Bikes are emotional things. You want one because it looks good, goes like stink, and can get you to places that a car would only dream of going. However, most of the world that uses bikes does so because they are cheap, practical, and do a lot more than you would imagine they would. The same is reflected in some motorcycles in developed markets like ours as well, whether cruisers, adventure bikes, or street bikes. The main goal of the motorcycle is reliability – “to finish first, first you must finish." And everything follows that. Some of these models have grown into reliable models through continuous development over years and decades. What isn’t in doubt is that these are ten bulletproof bikes known for legendary reliability.To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources such as Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Honda Powersports, and Suzuki Cycles. Yamaha V-Star 250 Price: $4,799 Yamaha MotorsportsThe V-Star 250 has been around for a long time, and it has not changed in all that time. It is a simple V-twin motorcycle with carburetion, 2 valves per cylinder, and air cooling. There isn’t anything on the V-Star 250 to begin with, so there is nothing that will go wrong! It is unique in that, for the price, you can get only one other V-twin, and it isn’t by an established manufacturer. There is no ABS, the rear brake is a drum, and you have halogen lighting. A bonus is that it is ridiculously efficient, just as much as the singles in the segment.Yamaha Motorsports Honda XR650L Price: $6,999 HondaThe XR650L is quite like the V-Star 250 in that it hasn’t changed in an extremely long time. Where it differs is that it isn’t as simple as the Yamaha. Sure, it is a thumper, and it has an air-cooled and carbureted engine, but the engine has a dry sump that increases ground clearance and prevents oil starvation. The ‘sump’ is the frame of the XR! You get a five-speed gearbox, not much that is digital other than the ignition, and legendary reliability, even by Honda’s high standards.Honda Suzuki DR-Z400S Price: $7,199 SuzukiThe DR-Z400S might seem like a really old model that hasn’t been updated for a while. You’d be right, too – it even looks the part, with all halogen lighting and an LCD instrument cluster straight out of the ‘80s. However, the frame is made out of chrome-molybdenum steel, the swingarm and bolt-on subframes are aluminum, the engine’s piston is made out of aluminum as well, and it gets an oil jet from the underside to keep it cool, just like a performance bike. There is also liquid cooling and a radiator fan on the left heat exchanger.Suzuki Kawasaki KLR650 ABS Price: $7,199 Felix Mizioznikov Via ShutterstockThe KLR650 has been around for 30 years now, and it has evolved just enough to be relevant in that time. It has always had a water-cooled thumper, but Kawasaki added fuel injection some time ago, and then ABS was added. The ABS costs $300 extra, but isn’t switchable. There are also versions of the KLR650 with a lower seat, and with luggage and touring additions like auxiliary lights as standard. What all the versions have in common is the unbreakable quality that has made the KLR a legend.Kawasaki Suzuki DR650S Price: $7,299 SuzukiThe DR650S hasn’t been updated for a long time simply because there isn’t any reason to. Like the Honda, it has a near-650 cc single that is air-cooled and carbureted. Unlike the Honda, this is a conventional engine that stores its oil in a sump at the bottom. The suspension adjustment includes compression damping adjustment at the rear, and a suspension lowering kit is available for those who find the seat too high for comfort.Suzuki Honda Shadow Aero ABS Price: $8,249 HondaThe Shadow was conceived as a competitor to Harley-Davidson products when it was originally launched, and it was measurably better. Today, that translates to an old-school motorcycle that nevertheless has contemporary features like liquid cooling and fuel injection. The Shadow has a unique 3 valve per cylinder layout, a five-speed transmission, and final shaft drive. Instrumentation is all analog, and lighting is made up of halogen bulbs. This one has enough performance to put a smile on your face, and the reliability and ownership costs to widen that smile.Honda Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic Price: $9,399 KawasakiThe Vulcan 900 is Kawasaki’s effort to take on Harley-Davidson, and it does much of the same as the Phantom with a few crucial differences. It opts for a 4 valve head, the final drive is via a belt, and ABS isn’t available even as an option. The rest is much the same – a liquid-cooled V-twin with an SOHC head and a five-speed wide-ratio gearbox. You can have it in one of three flavors; the first is the lovely retro-looking Vulcan 900 Classic, complete with spoke rims and whitewall tires.The second is the Vulcan 900 Custom with a drag bike aesthetic that adds blacked-out everything, alloy wheels with a 21-inch front rim, and drag bike ‘bars. And the third is the Vulcan 900 LT tourer, which adds luggage and a windshield for better highway comfort.Kawasaki Suzuki Boulevard M109R Price: $15,799 SuzukiThe Boulevard M109R was launched a quarter of a century ago, and in the intervening years, it has had zero mechanical changes. That speaks volumes about its longevity and reliability. However, everything else about it feels like it’s the opposite: it is the most powerful Japanese cruiser on sale even today. It had some of the largest pistons in the automotive world, and the motorcycle world’s widest rear tire, when it was launched. Meanwhile, the front suspension and brakes come from a liter sport bike! Suzuki Harley-Davidson Street Bob Price: $15,999 Harley-DavidsonThe Street Bob, true to its name, throws away anything that isn’t required. Therefore, its engine doesn’t have any extra weight to push around. Harley has also been consolidating its powertrains, so the Milwaukee-Eight 117 is the sole engine across the Softail Series. It is present in its simplest air-cooled form in the Street Bob, and the mildest state of tune. The Street Bob is therefore one of the most reliable Harleys you can get today. As a bonus, you get tubeless spoke wheel rims, Showa dual-bending valve front forks, cruise control, and all-LED lighting.Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson Road King Special Price: $24,999 Harley-DavidsonThe Road King Special, like the Street Bob, sits at the entry to its series of Harley products. In the Road King’s case, it is the touring motorcycle range. This is the last two-wheeled Harley that uses the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, and it is the middle-of-the-road one with the oil-cooled heads. It generates a decent 95 horsepower and 122 pound-feet, with the torque figure coming in at under 3,000 RPM. This is one understressed engine, which bodes well for longevity!Harley-Davidson