There are many different kinds of motorcycles. The ones that get the headlines are the exciting ones; the ones that win races in motorsport, and the ones that look the flashiest or have sci-fi features. This is a small percentage of the motorcycle market (and this is the case with pretty much any set of products), but if you’re the kind of person who wants to be practical with your two-wheeler, you’ll do well to avoid these headline-grabbers.
You see, with great tech and performance comes great potential for something to go wrong. This isn’t a knock on expensive motorcycles; it is true of any technologically advanced product. If you want a motorcycle that starts up every day, can take a beating, and then do it all over again the next day, you’re going to have to hunt for them a little, whether cruiser, ADV, or naked bike. Or, you could just go through the list below, because we’ve assembled a list of ten bulletproof motorcycles that rarely break down.
10 Japanese Motorcycles That Last Forever
These ten Japanese have the simplest maintenance plan: don’t require one
Honda CB300R
Price: $5,149
The CB300R looks a little dated when you look at its competition, but you can’t hide the fact that this is an extremely competent product. It is light and compact, and stands out in a crowd because it has the same ‘neo retro café racer’ styling as the CB1000R and CB650R E-Clutch. You do get decent kit, including a liquid-cooled single cylinder engine that it shares with the CRF300L, CRF300L Rally, and Rebel 300, inverted front forks, radial front brake caliper, standard ABS, aluminum wheels, all-LED lighting, and a reverse LCD.
|
Engine Type |
Single cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
286 cc |
|
Max Power |
31 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
20.2 LB-FT @ 7,750 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds, assist and slipper clutch |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |
Kawasaki KLR650
Price: $6,899
The KLR650 is the gold standard of bulletproof dual sport bikes. It has managed to retain its mechanicals while managing to progress – fuel injection is now present, as is ABS. ABS is a $300 option, but it isn’t switchable. It offers a very old-school 38.5 horsepower and 39 pound-feet of torque, and sends it to the rear wheel via a five-speed wide-ratio gearbox. The KLR650 is also available as an adventure bike, with features like hard luggage, aux lights, and a 12V charging socket.
|
Engine Type |
Single cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
652 cc |
|
Max Power |
38.5 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
39.1 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |
Honda XR650L
Price: $6,999
The XR650L belongs to the same class as the KLR650. It is a large-capacity dual sport with a thumper for an engine, but unlike the KLR, it hasn’t got any updates over the years other than cosmetic ones. That means you get a simple air-cooled, carburetted engine with a five-speed gearbox. There are a couple of interesting features, like the fact that the frame is the oil tank and cooler, meaning there is no need for a conventional sump. The dry sump engine gives the XR650L truly impressive ground clearance.
|
Engine Type |
Single cylinder, air cooled, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, carbureted |
|
Displacement |
644 cc |
|
Max Power |
43.6 HP @ 6,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
38.2 LB-FT @ 5,000 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |
10 Most Overlooked Cruiser Motorcycles That Will Last A Lifetime
Some of the most reliable cruisers on the market remain underrated and overlooked
Suzuki DR650S
Price: $7,299
The DR650S follows the same blueprint as the Honda and Kawasaki 650 cc dual sport bikes. It’s a little closer to the Honda, though, with a carbureted, air-cooled single-cylinder engine. It has a conventional sump and radiator for the oil, though. It has a little extra adjustment for the suspension, with both preload adjustment as well as compression damping adjustment for the rear shock. If you like wrenching yourself, the Honda and Suzuki are the ones you should look at – not that they’ll ever need it, with their reliability.
|
Engine Type |
Single cylinder, air-cooled, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, carbureted |
|
Displacement |
644 cc |
|
Max Power |
43.5 HP @ 6,400 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
39.8 LB-FT @ 4,600 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |
Honda Shadow Aero
Price: $7,949
The Shadow has been around for a very long time, and its appeal mostly lies in the fact that it is a Harley-type cruiser but with Honda reliability that has only gotten better over the decades that it has been in production. Like the KLR, Honda has given it a couple of features to make it current – a rear disc brake and ABS were added recently. The shaft drive adds reliability, even if you want to go for a long ride.
