Top 10 Motorcycles Under $5,000 for the 2024 Riding Season

The two reasons above are also why bikes come in so many shapes, sizes, and uses that it gets pretty difficult for each of us to select the proper one for our needs, style, and expectations. The generally agreed-upon six motorcycle types have so many sub-types and offshoots that when in the market for one, people need to spend a lot of time going through them all before something really interesting appears on the horizon.

One of the best ways of narrowing the list of choices down is to set a price cap. No matter the available budget, the offer remains varied enough to allow the rider a number of choices without drowning them in options.

Not long ago we had a look at the best motorcycles the market has to offer for under $10,000. That's an amount many of you can easily afford and, at the same time, a guarantee that the bike itself is not something you'll have to throw away after a few uses. But did you know you could easily go below $10k, and still be offered about the same thing?

Well, you can, and that's why we've decided to give you this weekend a look at the best motorcycles our world has to offer for under $5,000. I know, you're going to tell me that in the motorcycle world, $5,000 and under is what a lot of two-wheelers go for, and they don't all live up to expectations.

Well, you're right, and that's why this list of ours only includes the best of the best. The bikes with a pedigree, many of them made at the hands of established companies, that have become pillars of their respective segments and have been selling like hotcakes for plenty of years. They are also the most reliable of their segment, good on beginners, and the perfect training tools before moving on to something greater.

You can find our picks of top motorcycles under $5,000 available in 2024 below.

1. Benelli TNT 135

For a century plus a decade and some change, an Italian motorcycle powerhouse called Benelli has been making all sorts of wacky motorcycles and scooters. Perhaps not as famous as other brands on our list on the American market, this crew does make two-wheelers that are at the top of their game in some respects.

In the under $5k bike category, the product at the top of its game is definitely the TNT 135. With an explosive name attached to it, the motorcycle plays in the naked segment, and it kind of plays to win.

The ride uses a steel trellis frame for a skeleton, and packs inside it the only SOHC four-valve engine in its class. The unit is 135cc in displacement and works through a five-speed transmission.

One thing that sets this bike apart in its category is the set of wheels, smaller than we're used to. They come in at just 12 inches in diameter and are shod in sticky tires.

Like other rides on this list (most of them, really), the Benelli TNT 135 has been designed with young riders in mind. As such, it wears a sticker that reads only $2,699. And chances are you'll enjoy every cent spent to the fullest.

2. Beta 80

Also tracing its roots to Italy is Beta, a 120-year-old bike maker that in recent years has become a true powerhouse in the enduro, motocross, and off-road segments. Intended for hardcore riders, its machines are generally priced above $10k, but if you look hard enough you can find something half that price as well.

We did, and unearthed something called the Beta 80. Available in two versions, Jr. and Sr., the machine is more of a crossbreed between a bicycle and a motorcycle, a combination that works so well there was no chance it was going to miss an entry here.

Intended to be used as a trainer for those looking to learn the ins and outs of off-road riding, the 80 is powered by a positively tiny liquid-cooled two-stroke engine, displacing just 80cc (hence the name). Despite its size, it needs a six-speed transmission to properly deliver power to the rear wheel by means of an O-ring chain.

The chance of getting in the saddle of a "transition platform leading into enduro or trials riding" comes after paying just $4,599 for the junior and $4,999 for the senior. Both motorcycles carry a $349 destination fee.

3. Bluroc Spirit 125

A list of motorcycles compiled on various criteria would not be complete without a café racer. After all, this style of two-wheeled machines was born out of people's need to ride fast and cheap between various hangout places.

Café racers are aplenty in our world today, but you'd have plenty of trouble finding one that fits the price target we set for ourselves. But it's not an impossible task, as the Bluroc Spirit 125 is here to show.

Bluroc may not ring a lot of bells to Americans (yet), given how these guys are based in Belgium, a country that is not exactly famous for making its own vehicles (it does make them for others, though), but chances are one of their ten models will eventually make a splash in the U.S. as well. Provided, of course, the company decides to sell there.

And it could be the Spirit 125, with its single-cylinder engine capable of developing just 11 hp. It may seem quite a small number, but given the bike's weight of 115 kg (254 pounds), that's probably more than enough.

