 1000DS (DS for Dual Sport) was launched in 2004 and was a little bit ahead of the curve when it came to mixing controversial styling with an upright ‘adventure bike’ riding position. Styled by famous designer Pierre Terblanche it was a bit too much for many people, who saw it as an oddball, and sales never really bloomed.

Despite this, the bike lasted until 2009 when the all-new Multistrada 1200 was launched and it’s that bike that has become the success story.

The original bike was an air-cooled V-twin and was basically a great big trail bike built for the road. The suspension was a bit soft, the styling was certainly not to everyone’s taste but the later versions, particularly those after 2007 when the engine capacity was increased to 1100cc from 1000cc were much improved.

Prices are low now; less than £6000 will get you ownership of one of the very last 1100S models complete with full hard luggage and low miles. As long as the servicing is done on time, the air-cooled motors are reliable.

If you can get past the looks, these make for great bikes to ride and own.

Kawasaki ZX-9R C

The Kawasaki ZX-9R can be traced back to 1994 and while those earliest bikes are already deemed to be ‘modern classics’ on the back of being the far side of 25-years-old, it was the 1998 C-model we have picked out, for falling between the cracks a little. The earlier models were inferior to the C1 and C2 models in almost every way. The C model soldiered on with some tweaks along the way until 2002 before handing the baton over to the explosive first generation of Kawasaki ZX-10R which moved the game on massively.

The 1998 model was a completely new bike with only the basic engine capacity dimensions carrying over from the previous ZX-9R B4 model. It’s in that rare category of being a sportsbike that was actually pretty useable on the road and because they fell in between old and new generations, many weren’t looked after and nice ones are rare; thus run a greater chance of becoming viewed as classics.

To many, this era of Kawasaki design is among the best-looking before they became over-designed or just brutal. The sleek lines of the C1 model were also complemented by (in the UK at least) simple, colours of blue, black and, of course, green.

Watch out for paint issues, the thin paint used can wear off wheels and anywhere near any part that might get stone chips.

While the C models were a massive improvement over previous bikes, they weren’t seen as the very finest of the sportsbikes at the time so dropped off the map for a lot of people when they were looking for bikes. As a result, prices are much lower than for rivals like the Honda CBR900RR FireBlade. As little as £1600 will get you off the mark and £3000 will get you a low mileage minter.

Yamaha FZS600 Fazer

The 1998 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer is one of those motorcycles that goes from being seen everywhere, to being a rare spot on the roads these days.

This can often be the fate of workmanlike bikes like the Fazer 600 which are rarely deemed to be special enough to be saved for future generations and get worked hard in all weathers by those who need a bike that do a bit of everything.

The original ‘letterbox’ headlight bikes were launched in 1998 and were an immediate success thanks to being good at pretty much everything, reliable, good looking and lovely to ride. The only major failing was the terrible front headlight which was as effective at lighting up the road at night as a candle in a hurricane.

Since then, there was a decent facelift in 2003 which ditched the letterbox headlights for larger and more effective versions and the fuel capacity was increased from 18 to 20 litres.

Many thousands of Fazers have no doubt been crashed, written off, scrapped or just left at the back of a shed or in a garden to rust away, which means finding a decent one can be hard. The Fazer is the opposite of the likes of a Brough Superior. Hardly any Broughs were made, in production motorcycle terms, but the percentage still on the road or in good condition is huge because people have always known they are valuable and rare. Fazers have also been whittled down by some people seeking a cheap engine and chassis for building a custom bike as the engine is a great-looking bit of metal too.

Bag a nice early version now and enjoy riding a lovely bike and, with prices as low as £700 for a tatty one and £1500 being enough to bag a really nice version, there’s not a lot to lose.

Expect to budget for updated suspension, a carb refurb if the bike has been sitting and new exhaust downpipes as the standard ones rot in the winter weather.

BMW R1100GS

Yes, BMW GS models are everywhere these days. They’ve been the UK’s biggest-selling bike over 125cc for so long, it’s hard to remember a time before they were at the top of the sales charts.

There’s a serious issue with the current BMW R1250GS models for a lot of people however, and that’s the cost of ownership. Even a base model R1250GS costs £13,845 and that’s a lot of money.

For a lot less than £3000 you can pick up a really good condition R1100GS and even high mileage bikes still go for good money. As long as they have been looked after, big mileage figures shouldn’t be too much of a drama with these sturdy BMW boxers.

The introduction of the 1995 model year BMW R1100GS was a step change for BMW and was a new era of a modern era of motorcycles, as the engine changed from air to oil-cooling. These ‘oilheads’ as they are called remain one of the most-loved by worldwide GS fans thanks to the combination of the four-valve cylinder head design, but keeping a comfortable balance between modern engineering and traditional simplicity.

For those embarking on genuinely tough adventure rides, the R1100GS can still work for them as it can still be fixed relatively easily, even in remote places.

Finding a standard bike can be the hardest task as most get modified in some way by owners who love to bolt on accessories, tools, navigation equipment or whatever they need to make it more comfortable on long journeys. Unlike sports bikes of the era, which can get festooned with aftermarket tat, many of these practical accessories are actually useful if you plan on using your GS day-to-day.

Many owners have ditched any ABS fitted as it can be prone to warning lights and problems, but these issues can usually be sorted by specialists if you wish to keep it in place.