20 Best Old Motorcycles You Can Buy CHEAP but Keep Forever (2027)

The most reliable motorcycle you can own isn't on any showroom floor. It's 30 or 40 years old, it costs less than three months of payments on a new one, and it'll still be running when today's plastic bikes are landfill. I'm Ray Donnelly, and I ranked 20 cheap old motorcycles you can buy today and keep for the rest of your life — by real reliability and what they actually cost to own. Here's the countdown: 20. Triumph Bonneville (2001–2008) 19. Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 (Evo) 18. Yamaha Virago 535 17. Kawasaki KZ440 16. BMW R100 15. Yamaha RD350 14. Honda CX500 13. Honda GL1000 Gold Wing 12. Suzuki GS850G 11. Honda CB550 10. Kawasaki KZ1000 9. Suzuki GS550 8. Honda Nighthawk 750 7. Honda CB450 6. Yamaha SR500 5. Honda CB350 4. Kawasaki KZ650 3. Suzuki GS750 2. Yamaha XS650 Honda CB750 One tip from an old rider: don't chase the cheapest example on the list, chase the best-kept one. A bike with a folder of receipts is worth $500 more and will save you $5,000 every single time. 👉 Which one would you keep forever? Tell me in the comments, and subscribe for straight talk on bikes worth your money. #motorcycles #vintagemotorcycles #classicmotorcycles #RayDonnelly