Honda has an enviable record for building some of the most reliable motorcycles money can buy. The Japanese brand goes the extra mile when it comes to quality assurance, and over-engineers just about every part. As a rule, buying a Honda is also buying peace of mind. The one and only criticism leveled at the brand is that these overengineered bikes can be a little “boring” compared to the competition. But, when boring means thousands of trouble-free miles, it is something most owners are willing to live with. Especially, in some unique cases, when it actually equates to hundreds of thousands of trouble-free miles.
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.
10 Used Motorcycles Under $5,000 That Are Built To Last
These bikes have all stood the test of time, and offer a lot of value to the right buyer
1970 CB750
Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000
Arguably, the most significant motorcycle ever built by Honda. The CB750 completely rewrote the rulebook on what a motorcycle should be. Suddenly, performance was both accessible and reliable, two characteristics that had been mutually exclusive up until this point in motorcycling history. By modern standards, 67 horsepower might not seem like much, but it was enough to make the CB750 one of the quickest bikes on the market when it came out. With just basic maintenance, these bikes will do over 100,000 miles.
1975 Gold Wing GL1000
Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000
Just a few short years after establishing the entire UJM trend with the aforementioned CB750, Honda was at it again. At first glance, the first-generation Gold Wing may have looked like any other UJM on the market, but it was significantly bigger, heavier, and far more comfortable. Its 1000cc flat-four was capable of making around 80 horsepower, and sent power to the rear wheel via shaft drive. People quickly realized that it was ideal for touring, and added all sorts of aftermarket fairings and luggage to make it an even more effective tool for the job.
1985 Gold Wing GL1200
Price Range: $1,000 – $3,000
The 1985 Gold Wing shifted the goalposts once more, with a relatively simple innovation. Paying close attention to what customers were doing to their bikes, Honda made the decision to launch a bike that was already equipped with a full touring fairing straight from the factory. Suffice to say, this proved to be a shrewd move. This would go on to become the top-selling bike in the US, and while these bikes are not particularly desirable, they have stood the test of time.
Honda Gold Wing: 50 Years Of The Touring Legend
The Gold Wing redefined the luxury touring segment and continues to be a benchmark
1998 CBR1100XX
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
Back in the 90s, Honda was fully invested in the speed wars. Speed was selling motorcycles back then, and Honda’s entrant was the CBR1100XX Blackbird. For a brief moment, it was the fastest motorcycle in the world, but that is not what these bikes are used for today. While fast, they don’t handle particularly well, but are pretty comfortable to ride, and virtually bomb-proof thanks to how overbuilt they all were in an effort to deliver on the promised record-breaking speeds. As a result, they are now used as budget-friendly sport tourers, all accumulating more miles than the average rental car.
2001 Gold Wing GL1800
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
By the early 00s, Honda was already making use of the same flat-six engine you will find in the new Gold Wing. Naturally, it was still in its early development phase, but over the years, it has nonetheless proven to be a reliable performer. Compared to the modern bikes, this is a fairly simple machine. All it has to offer is a comfortable seat, good wind protection, and that smooth six.
2008 VFR800 Interceptor
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
Honda had a long, complicated love affair with the V4 engine configuration. While the VFR was initially conceived as a sportbike all the way back in the 80s, it actually evolved into one of the very best touring bikes money can buy. Once this eventually went off-sale, there was no like-for-like replacement, and if you are able to find a decent example in this price range, it is such a bargain.
2012 VFR1200F
Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000
Back when it came out, the VFR1200F didn’t really make much of a splash. It had a design that did not resonate with everyone, it was a little uncomfortable for a touring bike, and it had a small tank, which limited the range. Today, with depreciation working its magic. This 170-horsepower superbike slayer is just an incredibly fast bike – it could do a quarter mile in 10 seconds flat – for the money.
10 New And Used Honda Motorcycles That Are Worth Every Penny
From sports bikes to cruisers and dual-sports, all of these deliver serious performance and value.
2014 Valkyrie
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
In some respects, this is cheating a bit because the aforementioned Gold Wing has pretty much exactly the same engine. But, this is a very different bike that will appeal to a very different kind of buyer. Shorn of all its Gold Wing touring fare, the Valkyrie was significantly lighter and significantly uglier. If you are able to get past the way it looks, you can have yourself a smooth-running power cruiser for around the same price as a new Rebel 500.
2017 Africa Twin
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
It took some time before Honda came out with a proper ADV, but the Africa Twin was certainly worth the wait. The Unicam 1100 engine has already proven to be highly effective in all the bikes it goes into, offering good torque throughout most of the rev range and respectable top-end power. It is arguably the perfect modern powertrain for the real world. The first-generation Africa Twin also has fewer electronic features, which will only improve long-term reliability.
2018 CB500X
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
Small displacement motorcycle engines are not usually designed to do over 100,000 miles. That is what makes this parallel-twin so special. Admittedly, it is in a relatively mild state of tune in an effort to make sure that all the bikes equipped with it are A2-compliant in Europe. But 47 horsepower is more than enough for this adventure tourer that only weighs 434 pounds. It is also comfortable enough to go anywhere you desire, as proven by riders who have racked up heaps of miles all over the world.
Source: Bring a Trailer