The Best Beginner Motorcycle of 2024 for Every Style of Rider

What makes a great first motorcycle? While you’ll find no shortage of well-intentioned advice on the internet on everything from UTVs to e-bikes, opinions vary wildly and concrete answers are hard to come by. What exactly is the best beginner motorcycle? Is a 300 too small? Is a 600 too fast? Should I buy my buddy’s “lightly crashed” GSX-R 750 sport bike?

While the answer to that last question is an emphatic “absolutely not,” the others are a bit tougher to nail down. To that end, we’ve pulled together some universal advice for new riders looking to buy a starter bike, as well as our top recommendations for the best beginner motorcycle, according to needs and budget.

We found the best beginner motorcycle overall is Triumph Speed 400. It's a bargain-priced canyon carver that looks sharp and performs perfectly for new-in-the-saddle riders. If that isn't quite what you're looking for, read on for some more of our favorite models for beginners.

Best Motorcycles for Beginners

Best Beginner Motorcycle Overall: Triumph Speed 400

Triumph is a premium brand best known for its outstanding attention to detail and character-rich engines. Up until this year, even its most affordable models would set you back about $9,000, but with the introduction of Triumph’s new 400 line, beginner riders can now get a foot in the door for just $5,000.

The most affordable of the bunch and our pick for the best beginner motorcycle is Speed 400, which has the refined look and character of a bike twice its asking price. Gorgeous paint; clean, retro-inspired lines; and an outrageously handsome 398cc single-cylinder engine all make for an impressively refined package that blows every other bike at this price point out of the water. Nothing about Speed 400 feels built to budget from the torquey engine to the shockingly well-damped suspension, so if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly street bike without compromise, the new Triumph is in a class of its own.

• Engine: 398.15cc, liquid-cooled, 4-valve, DOHC, single-cylinder

• Horsepower: 39.5 hp

• Seat Height: 31.1 inches

• Weight: 375 pounds (wet)

Best Beginner Cruiser Motorcycle: Royal Enfield Shotgun 650

With the Sportster 883 out of the picture, your beginner-friendly cruiser options nowadays are limited to two basic categories. You’ve got your Japanese (a.k.a. “metric”) cruisers like the Honda Rebel, Kawasaki Vulcan, and Suzuki Boulevard, then you’ve got Royal Enfield. The Japanese bikes are all great rides in their own utilitarian way, but if timeless style and charm are what you’re after, Enfield’s twin-cylinder 650s are the bikes to have.

Specifically, it’s Enfield’s new-for-2024 Shotgun 650 that’s got our eye. Everything about this bike punches well above its asking price of just $6,900. The air-cooled engine is easy-going yet character-rich, the suspension and brakes are competent performers, and the level of fit and finish you get for your money is borderline absurd. It’s a little heavier than we’d usually recommend for new riders, but we found the low-slung stance about as beginner-friendly as they come.

• Engine: 648cc, air/oil cooled, four-stroke, parallel twin, SOHC

• Horsepower: 47 hp

• Seat Height: 31.3 inches

• Weight: 530 pounds (wet)

Best Beginner Dual Sport Motorcycle: Kawasaki KLX 300

As far as beginner bikes go, a good dual sport is tough to beat. Built for both on- and off-road adventures, dual sports are designed to get dirty but are also light, fun, and flickable on pavement, allowing new riders to sample everything the two-wheel world has to offer with a single machine. Our favorite example this year is Kawasaki’s newly updated KLX 300, which now sports cheerleader good looks to match its theater kid personality.

We picked KLX because, while the engine is reliable and beginner-friendly, it also retains its fun factor in the hands of expert riders, making it a great bike to learn on and grow with. KLX also gets a nod from us for its shockingly good chassis and suspension, which are competent enough to handle serious off-road duty despite the KLX’s budget-friendly price point.

• Engine: 292cc, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke

• Horsepower: 24 hp

• Seat Height: 35.2 inches

• Weight: 302 pounds (wet)

Best Beginner Supermoto Motorcycle: Kawasaki KLX300SM

Did we mention the KLX is also available as a factory supermoto? This dirt bike turned canyon carver swaps out the big wheels and knobby tires of our favorite dual sport for a set of 17-inch hoops and sticky street rubber, then adds firmer suspension, stronger brakes, and a healthy dose of hooligan attitude for good measure.

We found the KLX300SM also makes a standout option for new riders because it drops the somewhat taller seat height of its off-road cousin by over an inch, making it a bit more confidence-inspiring for low-speed shenanigans. The SM treatment costs a few dollars more, but we’ve found the added fun factor on a twisty road is well worth the investment.

• Engine: 292cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke single, DOHC

• Horsepower: 24 hp

• Seat Height: 33.9 inches

• Weight: 304 pounds (wet)

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Best Beginner Motorcycle on a Budget: Honda XR150L

As far as first motorcycles go, Honda XR150L might be the best deal going. We’re talking about a well-made, insanely reliable, and incredibly beginner-friendly bike that costs all of $3,000 brand-spankin’ new. While the little XR is clearly built to a budget, what you’re getting for your money is second to none. The 149cc single-cylinder engine is silky smooth and seemingly impossible to stall, yet makes enough power for a comfortable 60mph cruise around town. The seat is low, the clutch is light, the suspension is good enough to enjoy basic off-road trails, and the whole package weighs in under 300 pounds with a full tank of gas, which will last you a whopping 346 miles between fill-ups.

