A good point was raised a few posts previous, about considering a low-mileage used Bullet. You can find them around $3k or less.
It will likely need some wrenching and/or fiddling, perhaps about what the Bonneville might need, but possibly less.
I bought a used 2000 Bullet, and after I repaired the initial broken part that the seller didn't know how to fix(which was why I got the good deal on it), it's been fine ever since.
Actually a 500 Bullet Iron Barrel model can be pretty reliable.
If you could fine one that does not have the Electric Start, you'd be ahead of the game. The Electric Start system is one of the major headaches on a Bullet, and the earlier models like mine didn't have any e-start.
Since I got mine sorted after I bought it, it's needed nothing. I've done some things to it, but not because they were broken. I just wanted to do some modifications for my own preference. The bike has actually needed no "repairs" since I got it on the road. It always starts, always rides, and has never left me stranded anywhere.
If you ask me, a used 500 Bullet can be a damn fine motorcycle. There may be some things you have to sort out that the previous owner screwed-up, or didn't know what to do. But once it's sorted, it's a good bike.