April 14-17, 2025
Hall 1 & 2, PWTC Expo, Guangzhou, China
English
English
2024-12-16
Honda’s trusty Africa Twin passes the smell test for value in adventure bikes.Honda
Value is about as subjective a concept as it gets, but the value of a good new motorcycle is impossible to deny. Where else can you buy supercar performance for the cost of a used Corolla? Or get the fuel economy of a hybrid commuter with the fun factor of a fighter jet?
Value means different things to different people, but if we’re talking bang for your buck in the motorcycle world, we should be able to agree on a few universal requirements.
Reliability: A cheaply priced bike is great, but a cheaply built one is worthless. The value of a good motorcycle increases with every maintenance-free mile regardless of how much it costs.
Features: What features are included for the money, and how do they benchmark with other similarly equipped models? Things like heated grips, TFT displays, adjustable suspension, and electronic aids are nice to have, but they’re even nicer when they come without the markup.
Performance: More power, less weight, and sharper handling. If one bike can do it better than another for less money, there’s serious value there.
Fun Factor: Plain and simple—if your bike doesn’t put a smile on your face every time you ride it, you bought the wrong bike.
Keeping the above qualities in mind, here are our votes for the best value motorcycles you can buy this year.
Lightweight Commuter
Triumph’s new Speed 400 looks great, rides great, and does it all for under $6K.Triumph
Triumph redefined two-wheeled value this year with its new Speed 400 ($5,195) and Scrambler 400 X ($5,795) models. The idea that you can get one for under $6,000 alone makes the new liquid-cooled single worth consideration, but once you factor in the sharp handling, fun engine, reasonable maintenance schedule, and retro-cool looks, both of these bikes are a downright steal. The Scrambler version will set you back a few dollars more, but it’s also plenty capable of some light off-roading/dual sport camping, so the value factor remains either way.
American V-Twin
When you’ve just got to have a Big Twin, H-D’s well-equipped Low Rider S gives you more of what you want for the money than anything else out there.Harley-Davidson
If we were strictly talking bottom dollar offerings, Indian’s 1,250cc, 105 hp Scout would easily put Harley’s hard-to-love Nightster to shame, but the appeal of an American V-twin cruiser has always had more to do with look and feel than outright performance. That means a big, lumpy air-cooled motor is mandatory, and Harley’s $19,999 Low Rider S delivers more of the look, feel, and style cruiser owners want than Indian’s $19,999 Sport Chief. It’s also worth noting that the Low Rider S is more powerful, lighter, and better handling than the Indian for the same price.
Metric Cruiser
Yamaha’s familiar Bolt R-Spec pairs air-cooled character with stripped-down style for a minimalist approach cruiser fans can appreciate.Yamaha
If you’re into cruiser style but prefer your bikes be engineered in Japan, Yamaha’s Bolt R-Spec ($8,999) is still the most stylish of the Big Four’s offerings. For about $1,000 less than the cheapest Indian Scout Sixty, the Bolt R-Spec checks all the right boxes with a sizable air-cooled V-twin engine, stripped-down and blacked-out style, a teardrop tank, and minimal badging to distinguish it as anything other than a good-looking cruiser. If you don’t mind a more modern look and practical layout, Honda’s latest Rebel 1100T adds bags, wind protection, and horsepower to the equation to the tune of $10,799, but it’s also got a parallel-twin engine, which will be a nonstarter for most cruiser fans.
Naked All-Rounder
Suzuki’s GSX-8S is the definition of a fun all-rounder, combining affordability with great torque and an impressive list of standard features.Suzuki
It’s not often we get an entirely new motorcycle from the folks at Suzuki, but its latest GSX-8S has proven worth the wait. Naked bikes are streetbikes first and foremost, and Suzuki’s 82 hp parallel twin churns out gobs of grunt from low to midrange where you want it the most on a daily rider. As for the value aspect, Suzuki includes multiple power modes, adjustable traction control, ABS, a big TFT dash, and a quickshifter as standard equipment, and does it all for just under $9,000. If you’re not into the GSX-8S’ styling, Yamaha’s newly refreshed MT-07 looks to be a stronger contender than ever for a little less cash, but it’s also a little down on power, so choose wisely.