Over in Europe, where this crew is currently selling the Spirit, the asking price is £3,000, which in dollars would mean about $3,800 at the exchange rates valid at the time of writing.

4. CFMoto 300SS

Although the motorcycle market is undoubtedly dominated by Japanese and Italian companies, rides made in China are slowly gaining a foothold in many markets of the world, including the U.S.

A Chinese company called CFMoto is one of the spearheads of the Asian assault, and for good reason: in a relatively short period of time it proved it can make reliable products, and at a fraction of the cost of what others have to offer. I mean, think about it: how often do you come across a sports motorcycle priced at under $5,000?

That's the perfect description for the 300SS, an aggressive-looking two-wheeler built around an integrated frame and propped on an upside-down front fork and a rear monoshock.

The 300SS draws 29 horsepower from a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that is 292cc in displacement, and controlled by means of a 6-speed transmission.

More or less targeted at beginner riders who wish to fool others they are riding a much more potent motorcycle, the CFMoto 300SS sells in the U.S. this year for $4,499, topped by a $250 freight surcharge.

And that's not bad at all, given how this thing comes equipped, on top of the above, with stuff like LED lights, alloy wheels, and a lot more bodywork than you'd expect.

5. Royal Enfield Bullet 350

Royal Enfield is one of those motorcycle companies that feel like they deserve more than what they actually get. Generally very appreciated in some places in Asia and even in Europe, the company does have a presence in the U.S. as well, where it offers a little something for all types of riders, but with not as much success as it would like.

The Royal Enfield range in the U.S. presently comprises a fleet of nine motorcycle models (with a tenth, the Shogun, on the way). All of them are going for prices of under $10,000, and a total of four, namely the Bullet 350, Hunter 350, Classic 350, and Meteor 350 falling below $5,000.

If I were in the market for a bike priced so low, I'd probably go for the Bullet 350, and that's why I picked it for this list as well. After all, what's not to like about a cheap "motorcycle that changed motorcycling?"

What Royal Enfield is talking about when using the above expression is the glorious past of the moniker, which has been around in the industry since 1932. Moreover, it is the bike with the longest uninterrupted production life in the entire industry.

In the modern day and age the Bullet is powered by one of the largest engines on this list, a 349cc unit held inside a twin downtube cradle frame. It's not the fastest or the most powerful engine out there, but it more than gets the job done.

Royal Enfield is offering the Bullet in three color choices, namely Black Gold, Black, and Maroon. No matter which one you choose, you'll have to pay just $4,699 for the ride.

6. Yamaha V Star 250

The Japanese from Yamaha have been around on the motorcycle scene for close to seven decades now and have slowly climbed to the top of the industry with the help of reliable products. I mean, what else can you call the supersport or off-road machine on two wheels it makes?

Sensing that there was still enough room for it to move into the low-end segment of the industry, Yamaha did what was expected of it and launched something there as well. Playing the game in the Sport Heritage category, the V Star 250 is the perfect example of that.

Introduced in 2001 and later becoming a successor of the Virago 250 (2008), the V Star has the look of a proper sport bike, without the pressure of a high price tag. As a result, it is a "great first step into motorcycling," the beginner bike all riders should at least consider.

The V Star comes with a 58.7-inch (149 cm) wheelbase and a seat height that is just 27 inches (69 cm) off the ground, and that makes it look long and low, a perfect fit for someone who hasn't ridden all that long.

The air-cooled 249cc 60-degree engine comes in a V-twin configuration, something no other motorcycle in its segment offers. A dual exhaust offers an extra layer of coolness to the design.

Yamaha is selling the V Star 250 in 2024 for $4,699, naturally not including the $550 destination charge.

7. Suzuki DR-Z125L

As a leading Japanese bike maker, Suzuki is no stranger to cheap motorcycles either. Although its best-known products, the likes of the Hayabusa or Katana, are much more expensive than $5,000, the company does offer four extremely cheap models, namely the DR-Z125L, DR-Z50, RM85, and the DR-Z50.

All of them are playing in the off-road and youth categories, acting as the perfect entry point for young riders into the world of Suzuki two-wheelers. We chose to talk a bit about the DR-Z125L because of its unique attributes.

