The 10 Most Reliable Motorcycles That'll Keep You on the Road
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- Well I've been asked to make this video a few times now and started working on it a while ago. However, as with my lists, it got out of hand quite quickly.
These are the most reliable and easy to maintain Bombproof Motorcycles have ever come across.
the full article is here
barebonesmc.com/10-most-relia...
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:15 Honda Cub
03:38 Honda CG 125
04:41 Suzuki DL 650 and SV 650
06:00 Honda XL 600 V and 650
06:55 Yamaha TDM 850 and 900
07:45 Honda XL 250
08:19 Suzuki DR 650
09:12 Kawasaki KLR 650
10:09 Kawasaki GPZ 500, KLE 500, ER5, ER6, Versys 650 and more
11:52 Honda CD 175
12:00 Honorable mentions
More footage here
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IMPORTANT
Dakar have hit me with a copyright strike so ive had to delist some of the videos just in case
i guess they got pissed that mine were better
because of the MOTOGP one before xmas that means im really vulnerable now and the channel could be removed at any time
I have set up this backup channel so please go and follow it NOW,
this could all be removed at any moment now so it is critical to stay in touch via the backup channel here
th-cam.com/channels/CSl6i-tZJNC5DQ38vgCtvw.html
sorry for this if i get another strike it wipes out all my work
all my old videos will be removed
I wont be posting anything much on the new channel unless this goes down
but this is a just in case because it really could go down at any point
the videos are still visible if you have a link so if you have problems message me for links
so you can still watch them,
if you follow the channel and this one gets taken down you will be able to find me there
sorry if thats a bit garbled
ive just woken to this but i guess i could have had the channel taken down already
so i should be thankful
ride free everyone
The official Dakar coverage was awful IMHO, I'm thankful for people such as yourself who put out watchable, engaging content. Oh & don't forget the C90's bigger brother the mighty CT110!
@@Free_Ranger_CT110 not the 110, but i featured the CT125 here th-cam.com/video/V2m6tF0rZKQ/w-d-xo.html as to Dakar, a lot said similar, i think its the fact their focus isnt on the bikes, and certainly not the lower classes of bikes, the whole rally coverage is now up on the platform that cant be mentioned lol. i just cant put a link up here or youtube will crucify me again lol, if you message me via the contact page on the website i will send you a link, cheers as always
I have been a bike mechanic for 50 years.
Most bikes are killed by neglect. Modern bikes arrived in the 1980s and if you ride them and make sure the oil and air filters are clean they will last a very long time. I had a 1982 Yamaha Xj650 Seca since new, sold it 10 years ago, running fine at 337,000 miles.
My current daily is a 2004 Honda 919 or Hornet as it's called across the pond. Had the valve cover off 3 times, and found 1 valve .05 mm tight
once. 176,000 miles and counting. Oil & filters ( full synthetic) every 6 k miles. Air filters 20 k. Tires, chains & sprockets, brake pads, front disks 100k.
Steering head bearings 100k, wheel bearings every 50k. Simple to work on by modern standards, but doesn't need much. Original clutch also.
:-) Cheers for adding your bit mate, ride free
The seca xj650 were/are great machines for their day, I think mine was an 83, silver with blue and white stripes
@@ccreations123 82. I had one too. Every year Yamaha changed paint schemes.
I bought an 82 Seca 650 new as well. Never should have sold it. I loved that bike and I didn't ride it hard but never got more than 10,000 miles or so out of a rear tire. I don't believe you can make motorcycle tires last 100k miles. Not even Michelins.
@@ccreations123 indeed, there was a great 400 version too that later got turned into the XJR400. great bikes
In my humble opinion the 650 Suzuki v twin is one of the greatest engines of all time. I had a Vstrom for a few years and thought the performance was far greater than you would expect from this engine.
I second that, 2021 dl650 owner here. Superb machine.
Ditto, I also own a 650 VStrom
Too trure Peter. I was just saying exactly that to my youngest (who's got a CB500). I've been riding since 1975 and had lots of bikes the SV650 engine is in a different ball park to those of us brought up on fours. If you want to have the max fun without wiping yourself out, buy an SV 650 or one of the derivatives. They are the business.
I’ve said all along that the SV650 is the best motorcycle ever made. My ‘99 has never required a valve adjustment. Still have it and love it. I had a ‘06 fuel injected SVs for a while as well. I’ve taken many 3,500 mile rides, one 6,500 mile ride. It has been as reliable as a stone axe.
Yeah. I own one too. Feels like a bigger engine.
Had a Honda VFR 750 for 28 years now - 60,000 miles on the clock and still going strong.
good on you for keeping it going mate , ride free
Spot on with the Honda Cub. I had one many, many years ago using it to do my 30-mile round trip to work and back, whatever the season. It never let me down, but did get me worried when on the odd occasion I had to kick it a second time to start it. At the age of 86, I now ride a Yamaha MT-03 (big enough for a little old man) My 70-year-old wife rides a Honda Rebel 500 (well, she's younger than me lol) both bike being super reliable.
:-) Cheers for watching mate, enjoy them, I do like the older MT03 :-) not ridden the new smaller one . ride free
I hope I'll ride until the day I reach that great twisty road in the sky…
You sir are the legend
Keep a sharp eye on that young girl 86'r ;)
@ barrie shouldn't you be considering something with 4 wheels ...and a chauffeur.. man you shouldn't be riding but being driven around 😂😅😊 well u n your rebel too ❤ the story
Your channel is not just about motorcycles... it's about motorcycle history. Your knowledge and love for bikes is much appreciated. How can I not subscribe? Thank you!
Welcome aboard mate, enjoy the ride and cheers for the support
That GPZ500 entry made me smile. I've ridden literally hundreds of motorcycles and basically everything from the big four Japanese manufacturers until around 2001. The GPZ500 was the most pure fun. That thing was featherweight, handled like a dream, had nice torque and midrange. It is my 'secret favorite' motorcycle, yet I never owned one. Such a well conceived motorcycle.