• Engine: air-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke

• Horsepower: 12.5 hp

• Seat Height: 32.8 inches

• Weight: 282 pounds (wet)

Best Beginner Scrambler Motorcycle: Honda SCL500

Prefer classic charm to modern design but can’t see yourself on a cruiser? Honda’s SCL500 scrambler delivers the goods in a beginner-friendly package that’s about as versatile and proven as they come.

Power-wise the SCL500’s 471cc twin makes a fun yet approachable 40-ish horsepower, which is plenty to entertain and cruise at freeway speeds without ever feeling intimidating. The seat is nice and low, the clutch is light and smooth, and the style is pure scrambler. Honda hit all the right notes here with the SCL’s upswept exhaust, long flat seat, and twin-shock rear end, and even threw in a 19” front wheel and some chunky dual-purpose tires for a little extra off-road credibility.

• Engine: 471cc, parallel-twin, DOHC

• Horsepower: 43 hp

• Seat Height: 31.1 inches

• Weight: 423 pounds (wet)

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Best Beginner Sport Motorcycle: Kawasaki Ninja 500

Ask most new riders what they want from their first sportbike and they’ll tell you three things: It needs to be capable without being scary, affordable without feeling cheap, and look like a proper race machine rather than an Alibaba bootleg of a real supersport.

Kawasaki has replaced its fan-favorite Ninja 400 for 2024 with Ninja 500, but don’t let the name fool you. Pricing remains unchanged, the chassis components are essentially identical, and even performance between the two machines is nearly indistinguishable. While the Ninja’s larger 451cc engine makes a few extra horses, the new bike also gained a few pounds, so real-world differences are negligible. Style and refinement are the real upgrades here as the latest Ninja’s bodywork looks more like its ZX-6R cousin than ever, as does its upgraded LED lighting and the optional full-color TFT dash on special edition models.

• Engine: 451cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, parallel twin, DOHC

• Horsepower/Torque: 51 hp/

• Seat Height: 30.9 inches

• Weight: 370 pounds (wet)

Best Beginner Naked Motorcycle: Yamaha MT-07

While Yamaha’s MT-07 pushes the limits of what we might consider beginner-friendly on paper, you’ll find no shortage of glowing new-rider testimonials for this lovable middleweight online. Much of that comes down to a low seat, excellent fueling, and a smooth and predictable power curve.

In fact, as far as all-rounders go, MT-07 might be the most celebrated first bike of all time. This is a motorcycle that grows with you as your skills progress, and while it’s far from the cheapest option on our list, its combination of sharp looks, excellent handling, standard ABS braking, and quality components remains one of the best values on the market today. If you love the MT look but aren’t comfortable with the thought of 70-plus horsepower, Yamaha also makes a more approachable MT-03, but we’ll wager most folks will find the middleweight’s engine both entertaining and surprisingly confidence-inspiring.

• Engine: 689cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 4-valve, DOHC

• Horsepower: 72 hp

• Seat Height: 31.7 inches

• Wet Weight: 406 pounds (wet)

Best Beginner Motorcycle With Street Cred: Honda Grom

Honda’s pocket-sized Grom has the unusual distinction of being both an outstanding beginner bike and one that’s considered universally cool by anyone and everyone who rides. Much of that is due to the simple fact it's insanely fun to ride anywhere and everywhere, whether you’re attaching obstacle courses in an empty parking lot or dragging knees around a go-kart track in full leathers.

The Grom has also achieved cult status as one of the world's favorite bikes to customize, which means owners have an abundance of aftermarket adventures to look forward to. Lowering kits, bolt-on turbos, and race-ready suspension are just a few of the possibilities—and because it’s cheap to own and insure, you’ll have plenty of cash left over to make it your own.

• Engine: 124cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke, SOHC

• Horsepower: 9.7 hp

• Seat Height: 30 inches

• Wet Weight: 228 pounds (wet)

Best Beginner Adventure Motorcycle: KTM 390 Adventure

Entry-level adventure bikes have a nasty habit of being adventurous in name only. They might borrow some adventure styling cues like spoke wheels or rally-esque fairings, but they’re generally plagued by lackluster suspension, boring engines, and acres of cheap plastic components. That’s not the case with KTM 390 Adventure.

While 390 is perfectly approachable and beginner-friendly, it still gets the trademark KTM treatment: refined WP Apex suspension, a bright full-color TFT dash, and a small-but-mighty single-cylinder engine that’s perfectly happy pulling highway speeds for long stretches. It may not be the cheapest option out there, but it’s the most polished by a long shot.

• Engine: 373.2cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke

• Horsepower: 44 hp

• Seat Height: 33.7 inches

• Weight: 387 pounds (wet)

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What to Look for in the Best Beginner Motorcycle

Confidence, or a lack thereof, is the single greatest barrier to entry for new riders. Motorcycles have a reputation for being fast and dangerous, and for that reason your first few experiences in the saddle are typically equal parts excitement and anxiety.