The motorcycle has been designed with young and smaller stature riders in mind, and it's meant to help them tackle the challenges of navigating dirt tracks on two wheels. One of the attributes that makes it capable of that is the larger 19-inch wheel fitted at the front, and the smaller, 16-inch one fitted at the back.

Described as the perfect skill builder, the motorcycle is powered by a tiny 124cc, four-stroke, single-cylinder engine installed inside a steel frame. A five-speed transmission with a manual clutch is on deck to do the heavy lifting.

The motorcycle is offered in a single color, Champion Yellow No. 2, and it is eligible for the California Green Sticker Off-Road registration. And it's cheap, too, going for as little as $3,599 plus the mandatory 230 destination and $25 freight charges.

8. Kawasaki KLX 230R S

Kawasaki is one of the most potent bike makers out there, and at the same time one of the few to offer quite an extensive list of motorcycles priced under $5k. There are a total of seven models that presently meet our price criteria, starting with the Z 125 Pro and ending with the motocross bikes (the Ninja, which in some incarnations was below the threshold until not long ago, jumped over the barrier).

We chose to include the KLX 230R S in our list because it is the most impressive off-road bike Kawasaki has to offer for this price range. As you'd expect from a two-wheeler playing this game, it's a simple ride, with a small engine, but very capable nonetheless.

Officially described as a recreational off-road motorcycle, the KLX 230R S is built around a compact high-tensile steel perimeter frame that holds smack down the middle a 233cc fuel-injected and air-cooled four-stroke engine.

What makes it a real monster off the beaten path is the suspension system. A combination of a 37 mm front fork and Uni-Trak single-shock at the rear helps the machine navigate over uneven terrain as if it was born there.

The Kawasaki KLX 230R S sells in 2024 for $4,749, not including destination and commodity charges, and in a single color scheme, Lime Green. But hey, for this money one can't really afford to be picky.

9. Honda Rebel 300

If you take into account Honda's Minimoto, add to that the CBR300R and the Rebel 300, and sprinkle on top of them all the XR150L, CRF250F, and a bunch of scooters made in Japan, then you end up with a list of motorcycles priced at under $5,000 that is much larger than that of Kawasaki: no less than 16 motorcycles are on it.

When you really think about it, though, there are only two motorcycles you can choose from when it comes to Honda and a $5,000 price cap: the Rebel 300 and the CBR300R. We chose the former for the simple reason that the Rebel is, by all intents and purposes, among the very few cruisers with a bobber attitude you can get for such a low sum of money.

The bike is powered by a 286cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke that in itself is not extraordinary (it can't be, not in this size) but perfectly fits the unique styling of the Rebel with its blacked-out elements and very low weight.

Available in two color choices (Pearl Black and Nitric Orange), the motorcycle has a lot to offer for its price range, including a steel rear fender, LEDs all around, and cast aluminum wheels.

If you decide to go for the Honda Rebel 300, all of the above will not set you back more than $4,849, not including the destination charge which, to be fair, is quite a lot when compared to the bike's price: $600.

10. KTM 200 Duke

With the exception of the few names mentioned on this list, all other bike makers present here are the heavyweights of the industry, and have been so for years now. Yet it kind of feels like none of them come even close to the appeal the Austrians from KTM have going for them.

The telltale orange bikes of KTM have long ago made a name for themselves in some of the most important competitions in the world (like, say, enduro, where the bike maker snatched no less than 126 world titles), and, at the same time, some of their models have created a sort of cult following.

Like the Dukes, a breed of naked motorcycles that at the time of writing counts no less than eight models. At the top of the food chain sits the 1390 Super Duke R Evo, while at the opposite one, and the entry on our list, the 200 Duke.

An "out-and-out street prowling brawler" by birth, the ride uses a single-cylinder engine, the most powerful four-stroke installed inside a motorcycle of its class - 26 horsepower harnessed through a six-speed transmission.

As usual when it comes to KTMs, the bike's frame is supported by upside-down WP forks at the front and 17-inch cast alloy wheels made for racing.

Capable of supporting both a rider and a passenger, the 200 Duke is selling off the KTM lot this year for $4,199, and that means not even the $425 freight charge isn't enough to get it over the $5,000 threshold.