Best sub-£10,000 motorcycles you can buy now

This year is shaping up to be the year of a new breed of budget bikes. Not only have we seen the arrival of Honda’s bargain-priced sub-£3000 GB350 retro, ‘Big H also astounded the world with its new sub-£10K CB1000 Hornet super naked.

There has also recently been a flood of a new range of highly competitive, yet very keenly priced adventure bikes from emerging Chinese brands such as Voge, Morbidelli and CF Moto.

Which got us thinking – what are the best sub-£10,000 motorcycles you can buy brand new right now?

In this top ten, we’ll be taking a look at the best bikes you can go out and buy today, in the UK for less than £10,000. We’ve tried to include a little bit of everything, from performance nakeds, to modern retros and even some mud-loving adventure machines. If you want to grab a new motorcycle for less than £10,000 in 2025, this top ten – in price ascending order – is for you!

10. CFMoto 450MT, £5699

• Engine 449cc single Power 42bhp Torque 30ft/lb 
• Weight 175kg Seat height 820-800mm Price new £5,699 
  
  Chinese brand CFMoto’s lower middleweight trail bike is a blast either on the road or off it, with a gutsy-sounding parallel twin and plush suspension that bellies the £5,699 price tag.

As explained in our CFMoto 450MT review, it’s a great option for those wanting something with better on-road manners than a low-capacity trail bike like a Honda CRF300 without ending up with a machine too heavy and expensive, and it’s not only accessible due to how much CFMoto charges for it, but also the seat height.

As standard it’s 820mm, but by adjusting a suspension linkage, it’s possible to drop that figure to just 800mm, matching the lowest-slung bikes on this list.

What we said: “There’s something to be said for saving a load of cash and a load of weight with the 450MT.”

Pros
·       Naughty-sounding engine

·       Plush suspension

·       Cracking price

Cons
·      Jerky throttle

·      Annoying high beam switch

·      Cheap tyres

You may also like to read our CFMoto 450 MT review.

9. KTM 390 Adventure - £6,699

• Engine 373cc single Power 44bhp Torque 27.3ft/lb 
• Weight 158kg Seat height 855mm Price £6,699

I didn’t have massively high expectations before riding the KTM 390 Adventure, thinking that it would be more of a 390 Duke with some long suspension and probably not that good off-road. In reality, I could not have been further from the truth. The 43hp engine is rev-happy on the road and grunty enough to get you up, over, and through pretty much anything.

And when you do hit the trails, the 390 Adventure keeps on delivering, with some of the best suspension in the lightweight ADV sector (fully adjustable WP APEX front and rear) and a chassis that is more than up attacking some tricky trails.

Add to that cost-effective luggage options that can create a cheap and economical lightweight tourer, and the 390 Adventure is a bike that cannot be ignored. In 2023 the bike has gained a raft of updates, including sexy spoked wheels to make it look even better than ever.

What we said: “If you are looking for a true adventure motorcycle that falls within the A2 limit, the KTM 390 Adventure is the bike you should be stumping for.”

Pros
·       True off-road ability

·       Great performance for size

·       Nice detailing

Cons
· Too lightweight for some

·      Limited road range

·      Due an imminent update

8. Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 – From £6,799

• Engine 648cc twin Power 46bhp Torque 38.6ft/lb 

• Weight 241kg Seat height 740mm Price from £6,799

Another modern retro now, from the Anglo-Indian giant Royal Enfield. The Super Meteor 650 took the parallel twin from the Continental GT and Interceptor 650, blending it with a relaxed cruiser-style chassis and retro styling.

For the press launch of this bike, Visordown sent Alex to sample the machine in its native India, and it’s fair to say he was impressed. Summing the bike up from the launch, he said, “In a world where motorcycles are becoming increasingly electronic, the Super Meteor 650 keeps it rudimentary and raw, and in the best way. It offers a balanced, stable riding experience, and with no rider modes or electronics ‘getting in the way’ you get a direct feel of what is going on beneath you. But there’s still the Tripper nav unit if you get lost on the way, so not totally archaic on every front.”

What we said: “Fuelled by a venerable parallel-twin motor, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is a seriously impressive thoroughbred cruiser.”

Pros
·       Easy going and stable

·       Proven willing engine

·       Great price

Cons
·      Cruiser style not for everyone

·      Not as good a performer as some

·      Some colours cost more

You can check out the full review of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 here.

