What Are The Best Beginner Motorcycles?

Pretty much anyone who has spent any time around motorcycles has their own cautionary tales of aspiring motorcyclists who made the mistake of jumping into the arena on the biggest, baddest two-wheeled machine they could get their hands on.

For some of us, that story might even be autobiographical.

While the allure of world-beating performance and all its associated bragging rights is understandable, it’s a temptation that can have dire consequences. 

Today’s hypersports machines can overwhelm even the most experienced riders unless treated with the proper respect. The same can be said for big-bore bikes across categories, many of which also  carry significant weight that is not easily controlled by the uninitiated.

The good news is that modern entry-level bikes have largely shed the stigma of being “lesser” vehicles.

Rather than being compromised offerings, they are more exciting, rewarding, stylish, and flat-out fun than ever before, with any number of attractive options available no matter your style or type.

In fact, these so-called beginner bikes have coaxed back many a veteran rider looking to rediscover the purity and sheer joy of riding they first tapped into in their formative days on two wheels.

The Allure

What exactly determines if a motorcycle will make a good beginner bike?

Boiled down to its core, it’s about reduction… Reduced weight, reduced power, and reduced price when compared to bigger-bore ‘expert’ bikes.

This also generally means smaller in terms of physical dimensions and engine capacity.

If you didn’t know it, this is a feature, not a bug.

Practical Performance and Flickability 

While no match for a big bike on long straights, beginner bikes pack plenty of punch, and better yet, it’s power you can actually use on twisty public roads.

Rather than be at the mercy of a machine designed to deliver racing gods to glory that merely tolerates your presence, a high-quality entry-level bike allows you to rev it up, push it hard, and enjoy the feeling of being in control in the sweet spot of its performance envelope.

By and large, a light-weight bike is a fun bike, providing superior, confidence-inspiring maneuverability.

Style at What Cost? Surprisingly Little Actually

As the motorcycling world has gradually caught on to the impressive capabilities of today’s entry-level bikes, manufacturers have responded by giving them the respect they deserve in terms of style and technology.

Rather than offering a watered-down bike with only a passing resemblance for the higher-end bikes in its line, today’s beginner machines not only keep up in terms of aesthetics, they sometimes set the standard. 

Give Me Some Options

The following should be no means be considered an exhaustive list, but rather a starting point for riders considering an entry-level bike:

Sportbike

The Aprilia RS 457 sports uncompromised Italian style, technology, heritage, and performance. As beautiful and fun a sport bike as can be found, it lists for under $7000.

That doesn’t mean it’s a no-brainer, however, not when the Kawasaki Ninja 500 ($6600), KTM RC 390 ($5900), and Yamaha R3 ($5500) provide compelling cases of their own.

Retro/Standard

The Triumph Speed 400 & Scrambler 400 are nimble and responsive bikes with charming personalities. Both list for well under $6000.

Cruiser 

There are plenty of varieties of entry-level cruisers at different sizes and price points to choose from. On the higher (and bigger) end are the Kawasaki Vulcan S ($7400) and Honda Rebel 500 ($6300). At the other end of the spectrum is the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and 

Yamaha V Star 250 (both under $5000).

All of them offer cool that you control.

Naked Sports

Approachable streetfighters are all the rage. Here’s a couple to consider: The BMW G 310 R and Yamaha MT-03 – both with slip-assist clutches and list prices in the neighborhood of $5000.

Dual Sports

Honda’s lightweight and agile XR250L lists at $3299. Seriously. 

Offroad

Kawasaki takes to the city streets and country roads in a couple varieties – the Kawasaki KLX300 & KLX 300SM (Supermoto variant), both listing for less than $6000. 

Honda counters with its CRF300L at a similar price point.

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