We can trace Honda’s reputation for building reliable motorcycles all the way back to the 60s. A commitment to quality and a penchant for overengineering have given us a long list of motorcycles that simply outlast the competition. The kind of peace of mind you get with owning bikes like this takes the stress out of ownership and has won over legions of fans.
Naturally, there are always exceptions that prove the rule, but for the most part, Honda motorcycles have proven extraordinarily reliable. Over the years, there have always been one or two that really define an era. The bikes listed here are not necessarily the “most reliable ever made,” but rather the models that enhanced the brand’s reputation in their specific era.
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.
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1965 C100 Super Cub
Price Range: $1,000 – $3,000
By modern standards, the old Super Cub is not a reliable motorcycle. But, back in the 60s, this little bike changed everything. It reshaped the idea of what a motorcycle actually is, and provided millions of low-income families around the world with basic transportation. With only around 4 horses, it was never particularly fast, but it was light and nimble enough to navigate a city, and under the right conditions, pretty fun to ride, too.
1970 CB750
Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000
Major manufacturers didn’t pay much attention to the first Honda motorcycles because they didn’t see them as a threat. All that changed with the introduction of the CB750, widely regarded as the first Universal Japanese Motorcycle, or UJM for short. Its 67 horsepower was more than enough to take the fight to the established brands, and while its chassis wasn’t much to write home about, it was more reliable than the competition. Proving that to win any race – even if it is just sales – one must first finish.
1985 Gold Wing GL1200
Price Range: $1,000 – $3,000
By the early 80s, the Gold Wing was already the most popular touring bike. It proved to be reliable, comfortable, and efficient. Most owners would add large aftermarket fenders, and Honda took note. By 1985, the GL1200 came with a full touring fairing as standard fitment, which quite literally changed the touring landscape, as other manufacturers followed suit.
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1996 CBR1100XX
Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000
By the 90s, speed had well and truly captured the public’s collective imagination. To have the fastest production motorcycle in your stable wasn’t just for bragging rights; it had a direct effect on sales. All the way through the decade, Kawasaki dominated this space until the Blackbird came out. True to form, this 164-horsepower superbike wasn’t just fast, but also reliable, and surprisingly comfortable. Riders still use these bikes as sport tourers today, and have accumulated hundreds of thousands of miles over the years.
2001 Gold Wing GL1800
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
By the early 00s, the Gold Wing got the now-famous smooth flat six. With just shy of 120 horsepower, this behemoth of a motorcycle wasn’t exactly fleet-footed, but it was incredibly comfortable. The only criticism ever leveled at it was that it was a little too comfortable, and no longer even felt like a motorcycle.
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2008 VFR800 Interceptor
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
One of the main reasons the Gold Wing didn’t really need to “feel” like a motorcycle is that the VFR800 was sitting beside it in most dealerships. A little less comfortable, but significantly more fun to ride. The VFR may have started life as a superbike, but by the 00s it had evolved into one of the very best sport touring bikes on the market, and was a fantastic alternative to the slow and steady Gold Wing.
2014 Valkyrie
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
Stripping the previous generation Gold Wing of all its comfort features was, in theory, a pretty good idea. It would turn the motorcycle that didn’t really feel like a motorcycle into, well, a cruiser. Suffice to say, this idea did not resonate with consumers, because while that bulletproof flat six is worth the price of admission, this generation Valkyrie simply looks as if you removed all the Gold Wing’s fairings yourself.
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2018 CB500X
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
Up until pretty recently, the idea of putting the same engine into several different motorcycles wasn’t a common practice. One of the many modern parallel-twins that have been developed specifically to go into different bikes is this 500cc lump. With an output of just under 50 horsepower, it can go into any entry-level model, from a sports bike to a cruiser. It has proven incredibly reliable over the years, and here in the CB500X ADV offers would-be explorers an ideal starting point that won’t let them down far from home.
2021 Rebel 1100
Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000
Every bike that has been equipped with the 1100 Unicam engine has also proven to be perfectly reliable. Here in the Rebel cruiser, it is in a slightly milder, torque-oriented state of tune and will most likely outlast us all. Honda’s DCT transmission also stands out because it has opened up motorcycling to riders who may have otherwise never considered buying a motorcycle.
2023 Honda CRF300L Rally
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
Adventure riders all over the world are discovering the merits of lighter, less sophisticated bikes like the CRF300L Rally. While this little single goes into a wide selection of motorcycles, too, the Rally has become one of the most popular bikes in the world because of its go-anywhere, never-say-die attitude. With only 27 horsepower, you just need to be open-minded about how slowly you will be going everywhere.
Source: Honda, KBB