|
Engine Type |
52 degree V-twin, liquid cooled, SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
745 cc |
|
Max Power |
44.9 HP @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
47.9 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Shaft drive |
Suzuki SV650 ABS
Price: $8,149
The SV650 is the naked bike version of the Shadow and KLR… been around for a few decades. Like the Honda and Kawasaki, Suzuki has updated the SV650 with ABS, which is a good thing. The SV650 might be old, but it is still a very fun bike, and the only one in the segment that still offers a Bonafide V-twin engine. It remains old school, but if it is a reliable bike with fun that you’re looking for, the SV650 is the answer.
|
Engine Type |
90-degree V-twin, liquid cooling, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
645 cc |
|
Max Power |
73 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
47.2 LB-FT @ 8,100 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |
10 Most Overlooked Sports Bikes That Will Last A Lifetime
In the world of sports bikes, reliability is not always a priority, and that is why these motorcycles continue to get overlooked
Yamaha Bolt R-Spec
Price: $8,999
If you miss the old Harley Sportsters like the Iron 883, don’t worry. The Bolt R-Spec is a cruiser very much in the vein of the old sporty Harleys. It has everything you’ll need for a fun time: a large-ish mid-displacement V-twin engine with air cooling, lots of torque low in the rev range, a downtube cradle frame with twin rear shock absorbers, and disc brakes at both ends. The setup doesn’t just make it reliable; it also makes it very conducive to customization.
|
Engine Type |
60 degree V-twin, air cooled, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
942 cc |
|
Max Power |
65 HP @ NA RPM |
|
Max Torque |
59.3 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Belt drive |
Suzuki V-Strom 650
Price: $9,799
The V-Strom 650 is an adventure bike based on the same platform as the SV650, so it stands to reason that it is just as fun. For maximum effect, the V-Strom 650XT with the spoke rims will give you the opportunity to venture off-road as well. The spoke rims still allow you to fit tubeless tires, and the V-twin engine is not only fun but also offers three levels of traction control as well. If you want hard luggage from the factory, the 650XT Adventure will offer it to you.
|
Engine Type |
90 degree V-twin, liquid cooling, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
645 cc |
|
Max Power |
70 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
46 LB-FT @ 6,400 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Price: $9,399
The Vulcan 900 is like the Shadow, but it follows the Harley template even more closely, with a final belt drive. It has a V-twin engine with liquid cooling and a great torque figure at low revs. It is available in three different versions: a classic-styled cruiser called the Vulcan 900 Classic, complete with lots of chrome, spoke rims, and whitewall tires; the Vulcan 900 Custom with blacked-out drag bike styling, alloy wheels, and a 21-inch front wheel; and finally the Vulcan 900 Classic LT, which is the Classic with a windshield and soft luggage.
|
Engine Type |
55 degree V-twin, liquid cooled, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
903 cc |
|
Max Power |
50 HP @ 5,700 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
58.2 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
|
Final Drive |
Belt drive |
10 Most Overlooked Adventure Motorcycles That Will Last A Lifetime
These overlooked adventure bikes offer a lot of value to those looking for a reliable motorcycle
Honda Africa Twin
Price: $14,799
The Africa Twin is a modern bike that is unbreakable, and we can say that with confidence because it hasn’t changed mechanically for four years now. There is even a very reliable automatic gearbox option for an extra $800 – the DCT tech and gearbox have been around for a long time now. Honda hasn’t chased a big horsepower figure, choosing instead to give it just enough for a good top speed, and giving the 270-degree engine a load of torque across the rev range instead.
|
Engine Type |
270 degree parallel twin, liquid cooled, Unicam SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
|
Displacement |
1,084 cc |
|
Max Power |
100.5 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
82.6 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shift control and ‘G switch’ |
|
Final Drive |
Chain drive |