10 Used Motorcycles With Reputations For Legendary Longevity

Some motorcycles just last longer than others. For a motorcycle to last a long time, it really needs two things. Firstly, the bike needs to be relatively simple. No matter how great modern features are, the more electronics you add to a motorcycle, the more failure points you add. The second thing is a little more complicated, and, contrary to popular belief, it is not necessarily bulletproof reliability – although that certainly helps – but rather serviceability.

Over time, maintenance costs really add up. 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 going. Bikes that are generally reliable have a big advantage (obviously) but the bikes that accumulate the most miles are usually also affordable to run. 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 give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including KBB. 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.

1998 Harley-Davidson Road Glide

Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000

The EVO motor played a pretty big role in restoring customer confidence in the Harley-Davidson brand. One look at the spec sheet, and it is pretty easy to see why these bikes had such staying power. It is mostly down to the mild state of tune these engines came in from the factory. Steer clear of bikes with loads of performance parts, and be prepared to get your hands dirty, because if you are going to get one of these old air-cooled Harleys you might as well learn how to work on them too. They are simple to maintain, but are 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

2000 Suzuki Hayabusa (1st Generation)

Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000

For the original Hayabusa, Suzuki needed to build a robust inline-four that could withstand incredible abuse, otherwise it simply would not reach its record-breaking top speed consistently. For that reason alone, these bikes proved to be incredibly reliable, with most owners unable to ever explore their full potential. Avoid bikes which have been modified and rather pay more for a good, original example.

Specifications

2005 Honda Gold Wing GL1800

Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000

By the mid-00s, Honda had more or less perfected the Gold Wing. Its smooth running flat-six might eventually be a cause for concern, but as long as you get one that has been maintained, it most likely won’t ever go wrong at all. Since then, Honda has added all sorts of luxury features, adding failure points and, in most cases, tech that has simply aged out. These 00s bikes are the “sweet spot” as far as we are concerned.

Specifications

2010 Honda VFR1200F

Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000

In an effort to prove that a bike certainly doesn’t need to be boring – as if any motorcycle was boring in the first place – we included this freight train of a motorcycle. While fairly heavy, this V4 had decades worth of research and development baked into it by the time it came out and was an absolute monster. It is fast even by modern standards, and as long as the previous owner took care of basic maintenance, it will remain reliable for years to come.

Specifications

2011 Suzuki V-Strom 650

Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000

Adventure bikes of this size were only slowly catching on back in the 00s, and this was more of a tourer back then. It was used mostly as an ADV by the time the 2011 model was introduced. These V-twins are both pretty fun and very reliable. More importantly, they are also relatively affordable to maintain. Rather avoid bikes that look as if they were prepped for a world tour and choose the most boring-looking one, there is an extensive aftermarket that will help you out once you are sure of what you personally need.

Specifications

2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R

Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000

The Concours 14 is an epic touring bike and will most likely outlast us all. But, running on the same platform, with over 200 horsepower on tap if you get one with ram air, the Ninja ZX-14R is most certainly the more interesting alternative. It stands to reason that it will be able to rack up almost as many miles, as long as you take care of it, and is a bit of a bargain at this price.

Specifications

2012 Yamaha Super Tenere

Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000

The Super Tenere is a deceptively fun motorcycle. Able to get up to 60 in just over 3 seconds, it is quick enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. It is also too heavy to be a proper off-road bike. Even though it looks like it will handle anything you throw at it, it will always be more of a tourer. Its parallel-twin is borderline bulletproof, and as long as you opt for the older bike without the fancy (yet failure-prone) electronic suspension, it will also be easy to own and maintain.

Specifications

2017 Honda Africa Twin

Price Range: $9,000 – $11,000

Reintroduced for the 2017 model year, Honda made us wait quite some time for this full-sized adventure bike. Over the years, the Unicam engine has proven to be just as reliable as any Honda product, offering the kind of peace of mind few other manufacturers can replicate. There is also the assurance that if something does go wrong, a Honda dealer will be near, and parts will be in stock.

Specifications

2023 Yamaha MT-07

Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000

Newer bikes are getting loaded with technology that is all far from future-proof, but we feel that the CP2 trumps any – and all – of those potential pitfalls. Naturally, even the most reliable engine in the industry will not perform as it should if the bike has been abused, so it is prudent to pay more for one that has been looked after. As long as you take care of basic maintenance, these bikes simply won’t let you down.

Specifications

2023 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000

Much like the aforementioned ZX-14R, this 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 – this is not a good base for a track bike, but people do it – you shouldn’t have any issues. It does have a few electronics that might not stand the test of time, but it is still relatively simple when compared to some of the other modern supersports.

Specifications