Glad I surprised you mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
I think you nailed it with this list 👍, i m looking to buy back a Transalp 600, made a road trip in South America 20 years ago , 22000 km without even a puncture , loved it
the old one runs a damn site cooler than the new one too 🙂
As a 20-year owner of a '94 VFR750, will 107K miles now, I can say that there is not often reason to remove all of the plastics, but when I do, it is part of the pleasure of the bike. I'll never get rid of that bike. (No, the VFR is not my only bike, just my favorite.)
As I said mate they are a great bike :-) Cheers for watching
Try fitting black widow exhaust. The studs in the head seize and I was lucky to get the old ones out. Yes copperslip is a must on the threads where steel bolts go into aluminium heads. Also what a pain to get to the rear exhaust clamps. There's no room and fitting it took 4 hours.
The CD175 had a 360 degree crank. If you fitted Dunstalls or other less restrictive silencers than the Honda originals, the sound of the CD175 could get surprisingly close to that of a big British twin. They were great, rugged little bikes.
they were indeed great little bikes :-) 🙂 cheers for watching mate , Ride Free
Brilliant machines
@@Ian-bq7gp ejoy the ride mate, cheers for watching, Ride Free 🙂
I'd add the Honda NC700/750 series to the list. Maintenance is a breeze, the spark plugs are accessible without removing anything and the valve clearance only required the removal of the radiator (and they're screw and lock valves too!). They're absolutely bulletproof, I have roughly 150K KM on mine and spoke to guys with double (and more) the mileage and they all claim no issues whatsoever.
great bikes, i probably should have given them a mantion 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
My brother and his wife had the NC 700 and NC 750. I have a Honda CTX 700 and my sister has a Honda CTX 700 hers is the automatic. Brilliant. Little bike I'll be keeping mine .
The Honda CB750. It sold in about 1 million examples over the years. It would run forever and was easy to work on. You could get big bore kits of 812cc (Yoshimura) 836cc (Norris) and even 900cc (MTC) and the engine could still take a beating and be very reliable over many years. Mine was a Norris 836 with an RX2 cam, rebuildt engine head and 32mm Dell'Ortos, giving it 110 HP in the bench.
All the early CB fours were special. I had the 500 with Dunstall additions :-) and one of the subscribers has been talking about his 350 four too, engineering delights all of them Cheers for watching mate :-) enjoy the ride
@@barebonesmc Thanks for your answer. I remember Paul Dunstall, a former race driver. And David Dixon, also a former race driver that sold the Yoshimura parts for my CB500. I had a CB500Four with a Yoshimura 550cc kit and a Yoshimura Daytona or Road&Track cam, that raised the power with 50% (75hp) and I had a Dunstall body on top of that. Clip on handlebars, swedish Sivert Raask footpegs and a Hooker exhaust. Great fun :) Now I ride a Guzzi Le Mans II and an 850 Commando Roadster.
@@sallhame enjoy them mate :-) Cheers for watching
Pigs to ride I hated them because of that
@@ETALAL the 750 was a bit of a boat but i thought the 500 i had handled beautifully for its time, it had clip ons and rear sets so weight was more forward and the 4 exhausts were replaved by a lighter 4 into 1 but little else was done other than tuning, 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate, ride free
Back in the day I owned 3 of these motorcycles. The C90, CG125 and the CD175. Each supremely reliable as my daily transport. Great to see these lowly machines make it into your hall of fame.
Likewise and they were cheap in the 80's, I got a CD175 for $10 in '84.
Ditto! C70, cg125, cj125, cb125. The Benley best looking. None of these wee Hondas ever failed 👍
credit where credit is due eh lads :-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
CD175 was incredibly ugly, but incredibly reliable
@@LabRat6619 lol, i think the term is Fugly lol. Cheers for watching :-) Ride Free
In my 40 years of riding the TDM 850 has been by far the best bike I've ever owned.
Town, touring and scratching. It does them all superbly. The engine is bulletproof but coils go regularly and carbs difficult to access.
battery access on the series 1 850 was a pig too 🙂 Cheers for watching, ride free
Had one also. For an engine that could do pro-twins, it was amazingly reliable. Access under the plastics and weird headlight bulbs were the only flies in the ointment.
Agree, my TDM 850 was sound, excellent manoeuvrability and visibility too, rode it into to central London everyday.
Here I am just started on a TDM 900 from 2005
Well done. Enjoy it and ride safely! @@merzto
I was a despatch rider in London for 10 years during the 80s and 90s and used quite a few bikes which suffered a fair amount of abuse due to the nature of the game. The most reliable and easiest to work on, and which I owned until a few years ago, was a Honda XBR500. I did my own repairs and maintenance and found everything very straight forward with all parts easily accessable. I've been without a bike since having to sell it, but I'd definitely go for another XBR again.
great bikes 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
A friend was struggling to get a bike to get around on due to being unemployed. So I picked him up a Honda CT110 from the auctions and let him pay it off. He rode that bike for several years and never had an issue with it, just regular maintenance. Our postal service used them for decades also here in Western Australia, perhaps they still do in some areas, though some are electric now.
a grand little bike :-) Cheers for watching, ride free
CB750F. I maintained mine very meticulously , and besides charging issues, it has never let me down for over 100,000 km. I had it. GS1000G and GS1000S were bullit proof. Most 50cc bikes from the 80's and 90s were all very reliable, taking into account that they were almost all the time full throttled and hardly serviced. Suzuki B120, tractor of its time, would get you there every day slowly. Thanks for the videos, keep doing it the way you do.
:-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
A new B120 was my first bike in 1975, followed by an RD200 and a CB750K2.
The double overhead cam cb750f was renouned for stator and regulator rectifier failures, I know I had it happen to me over and over again.
