The Best Retro Motorcycles for under 6k 

Lol, I got a 1972 Honda CB 175 for $1300. Needed a little work, after everything it was $1450. Good reliable bike. If you got under 6k to spend you can get a cherry CL or CB for under 3k. Actually vintage and cheaper.

Great rundown on U.S. available classics and great tip on facebook marketplace and the tip about buying a bike from an older person. So let me add a tip for all you folks looking for a Royal Enfield classic. I love them, especially the 500's. But they are definitely a bike that will require regular maintenance. They are not as reliable as the new Enfield's. So be prepared to spend time learning how to work on them and be prepared to pay a little more for parts.

It's a shame that the vast majorty of these bikes were never imported into my country. I ended buying a new RE meteor, and I'm happy with it, but I would have liked to have more options, particularly on the used market.

I was lucky to get one of the two last RE Bullets to be sold in the US. I have 10K miles on it already - it's a blast! It'll get a Watsonian Sidecar soon...

Another well written and pleasantly narrated video👍 Before the world got sick I was looking at 2019 Royal Enfield GT 650 Continentals. In this area they (were) going for $5,000 with a three-year warranty. Looks like they’re about $6,000 msrp now, if you can find them for that. Pretty sure sellers will gouge that price up! Hopefully I’m wrong though.

Bought a 2013 Honda cb 1100 from craigslist, 6000 dollars from a 71 year old man. Bike is like new. my wife took me to get it. long island to Hartford Connecticut. Threw some plates on it from my Harley. I had gotten it insured a couple of days earlier. weather was wet in the am didnt look good. It dried out and we drove to the Bridge Port ferry for a noon crossing. I was nervious but we made it. very happy i did it.

Some comments from a Guzzi 1400 California owner. Just to be clear, the Moto Guzzi V7 engine is *not* horizontally opposed, the cylinders are 90 degrees apart, like on a Ducati. I'm sure that was just a brain fart on your part. What was not a brain fart was the assertion that the V7 is great at left turns, which is true, but it's also great at right turns. The torque reaction that rocks all Guzzi V-twins when revving at a standstill is not present when the bike is under way. There is a reason why Guzzis have always been known for their great handling.

Love what you said about the Triumphs, absolutely agree! My buddy has an 07 Scrambler and I ride a 12 T100, but I never noticed the tank to he any different tbh, gotta set them side by side next time.

Thanks for the video. I have a 1982 Yamaha 750 Maxim. The one with the square handle bars. I’ve been riding that bike for 10 years with no issues. I bought it from a guy who had totally gone through it and restored it for less than four grand. The upright in line four is carburetored and runs perfectly. It pushes all the buttons for me.

Never be afraid of an unmolested used bike. Five years ago I picked up a beautiful 2002 Harley Davidson Road king with 13,500 miles on it and gave up $6300 it's been a great bike. Many examples like it available. This year I picked up a 2011 Triumph thruxton with 1653 miles on it for 6000 plus taxes etc. And I still look through the Market place for giggles your absolutely correct stuff is available. Be wise expect to spend money on tires chains etc. You can end up with a prize😊

I hope this channel of yours blows up like your other. I always have appreciated your dedication to your content!

The original Kawasaki W650 made in the 60's is actually a copy of a BSA,

I owned a 2001 bullet. It was the biggest pain in the ass but beautiful. Cream colored with gold pin stripes. I never drove it but I see it in front of my bar on main street in Fredericksburg TX.

I love your content. So many interesting motorcycles. Thank you for helping me find the one for me :) Cheers!

Very nice video. A lot of good points. You can go back to the mid 1960s and Kawasaki Meguro 650 back then was a copy of BSAs A7. I think Kawasaki referenced their Meguro as the inspiration for the W650. If Kawasaki can use bikes from their past as inspiration I think Triumph was even more justified to build a new Bonneville in 2001. I've owned several aircooled Bonnevilles from 2003 thru 2009 and one watercooled Thruxton R. According my scales all the aircooled bikes were heavier by about 10 pounds than a 2016 Thruxton R. I do agree 54 rw horsepower from the aircooled bikes is sufficient but I would give back the additional 30 rw horsepower of the new bike. Even though handling and braking may not be a prerequisite in this class of bikes there is a significant improvement with the watercooled bikes. I also own a 2017 Royal Enfield Classic Chrome 500 and find it one of the best slow ride bikes to ride and absolute beauty to just look and polish.