Our goal in choosing the best beginner bike is finding the one that inspires confidence at every opportunity, from first learning how to work a clutch to mastering tight turns in a crowded parking lot. Regardless of the type of bike you’re considering (cruiser, sport, naked, etc.), these are the hallmarks of any motorcycle we’d recommend to a friend getting started in the sport.

Smooth, Manageable Engine

One of the first mistakes we see many new riders making is trying to choose the best beginner motorcycle based on the size of the engine. There’s definitely some merit in that discussion, but it's the character of an engine, not the size, that makes a motorcycle beginner-friendly.

Consider, for instance, that an 883cc Harley Sportster only makes about 45 horsepower, while a 600cc Yamaha R6 makes over 100. In this case, the larger engine is much better suited to a new rider despite its significant bump in size.

In addition to keeping those power figures in check (we generally wouldn’t recommend anything over 50 horses or so to a new rider), it’s also important that the engine delivers its power as smoothly as possible. A gentle, predictable rise in power as the engine revs up (as well as a smooth and light feel at the clutch), will do wonders to build a new rider’s confidence.

Physical Size and Seat Height

Plain and simple: bigger bikes are more intimidating. This rings true for new and experienced riders alike, but for beginners who are still getting used to balancing and handling a two-wheeler, the smaller your first motorcycle is, the more confident you’ll be.

In addition to the actual size of a motorcycle, another major confidence booster comes from the height of the seat. Our recommendation here is that whatever bike you choose, ideally you’ll be able to put both feet flat on the ground (or damn close to it) when you’re stopped. A little extra bend in the knees goes a long way toward feeling “in control” and makes backing up and catching would-be tip-overs easier for new riders.

Less Weight = More Confidence

While a weight reduction typically accompanies smaller, less powerful machines, this isn’t always the case. Our recommendation in the best beginner motorcycle is to look for a bike that weighs 400 pounds or less, although in our experience you’ll be even better suited by something around the 300-pound mark if not even lower.

When doing your research here, the spec you’re looking for is “wet weight” rather than “dry weight.” That’s because wet weight (also called “curb weight”) is the total weight of the bike full of fluids and ready to roll, whereas “dry weight” only tells you how much a motorcycle weighs as it ships from the factory. A few quarts of oil and a full tank of gas can easily add another 20 pounds or more between the knees, so read that spec sheet carefully.

Price: Look at the Big Picture

One of the biggest mistakes we see riders making when buying their first bike is focusing on the sale price or monthly payment rather than considering the full cost of buying and owning a motorcycle. Registration, insurance, and riding gear all must be bought before you even leave the showroom floor, but the buck doesn’t stop there.

Maintenance is the other major cost of owning any two-wheeler, so we recommend doing some research to figure out the costs of your first year of ownership. Most motorcycles return to the dealer for a “break in” service after 500 miles or so, and then again when they hit their first major service interval for several hours' worth of labor.

For this reason, we recommend looking up the maintenance costs (and frequency) of any motorcycle you’re considering. Yamaha’s popular MT-07, for example, only needs a major service every 20,000 miles or so, while the latest Ducati Scrambler needs love from the dealer every 7,500 miles, a figure eager new rider riders will almost certainly hit in their first year.

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Crashability

Yes, you read that right. It’s a simple fact of life that the first bike you buy will almost certainly be the first bike you crash. More often than not this will happen in your driveway, a parking lot, or while you’re trying to look cool in front of your friends.

Bearing that in mind, it’s always a smart idea to buy a bike that can stand up to the occasional tip over. Dirt bikes and dual sports, for example, are more or less built to fall without sustaining any real damage. You might scuff a mirror, break a lever, or tweak a handlebar, but chances are you won’t do any meaningfully damage to a bare-bones machine.

Sport bikes, on the other hand, are the polar opposite. Because they’re covered top to bottom in expensive and easily damaged plastic fairings, even a minor tip-over can get very expensive, very fast. We’re not trying to discourage you from buying one, but investing in some extra protection (frame sliders and crash bars, for example) would be a wise decision.

You Should Love It

Last but not least, an important word of advice: All motorcycles are fun.

This is a bedrock truth all riders come to understand at some point. You’ll find no shortage of folks hellbent on making fun of cruisers, sportbikes, or minibikes for whatever reason, but just try to throw a leg over any one of these and have a bad time.

Different strokes for different folks, as they say, but whatever you decide on for your beginner bike, you should feel a connection to it. Riding it, working on it, staring at it longly from across the parking lot, whatever. A motorcycle is an emotional purchase, and if owning one feels anything like owning a used Prius, you bought the wrong one.

Why You Should Trust Me

I was a beginner rider myself about 20 years ago, and since then I've owned and ridden dozens of motorcycles from fire-breathing supersports to budget-friendly dual-sports. I've taught plenty of beginners how to ride over the years, and I know better than most what works and what doesn’t in the hands of new riders. When I'm not riding, you can find me writing about motorcycles for publications like Men’s Journal, Men’s Health, BikeEXIF, and Electric Cycle Rider.