Those gs 1000 850, 750 and 555 and even 425 400 were amazing. The gs850 was perfect and comfortable with good economy
@@Ian-bq7gp there was a GS to suit most people 🙂ejoy the ride mate, cheers for watching, Ride Free 🙂
Back in the late-1950's-early 60's, Jawa-CZ were always taking out the Team prize in the ISDT, always a great indicator of reliability, so in June 1963 I bought a new Jawa 250, which was 100% reliable. It lived ouside in the snow and ice, but never failed to start or get me home on the 75-mile each way weekly commute from my military base.
In 1984 I bought a very neglected 1970 Jawa 350 twin, (filthy inside and out, glue-like oil, shot fork seals, L/H cyl firing about every 18th lamp-post, etc), refurbished it and ran it for the next 15 years with total reliability. These days, at 77, I'm riding a 2011 Suzuki VL250, which has also proved itself reliable.
The old CZ's got a bad rap on reliability :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
I bought a BMW R80 RT which had been sitting around in a shed for 12 years with 80000 km. I changed the oils, fitted new seals which was easy due to the accessibility of everything on the bike, and have been driving it ever since. The air cooled boxer engine is definitely one of the most reliable and easy to service engines, with easy access to spare parts and information.
the air heads definitely got more comments than any other bike, did you see the honourary mention :-) th-cam.com/video/c4n0iL9mUW8/w-d-xo.html 🙂Cheers for watching mate, ride free
There's a reason why they were first choice for world touring for 50 years. I wonder what the reason for this would be??
I rode a CG125 on 'L' plates while taking my full bike lessons then brought a DL650 which has proven to be quite the chameleon, rides well with or without luggage in urban riding, A-roads, B-roads or motorways seems happy to do all of the above. Good range and fuel consumption too which fits my needs perfectly.
welcome to yet another fellow Stromtrekker 🙂🙂cheers for watching mate, ride free 🙂
Until you are with your lady and luggage and try to overtake on an uphill… 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I’m sorry but I might be the only unhappy Vstrom owner… can’t wait to get rid of it
@@danielhristov6175 68hp is definitely borderline to being under powered for a 200kg plus bike, I just leave the wife at home and its perfect 😂 I keep looking at other bikes, then I compare them to the V-Strom and for the money I paid there are very few bikes that can match it, the Yamaha FZ6 Fazer is a step up in power and a similar bike. Hope you get the bike that fits well for you, ride safe.
@@danielhristov6175 did a 6k mile tour around Europe (7 countries across several mountain ranges with far too much luggage last year and never had an issue mate, always carry a passenger. Its probably one of the best pillion bikes ive ever owned and ive had a few 🙂
I started watching your channel today - 1st time. Love the content and reviews. I agree with your list and I have settled on a DL1000 V Strom after 6 other bikes, and my daughter rides a DL650. We love our bikes and the all round capabilities of the V Stroms. Thank you for your efforts and videos - much appreciated.
welcome aboard 🙂 Stromtrekkers always welcome 🙂 Cheers for watching mate, Ride Free
I currently ride a Vstrom - rode it to Alaska and back - dead reliable. Also have a ST1300 - best bike I ever owned. One you may have missed, though, is the Honda XL 600. Absolutely bombproof. I rode one of these and its offroad version for many years and it never made me walk.
I hadL at least an honoroury mention :-) Cheers for watching mate :-) enjoy the ride
Ive really enjoyed your series of videos. First class, brings back lots of memories after 55 years on Two wheels.
im glad you are enjoying them mate, cheers
Some may laugh because of the brand’s overall reputation not being so great, but the 1986 to 2003 Harley Sportsters are bulletproof bikes. Carbureted, little in the way of electronics, and rigid mounted engines. They have been known to rattle a few fasteners loose from time to time, but my 2003 model has never wanted anything more than oil and tires, and once I had to replace the starter. It’s a great bike that’s very overlooked.
That Sportster Sickness. I know what its like i run an FXDX mate :-) :-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
42 000 km on mine without a hitch before it got stolen…
@@pateris enjoy it mate
@@barebonesmc Now I have a Triumph Street Twin, which is basically a Harley, just better ! 😁
@@tieredlabsllc5728 :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
Kawasaki GT550/750 and air cooled BMW boxers go on forever.....Honda CX500 and Yamaha XJ 900, all good proven tough machines.
the old air heads do go Pretty damn well, cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
Kwacker gt750 was worst bike ever owned bought it for shaft, so slow for 750
Courier bikes
@@keithrobinson686 is that Ketch? and yes, the VT500, CX 500 and a few others earned their stripes in the world of couriers :-) Cheers for watching mate 🙂 enjoy the ride
Yam XJ, absolutely. I've had three of them over the years and they are just indestructible!
Your channel is great..the passion expressed through your tone, and shake down of the models..fires me up..and ignites my soul just like the first time I threw a leg over my first mc at 12 years old..Thank You
thanks mate, if i can do that then im a happy man, as always enjoy the ride my friend 🙂 cheers for watching and have a great week
So many bikes have graced the stall. Started with a CL70. Then a yamaha 100 enduro 2 stroke. Graduated to a CB350 Four, then 550 Four, then 750 Supersport and then the venerable goldwing 1000 and 1100. Took a hiatus and raised a family. Re entered with a GL1500 valkyrie in 1998. Had several of those, including the interstate bagger fairing model. Also owned an Aero 1100 for a moment and have now owned the VL1500 suzuki and C90 x 2. 3 Vstoms all in 1000 mode. Have had 2 GL1800 wings. Now I'm back to the Vstrom 1000 2012 model and C90 2006 model. To say that I've been blessed is an understatement! The St1300 still calls to me, and we'll see if I answer it. But at 62 yo, I have to be more frugal now in life. "Heavenly Father, thank you for the experiences that you have afforded me on 2 wheels. Stay safe, everyone, in these crazy times. From Texas with a hat tip.
