10 Muscle Bikes That Still Turn Heads In 2025

Back in the mid-80s, Yamaha launched a particularly unusual motorcycle. Although it was by definition a cruiser, with laid-back ergos and a comfy seat, it had more power than any of the contemporary superbikes. The V-Max was not necessarily the first mass-produced muscle bike, but it became the benchmark for almost 20 years.

The muscle bike concept hit the mainstream by the ’00s, and other manufacturers were finally able to match the V-Max’s impressive power figures. In this period, we got one incredible muscle bike after another. Although muscle bikes have once again shrunken away into a niche space, they are still able to turn heads wherever they go.

2002 Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod

Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000

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In an effort to add a proper Halo model to the lineup, Harley-Davidson enlisted the help of Porsche to build this liquid-cooled V-twin. Unfortunately, it was not well received upon its launch. The fact that it was indeed liquid-cooled alienated the loyal fan base which loved air-cooled Harleys so much, and for the most part, it failed to resonate with younger buyers who would rather buy a cheaper, more powerful bike from Japan. Today, it represents a bit of a bargain on the used market.

Specifications

2005 Triumph Rocket III

Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000

As much as looks are always subjective, the first-generation Rocket III might well be one of the ugliest motorcycles ever built. But, that mattered little to those buying it back in the mid-’00s, because back then you were buying it for its engine. At the time, it was the largest displacement engine ever put in a production motorcycle. It was also one of the most powerful. It is also astonishingly heavy and unwieldy in traffic, but works great as a tourer.

Specifications

2005 Yamaha V-Max

Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000

Yamaha

The first generation was the benchmark muscle bike for literal decades. While immensely powerful, these bikes are far from perfect. It was fitted with a complex V-Boost system, which eventually will fail. It is a time-consuming thing to repair if you are willing to do the work yourself, and very expensive if you are not. As a rule, if the bike is running a little rough and the seller is not willing to allow a test ride, walk away (the same could be said for most bikes).

Specifications

2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000

Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000

Kawasaki

The Vulcan 2000 was launched just before the aforementioned Rocket III and ever so briefly held the title for largest displacement production motorcycle. It weighs around as much as the average full-dress touring bike, and will be equally poor at handling city traffic, but equally good on the highway. While not quite as powerful as some of the other bikes, it is far less desirable and almost always cheaper.

Specifications

2009 Suzuki Boulevard M109R

Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000

Suzuki

It is pretty hard to believe that the M109R has been around for this long, and at this price point, it is pretty tempting. But, no matter how much these powerful bikes might tempt you, it is important to be aware of the fact that they have also been known to develop transmission issues over time. A good test ride will be the order of the day, and if it slips out of second gear, you already know why it is up for sale.

Specifications

2011 Ducati Diavel

Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000

Older V-twin Ducati’s are not known for being the most reliable, and any bike in its first year of production will also always have a few issues. This just so happens to have both of those strikes against it, but that superbike V-twin is outrageously powerful and offers immense bang for the buck. Naturally, they are priced like this for a reason, and that is because pretty much every Gremlin in town resides within the electrical system. It is one of those things that won’t show up until you least expect it, or most need the bike.

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2012 Yamaha VMax

Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000

Yamaha

The second generation VMax represents one of the best buys on the used market. In 2009, the VMax got a pretty thorough update, including fuel injection, which eliminated the need for the infamous V-Boost system. So far, these bikes have proven reliable, but more to the muscle bike point, incredibly powerful. These bikes are still more powerful than several new superbikes.

Specifications

2014 Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle

Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000

Harley-Davidson

By 2014, Harley’s divisive Halo model was into its final generation. Up until fairly recently, these old muscle bikes were selling for as much as $15k, but values have plummeted over the past year or so and now offer pretty decent value. It is still an awkward bike to ride, forcing you into the infamous feet-and-arms-forward posture, so giving it a little too much gas will test your grip strength. A set of aftermarket mid-controls should help mitigate this issue.

Specifications

2017 Ducati XDiavel S

Price Range: $12,000 – $14,000

Ducati

Strangely, some riders complained that the original Diavel was a little too much like a naked bike and not quite “cruiser” enough for them. You would think that would be the least of their concerns, but here we are. Ducati duly obliged and gave us the XDiavel with more laid-back ergos which make it feel like you are on a more traditional cruiser. It still offers us over 150 horsepower, so there is still plenty of muscle to go around.

Specifications

2020 Triumph Rocket 3 R

Price Range: $12,000 – $14,000

Triumph Motorcycles

The muscle bike market may have cooled over the years as buyers gravitate towards more versatile, travel-oriented motorcycles, but the Rocket III is still around. The new bike is pretty expensive, but a 5-year-old example will cost almost half as much these days. Aside from a few minor cosmetic differences, this is more or less the same 180 horsepower monster.

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