We live in a time when planned obsolescence is creeping in everywhere. From washing machines to cars, some “exciting new features” look suspiciously like future failure points. While this has not seen widespread adoption throughout the motorcycle industry, getting an already proven used bike certainly makes a degree of sense.

Mechanical reliability has improved so much in the motorcycle industry over the years that it is now more or less a given, irrespective of the brand. While this has not always been the case, pretty much anything made by one of the major manufacturers since the turn of the century will still be fairly reliable. The latest advancements have more to do with safety and emissions control. As long as you are willing to forgo some of these “exciting new features,” there are several used bikes still worth buying.

Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest.

2011-yamaha-vmax-6


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2005 BMW F 650 GS Dakar

Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000

A parked BMW F650 GS
BMW F 650 GS
BMW

In some ways, it feels as though the ADV market is coming full circle. BMW has made a lot of noise about the upcoming F 450 GS. With around 50 horsepower and a wet weight of around 400 pounds, it boasts a spec sheet that looks pretty similar to the old F 650 GS from the early 00s. The old 650 was always much closer to a dual-sport, and is more capable off-road than pretty much any modern ADV. Its Rotax single has gone into several different bikes over the years and has proven to be perfectly reliable.

2008 Honda VFR800 Interceptor

Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000

Blue and white Honda VFR800 on display
Honda VFR800
Bring a Trailer

We still lament the fact that Honda gave up on the V4 engine configuration – at least in street bikes – because by the time this went out of production, it had evolved into one of the very best sport tourers. It has proven to be exceptionally reliable, and as long as you find one that has been maintained, it promises many more years of service. If you are after a V4 tourer, this offers unrivaled bang for the buck.

2008 Suzuki GSX-R750 (K8)

Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000

2008 GSX-R750 Suzuki

The legendary GSX-R750 was more or less the finished article by 2008. Since then, the bike has not seen much in the way of development, with Suzuki simply changing the livery every year. As such, getting a used example can save a lot of money, but you will need to go over the bike carefully. With this being a popular track bike, there is every chance that there were a few spills in its past.

1985 Suzuki GSX-R750


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2014 EBR 1190RX

Price Range: $12,000 – $14,000

2014 EBR 1190RX 1 Buell

The EBR 1190RX is not in any way, shape, or form a safe purchase. This raw superbike offers a completely unique riding experience thanks to its incredible 185-horsepower V-twin, ultra-light chassis, and glaring lack of modern safety equipment. The fact that the new Buell Hammerhead – which costs $21k – is more or less this bike with a few tweaks, only serves to underscore how good it was when it came out well over a decade ago.

2016 Kawasaki Concours 14

Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000

Kawasaki Concours
A Kawasaki Concours 14 standing in front of a garage.
Kawasaki

The Concours 14 has proven to be one of the few motorcycles in the world that is comfortable going past the 100,000-mile mark. In some unique cases, way past that mark. Suffice to say, these bikes will still have a lot of life left in them. High mileages are to be expected, but as long as the bike has some form of service record, that is not necessarily a dealbreaker.

2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R

Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000

1090 ADVENTURE R jump KTM, Chytka M.

In what can only be seen as a rather strange turn of events, the 1090 Adventure R was once marketed as a “middleweight ADV.” It is not a middleweight, but KTM needed a stopgap while the now infamous 790 was still in development, and it was light enough to fit the bill. In this relatively mild state of tune, the LC8 V-twin has proven to be incredibly reliable. For adventure enthusiasts, this represents something of a “holy grail” ADV, which offers the touring comfort of a bigger, more powerful bike, and the off-road athleticism of a smaller middleweight.

2020 Yamaha Super Tenere ES

Price Range: $11,000 – $13,000

2020 Yamaha Super Tenere ES front third quarter view while touring
2020 Yamaha Super Tenere ES
Yamaha

Often criticized for its overall weight, the Super Tenere was never much of an off-road bike. It is, however, an excellent touring bike that can go off-road. With ample low-down grunt, this massive parallel-twin can get the bike moving pretty quickly when called upon, but its fancy electronic suspension is not infallible. It is the one thing you will need to check carefully on an otherwise bulletproof platform. Otherwise, just look for an older model without the electronic suspension.

Gray 2023 Yamaha Super Ténéré ES coming out of a curve


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2021 BMW R 18

Price Range: $9,000 – $11,000

BMW R 18 flat-twin cruiser on the road front third quarter view
BMW R 18 flat-twin cruiser
BMW

BMW has been desperate to get a piece of the lucrative cruiser and bagger market for years. Pretty much every other touring base was covered before the R 18 came out, so it was a very important model for the brand. Unfortunately, its truly massive air-cooled boxer-twin is an acquired taste. Back when these bikes were new, they were pretty expensive, but they are now something of a bargain on the used market.

2022 Suzuki SV650

Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000

Suzuki SV650 ABS
Suzuki SV650
Suzuki

The SV650 is a fairly affordable bike, even brand new, but there is no harm in turning to the used market here. Its V-twin has proven to be virtually bulletproof and has now been in production for well over two decades. It also has the best chassis in its class and isn’t just reliable, but also genuinely fun to ride.

2023 Honda CRF300L Rally

Rally Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000

Honda CRF 300L 2023 on the woods
Honda CRF300L going on a dirt road
Honda

If you want to go exploring on a budget, a lightweight dual-sport like this makes a lot of sense. Honda simply added some wind protection to the CRF300L and transformed this unassuming little bike into a global icon. Thanks to its simplicity, ease of use, and never-say-die attitude, this has become one of the most popular motorcycles in the world. There is also every chance that you will find a used bike already kitted out with several aftermarket options you might otherwise buy anyway.

Source: Kelley Blue Book



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