Texf6s
Amen brother 🙂 cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
Amen. God is great.😎
It seems that you don't keep motorcycles long enough to learn if they are reliable. I'm about the same way. Many of my machines have been kept about eight-thousand miles. One was traded because it was proving to be poorly made (SSR Razkull 125). A Honda XL250S was sold because I mostly used a car in 1983. The other sales were because it was time to move to something different; until I moved to snow country. I sold a 250 cc Honda Reflex because I wasn't using it six months of the year and didn't have a garage.
Now I own a 125 cc KYMCO Agility scooter and want to sell it to get a motorcycle with larger diameter wheels, just to not die if I hit a deep pot hole here in the Dallas Texas area. The scooter has only 4300 miles and still runs well. No more cars for me. They're too expensive.
Good list there , just got myself a triump tiger in boxes ready to restore that will keep me busy this winter , have a great day out there and stay safe .
you too mate, a good project :-) cheers for watching :-) ride free
Honda CX500 - bike of choice in my courier days - '80 to '86.. Never a single problem, day in, day out reliability, as near to bulletproof as you can get. I'd love to see a modern version (maybe the new Moto Guzzi Mandello?).
I think the V7 is a closer match. Cheers for watching mate. Ride free
The cx500 cafe by the aussie, steve foster looks like a goose too. Great bikes.
@@robcampbell3235 ill have a search 🙂
I agree cx500 is a awesome bike u. I have a cx500 custum and a cx 500 E (Eurosport)
I agree! I have owned 2 -DL 650s and 4-KLR 650s and 1-DR 650. 👍🏻🙏🏻😀
I had a DR600 and a KLR600 th-cam.com/video/W7Sw0_Ib5ho/w-d-xo.html and i cant imagine not having my Vstrom now 🙂 great bikes 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
Another wonderful film! Keep them coming, my coffee breaks will never be the same again since I found you and your films👍😎
Welcome aboard mate, the next one will be a long coffee break lol, youll have to start making excuses for why your late back lol enjoy the ride and cheers for the support
I was very surprised not to see the Honda CX500 not on the list, the despatch rider bike of the 90's
:-)It was indeed. and yes it probably should have had an honourary mention. Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
Now I'm an old git, I look back in fondness at the simplicity of older bikes with carb's and lock nut and screw adjustable tappets. Great video.
What is it with old bike riding gits named Jones ? I’m 70 this year and facing cataract surgery next year - fingers crossed it works out and I can get back in the saddle.
@@jonesmike53 Hope you get there.
apparently the NC700/750 has proper tappet adjusters and i never even realised lol :-) Cheers for watching , and enjoy the ride :-)
I grew up on dirt bikes and didn't ride again until I was 45. Got a new DR650, customized it and never looked back. 10,000 miles later and I have no wish to get anything else. It does it all, and it's rock solid. I love my bush pig!
great bikes. I had a DR600, it was a love hate relationship with kick start only lol 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
A very comprehensive & accurate list - many of these bikes were despatched to within an inch of their lives, so they went forever without proper maintenance! A friend had a CD175 years ago, he called it 'the dum-di-dum', as it was so boring to ride. It never let him down though, whatever the weather!
lol , even the later 185 and 200 were good but the original 175 was the king of indestructible :-)
The only thing that convinced me to sell my 2009 KLR 650 to my buddy who always wanted it was the 2022 KLR 650 Adventure. Now we're both happy!
happy days :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
A Cub 90 was our "family car" in South America. Mom, Dad, sister, and little me ventured all over the place on that machine in the 70s. I started riding on the Cub 70 (owned by Dad) at age 14, beat that thing like a rented mule (Dad never knew that part), and it was invincible. I then bought my first bike at 16 - a Honda CG125. Sold the CG way too soon (we're all entitled to youthful mistakes, no?), and later in life owned the KLR650 for several years. Now I have an older V-Strom 650 that I absolutely love. I figure being 4 for 10 on this list is probably not too shabby. Thank you for a great video!
Great story 🙂Cheers for adding your bit mate. Ride Free 🙂
Very interesting video. I have ridden a lot of different bikes over my 82 years of riding. My 99 Harley Softail Custom only has 65,000 miles on it, but it has never let me down. It is about as low of maintenance as my 1968 Honda 165 scrambler was. I started riding on a friends Whizzer motor bike when I was 8. Bought my first Harley, a 1942 Flat Head when I was 14. Lots of different bikes in between.
Cheers for watching mate. enjoy the ride, Ride Free 🙂
🙏😎
I had A DR-650 and a KLR-650. I prefer the DR. Lighter, and runs up to 100mph easier. The KLR was twitchy above 70mph on dirt and the DR was rock solid stable. The DR with a bigger tank and different seat would be my pick to go around the world.
:-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
Talk about blast from.the past. Great video mate. A lot of these also featured on my list.
Cheers mate :-) Thanks for watching , ride free :-)
I'm still learning to ride and plan on getting my license before September ends, but I already bought my first bike. Her name is Nina and she's a 1995 Kawasaki GPZ 500S. One of the reasons why I chose her is because there are a lot of them out there, so parts and information/instructions are easy to find. I wasn't aware they were very reliable, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it on this list!
I can't wait to start riding!
they are a solid engine mate so good choice, check the exhaust studs though, but dont try and force them, give em a good soaking in duck oil ( or equivalent) and leave to soak for a day or 2, then often the best way is to tighten them a fraction to free the threads, just a fraction to crack them, then they should come out ok, dont ask me why but it seems like the threads are less likely to strip if you tighten them first rather than just trying to undo them. Maybe one of the better informed subscribers can explain why that seems to work 🙂 welcome mate, and enjoy the ride when your licence comes 🙂
Thank you for such an in-depth and down to earth video 👍👍👍 I know it's unpopular but my Honda NX650 "Dominator" (Honda's answer to the KLR650) has served me for more than 30 years without any major repairs. Jobs like new clutch, valve clearances, plug, re-jetting the carb (I moved up a mountain 🤪), recently putting on a bigger tank etc. are all easily done in an afternoon or less. We've grown old together and yes, it's a tractor, but I will never change it 🙂 p.s. check out the early "Marc travels" videos for an example (except mine is black).
