10 affordable Japanese motorcycles known for their reliability, value and efficiency

If you want a reliable motorcycle, a long-standing school of thought suggests that a Japanese motorcycle will be the answer. While there are always exceptions that prove the rule, all four major Japanese manufacturers boast impressive reliability records. Their commitment to quality is backed by incredible value through economies of scale. The volume of motorcycles that these brands sell allows them to keep prices relatively low. They also employ a few other cost-saving measures that do not affect reliability.

Certain platforms remain in production longer than the industry standard. This approach saves on research and development costs and gives engineers plenty of opportunity to refine a powertrain. This often improves the efficiency of the drivetrains in the process. You also won’t often see more than two color options available, and even if there is another option, you’ll likely have to pay extra for it. “You can have any color you want as long as it’s black,” or at least in this case green, blue, red or yellow.

To give you the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article is from authoritative sources such as Yamaha Motorsports, and Suzuki bicycles. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to MSRP.

Yamaha Tenere 700

MSRP: $10,999

By putting the ultra-reliable CP2 engine in a more dirt-resistant chassis, Yamaha virtually rewrote the rules for middleweight adventure bikes. Over the years the engine has received a few minor updates, but it remains largely unchanged as there is no reason to fix something that is clearly not broken. You could technically put any CP2-powered bike in here, but few middleweight ADVs offer better value.

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YamahaXSR900

MSRP: $10,599

Unlike most retro bikes, Yamaha’s XSR900 is actually cheaper than the Naked Bike version. The CP3 engine delivers in just about every way possible. It’s reliable, powerful yet economical, with a claimed fuel economy of 49mpg. Design is always a bit of a subjective subject, but we think this is a fantastic motorcycle too, especially in Heritage White.

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Kawasaki Versys 650LT ABS

MSRP: $10,399

The Versys 650 is a bike that other manufacturers will hate. It does absolutely everything more expensive touring cars can do, for half the price. It can also handle the daily commute and the occasional dirt road. Kawasaki has also added a host of modern features to the platform, making it a complete touring package. Unfortunately, the side effect of his jack-of-all-trades personality is that he is truly “the master of none.”

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Honda Transalp

MSRP: $9,999

Honda needed an answer to the Tenere. With Honda’s experience building dirt bikes, everyone expected the Transalp to be a true dirt-worthy ADV. So when it arrived, it’s quite understandable that it left some enthusiasts a little disappointed. But if you consider it as a standalone model and remove the Tenere from your thought process, you’ll see that the Transalp is perhaps the better all-rounder. It’s much more comfortable, more powerful and already has a glorious aftermarket.

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Suzuki GSX-8R

MSRP: $9,669

The new, more practical super sports class is growing. Suzuki took quite some time to get this into production, and like most of these modern supersports the end result is a bit mediocre. It’s not a track day hero, but it is a practical motorcycle that is both comfortable and reliable. If you’re looking for a sporty commuter who can handle the occasional drive through the canyon, this is a great option.

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Suzuki V-Strom 650

MSRP: $9,299

While the V-Strom 650 is about as exciting to look at as a glass of milk, it’s actually a fun bike to ride thanks to its small V-twin. Suzuki has held onto this powertrain for so long because it’s an absolute peach. While a lot can be said about the efficiency of all the parallel twins in this class all trying to emulate twins, nothing beats the original.

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Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure ABS

MSRP: $8,199

For the past ten years, the old KLR has been the closest thing Kawasaki has to an ADV on offer. That’s finally changed, but that fact doesn’t detract from the versatility of this workhorse. It’s slow, underpowered and a bit heavy for a dual sport, but it can really go either way. You won’t care if you drop it either, and if something does eventually go wrong, there’s a huge community ready to help you fix it.

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Honda Rebel500

MSRP: $6,799

Honda puts these little parallel twins in everything from a sport bike to an ADV. This powertrain has been specially developed for the entry-level market and meets the A2 standard in Europe. That means every bike it’s found in is relatively approachable, and with the Rebel 500 we have one of the very best beginner-friendly cruisers.

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Kawasaki Eliminator

MSRP: $6,499

The Eliminator is cut from the same cloth as the Rebel. It is slightly sportier thanks to the fact that it has slightly more power and is also slightly lighter than the Honda. The passenger seat is standard here, so in that sense it’s actually a lot more practical. But if you want ABS, you’ll have to pay an extra $300.

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Honda CRF300L Rally

MSRP: $6,499

Once again, we have a dual-sport stealing sales from entry-level ADVs. A simple rally fairing has transformed this once unremarkable Honda dual-sport bike into one of the most famous tools of exploration. It’s not just an entry-level option, because while it doesn’t offer much power, it’s fast enough to be fun on a back road and can reach highway speeds when called upon. More importantly, it’s competent off-road, light and incredibly reliable.

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