Some motorcycles simply last longer than others. For a motorcycle to last a long time, it basically needs two things. First, the bike must be relatively simple. As great as modern features are, the more electronics you add to a motorcycle, the more points of failure you add. The second is a little more complicated and, contrary to popular belief, is not necessarily about absolute reliability – although that certainly helps – but rather usability.
Over time, maintenance costs increase considerably. There are certain bikes that eventually get to a point where it is no longer worth putting the money into the bike to keep it running. Bikes that are generally reliable have a big advantage (obviously), but the bikes that get the most mileage tend to be affordable to run as well. The one thing all these bikes have in common is that they are now legends within the industry thanks to their impressive longevity.
In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources including KBB. Buying a used motorcycle always comes with some risk, so do your research and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest.
1998 Harley Davidson Roadglide
Price range: $2,000 – $4,000
The EVO engine played a pretty big role in restoring customer confidence in the Harley-Davidson brand. One look at the spec sheet and it’s pretty easy to see why these bikes had such staying power. It is mainly due to the mild condition of these engines from the factory. Stay away from bikes with a lot of performance parts and be prepared to get your hands dirty, because if you’re going to buy one of these old air-cooled Harleys, you might as well learn how to work on them. They’re easy to maintain, but they’re also far from perfect, and the main reason these bikes last so long is that most owners are passionate about them and know how to keep them on the road.
Specifications
Engine type | V-Twin, air-cooled |
Displacement | 1337cc |
Maximum power | 67 hp |
Transfer | 5 gears |
Weight | 715 pounds (dry) |
2000 Suzuki Hayabusa (1st generation)
Price range: $3,000 – $5,000
For the original Hayabusa, Suzuki had to build a rugged inline four that could withstand incredible abuse, otherwise it simply wouldn’t consistently reach its record-breaking top speed. For that reason alone, these bikes proved incredibly reliable, with most owners never able to reach their full potential. Avoid adapted bicycles and prefer to pay more for a good, original one.
Specifications
Engine type | Inline-four, liquid-cooled |
Displacement | 1298cc |
Maximum power | 173 hp |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | 474 pounds (dry) |
Honda Gold Wing GL1800 from 2005
Price range: $8,000 – $10,000
By the mid-00s, Honda had more or less perfected the Gold Wing. The smooth-running flat-six may ultimately be a cause for concern, but as long as you get one that has been maintained, it will most likely never go wrong. Since then, Honda has added all kinds of luxury features, points of failure and, in most cases, technology that is simply outdated. These bikes from the 00s are the sweet spot in our opinion.
Specifications
Engine type | Horizontally opposed 6-cylinder, liquid-cooled |
Displacement | 1833cc |
Maximum power | 117 hp |
Transfer | 5 gears |
Weight | 799 pounds (dry) |
Honda VFR1200F from 2010
Price range: $5,000 – $7,000
In an attempt to prove that a bike certainly doesn’t have to be boring – as if every motorcycle is boring at all – we included this freight train of a motorcycle. Although it was quite heavy, by the time it came out it had decades of research and development put into it and was an absolute monster. It’s fast even by modern standards, and as long as the previous owner takes care of basic maintenance, it will remain reliable for years to come.
Specifications
Engine type | V4, liquid cooled |
Displacement | 1237cc |
Maximum power | 170 hp |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | 613 pounds |
Suzuki V-Strom 650 from 2011
Price range: $2,000 – $4,000
Adventure bikes of this size only slowly started to gain popularity in the 00s, and this was more of a touring bike at the time. By the time the 2011 model was introduced, it was used primarily as an ADV. These V-twins are both quite fun and very reliable. More importantly, they are also relatively affordable to maintain. Rather, avoid bikes that look like they have been prepared for a world tour and choose the most boring looking one. There is an extensive aftermarket that will help you once you are sure of what you personally need.
Specifications
Engine type | V-Twin, liquid cooled |
Displacement | 645cc |
Maximum power | 66 hp |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | £485 |
2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R
Price range: $7,000 – $9,000
The Concours 14 is an epic touring bike and will probably outlast us all. But since it runs on the same platform, with over 200 horsepower if you get one with ram-air, the Ninja ZX-14R is certainly the more interesting alternative. It goes without saying that it can go for almost the same number of miles as long as you take good care of it, and it’s a bargain at this price.
Specifications
Engine type | Inline-four, liquid-cooled |
Displacement | 1441cc |
Maximum power | 210 HP (with ram air) |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | 584 pounds |
2012 Yamaha SuperTenere
Price range: $6,000 – $8,000
The Super Tenere is a deceptively fun motorcycle. It can reach 60 in just over 3 seconds and is fast enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. It’s also too heavy to be a true off-road bike. Even though it seems like it can handle whatever you throw at it, it will always be more of a touring car. The parallel twin is bulletproof, and as long as you opt for the older bike without the fancy (yet failure-prone) electronic suspension, it will be easy to own and maintain as well.
Specifications
Engine type | Parallel-Twin, liquid-cooled |
Displacement | 1199cc |
Maximum power | 109 hp |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | £575 |
Honda Africa Twin from 2017
Price range: $9,000 – $11,000
Reintroduced for the 2017 model year, Honda kept us waiting for this full-size adventure bike for quite some time. Over the years, the Unicam engine has proven to be as reliable as any Honda product, offering the kind of peace of mind that few other manufacturers can replicate. There is also the certainty that if something goes wrong, there is a Honda dealer nearby and parts in stock.
Specifications
Engine type | Parallel-Twin, liquid-cooled |
Displacement | 998cc |
Maximum power | 94 hp |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | 511 pounds |
2023 Yamaha MT-07
Price range: $6,000 – $8,000
Newer bikes come loaded with technology that is far from future-proof, but we believe the CP2 surpasses all these potential pitfalls. Of course, even the most reliable engine in the industry won’t perform properly if the motorcycle has been abused, so it makes sense to pay more for an engine that has been properly maintained. As long as you take care of basic maintenance, these bikes simply won’t let you down.
Specifications
Engine type | Parallel-Twin, liquid-cooled |
Displacement | 689cc |
Maximum power | 73 hp |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | 406 pounds |
2023 Kawasaki Ninja 650
Price range: $5,000 – $7,000
Like the aforementioned ZX-14R, it shares a platform with a touring bike. The Versys 650 is widely regarded as one of the most reliable motorcycles in the industry, and as long as it wasn’t used as a track bike – which isn’t a good basis for a track bike, but people do it – you shouldn’t have any problems. It does have some electronics that may not stand the test of time, but it’s still relatively simple compared to some of the other modern supersports.
Specifications
Engine type | Parallel-Twin, liquid-cooled |
Displacement | 649cc |
Maximum power | 67 hp |
Transfer | 6 gears |
Weight | 423 pounds |
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