A solid dependable old donkey of a bike. Cheers for watching mate, 🙂ride free
I had two and if they were still available new I would buy another. Great bikes.
Well Mister Barebones, I'm impressed and feel in great company now! You've just mentioned most of my bikes, as I started with a reliable '81 XR100, then '74 CD175, to '79 XS400, '87 XL600V (x2), '85 GS1100GK, '91 XTZ750, then '05 DL1000! I still ride the last 2, because as you said, these gems are so reliable : )
nice, i do love the original Super Tenere too 🙂 all the Genesis engines were stunning 🙂 cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
The DL 1000 is also extremely nimble for a big bike…
Another first-rate video! Keep up the great work, mate! Long may you run and as always: Ride Free!
glad it jogged some good memories mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
Nice list . I’ve been a rider for 50+ years and have owned most of these and actually still do . Today my favorite is the Honda VFR -800 I’ve had two and just love them . As you say not the easiest to work on but man is it fun to ride . Thanks for sharing.
Cheers for watching mate,The VFR is a good old girl :-) Ride Free
Great video. I had a KLR and a DR 650. I preferred the Suzuki because it’s quite a bit lighter and seem like it had more power, but both are great bikes.
depending on the year, the KLR got a lot heavier as the years went by, :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free :-)
I rode a Honda XL250 for several years - one of my biggest regrets is "trading-up" - ultra reliable, cheap to run, easy to maintain. Seriously, I would trade my fuel injected, ABS, ride mode selectable, full digital instrumentation etc, etc bike for an old XL250 any day.
Cheers for watching mate. Ride free
My first bike was the original Honda Monkey Mini trail. I sold it after 4 fun years and bought a Honda XL100. I had a field job then and my Honda saved me a lot of gas and maintenance money while traveling around the city and nearby provinces for 9 trouble free years.
You are so right when you note that "complicated electronics" is the achilles heal of modern bikes (vehicles). I would include the Kawasaki Verseys 650 in the list I think. Older non electronically flawed BMWs ought to be there too in a sense - but they have a dirty little secret BMW die hards seem to refuse to even speak of - they occasionally strip the shaft drive spline. I know from personal bitter experience.
The Versys does come in with the GPZ family 🙂cheers for watching mate, ride free 🙂
I started riding on a Suzuki GS500E, an air cooled twin that made about 40 hp, but handled quite well and was a blast to ride. Changing the oil, lubing the chain and filling the gas was all it took. Ditto for my Suzuki Bandit 600. These motors can go forever, with little more than oil changes for maintenance.
great bikes. the 500E is the equivalent of the CB500 in many ways. the Bandit's are great bikes too 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
TDM900 is a fantastic bike, I got mine at 30000 miles, rode it to 62k and sold it to get a Super Tenere, looked up the reg the other day and was pleased to see its now on 83k and has a valid MOT. Super capable and comfy machine, I loved it.
you have to love those Genesis engines 🙂 cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
The four cylinder Yamaha 5 valve engines are all super reliable, as well, bulletproof. Yamahas build quality from the 80s early 90s is a bit iffy, but the engineering is awesome. Yes it is a time consuming job checking and setting the shims, but the intervals are long. 42,000 km (28,000 mls) was unheard of in 85 when the FZ750 came out, so much so that journalists didn't believe it possible, they also went on about the five valve head being a gimmick and had to eat their words once they rode the bike.
@@uhtred7860 having 2 EXUPs I am bound to agree lol. but yes, the Genesis engines were fantastic, if a little oil hungry at times 🙂 Cheers for watching mate 🙂 Ride Free
I'm under the impression that the 850 (4TX) marginally beats it for longevity, primarily because it's slightly less electronic (carbs). I'd still have one though!
Them super tenere 1200 are the mutts but the valve job doing shims looks like a nightmare otherwise they're amazing tourers very similar to the 750 tenere and TDM motors. They look so well built and just don't go wrong and 150000 isn't a lot on them. Shaft drive too. I wonder if those Tiger 1200 shaft drive triumphs are really good. Some are less than 5K secondhand and seem like a good machine but I imagine things like brake rotors and the servicing of the rear shock linkage must be not easy. Do they seize up like on the old speed triples. They MUST be greased religiously at the 12000 service and shims would need checking too but what a lovely machine those speed triples were. I had a 1996 Daytona and I loved it but with no centre stand getting rear wheel out etc would mean getting a paddock Stand. Too much plastic fairings to get off which I hate after having vfr750 and 800s. They ate voltage reg rec for breakfast, one packed up at 12k the other at 15k and the next at 19k so I fitted a electrex MOSFET one which solved the problem but they're double the price of Honda ones but it's the best upgrade ever. It has been amazing since
Love the video, great details and content! Oh and do your videos the way you like to make them. Forget other people, let em adjust!
:-) cheers for watching mate,and thanks for the feedback , ride free
Great video! Brought back some incredible memories. Thanks
glad you enjoyed it mate :-) Cheers for watching
For those who like V-Twins & Cruisers , I'll throw in the 600 - 1100cc Honda Shadows & VTX1300 which are enjoyable to own , FUN to Ride & easy to perform DYI maintenance on . Add the brawnier VTX 1800 BIG V-TWIN HONDA CRUISERS to the list too !
Cheers for watching mate 🙂enjoy the ride
Totally agree about the honda vfr. I had the 5th gen, totally reliable however a knightmare to work on. My favorite is my honda cbr900rrx. So easy to work on, loads of space to get your hands inbetween the wide frame and engine. Doesnt even have a fuel pump to worry about....love it.
