10 Motorcycles That Are Built To Last

Everyone has a different reason to own a motorcycle. For some, it is a weekend companion for hitting the canyons, freeways or trails, while others use them as daily commuters. Regardless of the use case, reliability plays a big role in shaping your motorcycle ownership experience. With the advancement in technology and manufacturing processes, motorcycles in general have become a lot more reliable than they were in the past.

Follow the right maintenance practices and most bikes can be reliable companions. Yet, there are a few which stand out for being more enduring compared to their counterparts. They also seem to stand the test of time a lot better than some of their competition. As expected, the list is mostly dominated by Japanese bikes, but there are a couple of exceptions.

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10

Honda Gold Wing

Price: $25,200

Honda

The Honda Gold Wing is one of two motorcycles of its kind from Japanese manufacturers. The Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager 1700 is the other one. Currently in its sixth generation, the Gold Wing continues to offer impressive comfort levels, luxury and the feature set as expected from a flagship tourer. The behemoth is powered by the largest engine in a Honda motorcycle — a six-cylinder unit which puts out 124.7 horsepower and 125.3 pound-feet at 5,500 RPM and 4,500 RPM, respectively.

9

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

Price: $22,599

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson and reliability don’t always go hand in hand. But if there is a motorcycle which has stood the test of time, it is the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. The cruiser first went into production well over 30 years ago in 1990. Over the years, the motorcycle has received various updates to keep up with modern competition without losing its old-school aura. Underneath its iconic looks, garnished with high-quality chrome, is a traditional downtube frame and a durable V-Twin engine.

8

BMW R 1300 GS

Price: $20,275

BMW Motorrad

BMW’s previous flagship adventure tourer, the R 1250 GS, was one of the go-to choices in its segment for someone looking to traverse all kinds of terrain that America has to offer. The trend continues with the R 1300 GS. The adventure tourer is more compact and lighter than its predecessor, which has made it more capable on and off the tarmac. The R 1300 GS comes equipped with an advanced electronic suspension whose spring and damping characteristics can be altered at the touch of a button.

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7

Suzuki V-Strom 650

Price: $9,299

Suzuki

The Suzuki V-Strom 650 is a middle-weight ADV, which received its large major update in 2017. It is underpinned by a tried-and-tested platform which first debuted in 2004 and has kept up with the evolving competition. Another factor contributing to the Suzuki V-Strom 650’s long-lasting nature is Suzuki’s reliable and easy-to-maintain 645cc V-Twin engine which, despite being aged, offers impressive refinement and peaky power outputs even by today’s standards.

6

Yamaha MT-07

Price: $8,599

Yamaha

The MT-07, one of Yamaha’s best-selling models, received a significant overhaul last year with a new design, added features, and updated underpinnings. What remains the same is Yamaha’s renowned 689cc parallel-twin engine. Unlike V-Twins, a parallel-twin engine houses fewer moving parts, which makes it lighter and less expensive to manufacture. The engine is tuned to offer good low-end and mid-range torque, which allows riders to ride the motorcycle gently, in turn exerting less stress on the powertrain.

5

Honda Shadow

Price: $7,949

Honda

Americans love their big V-Twin cruisers. So it is no surprise that Japanese manufacturers like Honda tried their hand at building a low-slung cruiser with a big V-Twin engine at its heart and succeeded. One such example is the Honda Shadow, whose chassis and engine combination trace its roots back to the first-generation Honda VT750C Aero, introduced in 1997. The 745cc liquid-cooled V-twin on the Shadow is understressed, with peak outputs of 45 horsepower and 47.9 pound-feet of torque coming in at just 5,500 RPM and 3,500 RPM, respectively.

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4

Suzuki SV650

Price: $7,399

Suzuki

The Suzuki SV650 is a prime example of a simple motorcycle punching above its weight to deliver ultimate riding thrills. The SV650 was first introduced in 1999 as a do-it-all alternative to high-revving 600cc inline-four sports bikes. It received its first major update in 2004, where the carburetors were replaced with electronic fuel-injectors. Additionally, the tubular frame and curvy design made way for an aluminum diamond truss frame and sharper looks. Since then, the motorcycle has only received evolutionary updates. While it might seem under-equipped in terms of features in today’s day and age, its simplicity is what helps it keep going.

3

Honda CRF300L

Price: $5,749

Honda

The Honda CRF300L is a dual-sport motorcycle built for beginners. Given its intended purpose, the CRF300L uses a liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder engine with a humble power output of 27 horsepower and 19.6 pound-feet of torque. Underneath the simple bodywork is a semi-double cradle frame which is built to take abuse. This combination of an understressed engine and durable chassis makes it a great durable motorcycle for beginners to learn the ropes of off-road riding.

2

Kawasaki Ninja 500

Price: $5,299

Kawasaki

The Ninja 500 is currently the most affordable sports bike in Kawasaki’s lineup. It replaced the Ninja 400 which was starting to face the heat from new competition like the Aprilia RS 457. As a beginner-friendly bike, the Ninja 500 retains the fundamentals of its predecessor but comes with a more powerful 451cc engine, improved instrumentation, and a revised seat design. It continues to be underpinned by a lightweight trellis frame suspended by telescopic suspension up front and a monoshock at the rear. The simple construction of the machine is one of the main contributors to its impressive durability.

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1

Yamaha V Star 250

Price: $4,799

Yamaha

In 2025, the Yamaha V Star 250 is a unique motorcycle. What makes it unique is its 249cc air-cooled V-twin engine. The V Star 250 delivers you the satisfaction of riding a V-Twin cruiser without breaking your wallet thanks to its impressive fuel economy, rated at 78 MPG. The rest of the bike is as simple as they get with a lightweight chassis, telescopic forks up front and twin shocks at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a disc and drum setup at the front and rear, respectively.