Top 5 Cheapest Motorcycles 2025

If you’re on the hunt for a new motorcycle with a budget around $5,000, there’s never been a better time to be in the market. Wallet-friendly bikes are going through a serious boom, and nearly every major manufacturer is fighting tooth and nail to deliver the most impressive package for the lowest possible price.

That’s a major boon for us motorcyclists because our options are no longer limited to mini-motos or obscure overseas brands with questionable reliability and no dealer support. In fact, our biggest hurdle in 2025 is choosing where to spend our hard-earned dollars, so if you’re looking for a little guidance, here are the top five cheapest bikes we believe are actually worth paying for. Looking for added insight on all types of new and used motorcycles? Check out our premium motorcycle reviews.

A good budget-friendly dual sport should be as versatile as it is reliable. Honda’s CRF300L checks both boxes handily, and also happens to be the perfect launch pad for just about anything you want to do on two wheels. It’s getting a few tweaks this year including a face-lift and improved suspension damping, but otherwise it’s the same lovable dual sport it’s always been.

We’ve logged plenty of miles on the 300L, and we’ll happily sing its praises as a weekday commuter, weekend trail bike, or mini adventure rig. The CRF also enjoys a wealth of aftermarket support, which means a few shrewd investments can easily transform it into anything from a cheeky supermoto to a low-maintenance single-track weapon.

Related: 2025 Honda CRF300L & CRF300 Rally Preview

When Triumph launched its new Speed 400 last year, it changed the conversation about how good a cheap motorcycle could be. The engine is torquey and fun, the chassis is sharp and flickable, and the level of fit and finish seems downright impossible considering the Speed’s asking price.

Everywhere you look on the Speed 400, you see something that has no business being on a $5,000 bike: The paint looks premium, the contrast-stitched seat is comfortable, and the brushed metal trim looks like it was pulled straight off one of Triumph’s twin-cylinder models at twice the price. Triumph even managed to work switchable traction control and Bosch ABS into the mix somehow, adding considerable value to an already great buy.

Related: Triumph Speed 400 & Scrambler 400 X Review

While many riders still have understandable reservations about buying a made-in-China motorcycle, the folks at CFMoto have made some serious inroads in both technology and dealer support. As such, the bang-for-the-buck factor is getting tough to ignore, especially on bikes like the 450NK.

Performance-wise, the CFMoto 450NK boasts 50 hp from its 449cc 270-degree parallel twin. That would be argument enough to give Kawasaki’s Z500 a run for its money, but CFMoto also throws in a slew of upmarket goodies like a 5-inch TFT dash, full LED lighting, dual-channel ABS, and J.Juan disc brakes. Perhaps most importantly, however, is CFMoto’s two-year factory warranty, adding peace of mind to a purchase that already seems too good to be true.

Related: 2025 CFMoto 450NK Preview

Yamaha’s popular MT-03 got a handful of upgrades for 2025, but the Tuning Fork brand still managed to keep the little naked as wallet-friendly as it is beginner-friendly with a starting price of just under $5,000. In fact, the price hasn’t changed at all from last year’s model, making the 2025 version the best value to date.

Mechanically the bike remains identical with the exception of a new slip/assist clutch to make gear changes smoother and easier at the lever. Cosmetically, however, improvements abound with a sharp new tailsection, narrower side covers (for an easier reach to the ground), and a new LCD dash that includes Bluetooth connectivity for your smartphone.

Related: 2025 Yamaha MT-03 Preview

As far as budget-friendly sportbikes go, Kawasaki’s Ninja 500 is the bike to beat. Changes for 2025 are minimal considering Kawasaki just gave the bike a major overhaul last year, but both the Ninja’s price and appeal remain unchanged.

The star of the show for us is the Ninja’s recently upgraded 451cc parallel-twin engine, which now makes about 45 hp with a healthier spread of torque thanks to the extra displacement. You’ll have to pay extra if you want ABS, fancier paint, or a TFT dash, but when it comes to maximum performance for minimum cash, the Ninja still reigns supreme.

Related: Kawasaki Ninja 500 Preview