:-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
Man... What a great review and so well delivered...
thanks mate and gad you enjoyed it :-) Cheers for watching, ride free
I had a Honda 400 hawk that sat in a barn for years, gave it to a friend, we put some gas in the carb, and it fired up like it had never stopped.
great bikes 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
My garage is getting renamed "The Last of Us". Late 2021 DL650 V twin..now replaced in by an inline twin.
CBR900RR 954, last of the Tadeo Baba designed 'blades.
Totally agree with your list. I guess good engineering, like wine, takes time to mature and be appreciated 😊
mine is full of first gen's lol, a series 1 Vstrom a series 1 EXUP first fuel injected 955i Daytona, aprilia Pegaso Cube ..... lol we just need everyone else to fill the middle of the lists :-)
CB 919 of early 2000's was one of my favorite overall bikes. Very reliable, never had to do anything but regular maintenance.
great bikes 🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
I learnt to ride on a CG. Great bike.
Currently riding an FJR13. Another very reliable bike that keeps on going😁
nice :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
Great video!
Brought back some memories from the 70s. Loved the the CD175. My brother had one for a number of years and I gave it a good work out now and then.
I had a CL175 for a while before getting an XL350, then CB500, then a GS750 (plus some other off road bikes of the day).
Good times👍
Now a GSF1250SA. Love it too..
The Bandits could well have been in there :-) Cheers for watching mate. Ride free
@@barebonesmc Cheers! Keep up the good work..
An awesome video. Thank you. After 40+ years of riding, I’ve either owned or at least ridden all bikes on this list. The old and new big thumpers will just keep going if the tractor life is what you’re after. The VFR-750 from the 90’s was a stand out for me. If you haven’t already put together a list of bikes from the 90’s till today or each decade, then this would be of great interest. Great work, recently subscribed. 👍😎🇦🇺
after doing this i did think i could have done it per decade, so it might be something i consider in future :-) :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
I have a dl 1000 v strom with 176000+ miles onit now...😮.....bought it on 21000 in 2007👍
@@evssv Thats a lot of riding 🙂 You have to love the Vstrom 🙂cheers for watching mate, ride free 🙂
@barebonesmc thks..bought it in 2007....short vid below
@@barebonesmc th-cam.com/users/shortsvIt23vZhYvc?feature=share
Suzuki DRz 650's little brother the DRz 400 is a magnificent bike too.
The DRz 400-650 people put extra capacity Acerbis fuel tanks on them & rear rack to take anyway without the weight of a Adv.Really popular in NZ 🇳🇿 for Adv adventures.
i know people luv em, i prefer the older design of the 650 to be fair despite its extra weight. i guess im a bit of a luddite lol, Cheers for watching mate 🙂enjoy the ride
The DRZ400 has a few short comings but are cheaply and easily addressed like the Cam Chain Tensioner, and Counter Shaft Sprocket, I took one to over 40,000miles and then got another but didn't keep it nearly as long.
@@OldBeaterGarage they are good bikes. just that personally i prefererred the DR650, have a good day mate
Pity the DR650 gear box blows up . . .
@@waynepantry7023 plenty of people swear by them mate and id prefer it to many, :-) Cheers for watching , ride free
I’m 99% positive that final CD175 was One my father owned about 40 years ago in South Wales. He used to take the baffles out and loved to run it to its max. He replaced everything but those bakerlight brittle side panels. Thanks for the memory
:-) Cheers for watching mate and thanks for the comment, enjoy your weekend
Great memories of most of the bike in your blog. Very good +++
cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching, Ride Free 🙂
I've an 06 V Strom 650, 89k on it and it runs the same as when it was new. Incredible bike, happy on a B road or a Motorway.
the Wee Strom always raises a smile 🙂
My first bike was a 1972 gold tank Honda CB250. Perfect first road bike, she taught me a lot about maintenance (previous owner had never cleaned out the centrifugal oil filter). You are so right about paying attention to regular oil changes.
Not long after buying the CB, I learned that the XL250 was a better choice and for fun I bought a decrepit one used on a farm. It had been bored out to 320 cc and used more oil than petrol. I can’t remember what happened to it. Hopefully somebody stole it and got what they deserved.
The best bike - curiously missing from your ultra reliable bike list was my BMW R75/6. I did over 200,000 km and it never let me down. I did all my own maintenance. Genuine spare parts were frighteningly expensive though. I stupidly traded it in on the first R100RS. Awesome when in perfect tune, lumpy when not great full fairing for a solo rider but a bastard for buffeting the pillion to death.
Then I went through my crazy period and bought a new 1981 Ducati 500SL Pantah. I still have her. Running and registered on historic plates - like me 😅
i have been well and truly told re the old air heads :-) Cheers for watching, and enjoy the ride :-)
An old boy I used to ride with has a 98 Fireblade with over 200,000 miles and still going strong
great bikes they will find their place in time 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
Thank you for this interesting and informative video clip. I used to ride Triumph Tiger Cub, Honda C90, Honda CG125, Yamaha RD250 in the '70s and early 80s. Now, in my 70s, I currently ride CSC RX3 Adventure which is actually Zongshen RX3 250cc motorcycle. In my view, it is also an excellent bike.
Thanks for sharing! Not a bike i know well enough to comment :-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
Great list, and as much as I love my DL650 I have to admit the Honda club is the perfect doomsday machine. 👍
i think thats one nobody can argue with :-) cheers for watching mate :-) ride free
Only the older ones. The new Super Cub has an electronic key. I doubt it will last ten years. The replacement cost for the plastic rear fender in the USA is $400. Get the Trail 125 over the Super Cub.
