10 Most Exciting Yellow Motorcycles That Money Can Buy

One American collector left an impression on me later on in life. James Chen had an entire fleet of yellow cars, and it looked amazing. Long story short, I tested several motorcycles right after getting my license. The Hornet was yellow, but I was not fond of the riding position. The F4i was fun, but it was black.

And the second-gen SV650S was equally good but had a tedious grey finish. I knew I wanted a yellow bike, but it also had to be beginner-friendly. So, I ended up with the 1999 SV650S. I'm at the point where I will only trade it for another yellow motorcycle. It's the best color for a crotch-rocket for several reasons:

• It's more visible to other drivers.
• It's incredible to look at.
• It will likely be the only yellow bike at most gatherings.

That last one sounds silly, but riding these things falls under the same category if you think of it. Last year, I got to test Honda's new CB750 Hornet. And that got me thinking: why do we get so few options for brand-new, yellow motorcycles out there? I might come up with a list for those soon, but for now, I will focus on older models that come in that color.

This list doesn't aim at picking the fastest, most reliable, or cheapest motorcycles on the market. It's a mix of bikes that look fantastic in yellow, and I'd like to own or ride them at least once in my life. So feel free to mix it up in any way you see fit.

2008 Kawasaki ZX-6R

Right after I bought my bike, a good friend recommended I watch "Twist of the Wrist." After seeing it, I'd suggest anyone who is a new rider give it a chance. Keith Code did a great job explaining some crucial riding techniques, but that's beside the point. I knew Kawasaki had a yellow ZX-6R with the earlier iterations.

But I had never seen a 2008 Ninja in that color. You'll need help finding one for sale, though. More often than not, I've seen Ninja owners saying that Vivid Yellow was a terrible choice for a Kawasaki. The last time I saw one for sale, the Minnesota seller asked $7,399 for a unit with 14,948 Miles (24,056 km) on its odometer.

2006 Triumph Daytona 675i

I've been obsessed with the Triumph Daytona 675 for over ten years. I enjoy doing things differently compared to most people. I love that this packs an inline-three cylinder engine, unlike the Japanese inline-fours and the Italian V2s. With the right exhaust, it almost sounds like an F1 car, and I love how Triumph has positioned it.

I often watch for Scorched Yellow Daytonas, but sometimes they're difficult to find. Out of 35 units listed on a particular website from the UK, neither is a yellow model. I've never even seen one with my own eyes; that's how rare they are, at least in my area. If you find one, expect to pay at least $4,000 or $5,000.

2022 MV Agusta Superveloce 800

The second inline-three-cylinder motorcycle on this list is the MV Agusta Superveloce 800. But you know what they say about displacement. With more of it, you also get more power and torque at the twist of your wrist. It's easy to tell that this is one of the most expensive motorcycles on the list, and you'll need around $20,000 to get your hands on one.

This bike features a two-tone finish, as Metallic Yellow blends with a silver nuance. There's also the option of looking at the limited edition F3 800 AMG, but that's about as much as most people can do. That's a one-off model, and it's probably locked in someone's collection for a long time.

Honda CBR 954RR Fireblade

If you want a yellow Honda sports bike, there are quite a few to choose from. Beginners could opt for the CBR600 F class bikes or the more aggressive RR ones. One may even think of the 2008 Fireblade, while others might go further back in time with the fifth-generation VFR800 or the VTR1000F. But I'd much rather have a "classic" Fireblade: the 954RR.

With about 150 horsepower on tap, this thing must have been a genuine missile when it debuted over 20 years ago. For some reason, I find the yellow and black combo terrifying. I've recently seen one for sale for under $8,000, but if you keep digging, you might find some more affordable ones. Just don't expect a $3,000 bike to be in pristine shape.

Ducati 999

Ducati purists are not going to like me for this one. You can count over 20 models made by the Italian manufacturer that featured a Giallo Corse (Racing Yellow) finish, from the legendary 916 to the 1098 and, of course, the Monster, Multistrada, and ST. Most people will need more money before they run out of options for this list.

The friend who recommended I watch Twist of the Wrist owned a 1098 model for about a year and wasn't fond of it. I've watched hundreds of videos featuring the 749, and I'd consider it over the Daytona 675i if everyone would stop telling me how expensive Ducatis are. But I'd choose the 999, the 749's bigger brother, for this list. Just be ready to spend as much as $20,000 for the best spec. Bring on the V-twin goodness!

2012 Aprilia RSV4

Aprilia used a 998cc V2 setup for its flagship superbike for over ten years. So, when the Italians announced the RSV4, it sent a shockwave through the motorcycle industry. The company switched to a 999cc V4 capable of over 180 horsepower at 12,500 rpm. It was quite the beast, with 85 lb-ft (115.2 Nm) of torque and a dry weight of 401 lbs (182 kg).

Sunlit Yellow was a welcome addition to the traditional Aprilia colors, and you could even get a Tuono in the same paint scheme. Even though ten years have passed since its debut in yellow, you'll still need at least $7,000 to buy one. You need to find it first, though.

BMW S 1000 RR

I have a funny yet terrifying story about BMW's S 1000 RR. I was watching an onboard replay of one of my former teammates. He had a race-spec BMW and would always shift gears before 12,500 rpm. I asked why he did that, and he said: "It's just too scary for me beyond that point!" The S 1000 RR has been around for over a decade and a half now and has received several updates.

We even have an M 1000 RR to gawk at today. I've seen plenty of S 1000 RRs over the past few years, but never a Sun Yellow model. By the looks of it, you'll need at least $10K to buy this bike. But it would help if you visited a dedicated forum to find this color here.

Suzuki GSX-R1000 K5

I've ridden a GSX-R1000 before, although it was just a short trip to the car wash. Suzuki launched it over 20 years ago, in 2001. We've seen several variations, but most of my Gixxer friends tell me that the K5 provided the most exhilarating ride. If you didn't like the iconic white and blue color combo, you could opt for a black and yellow one instead.

I saw a GSX-R1000 selling for $16,000 last year, but rest assured, there are some options for $6,000 or more, too. And if a liter bike sounds too scary, there's always the choice of a 600cc or a 750cc GSX-R in yellow. I might have to chat with someone at Suzuki for a definitive color guide on these motorcycles.

2016 Yamaha YZF-R1

I got to experience an R6 Rossi R46 Edition when I was still a part of a local Road Racing team. And that provides an excellent mix of yellow, white, and black if you're into that combo. But I've got something slightly spicier in mind for today's story: the 60th Anniversary R1. It looks stunning in yellow, black, and white.

But that's just scratching the surface, as the M1-derived cross-plane engine is the main feature of this liter bike. In March of 2023, someone placed a winning bid of just over $16,000 for a bike like this. There are other cheaper R1s on the market, but how many are as unique as this?

Suzuki Hayabusa

With so many Suzukis, I couldn't ignore the Hayabusa. I've talked about this bike before, and you might remember seeing some of the classic commercials Suzuki released years ago. The "Steel Falcon" production started in 1999, and the third generation debuted just a couple of years ago. Most Hayabusas I've seen were either blue, red, black, or a mix of these colors.

White is also a pretty popular choice for fans of the GSX-R1300. But today, we're here for the second-generation Marble Daytona Yellow and Glass Sparkle Black variation. If you can find an unmolested model for sale, it might cost over $10,000. The first-gen Hayabusas are cheaper, but you get what you pay for.