FYI. Horizontally opposed is like a BMW boxer, Honda Gold Wing or VW engine. I believe the term you are looking for is transverse mounted.

Very nice list. Regarding the Guzzi V7: you are absolutely right that dealers are rare in North America, but at the same time it is very easy to get parts shipped within days from those few very reliable Moto Guzzi dealers. Moto Guzzi bikes are very easy to work on, so most maintenance work can be done by almost anybody at home. To add 2 options to your list: for a few thousand one can buy very nice Honda Goldwings and Silverwings from the 1980's. These may not lightweight starter-bikes , but they are classic and cool, often in excellent condition, require not much maintenance, spare parts are easy to get, and you can find a Honda dealers on every street corner.

Great video, i enjoyed it. I really like your aesthetic. I started with a VanVan 200 - I ALMOST bought a TU 250. Very cool you mentioned the Suzuki, I agree it’s a beautiful bike. This spring I found a Motoguzzi 2017 V7 with 850 miles on it for $5000.00.

I got my 2001 Bonneville on pre-order and still remember the day I picked it up. Partly because it was the also day I was laid off from my job. When the shop called to ask if I had time to pick it up, I responded "Man, I just lost my job. I've got all the time in the world!" I'm still riding it, gone through a few sets of tires, and just gave the carburetors their annual pre-summer de-gunk a couple hours ago. Getting ready for another summer of shiny, loud, and slightly stinky joy. I ride because motorcycles are primitive. That is, they were primitive. All this ABS, EFI, RBW, LCD mess just makes these things 2 wheeled cars, in my point of view. I want my bike's parts spun and pulled by wobbly cables. I want my hands and feet to be the only decision makers when it comes to stopping and going. Ride-by-wire is a disconnect I'm unwilling to tolerate. If I want something that drives for me, I'd call Uber. While I'd still love to have something like a proper 1974 Commando, I can't quite stretch my wallet that far. This Bonnie still runs stable and solid enough to enjoy. For me, that's a decent enough compromise.

" Characterful" is a valid word :)

I put on the dish the benelli imperiale 400. 4000€ brand new, one cylinder 400cc 21 HP but it has a very beautiful classic style. Here in italy they are going good. They made it almost like the first imperiale of 1950

Love that Bultaco sign hanging from the ceiling at 13:33!

Really great video. Thank you.

Hi, the continental G.T. 250 cc came out in the UK in the mid 1960 . Like your videos .

05' was the last year the Bonneville was made in the UK. Thank would be my cutoff right there. Good list! 👍

A 2019 Ducati Scrambler 800 with 5000 miles for less than a new RE 650. Great deal.

In India for us this bike costs us around 3500 usd

Love this video 👌🏼

That TU250 looks like it'd be a nice for big city commuting.

This man used to do Rocket League too. Still love you man

Very informative content,, many likes from Canada,,✌️🇨🇦

I had a2017 Guzzi V7 III. It was a great bike.

Really like my W650, I have this same color as the one you have in this video, but mine is a bit modded. Have a BSA emblems on the tank, aftermarket mufflers, old Halcyon bar end mirrors, micro turn indicators and brown diamond seat. :) I might get an old Royal Enfield Bullet 350 till when my oldest son will be able to test drive for his Bike licence, love the really old look on those! Would also like to have a Triumph Speedmaster at some point for when taking the wife with me, she don't like riding without a back rest.. The newer Spedmasters are easilly the coolest looking cruiser I've ever seen!

Probably I have to look better at your videos but I haven't found yet any video about the Kawasaki Z1 from the 70s and the 90s model from the Japan brands like the Zephyr 750/1100 or the Honda CB or the Yamaha XJR...all look really classic and wonderful to me.

I wonder if you bought an old-style (smaller) Bonneville tank if it’d fit on the 2007?

Yamaha 1969-83 state side 1985 last production SX650 360 degree crank vertical twin half million produced. Nice base machine and the weakness can be worked out.

The XS650 Yamaha is a blank canvas. I made mine a bobber.

The Trupet Twins are 270/90 and are so smooth and fast.

ENFIELD WAS ALWAYS A MONSTER OF A MANUFACTURER!... YOU SHOULD CHECK THE STATS

What are some of the best retros for a 6'4" man (193.04 centimeters)?