Great video! ive owned most of these bikes in my 62 years, 48 of them on 2 wheels. My all time favorite bike tho would be the 76 DT175 which I owned in the 80s on Ascension island. Im currently riding a 2008 XT250, 1975 BMW R75/6, 83 XL650R (when I can kick her) and a 76 TT500.
Great video! What bike exactly are you driving in the intro? The sound is spectacular!
Its a TDM, 850, but not me on that one lol, im not even that quick round a track 🙂 He is a very quick rider who knows the roads and his bike very well. balls of steel I would say lol
Clear and concise. Top banana. I'm doing my own test of my self maintained Husky 701 which I had brand new nearly six years ago. So far, so good.
great bikes and good luck to you🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
Absolutely adore my CG125, it's just taken me from Conwy to Ullapool via skye and Applecross 6 days non stop all on less than 140 quid in fuel ⛽ 😅
respect mate :-) cheers for watching , ride free
1970 Honda Trail 90, with a Rocky 110 bore. Went every where any day with minimal maintenance. Easy to muscle around/lift when necessary. Best adventure bike ever.
i dont think the gorgeous one would like sitting on the back though 🙂🙂 Cheers for watching mate, Ride Free 🙂
Keep doing it your way mate! It's great 👍
glad you enjoyed it 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
A fun to watch, honest video. Thanks make some more.
glad you enjoyed it 🙂Cheers for watching mate, ride free
My CG125 is a bike I still miss.
It wasn't quick, wasn't comfortable for long rides. However the flat rear seat meant the luggage capacity was huge.
It was easy to bump start, didn't need to get above a moderate walk. Also I miss how infrequently I had to put fuel in it.
The only downside to a gpz500 is that the carbs are a pig to get at and that you need to be careful with the lugs when removing panels. If you buy one I'd suggest a stainless exhaust, give the wires a refresh (had my ignition wires start failing and had the bike cut out and bump start at 70mph. Not pleasant) drain the tank and clean your fuel system. Then enjoy!
all good advice, those exhaust bolts were made from cheese im sure lol 🙂cheers for watching mate, ride free 🙂
@@barebonesmc I was lucky that someone had replaced the exhaust bolts at some point and cut out the exhaust collector pipe (I'm sure it's hidden by the bellypan just to sit in damp until the day it rots through).
I'm not sure what the next bike will be. Nothing has really been the bargain I look for.
Fantastic video thanks for making it. Being a 65 year old bike rider and enthusiast, l remember all these wonder bikes.
I'm not a fan of modern technology on bikes that loke like jet ski's, keep it simple, affordable and customisable 😊
Glad you enjoyed it! cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
And easy to maintain.
Enjoyed this video. Thank you. Honda CD175 👍. Proper mudguards that protect bike and rider. Ace.
Glad you enjoyed it and yep, the enclosed chainguard too :-) :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
Great vid thanks for sharing! Any honda xr can be on this list, especially the 200. And as a klr owner i was happy to see it there. Cheers!
i still remember a mates XL185 which was a breat old thing :-) the XR is just better i guess in many ways
I once again have 2 on your list. The KLR and DL650s. Love them both. The KLR is like a tractor.
Yes they are! but a good old tractor :-) cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
@@barebonesmc
You were looking for suggestions for videos. How about timeless classics? Hint: you still haven't covered my 1971 CB350 twin or 1977 KZ1000A...
@@upsidedowndog1256 hmmmmm, sounds like a possibility 🙂 i do love the CB350, had a CJ360 at one point that i mad maxxed lol the real classic has to be the 350 four though, that engine was an amazing testament to Honda, i'm sure they will fit in at some point🙂 been contemplating a Zed family video, partly because a mate knows everything there is to know about the big uns. My experience is more with the Z650 and the 750 twin. but even the little Z400 was a great little bike, cheers for watching mate
Whilst I generally agree with you on the Honda XL650, it does have one serious issue. Lots of them get scrapped purely because the Gbox output shaft strips. It can be prevented by a 'super pinion' front sprocket.
not an issue i knew about, was that all years or just at the start? if all years does it affect the Deauville, NTV and other engines too? 🙂 cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
Thank you for all The good an informativ videos🙏🙏
Have you ever thought of making a video about the Honda Africa twin? I definitely would appreciate it as
I have a 1996 RD07 that I enjoy very much
great bikes 🙂 they will find their place . Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
Great video,some of these bikes I've actually ridden,always as work horses,to keep the 'good' bikes clean .The CG125 and my current machine, the Kawasaki ER6, are super reliable.
:-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
I like the Yamaha 360 Enduro of 1972. Mine was all the Bike I needed. I called it my 2 wheel 2 cycle tractor.
:-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
Totally agree about the small capacity Hondas. I like the later Moto Guzzi 1100 Californias. Marmite styling but a doddle to run every day. Had a few and they never let me down.
they have their fans 🙂 Cheers for watching mate, Ride Free 🙂
it was a pleasant surprise to see the good ole St1300 get an honorable mention. i sure do love mine and look forward to many many years of trouble free riding
The ST1100 is even stronger and more reliable.
both of em damn good bikes 🙂
Really I never had problems with the zzr 1100 (except breaks 😂) as long as you kept the oil level correct. I love them.
me too 🙂 Cheers for watching mate, ride free
I have ridden Yamaha FZR600 and FZR600R for many years and have had great service from them.
The 98 to 03 Fazer 600 has basically the same engine, but more accessible to maintain.
The old FJ1200 is another bomb proof Yamaha that goes on forever, although it is a bit thirsty compared to the economical FZR600.
the gen 1 FJ1200 is a lovely bike, love the rear end design on that one lol Cheers for watching 🙂 enjoy the ride
I had a 87 Fazer. Most sophisticated bike I ever owned.
