Honda Cb300r

"The smartest used beginner bike money can reliably buy."

The CB300R is Honda doing what Honda does best — building something boringly reliable that you'll never actually get bored of. It's a neo-retro naked that looks genuinely premium, with that trellis frame and minimal bodywork aging better than most bikes in this class. The liquid-cooled 286cc single pulls cleanly through the rev range, nothing dramatic, but it's rev-happy enough to keep you entertained on backroads without getting you into serious trouble on the highway. Used examples hold up remarkably well. Check for crash damage on the bar ends and frame sliders — these are popular learner bikes and they do get dropped. The suspension is soft by any objective measure, and taller riders above 6-foot will find the ergonomics cramped after an hour. Parts availability is excellent being Honda, and service intervals are straightforward. Expect 50-60mpg real-world, which softens the blow of the limited tank range.