Like all other motorized vehicles, motorcycles require regular maintenance to ensure they are always in perfect working order. From routine oil changes to adjusting the chain and numerous other little things, there are various things a rider has to do to keep their ride in tip-top shape. And like people, there are motorcycles that can be categorized as either high-maintenance or low-maintenance. Similar to their human counterparts, high-maintenance motorcycles require extra attention apart from the routine service intervals regular motorbikes undergo.
Owning a high-maintenance motorcycle can be rewarding for enthusiasts willing to invest extra time, effort, and resources to make sure their ride is always in its prime. But it is also important to note that the "worth" of a high-maintenance motorcycle is quite subjective and totally depends on a person’s preference, riding style, mechanical know-how, and willingness to tinker with their motorbike.
Even if a bike has been dubbed as high-maintenance by other riders, sometimes this isn’t enough to deter a person from wanting to own it. These bikes offer a level of excitement or exhilaration that, despite being a pain to maintain, still makes them a thrill to ride. Yet, there are also high-maintenance bikes that are just a pain to own, as no amount of two-wheeled inspiration justifies having it in your stable. Here is a list of five high-maintenance motorbikes guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and five others that are just a pain in the neck.
1 Worth It: Ducati Panigale V4 R
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a MotoGP or WSBK level motorbike, then the Ducati Panigale V4 R is that dream bike come true. Everything that Ducati Corse has learned from its success on the track, has been translated into somewhat of a street-legal crotch rocket for the masses. At its core, the Panigale V4 R has a 998cc Desmosedici Stradale R Evo V4 engine that produces 218 horsepower and 82 pound-feet of torque. If that isn’t enough power, you can opt to upgrade to an Akrapovic racing exhaust that bumps performance up to 237 horsepower and 87 pound-feet of torque.
Ducati motorcycles are renowned for their ability to combine performance with Italian craftsmanship, and the Panigale V4 R is no exception. With beautiful lines that scream ‘fast’ with an engine that produces beastly power, this bike can only be described as a masterpiece of speed. To help civilian riders handle all that power between their legs, this bike is equipped with advanced electronics to help you tame this beast of an engine. These electronics are what make this bike considered high-maintenance, but with the thrills this bike offers, you will quickly overlook this matter.
2 Avoid It: Early Model Ducati Multistrada
Although Ducati can produce fantastic motorcycles, they also have their misses. A case in point is the early versions of the Multistrada which was the Italian brand’s first endeavor into creating a versatile multipurpose motorcycle. Multistrada itself roughly translates to multi-road and was designed to be Ducati’s extreme dual-sports two-wheeler. This was a time before the term adventure bike had entered the rider's lexicon, and can also be seen as an experimental phase.
The best way to describe the worst Multistrada to avoid are the ones that came out without the beak. It seemed that when Ducati decided to add a beak to the Multistrada, they finally had their ducks in line. The beak-less Multistrada although looking cool with its more sporty design suffered from numerous electronic problems that rendered it useless. From side stand issues, and blown fuses, to failed fuel sensors, owners had to have a close relationship with a Ducati service center to deal with the many problems that arose. To add insult to injury, the solutions tended to be pretty pricey to boot.
3 Worth It: MV Agusta F4 RR
Similar to hyper-cars that blend powerful engineering with elegant styling, this sexy Italian speedster was created by renowned automotive designer Massimo Tamburini and pretty much brought back MV Agusta from the brink of bankruptcy. First introduced back in 1999 before it was discontinued in 2018, the F4 changed little over the years only undergoing minor tweaks to help improve its overall performance. Fitted with state-of-the-art electronic aids to help riders better experience the thrill of the ride, this bike is the epitome of a hyper-sports bike.
Although the electronic aids make this bike more manageable on the road, they do tend to make it somewhat problematic hence being dubbed high-maintenance. As rare as the MV Agusta is, finding parts and someone with the knowledge to wrench on it will cost a pretty penny too. Despite those pitfalls, the 998cc transverse four-cylinder engine is said to produce 201 horsepower and has a claimed top speed of almost 300 km/h or approximately 180 miles per hour. Hyper-bikes aren’t cheap and are expensive to maintain, but the F4 RR is definitely worth it.
4 Avoid It: Buell XB Series
Some may say that Buell Motorcycles was Harley-Davidson’s failed attempt at entering the sports bike market. But Buell knew what they were doing when putting a Harley V-Twin into a sporty configuration, and created a unique line of American-made sports bikes. Harley’s lumpy engines were fine-tuned to create a torquey two-wheeler that was fast and handled exquisitely. The XB series of bikes were naked sports bikes that were a hoot to ride and thanks to HD’s global network, were easy to obtain.
If they were so great, then why are they considered high-maintenance? This is due to Harley-Davidson’s decision to stop production of Buell Motorcycles, leaving owners of the once-popular bike confused about where to get parts to maintain their bike. Add to the fact that Buell’s XB series of bikes had an unconventional layout and relied on proprietary components making maintenance more complex and expensive. Although the Buell brand has returned, there is no word on whether it will support the old XB series of bikes or not.
