10 used touring motorcycles that run like new for half the price

Manufacturers often reserve the best features for touring bikes. While this is great, it also drives up the price. As a result, some touring class motorcycles now cost more than $30,000. The downside of this is that these bicycles are hit hardest by depreciation. All of this points toward one logical conclusion if you’re shopping on a budget: buy used. These are also bikes designed for high mileage, and as long as the previous owner took care of basic maintenance, they will still ride like new.

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.

Honda Gold Wing GL1800 from 2005

Price range: $7,000 – $9,000

Gold Wings tend to hold their value quite well, and to get one that costs less than half of a new one you have to accept that you’re looking at a bike that is now twenty years old. In many ways this is the sweet spot model. It came out just after Honda introduced the ultra-smooth six-cylinder engines, and just before it started getting all kinds of technology that would all be outdated by now anyway.

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Victory Vision tour 2008

Price range: $5,000 – $7,000

Fully clothed tourers are shockingly expensive these days, but if you’re willing to consider something different, the Vision Tour is a bargain. It showed off what should have been a futuristic design, but now that we’re in the future, we can say with some confidence that the future the designer visualized turned out to be more of an alternate reality. It’s not a pretty motorcycle by any means.

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Honda VFR800 Interceptor from 2008

Price range: $5,000 – $7,000

In 2008, the VFR800 was virtually the finished product, and the beautiful V4 engine also received a VTEC valve system for the first time. Performance and reliability improved as a result. Today, these bikes represent a bargain, especially since you can’t really find anything like this on the market these days. Of all the bikes on this list, this might be the pick of the litter, especially at this price.

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2008 Harley-Davidson Streetglide

Price range: $6,000 – $8,000

Traditionally, Harleys hold their value very well, but in the past year we have seen some used models lose up to half their value almost overnight. The Street Glide isn’t one of those models, but less than a year ago prices were north of $10,000, and now you can find them a lot cheaper. Owners tend to take good care of these bikes too, so finding one in good condition won’t be too much of a problem, but finding a bike that hasn’t been modified can be a little more difficult.

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Yamaha Royal Star Venture S from 2012

Price range: $6,000 – $8,000

Yamaha wanted to take on Harley with the Star Motorcycles line of premium cruisers and touring motorcycles. Unfortunately, a combination of brand loyalty – particularly to Harley-Davidson – and a contraction of the cruiser market about a decade ago brought this endeavor to a premature end. Like any Yamaha, these bikes are well built, and for the right buyer the Star Venture S represents the ultimate value.

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2013 Honda VFR1200F

Price range: $6,000 – $8,000

The VFR1200F is no ordinary sports tourer and will undoubtedly be an acquired taste. This is a freight train of a motorcycle, with a verified quarter-mile time of about 10 seconds. In a straight line it will give some modern sports bikes a clean pair of heels. Unfortunately, it’s not that much more comfortable than some of those modern sports bikes, and it’s almost twice as heavy.

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Moto Guzzi California 1400 Touring from 2014

Price range: $6,000 – $8,000

Although the design may not be the most original, it still has that unmistakable Italian charm. Over the years, these big twins have proven to be surprisingly reliable, at least in terms of mechanical reliability. Outdated Italian wiring will always be a bit suspect, but as long as everything works properly after a decent test drive, you should be clear, at least in theory.

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Kawasaki Versys650 from 2015

Price range: $3,000 – $5,000

While there are certainly more exciting options available in this price range, a used Versys 650 is a safe bet. The features are kept to a minimum compared to some of the more glamorous options on this list, but what it brings to the table is unerring reliability and all-day touring comfort. If you only have $5,000 to spend, this would be our choice.

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Vulcan 1700 from 2015

Price range: $9,000 – $11,000

Literally half the price of the new bike, which remains largely unchanged. For that money you get quite a bit in return. The 1700 Vaquero has a proven V-twin, luggage as standard equipment, good wind protection and classic styling that will appeal to many buyers. It’s also huge, weighing more than some full dressers.

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2017 Yamaha FJR1300 ES

Price range: $9,000 – $11,000

Over the course of nearly three decades, the FJR1300 was refined into one of the best touring bikes money can buy. In 2017 it was more or less in its final incarnation and represents a bargain at this price. However, there is a small caveat. The electronic suspension can fail and repairing it is expensive. A good test drive is key here, and if something isn’t right, walk away.

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