Big-Bore Adventure
Honda’s Africa Twin is packed with premium features and all-terrain capability, yet somehow retails for less than other full-sized adventure rigs.Honda
Honda’s latest CRF1100 Africa Twin ($14,799) is everything we look for in a good adventure bike. It’s got real off-road capability, a powerful motor that’s at ease on the highway, and comfortable ergonomics whether you’re relaxing in the seat or standing on the pegs. It looks good, sounds good, handles well on a twisty road, and comes standard with all manner of electronic aids from traction control to cruise control. In short, the Africa Twin wants for nothing, yet somehow sells for less cash than a V-Strom. Win-win.
Middleweight Adventure
The Ténéré got a major update in styling and tech for 2025, adding further value to an already sweet package.Yamaha
When it comes to value, Yamaha’s middleweight Ténéré 700 has always been tough to beat. The T7′s MSRP has crept up a bit since it first hit dealerships for $9,999, but it’s also received its most significant update ever this year. While the tried-and-true CP2 engine remains mechanically unchanged, the Ténéré now benefits from ride-by-wire throttle, which means it also gets switchable traction control and multiple throttle maps to choose from. New styling, improved fueling, improved suspension, and a handsome new TFT are now standard equipment, all of which punch well above the Ténéré's latest $10,999 MSRP.
Dual Sport
Dirt-ready but street capable, Honda’s 300L returns as one of the best values in the business for 2025.Honda
Honda’s CRF300L (and its Rally counterpart) have been the best value in the dual sport world for a few years now, and both bikes are only getting better for 2025. The broad strokes here are improved suspension damping, a 450-style face-lift for the 300L, and revised heat management for improved rider comfort. Other than that, it’s the same incredibly reliable, versatile, and capable machine it’s always been, and MSRP isn’t expected to rise significantly above the current $5,449 asking price.
Sportbike
Yamaha’s new R9 offers a significant displacement advantage over the typical middleweight with only a marginal increase in cost.Yamaha
Yamaha’s new YZF-R9 splits the difference between a race replica superbike and a street-going middleweight, and in doing so becomes the perfect do-it-all sportbike. The three-cylinder CP3 engine boasts excellent torque with a thrilling top-end, and has an undisputed track record of rock-solid reliability to boot. Plug that Goldilocks powerplant into a sharp chassis with fully adjustable suspension and a top-tier electronics package and you’ve got a winner for road and track alike. Most importantly, however, is the R9′s attractive $12,499 MSRP, which is significantly lower than the most affordable literbike and only slightly higher than the current crop of high-strung supersports and budget-built middleweights.
Luxury Tourer
The latest Ducati V4 blends performance and comfort at a price that seems too good to be true.Ducati
Under normal circumstances this spot would be reserved for either a Honda Gold Wing or a fully loaded bagger, but as of this year you can pick up Ducati’s latest long-haul masterpiece, the Multistrada V4, starting at just $24,295. The comfortable ride, razor-sharp handling, and riotous 170 hp engine are all included as standard equipment, but even after adding all the touring amenities you could ask for from color-matched hard bags to heated seats and grips, you’re still coming out significantly cheaper than any of the “flagship” touring bikes out there from Honda, Harley-Davidson, or Indian.
Electric
Zero’s new S model delivers the thrill of electric torque at a more affordable price.Zero
Zero’s flagship SR/F is a premium machine by any standard, but its limited range and high asking price ($20,495) make it a tough pill to swallow. The new S model, however, looks and feels nearly identical, yet costs about $6,000 less. Battery range and power are reduced, but the S still claims a little over 100 miles to charge for mixed city/highway riding and a more-than-healthy 97 lb.-ft. of torque. Considering the fact these motorcycles aren’t really designed for long trips anyway, the S makes a lot more sense to us.