@@samfeldman1508 for us that was the FZX 750, again that Genesis engine is a peach 🙂
A good list there, I’d like to add a vote in for the Honda NTV650 Revere, they are shaft drive so no chain maintenance, all the service items are easy to get at and work on and they are capable of high miles many on the road still with over a 100, 000 miles on the clock, I have one myself 28 yrs old and 92000 on the clock, one of the best bikes I’ve owned.
a very underrated bike, i had a shadow 600vlx that had the same engine block, they tune really well too :-)
@@barebonesmc Yes, pretty underrated, you mentioned the TDM900 another underrated bike, I had one before the NTV and all in all it was a very reliable bike, not quite as easy as the NTV to work on and I found it a tad too tall and too top heavy but a powerful and nippy bike nonetheless, so yes it deserves that place on the list.
Excellent stuff. Enjoyed that. Thank you. 👍🤜
glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 Theres plenty more on the channel and the website, let me know what you think. hope youll climb aboard. Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
Great job. You do know your motorcycles. My first was a 1973 CB 175 twin with 2 carbs. After 50 years riding,, bought a 2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Fireball. Mmmm back to the days. 😎
Cheers for watching mate, ride free 🙂
There is a good number of BMW R80, R90 and so on who would take issue with your list!! However I enjoyed this video immensely for your most practical approach to the subject. I agree with all of them. I have a 1984 Honda VF750S which is still so beautiful but I absolutely hate working on it.
they already have lol, and the K series owners :-) Im not as up on the BMW's to be fair but the air heads probably should have got a mention 🙂 cheers for watching mate, enjoy the ride
I'd have to add 1970's Air-cooled 2-Strokes to any " last days" motorcycle collection. I'm especially fond of every Yamaha from the DT1 thru the DT 400. The way the "power band" kicks in , It's a hoot & extremely exciting ! Even the little 80 & 100 cc models are fun to ride. They seem to still be relevant , as I do see them cruising around more frequently & of lately they're fetching top $ on the auction market in pristine reconditioned condition.
indeed, prices are getting silly now, they were great bikes though, Cheers for watching mate 🙂enjoy the ride
The DTs will self destruct if you rerv them too high; my DT350 needed rebuilt at 25K miles.
@@tdgdbs1 It's a two stroke, 25k miles is rather good, rebuilds are quite easy and cheap. A 4 stroke making the same horsepower per cc, needs rebuilt just as often, but it generally costs 5x as much.
I had a DT400 and my first bike was an RT360, the RT had a decompression lever for starting and if you didn't get it right you could end up with a leg injury:-)
@@tonyjourneyman1944 my old DR 600 tried that trick a few times lol :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free 🙂
amazing video really, love from Egypt...also subscribed
Hi Ahmed, thanks for the support and glad you enjoyed it 🙂 there is more to come 🙂 salam alaikum
Another great video, thank you.
glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂
What a pleasure to see a TDM being enjoyed with a bit of enthusiasm. Definitely fly under the radar and startle a few sprot bike riders in the twisties. Love mine!
always the sleeper :-) Cheers for watching mate, ride free
Hi, what about Yamaha XTZ 750 S10, might be reliable engine similarly as TDM 850?
Good list, 100% agree with the cub, and I would add it's relative the ct110 postie bike. No list is complete without the Suzuki GS500 however. Simple air cooled twin cylinder, carbs, low stressed engine. A more obscure entry would be the Yamaha Scorpio 225. Any bike that sells in large numbers in Asia is probably reliable and repairable. 👍🇦🇺
true words mate :-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)
I must admit to being a Honda fan back in the 80's. Two very reliable bikes I had were an XL250RC and an XR200RD. The XR was designed to do an oil change with the engine running but had a very limited warranty; it was only covered for races up to 72 hours duration. Such a light and nimble machine that competed with the 2-smokes of the time. Really enjoyed them both. To be honest the XR, being light and tall, only had a front wheel so you had 3 points to park on when you kicked the stand out and parked it.
🙂Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂
I always come back to Honda eventually. Escaping NYC/ North Jersey on the weekends on my 81 Kawi 750 LTD, made for a long cold ride back from Upstate NY on Sunday nights in November. A low mileage 75 Honda GL1000 Goldwing with aftermarket Full Fairing Hard Bags and a Big Comfortable Seat solved All My Problems! After 5 weeks building Woodstock 94, I started craving something 'Sporty". I was looking for a Honda VF500f Interceptor for the back roads of the Catskill Mountains, couldn:t find one
My Lady remembered mentioning"Interceptor" and spotted one in the Albany paper. I borrowed a trailer and put some "Woodstock Cash" in my pocket and found what turned out to be an 84 Honda VF1000f Interceptor. It needed a little love, triple tree bearings and a new set of Bridgestone BattleAxe tires, but for $950, I had reliable, comfortable and to me, a Very Fast Sport Touring Machine that served me well for 16 years.The next Honda to come my way was found by My Mom! at a Yard Sale. Parked in a field for 15 years a 73 Honda CB200t caught my Mom's eye! $25 later she took the motorcycle and a Clean Title home! She stuck it in the garage and showed it to me the next time I stopped by. Drained the tank, popped in a new battery, pushed the starter button and it Immediately Started! I don't mean it turned over a few times and sputtered to life. One Revolution and it Started and held a Smooth Idle!!! 8 will say, that it wouldn't accelerate, the high speed jets needed cleaning. I shut it off and forgot about it until my friend Don saw it and Fell in Love with it! He kept asking what I wanted for it. I signed it over and told him" Just give it back when you are done with it! He commuted to his job at the VA Hospital on it , rain or shine for 2 years! When we made our Annual Run to Laconia in New Hampshire and camped at the track,he made the trip on the 200! One of the Manufacturers had a Dyno that the public could get a read out on their bikes for $20. The CB 200t made 14hp at the rear wheel! The crowd cheered louder for the little 200 than for all the monster Ninjas, Gsxr's , Hayabusa etc!
The CB200 was a cheeky little bike :-) Cheers for watching mate, and enjoy the ride :-)