YZ85 - $4,999 NewNow, though the YZ85 is pushing the limits of our $5,000 budget, it is definitely worth every single cent you spend on it. It is the cross-country/ motocross bike to have, and will never, ever let you down. It is a rather small bike, and only has an 85cc, reed-valve two-stroke engine with only one cylinder — but that doesn't really matter because the entire thing weighs only 161 pounds, including all fluids and a full tank of gas. On top of that, a lot of technology from the larger YZ and MX motorbikes from Yamaha trickles down to the YZ85, such as the inverted upside down front fork, dual front and rear disc brakes at 220 and 190 millimeters respectively, aluminum swing arms, monocross rear suspension with 282 millimeters of travel, and a semi-double cradle chassis. The suspension needs to be talked about a bit more, as you get nearly a foot of travel at both ends — 10.8 inches at the front and 11.1 inches at the rear. On top of that, both the front and the rear suspension units are race-ready pieces from KYB that are fully adjustable. Other notable features are the 17-inch front wheel and 14-inch rear wheel that bias the bike towards the rear to keep it upright while in the air, a liquid-cooled radiator system, and the MX3S tires from Dunlop that work in any environment. For $4,999 there really isn't a better motocross bike — period.V-Star 1300 - $4,500 UsedOne category that has so far been left off this list is the touring motorcycle range — and of course Yamaha offers several options. In fact, this next motorcycle is basically a souped up V-star 250 from earlier, but with everything turned up to 11. If you want the Harley super touring experience without splashing Harley cash, then the V-star 1300 is for you, and can be had for about $4,500 on the used market. It was unveiled in 2007, and manufactured from 2009 to 2017, so expect a wide delta in prices, depending on year and condition. It was powered by an absolutely colossal 1,304cc, single overhead cam, four stroke, V-twin engine that was angled at 60 degrees and made 82 lb-ft of torque and 70 horsepower. This beast of an engine was paired to a five-speed wet multiplate clutch transmission with belt drive, and the frame was a double cradle made wholly of steel. All of this meant that the V-Star 1300 weighed a whopping 668 pounds, though once you got up to speed it practically floated down the highway. A true rider's bike, recommended only for experienced bikers who know how to handle something so massive.Side note: if you'd like to customize your bike within the $5,000 budget, you can look around for V-star 950s which are slightly cheaper, albeit not by much.Road Star - $4,000 to $5,000 UsedThe Road Star is a long-distance bike from the touring category that Yamaha made from 1999 through 2014. The last model year that was sold was the 2014s, which would have run you about $15,590 when new. Today, you can pick up great-condition examples on the higher side of your budget, though don't expect to spend much less than $4,000 for even mediocre ones. If you do decide to shop for one of these beauties, try and get one from after 2004, as there'd been a major overhaul that year — though all models are amazing.From 1999 to 2004, power came from a 1,602cc V-twin that pushed out 99 lb-ft and 63 horsepower; and in 2004 a major upgrade was announced with tubeless tires, styling upgrades, and a bigger displacement 1,670cc engine, still V-twin, this time making 20% more horsepower at 75 horsepower, but less torque at 83 lb-ft. All models had the classic pull-back handlebars, and later models got an adjustable windscreen. In addition, models made after 2008 got a much-upgraded fuel injection system that had lower emissions, better efficiency, and faster acceleration. It didn't disappoint in the looks department either, with most models throughout the years having chrome accents, dual exhausts, and a wide variety of color schemes. Overall — this is the biggest engine you'll get for your money on our list, so you definitely can't go wrong — because bigger is always better, right?YZ65 - $2,500 to $ 3,000 - UsedThe next one is for budget-conscious dirt bike enthusiasts — the YZ-65. You can pick up a good one, used, at about $2,500 on the lower end, and though there are lots of higher-priced units, we wouldn't really advise paying much above $3,000 or $3,500 for one. Power is delivered by a 65cc reed-induction two-stroke, single-cylinder engine that is fed by a 0.9-gallon fuel tank; which is why the YZ65 is the lightest bike on our list at just 134 pounds. Just like every other Yamaha YZ, the YZ65 comes with the proprietary Yamaha power valve system (YPVS) that basically delivers consistent power and torque across all RPMs, so you don't get that "muddy" accelerator pedal that some motocross bikes have. In addition, you get a decent suite of features for the price range, including adjustable front and rear suspension units, an all-steel frame, a proven Hitachi carb, reed-valves, and a removable rear subframe, to name a few. All YZ65s have adjustable everything, from handlebars to the rear subframe and everything in between. The YZ65 still retains most of the functionality of the 85, while being quite a bit cheaper, seeing as how a new YZ85 would be $4,999.Zuma - $1,500 to $2,000 UsedTo end things off, we have a bit of an outlier, in that the Zuma may not be what we deem a "motorcycle". We recommend it if you don't plan on getting on the freeways much, and just need a city runabout that is affordable to purchase, easy to maintain, and won't give you much trouble. Although it is technically more of a scooter than a motorcycle, we still feel it deserves a place on our list, for being a unique talking point if nothing else. The engine is a 125cc, four-stroke engine that nets a very impressive 101 MPG, and draws fuel from a 1.6 gallon tank, meaning you can get 160 miles per fill-up. Adding to the practicality are other features like dual independently adjustable headlights, push-button electric starting, loads of under-seat storage, a USB charging port, hydraulic disk brakes, and suspension with 3.1 inches of travel. The Zuma also happens to be the most affordable Yamaha on our list, coming in between $1,500 and $2,000 for a unit in fair condition. That's actually quite a steal, given that a new Zuma would run you about $3,799, so definitely give it a bit of consideration.