5 Worth It: Aprilia RSV4 RF
It seems as though the Italians have a knack for making exotic high-maintenance vehicles because the next contender also hails from there, more precisely Noale, in Venice. As a brand that has earned more Grand Prix victories than any other European motorcycle manufacturer, you know that Aprilia offers great thrills in their street-destined two-wheelers. The RSV4 itself was developed by Aprilia’s Racing Division adopting the very best in technology to create a masterpiece that produces 217 horsepower and claims a top speed of 305 km/h or 189.5 miles per hour.
What makes the Aprilia RSV4 RF better than its other variants is the electronic Öhlins suspension fitted that provides better handling and overall performance for the street and on the track. Despite Aprilia being Italian, they are much easier to wrench over when compared to a Ducati. However, the RSV4 RF is still considered high maintenance due to top-quality components and many electronic sensors that need to be considered when working on it yourself. And like other Italian vehicles, parts will be hard to come by. Despite that, riding a MotoGP-level bike is a dream come true for many.
6 Avoid It: Early Model Triumph Daytona 675
Triumph’s collection of middle-weight three-cylinder bikes has always had a special place in my heart. Despite being a pain in the neck to maintain, the Daytona 675 was actually a pretty good bike in general, offering great performance and all-around fun on the track, and was great at canyon carving. The problem with earlier models (2006-2009) was that many suffered from certain mechanical and electrical issues. The valve clearance adjustment was complicated, and electrical gremlins were not uncommon, making maintenance more challenging and costly.
Adding insult to injury, Triumph ceased production of the Daytona 675 in 2018 due to low demand and stricter European restrictions. Built to keep up with the many middle-weight Japanese sports bikes dominating the market, Triumph released a 675cc in-line 3-cylinder that made an estimated 107 horsepower and 47.5 pound-feet of torque. Triumph seemed to finally get it right with the Daytona 675 R, but it was a little too late to save the annoying high-maintenance problems of older models. There are rumors of a future Daytona sporting a 765cc engine, but we’ll still have to wait for that.
7 Worth It: KTM 1290 Super Duke R
If the earlier Italian models combined elegance and performance, KTM’s Super Duke did away with all the fancy stuff to deliver an unadulterated beast of a naked bike. Raw power is delivered to the rear wheel by a 1.301cc V-twin engine that produces 180 horsepower and 104 pound-feet of torque. To help wrangle in all that power is a bunch of electronic rider aids such as three standard riding modes (rain, street, and sport) along with optional track and performance modes, and keyless ignition & gas cap.
Keeping in line with the beastly performance of this Austrian-made two-wheeler is its exceptionally aggressive styling, sharing the Duke’s iconic sharp lines and maintaining that infamous headlight. If you’ve ever had fun with a smaller displacement Duke, just know that that level of excitement is only elevated on the Super Duke R. You will be quick to look over any maintenance gremlins on this bike when you’re having so much fun.
8 Avoid It: Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 8V
It’s sad when an iconic feature of a brand is what categorizes it as being high maintenance. Case in point, Moto Guzzi’s distinctive transverse-mounted engine layout although it looks cool, can force simple maintenance routines into a major hassle. And it is made much more difficult when the engine is fitted on a motorbike that was designed to be a tourer like the Grisso 1200 8V. What makes things worse is that it costs around the same as a Ducati Diavel (MSRP around $23,500) but doesn’t come with any of the electronic aids.
Finding a qualified mechanic game enough to take on the uniquely positioned engine and finding parts for it when on the road is far more challenging than any other brand. Although the Grisso is an extremely comfortable bike, and its 1,151cc engine offers a lot of mid-range torque, which is great for long tours, the steep entry price and high maintenance just don’t do it justice.
9 Worth It: Norton V4 RR
You know a bike is going to be oodles of fun to ride when it was developed to be raced on one of the most dangerous racetracks on earth, Isle of Man TT. Chasis design, from geometry, weight distribution, and ergonomics was tested on the SG5 TT race bike in 2016 and gave birth to a British super bike, the Norton V4. Two versions of this superbike were released in 2017, the limited-edition full carbon-fiber V4 SS and the more affordable V4 RR which only came in a distinctive chrome finish.
Like other bikes on this list, its premium components and the exclusive craftsmanship that went into developing this bike contribute to its high maintenance demands. Its 1200cc 72-degree V four-cylinder engine produced 200 horsepower and 95.8 pound-feet of torque, being able to reach a top speed that Norton claims surpasses 200 miles per hour. This bike is a close contender to the Panigale V4, but its rarity and complexity contribute to its very high maintenance demands.
10 Avoid It: Aprilia RSV Mille
Although not the worst high-maintenance motorbike on this list, the Aprilia RSV Mille for some riders became a pain in the neck as parts were very hard to come by and now are even more scarce due to production being discontinued in 2003. Like the RSV4 up higher on this list, the Mille offers exhilarating performance and features advanced electronics that are equal to modern bikes of today. The looks do look slightly aged, but the performance is still as exhilarating for a bike that is over twenty years old.
Despite being an overall fun bike to ride, some riders may feel that the RSV Mille tends to quickly run out of steam, lacking in absolute power. The electronics also tend to be a problem quickly eating at the power of the battery. Leave the bike unridden for a few weeks and chances are the battery will be out of power to start the engine. Bump starting the engine is an option, but not so easy on such a heavy bike.