I have 2 bikes I’m in between and I’d love your feedback. I love the brat look normal handlebars, comfortable riding position, minimal styling, clean lines and a cool/vintage tank shape. 1. Triumph Street Twin likely 2015 ish knowing my budget. You know these well so no need to elaborate. 2. Triumph Thruxton pre 2016 or whenever they switched the top clamp. Then I’d swap the Thruxton handlebars to traditional Renthal handlebars. I think the Thruxton tank is long and cool and reminds me of the Nortons I wish I was old enough to truly appreciate. Dutch from Bike Shed has a video on a similar concept and I like the look. Plus I’ve heard the Thruxton handles and performs better then street twins. Idk though. What are your thoughts on these 2 options. Maybe some things I’m not thinking if that I should consider. I’m new to riding and want a retro bike that is easier to maintain. Thanks! Love your page!

Cool video

Bonnevilles are over 6k I think bit great vid👍👍👍🍻

1978 SR500 🤩👍

Personally scr950 style is more striking to me rather than boneville

The Yamaha SR 400 is a slightly modernised SR 500 first built in 1977, compare the two and you will see little has been changed

Suzuki TU 250 is not available in California btw

Honda CB400SS should be on the list

"longitudinal V-twin" it's the correct term for guzzi's

👍

Sorry to tell you that triumph made the Bonnie back in 1059

I will share , you may get more subscribers from India👍

Why pay top dollar for a new bike and then have to spend heaps more to get the accessories when you can buy a low mileage preloved bike with all the stuff already added for a lot less then you pay for just the bike.

If u haven’t sat down on a og Royal Enfield 350 u are missing out

the Continental GT was a 250 cc machine from the 1960s, do a bit of research.

The enfield new cost 2k $$ here

this guys never ridden a guzzi in his life doubt any of mentioned other than his current in my 20's my stable was a stock 73 350 scrambler a 67 650 Tiger & love of life 73 Eldorado 1000cc p&j v.slight pull bk bars delorto's jett"d larger metallic shoes & battery period wixoms boards halogen no screen on dunlop qualifier that my friend is vintage -_-

I surf the internet for bikes, I like motorbikes, but, I need a bigger garage.

It's a pity you didn't use measurement units understood by most of the world.

Miss u fluump

สวัสดี ครับ 😍😍😍👍

I'm looking for a BT1100 Bulldog and make it either a scrambler or a bobber........

It seems the bikes I want are too expensive and the inexpensive bikes I don’t want; clearly, the bikes aren’t my problem!

This guy is clueless the kawi 650 is based on the BSA .

I just picked up a Kawasaki H2r for 4,000. Low mileage and completely imaginary.

Wait, what!? Why would you ever get a NEW bike!? Those are for suckers xD

A single front disc on every one of these machines in insufficient, period.

Are you Fluuump?

I don't understand this infatuation with power and weight. I don't ride motorcycles for performance. I ride them for the experience. That's why I like older Harleys and British bikes. I stay FAR away from modern garbage technology like EFI and ABS. Besides riding motorcycles, I like to tinker with them and work on them. I have no desire to do anything with a computer except use it as the appliance it is. I have a 2013 Royal Enfield B5 Bullet, just like that one. But mine has been converted from the absolutely atrocious EFI to an Amal Concentric MK1 carburetor using a kit from Hitchcocks in the UK. I also removed and crushed (I got a lot of satisfaction out of that) the huge heavy cat con exhaust and replaced it with one more like the W650 has, also from Hitchcocks. It is one of the most fun bikes I have ever ridden. That long stroke single thumping away at low rpm. But don't expect one with EFI to even be rideable. It had NO power, and nothing but hesitation and flat spots. It would backfire every time you opened the throttle. And with ethanol gas, the $500 fuel pumps tended to fail after a couple thousand miles. The Amal carburetor made it run beautifully. Like the Honda GB500, DO NOT expect to find a W650 at anywhere near a reasonable price. If you could I would have one. I've seen nice used ones selling for almost DOUBLE mrsp. They now make the similar in appearance W800, but it has EFI and ABS, which I want nothing to do with. I quit facebook many years ago, and would never ever consider going back. Leftist SCUM.

Too many personal biases. Also many newbie comments...(who needs ride by wire... really )

What about a 10 yr old honda trail 90? Is $5,000.00 a fair price? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣a 10 year old suzuki 250 cc for about $5,000.00? I would get a better rush snatching that money from you and setting it on fire and letting you watch it burn! 🤣🤣🤣

It’s a piece of shit !

The Royal Enfield Bullet is NOT retro styled. The model was in production and evolved from 1938 to 2021. It is a world record for any vehicle. Royal Enfield have been producing bikes continuously since 1901, making it the longest running manufacturer.