7. BSA Gold Star 650 - £6,999

• Engine 652cc single Power 45bhp Torque 41ft/lb 
• Weight 213kg Seat height 780mm Price £6,999

Probably the most important motorcycle in the history of the brand, the BSA Gold Star 650 was also one of the most eagerly awaited new models of the 2022 launch season. It signalled the first bike of the Classic Legends era of BSA, and it was something the team there simply had to get right.

And get it right they did, as the design team and engineers perfectly match retro style with modern performance and classic bike character. It’s not going to set your hair on fire when you hit a twisty B-road but is more than capable of shaking its tail and raising the hairs on your neck with that delicious exhaust note.

What we said: “It’s a very honest bike. Honest to the brand, to the direction they want to go in, and, more importantly, honest to the original DBD34 in so many ways.”

Pros
·       Historic design cues

·       Retro/modern riding experience

·       Decent comfort

Cons
·      Switchgear an eyesore

·      Front brake a little vague

·      Mirrors buzzy at speed

You can check out the full review of the BSA Gold Star 650 here.

6. Honda CB750 Hornet - £7,449

• Engine 755cc twin Power 91bhp Torque 55ft/lb
• Weight 190kg Seat height 795mm Price new £7,449

Another bike now that had it been launched ten years ago, it would be powered by an inline four-cylinder and not a parallel-twin. In truth, the new 750cc twin-pot engine in the new Hornet (and also found in the incoming XL750 Transalp) is all the better for being smaller, more compact and less complicated.

Out on the roads around Almeria, the handling of the CB750 Hornet didn’t disappoint either, feeling much more focused and capable than before. Its styling would have you believe it's basically a CB500F with a larger engine slotted in, although, with an all-new frame and suspension set-up, the handling vastly improved over its smaller sibling. It’s quick turning, stable at speed, and with brakes that feel much classier than their budget appearance would have you believe. Whether you’re looking for a B-road blaster or a quick and convenient commuter, the new Honda CB750 Hornet is more than up for the role.

What we said: “This bike is certainly not boring. It’s not got the giggle factor of the MT-07, or the trackday ability of the Tuono, but I have a feeling that in the long term, it might just be the easiest of all of them to live with.”

Pros
·       Engine is a gem

·       Fantastic exhaust note

·       Most agile in class

Cons
·      Snatchy throttle at low rpm

·      ABS non-switchable

·      No standard quickshifter

You can check out the full review of the Honda CB750 Hornet here.

5. Kawasaki Z650 RS - £7,799

• Engine 649cc twin Power 67bhp Torque 47.2ft/lb 
• Weight 187kg Seat height 820mm Price £7,799

Taking all the class and style of the Kawasaki Z900 RS, and mixing it with the rideability and accessibility of the Kawasaki Z650, the middle-weight retro landed in 2021 and drew praise from all sides.

Another press test that took place in the weird hinterland as covid looked to be coming to an end, we sent Alex off to France for this ride. He was impressed with the engine, and its grunty 67bhp delivery, and the bike's suspension that kept everything composed and comfortable on the bumpy roads.

With this bike though, it might not be the riding experience that you really want though. This is one of those bikes that if I owned one, I’d not be able to stop myself from glancing back at it every time I finished a ride.

What we said: “The style is spot on, the motor is perfect for riding in towns, cities and twisties where you’ll find most of these - so if you’re after a machine to take to the Bike Shed in London, you’ll fit right in on this.”

Pros
·       Fabulous styling

·       Great handling

·       OK performance

Cons
·      Too dinky for some

·      Limited tech

·      Exhaust note a bit bland

You may also like to read our full review of the Kawasaki Z650 RS here.

4. Morbidelli T1002VX – £8199

• Engine 997cc V-twin Power 88.5bhp Torque 65.6ft/lb 
• Weight 265kg Seat height 820mm Price From £8,199

All-new for 2025, extremely keenly priced and possibly the best indicator yet of how competitive (and credible) Chinese bikes have suddenly become.

The T1002V (and X if you want wire wheels) is the latest product from the vast Keeway Chinese group which also owns Benelli. Like that brand, the Chinese concern bought the historic Italian Morbidelli brand in 2024 and this bike, also styled in Italy and engineered in Germany but built in China is the first result.

The result is truly impressive – but mostly in value, not dynamic terms. The 80-degree V-twin is OK, but verty softly tuned; styling and comfort is good, handling OK but best of all is the incredible level of spec, especially for the price. There’s a TFT dash, adjustable screen, modes, cruise control, centre stand, crash bars, DRLs and even optional aluminium luggage set for just £499 more. For a competent, stylish, sell-equipped litre-class adventure bike it’s astounding value with the only conspicuous black mark being its 3600-mile service intervals.

