Honda Cb500f

"The sensible used buy that won't let you down."

The CB500F is Honda's gateway drug to proper motorcycling, and that's not an insult. It's genuinely competent — smooth parallel-twin pulls cleanly from low revs, ergonomics suit a wide range of riders, and reliability is almost offensively boring in the best possible way. Used examples rarely disappoint because there's simply not much to go wrong. These bikes attract new riders who often baby them, which means you'll frequently find low-mileage examples in decent shape. That said, don't expect fireworks. The suspension is budget-spec and feels it on anything rougher than smooth tarmac — it's vague and wallowy if you're pushing. The brakes are adequate but uninspiring, and the riding position gets tiresome on long hauls. Previous owners who dropped it in a car park are common, so inspect the bar ends, exhaust and engine casings carefully. ABS models are worth the small premium on the used market.