Top 5 Affordable Motorcycles 2025

The last time we put together our nominations for the most affordable bikes of the year was in 2023. At the time, our requirements were as follows: no low-power scooters, no questionable imports from China, and no beginner-only bikes that couldn’t hold their own at highway speeds. If a bike could check all those boxes and still ring up around $7000 or less, it was fair game for consideration.

Related: Best Budget Adventure Motorcycles

Between inflation, trade wars, and ongoing supply chain issues, you’d think the list of potential candidates would be a lot shorter in 2025. Luckily for us that’s not the case, and against all odds, there are actually more outstanding budget-friendly motorcycles to choose from this year than ever before.

And so, in keeping with tradition, these are the top five affordable motorcycles we’d have ourselves in 2025. They may not be the absolute cheapest bikes out there, but they’re as affordable as you can get without sacrificing quality.

While our rule about questionable Chinese brands remains, you really can’t deny that Chinese-made CFMoto has established itself as a major player. Bikes like its twin-cylinder Ibex 450 ADV are convincing plenty of riders that buying Chinese might actually be a smart investment in 2025.

Related: 2025 CFMoto 450SS Preview

There’s a lot to love on the Ibex: adjustable KYB suspension, tubeless spoked wheels, a full-color dash, a one-hand-adjustable windshield, switchable ABS and traction control… The list goes on, but the price remains small. A two-year factory warranty adds peace of mind to a relatively unproven machine, so if you have no moral qualms about Chinese-built motorcycles, the Ibex 450 is worth a closer look.

Honda’s CRF300L returns for 2025 with all of its previous assets intact: It’s still stupid reliable, it’s still good fun on dirt and pavement, and it still rings up for well under $6000. We’ve put thousands of miles on these bikes over the years and they just do everything well from running errands around town to budget-friendly adventure-touring.

Related: 2025 Honda CRF300L and 300 Rally Preview

The CRF300L gets bonus points this year, however, as Honda has given it a few choice upgrades to address the most common complaints from enthusiasts. Improved suspension damping is the big headline here (the 300L has always been a bit soft), while an updated headlight and new graphics give the little dual sport the aggressive looks it deserves.

Kawasaki’s Z400 made our list of affordable bikes last go-round, and its latest evolution, the Z500, returns for all the same reasons. Power and torque are both increased, but the engine still has the same broad midrange that’s always made these bikes great.

Related: Kawasaki’s Smallest Z Bike Grows to the Z500

The Z500 gets a modest $200 bump in price over the previous model, but it also gets sharp new looks to match its big brother, the Z900. Apart from that, this is still the same sharp-handling, grin-inducing naked that it’s always been, an outstanding commuter that knows how to have a good time on a twisty backroad.

Who’d have thought we’d live to see the day that KTM outperformed and outpriced its Japanese competitors? That certainly looks to be the case with the new 390 SMC R, which makes about 44 hp, yet costs the same as the current Kawasaki KLX300 and a whopping $3500 less than Suzuki’s redesigned DR-Z4SM.

Related: 2025 KTM 390 Enduro R Preview

The value doesn’t stop with the extra ponies either. Adjustable WP suspension, a bright TFT dash, switchable traction control, multiple rider modes, Michelin Power 6 tires, and even a supermoto-specific ABS setting are all featured as standard equipment. It’s also worth noting that if supermotos aren’t your bag, KTM offers the 390 Enduro R and 390 Adventure R models built on the same platform, and all three bikes sneak in below $7000.

We’ve logged our fair share of miles on Triumph’s Scrambler 400X, and there’s no denying it’s a ton of bike for the money. The liquid-cooled engine is peppy and entertaining, the bike cruises comfortably at 70 mph, and when it comes to fit and finish, it’s downright alarming that Triumph managed to bring a bike this handsome to market for under $6000.

Related: Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X Review

We’ll also note that while the Scrambler is clearly street-oriented, it’s actually a much more capable off-roader than we expected. The 400X also gets high marks from us for its larger front wheel, longer-travel suspension, and taller handlebar, which make it better suited to taller riders than its Speed 400 stablemate.