The best motorcycle brands for you depend on what you ride and how long the factory backs it. On Searchshop, Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha list the most bikes at the lowest median prices for new ones, while Harley-Davidson and Indian ask more. Factory warranties on the street models checked run from one year to up to four years.
| Brand | New listings and median asking price | Used listings and median asking price |
|---|
| Kawasaki | 4,362 at $7,399 | 531 at $7,596 |
| Honda | 3,353 at $6,999 | 420 at $7,182 |
| Yamaha | 3,135 at $8,599 | 414 at $8,050 |
| Suzuki | 1,167 at $9,699 | 206 at $9,149 |
| Indian | 935 at $22,999 | 367 at $15,999 |
| KTM | 767 at $10,499 | 135 at $7,999 |
| Harley-Davidson | 712 at $27,349 | 1,309 at $17,991 |
| Triumph | 278 at $12,045 | 99 at $9,820 |
| Ducati | 226 at $18,795 | 106 at $12,497 |
Figures are dealer asking prices on Searchshop listings read on 12 October 2026, for listings in the motorcycle style categories (standard, sport bike, dirt bike, cruiser, touring, adventure and dual sport), with ATVs and side-by-sides filed under them removed. Medians are rounded to the nearest dollar and reflect each brand's mix of models. Browse motorcycles for sale on Searchshop.
The brands were compared on two things that can be checked: the factory warranty each maker publishes and what dealers are asking on Searchshop. The picks come from published data, not test rides, and no brand is ranked on reliability, because none of the sources used here publishes reliability figures that compare brands on the same basis.
Warranty terms were read on 12 October 2026 from each maker's US website: a warranty booklet or page where the maker publishes one, or a model specification page where the term is listed there. Listing counts and median asking prices come from two separate reads of Searchshop's motorcycle listings the same day, and both reads matched.
Factory warranties on street models range from one year to up to four years among the brands whose US terms were read for this article:
| Brand | Factory warranty | Where the term is stated |
|---|
| KTM | Up to 4 years on eligible 2025-and-newer street-legal models, applied automatically; 1 year on 2025-and-newer EXC-F models | KTM USA warranty page |
| BMW | 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first | BMW Motorcycles USA warranty page |
| Honda | 1 year for most street models; 3 years for GL, NRX and ST models; 6 months for most off-road models; no mileage limit | Honda 2027 warranty booklet |
| Indian | 2 years, unlimited miles | Indian Motorcycle help article |
| Ducati | 24 months, unlimited mileage, on road-legal bikes | Ducati USA warranty page |
| Triumph | 24 months, unlimited mileage, from first registration; shorter or no cover on TF off-road models | Triumph warranty page |
| Suzuki | 12 months, unlimited mileage | 2026 DR650S and 2027 GSX-R600 pages |
| Yamaha | 1 year limited factory warranty | 2026 MT-07 specifications |
KTM's US warranty page says the full duration depends on the specific model and excludes track-only and competition models, so ask the dealer for the term on the bike you want. Yamaha's and Suzuki's terms come from the model pages named, so check the page for your model. BMW has no listings on Searchshop, so it appears in this table only. Suzuki adds that longer coverage is available through its Suzuki Extended Protection plans.
Three of the makers say their warranty can pass to a later owner. Honda's booklet covers the first retail buyer and each subsequent owner. Indian says its warranty can be transferred through an Indian dealer during the warranty period, without extending its length. Ducati says its warranty is transferred to the new owner if the bike is sold. If you are buying a nearly new bike, ask for the original sale or registration date: Indian says a transfer does not extend the original length, and Ducati and Triumph count from registration.
Median asking prices split the brands into two groups: Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki sit between $6,999 and $9,699 for new bikes, while Indian and Harley-Davidson sit above $22,000. KTM, Triumph and Ducati fall in between.
The medians follow each brand's lineup more than its price for a like-for-like bike. Honda's most-listed new models include the CRF450R and CRF110F dirt bikes, the Rebel 300 and the Dax 125, which pulls its median down. Harley-Davidson is the only brand here with more used listings than new ones, at 1,309 used against 712 new, so it gives the widest choice for a used shopper among these nine brands.
Listing counts also show where you will find the most choice near you. Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha each have more than 3,000 new listings, against fewer than 300 for Triumph and Ducati. Compare new and used motorcycles from every brand on Searchshop.
How to check a used motorcycle's recall history
A used motorcycle's open recalls can be checked by its vehicle identification number (VIN) on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recalls page. NHTSA says its VIN lookup shows recall information provided by the manufacturer running the recall, and lists Harley-Davidson, Ducati and Yamaha among the manufacturers available. The search does not show safety recalls more than 15 years old, unless a manufacturer offers more coverage.
Run the check before you pay a deposit, and ask the seller for service records. The used motorcycle buying guide has an inspection checklist to take with you.
The better shortlist depends on your budget, how long you want factory coverage and whether you are buying new or used:
- Lowest typical asking price and the most choice: Honda, Kawasaki or Yamaha, each with more than 3,000 new listings and new medians from $6,999 to $8,599.
- The longest factory coverage: an eligible 2025-or-newer KTM street model at up to 4 years, BMW at 3 years or 36,000 miles, or a Honda GL, NRX or ST model at 3 years.
- Two years of unlimited-mileage coverage on a street bike: Indian, Ducati or Triumph.
- The widest choice of used bikes: Harley-Davidson, with 1,309 used listings, the most of any brand here.
- Off-road riding: compare Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and KTM, and check the off-road warranty, which Honda sets at 6 months for most models and Triumph limits on its TF models.
To choose a style first, read best motorcycles by type. New riders can start with the best beginner motorcycles, and Harley-Davidson shoppers with the Harley-Davidson buying guide.
Shop motorcycles on Searchshop and ask each dealer for the warranty start date and a written out-the-door price.
These answers cover the questions shoppers most often ask when choosing a motorcycle brand.
KTM offers the longest term among the brands checked here, with up to 4 years on eligible 2025-and-newer street-legal models. BMW follows at 3 years or 36,000 miles, and Honda gives 3 years on its GL, NRX and ST models. Indian, Ducati and Triumph offer 2 years with unlimited mileage, and the Yamaha and Suzuki model pages checked list 1 year.
Honda had the lowest median asking price for new motorcycles on Searchshop on 12 October 2026, at $6,999 across 3,353 listings. Kawasaki followed at $7,399 and Yamaha at $8,599. Those medians include many small bikes, so compare prices model by model before deciding a brand is cheaper.
This article does not name a most reliable brand, because none of its sources compares brands on reliability on the same basis. The signals you can check yourself are the factory warranty, the recall history of the exact bike through NHTSA's VIN lookup, and the service records a seller can show you.
Some do, depending on the maker. Honda's warranty covers each subsequent owner, Indian's can be transferred through an Indian dealer without extending its length, and Ducati's is transferred to the new owner when the bike is sold. Ask the seller for the original sale or registration date, because a transfer does not restart the coverage.
Every warranty term and listing figure in this article comes from these pages, read on 12 October 2026.
