The motorcycle market is going through a period of adjustment. Out have gone the superbikes we once lusted after, to be replaced by small and inexpensive retro bikes which are pretty much the polar opposite.

Easy to ride and cheap to run, these lovely little bikes pay homage to the classic British motorbikes of the ‘50s and ‘60s. With their broad appeal, attracting riders young and old, it’s no wonder they’re selling in big numbers.

There are quite a few options out there, so we thought we’d look at some of the best options for riders with a budget of around £5000. Here’s what’s piquing our interest…

BSA Bantam 350

Now under Indian ownership, the BSA brand is back after decades of dormancy.

Launched this year, the Bantam 350 is the second model from the new company. It’s a nameplate full of history, with the original Bantam being Britain’s biggest selling motorcycle of all time.

The latest Bantam is the least expensive bike in our selection, currently priced at £3499, and although the spec is nothing to write home about what you do get is solid enough – and it looks great too, with classic 1960s Brit bike styling coming out of every pore.

It’s also one of the higher performing machines here too, with the liquid-cooled single cylinder motor delivering 29bhp. It’s a lot of bike for the money and a worthy addition to the marketplace.

Honda GB350S

We’re big fans of the Honda GB350S, which was imported to the UK for the first time in 2025.

It’s incredible to think that you can get a brand new Honda motorcycle for less than four grand, but hand over the cash to your dealer and you can be riding off on one of these with a pound change in your back pocket. 

The GB350S has a really character filled engine. It’s a low stressed, long-stroke motor and although power (under 21bhp) and top speed (70mph) are nothing to write home about, the power delivery is lovely and makes for a motorbike that’s really relaxing to ride. Check out our full review elsewhere on the site.

It’s proving a bit hit, and rightly so!

Royal Enfield HNTR 350

Known as the Hunter in other markets, the HNTR is one of many models utilising Royal Enfield’s air-cooled ‘J-series’ engine. It’s the most contemporary styled machine on the platform, rocking a sort of late ‘70s/early ‘80s vibe.

Like the Honda, it’s a really lazy old-school engine that suits the bike’s intended purpose, being a great city bike and relaxed back road cruiser, and there are plenty of custom accessory parts to allow owners to modify their ride and create a more individual look.

It’s another bike we’ve reviewed on the Insidebikes website. You can get the full lowdown here.

Triumph Speed 400

We nominally set a £5,000 budget for the purposes of this feature, although we’re going to have to break the bank on his one.

Triumph’s Speed 400 blew us away when we rode it for the first time in 2024, and it seems we’re not the only ones as it’s sold like a boss since launch.

It’s the highest spec bike in our selection, with the new ‘TR’ engine being thoroughly modern and good for almost 40bhp. It also feels a little step up in terms of cycle parts too and, although it feels more modern and sophisticated than the three bikes we’ve mentioned so far, its simplicity is also its beauty.

When we reviewed it, we couldn’t believe it was priced at £4,995. Alas, that’s no longer the case. The price has risen to £5,245 but with that extra performance and class some will definitely feel it’s worth the extra. It’s a lovely bike with a broad appeal. A real winner for Triumph.

Yamaha XSR125

So far we’ve focussed on classically styled small motorbikes you can ride on an A2 licence, but for our fifth model (which we’ve presented alphabetically, incidentally…) we’ve gone for a bit of a wildcard in the Yamaha XSR125.

Yamaha don’t make a retro bike based on their 300cc model, like they do with their 700 and 900cc platforms, but the learner legal XSR125 ticks a lot of the same boxes as the other bikes here, but with a twist.

Where the others need you to be at least 19-years-old, and to have passed a bike test, the XSR125 can be ridden by riders as young as 17 – and you don’t need a full licence here.

You can ride this one around on L plates (once you’ve done your compulsory basic training) and although power is limited, performance isn’t all that far behind the 350s we’ve listed here. The XSR’s engine is full of tech to make sure it is right on the 11kw (just under 15bhp) limit allowed under learner laws but it’s light and has a 70mph-ish top speed in line with the BSA, Honda and Royal Enfield. Sure it’s a bit more stressed and lacks the laziness of these rivals, but it’s as quick as a learner bike gets.

It also looks well and has a high specification. It also creeps in just under our nominal £5000 budget. It’s well worth consideration, especially if you haven’t got a full motorcycle licence yet.

Choosing the right bike for you

All the bikes we’ve featured are brilliant in their own way, so choosing the best small capacity retro motorcycle for around £5000 comes down to your personal priorities and preferences:

• Want the best performance and specification (and can stretch the budget a bit)? You won’t go far wrong with the Triumph Speed 400.
• On a budget and want a bike that’ll be a real talking point at your local bike meet? The BSA Bantam 350 will almost certainly tick the boxes.
• Fancy a bike that looks cool and has a really tractable and low revving engine? The Honda GB350S has all that and the reputation of the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer behind it.
• Want something you can really modify and customise to meet your personal tastes? The Royal Enfield HNTR 350 might be just what the doctor ordered.
• Don’t have a full licence (or are under 19)? Why not look out for a 125 like the Yamaha XSR125?

If your budget’s a bit more and your licence allows, there are also plenty of cool retros with slightly bigger engines for you to consider. We’ve reviewed most of the bikes out on the market, including the Ducati Scrambler, Kawasaki Z650RS, Moto Guzzi V7, Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, Triumph Speed Twin 900 and Yamaha XSR700 – and we can give a solid thumbs up to them all.