What we said: “It is supremely well specced, and incredibly keenly priced.”

Pros
·       Incredible spec

·       Friendly engine

·       Bargain price

Cons
·      Soft tune

·      Seat taller than it sounds

·      Chinese stigma

You may also like to read our Morbidelli T1002VX review.

3. Voge DS900X – £8,499

• Engine 895cc twin Power 96.5bhp Torque 67ft/lb 
• Weight 230kg Seat height 825mm Price £8,499 

Launched in 2023 the DS900X caused something of a mini sensation for being the first big bore Chinese bike that could credibly be compared with the best from Europe and Japan – and yet still undercut both on price.

The main reason for that is the DS900X’s powertrain. Voge is the new, launched 2018, premium export brand of giant Chinese manufacturer Loncin which also manufactures engines for the likes of BMW. As a result of that deal, Voge is able to use a derivative of BMW’s proven F800/900-series parallel twin motor and, as a result, the DS900X is a truly credible performer, if not ‘quite’ as refined as the BM.

But that’s just the start. The DS is also very generously equipped, handles OK, looks good and, like the Morbidelli, is brilliantly equipped considering its bargain price. It’s not hard to see why it’s sold so well…

What we said: “For those who do take a punt as an early adopter, they’ll enjoy a lot of bike for the money before demand rises along with the price. Our advice? Go and take a test ride before they sell out.”

Pros
·       Again, great spec and value

·       BMW-derived engine

·       Style and build quality

Cons
·      Unproven brand

·      Some niggles

·      Now undercut by the Morbidelli

You may also like to read our Voge DS900X review.

2. Triumph Tiger Sport 660 - £8,995

• Engine 660cc triple Power 80bhp Torque 47ft/lb
• Weight 206kg Seat height 835mm Price £8,995

Launched mid-covid, the Tiger Sport 660 became a sibling to the massively entertaining Triumph Trident 660. It uses the Trident’s engine, tunes it specifically for the long-legger tourer and pumps out a healthy 80hp and 47lb-ft of torque. The frame too borrows heavily from the Trident, although with a sturdier sub-frame bolted on the rear end.

All in all, the bike feels greater than the sum of its parts; it’s sporty without feeling knife-edge, exciting yet still accessible and quite possibly one of the sweetest handling mid-weight adventure tourers when ridden solely on the road. There’s also now a bigger, gruntier 800cc version with uprated brakes and suspension which is better still, although that doesn’t fall withing our £10K budget.

What we said: “The small giant is surprisingly capable in all areas. Add the optional panniers, the equally optional quickshifter and the heated grips and you have a very complete motorbike.”

Pros
·       Characterful, effective three-cylinder engine

·       Typically excellent Triumph handling

·       Just right balance of spec/value

Cons
·      Early versions lacked cruise and quickshifter

·      Some colours cost more

·      Now been trumped by 800 version

You can check out the full review of the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 here.

1. Honda CB1000 Hornet – £9,099

• Engine 999c four Power 150bhp Torque 77ft.lb 

• Weight 212kg Seat height 809mm Price £9,099 

The bike that triggered the whole ‘brilliant new bikes for under £10K’ debate. When unveiled at the end of 2024 the UK motorcycling world was simply dumbfounded that Honda could produce a bike so good so cheaply. (Originally the base Hornet was unveiled at £8999 with the upspecced SP version at £9999, although that bike now falls outside this budget.)

Once we rode it things got better yet. Its 150bhp engine is derived from that of the old Fireblade and is beautifully set-up and road relevant. Its handling it equally impressive (although admittedly it’s be outpaced by more expensive rivals on track) and its also handsome, well-built and has enough spec including modes, TFT dash etc, to satisfy most.

Best of all, though, is that price. Yes, the RRP has now nudged up a little since launch but the base Horent is still well under £10K, proves you don’t have to be Chinese to be a sub-£10K litre bike and makes a mockery of the prices of rivals from, say, Suzuki and Yamaha…

What we said: “To put it simply, the new CB1000 Hornet feels like the bargain bike of 2025, an early Christmas present for anyone looking to add a brilliant super naked to their garage this winter. It’s exceptional value, handles fantastically, sounds brilliant and, especially if you opt for the SP, has a high level of standard spec.”

Pros
·       Astonishing value

·       Great all-around performer

·       Fun factor

Cons
·      Over £10K SP version even better

·      Looks not to everyone’s taste

·      SP quickshifter a touch sensitive

You may also like to read our Honda CB1000 Hornet SP review.

Top 10 motorcycles for under £10K | Key Specifications and Technical Details Comparison