[ChadGeek]

Hey Folks, I'm writing an article this month about buying used motorcycles and I want your opinions on the best bike to get for $5,000 bucks or less. I'm looking more at reliability than performance. Thanks in advance for any opinions!

 

[killernoodle]

FZ6s can be had for 5k .

 

[Hagios]

Wait until the dead of summer. Spring is THE wrong time to buy.

Consider a used sport-standard. They tend to be great bang for the buck.

 

[freeky929]

First of all, if it's about reliability, it's got to be a Honda.

 

[freeky929]

Wait until the dead of summer. Spring is THE wrong time to buy.

Consider a used sport-standard. They tend to be great bang for the buck.

This comment is not entirely true. It really depends what part of the country you are in. If you live in the north where riding season is only part of the year, then this is true. Bikes will be much more expensive right now. If you live in the south or Texas or Southern California, then riding season is all year long and prices do not fluctuate much at all.

 

[freeky929]

LOL...I just noticed that you are in SoCal, so disregard the "bad time to buy a bike" comment, since bikes really don't have a cheap season in SoCal.

 

[sfarson]

Honda VTR1000 Superhawk

 

[freeky929]

I was thinking 2001 CBR929RR or 2002 CBR600F4i.

 

[1quick1]

You can pick up a mint 2002-2003 Honda CBR F4i for that price. I sold my 2001 last year for $4500 and it only had 7,000 miles on it and it ran absolutely perfect.

 

[littleredcar]

you can buy a brand new 2006 Suzuki GS500FK5 for 5149 at any dealership, hell mines only a year old and its going for 3900, only 850 miles. performance isnt killer but it is extremely reliable. handles awesome to.

 

[1quick1]

You can also buy a new SV650 for 6k or the SV650S for $6500 if you can save up a little extra cash.

 

[Scud]

older F4i all the way... great ergos, great looks, good power, fuel injected (huge plus, in my opinion), and Honda reliability. A F4i is most likely going to be my next bike unless I decide to go with a naked SV650

 

[chve8817]

Can't go wrong with an sv1000 - good bang for your buck.

 

[coolatula]

I think the overwhelming vote will be the Honda F4i. They are very nice all around sportbikes,Honda(of course)reliable,quick,good handling,relatively fast and light. I do not have an F4i,but a friend of mine does and I have to push my FZR pretty hard overall to stay with him,very impressive indeed. My bike looks HUGE next to that little thing!

The F4i reminds me very much of the beautiful '88 Hurricane 600 I had. Just a great do-it-all sportbike,but the F4i's power to weight is much better than what I had on tap with the Hurricane.

The later F2s and F3s somehow seemed to go in a different more hyper/radical direction and I think they lost some of the charm along the way. I think people see them as "Throw-away" starter sportbikes which may or may not be fair? I'm sure they are faster,handle better and all that jazz,but I will always have a soft spot for the tiny Hurricanes and of course the modern version the Honda F4i.

 

[xgabriel]

I paid $500 for my '88 FZ600...oh, wait...you said best bike for $5000, not $500...

 

[ajohn505]

My pristine '02 919 was $4300... a perfect example of an inexpensive do-all motorcycle.

 

[coolatula]

I paid $500 for my '88 FZ600...oh, wait...you said best bike for $5000, not $500...

Very nice! Good find!
Yes,old FZ/FZRs are some of the best "Bang for the buck" motorcycles out there! :cheers
Not that I'm biased or anything. :rolleyes

 

[clearwaterms]

in the sportbike world, I would have to agree with everybody else, the F4i is hard to top. however, if you lookout side the strict sportbikes, you end up with alot more possabilities.

The Kawi KLR650 is an old school technology bike, but people have taken them around the world, same with the 650 single air cooled BMW's. a honda nighthawk 750 can be had for less then $5000 and with it's self adjusting valves and pleasant ergo's is a great do it all motorcycle, granted, your not likely to find one that hasn't had a milk crate bungied to the back

 

[IL0veFish]

f4i ...

 

[SCNetTek]

First of all, if it's about reliability, it's got to be a Honda.

+1 And a decent '01-'03 CBR 600F4i or an early 954RR can be had for that price range.