So you've finally decided to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Maybe you've taken a local MSF course, or perhaps a friend taught you some of the basics on their motorcycle. But you're cautious and want to be safe, so features like weight, seat height and price are important to you. You did you research and know that your first motorcycle shouldn't be super powerful, tall or heavy. It should be the perfect learning step on the way to a full, life-long two-wheel obsession.
Finding that perfect learning motorcycle can be a daunting task. And it will depend greatly on where you live, your budget and your ultimate goal. If you want to ride mostly off-road, with occasional rural streets, then small dual-sports are the right choice. Maybe you want to commute every day and ride for fun on the weekends. That's where lightweight naked bikes come in. Or if you have your sights set on touring long distances, perhaps a small cruiser is the right approach for you. But no matter what your final goals are, there's a perfect learner bike waiting for you, if you know how to look for it.
10 Yamaha TW200
When it comes to a do-it-all uncomplicated dual sports, you can't get any more basic than the venerable Yamaha TW200. There's a reason why motorcycle schools use these bad boys for training. They're light, simple, cheap to buy and maintain and won't run away from you when you flick the throttle.
The seat height is low and approachable. It weighs only 278 lbs so if you were to drop it while learning, which is a perfectly normal thing to do, it's easy to pick up. And because it's a simple single cylinder engine that's probably older than most people riding it, it's also easy to find parts and repair if need be. The whole package is under $5,000, which is perfect for the budget conscious beginner.
9 BMW G 310 R
Maybe you want something premium to learn on. Ducati doesn't make a beginner bike. Neither does Triumph, though the Trident is tantalizingly close. But as luck would have it, BMW has just the deluxe motorcycle for your training needs. The base model of the G 310 R is under $5,000, but it's not really the price that's the reason to get this bike. It's the approachability of this beemer mixed with a splash of style.
Similar to the adventure GS version, it has a 313-cc single cylinder engine that's capable of 34 hp. Just the perfect amount of power for someone who's new to riding. The seat height is also accessible, at 30.9 inches. And it weighs a comfortable 362 lbs (wet). But it's the looks that are the hook here. The G 310 R feels like a full bike, with a striking resemblance to its larger capacity siblings like the S 1000 R.
8 Kawasaki KLX 230
If you're on a taller side, with a dream of mostly riding in the dirt, then perhaps the Yamaha TW200 isn't good enough for you. Kawasaki, however, has the next best thing. The KLX 230 is a much more modern machine, with a slightly bigger engine and newer, light-weight chassis.
Priced about the same as the TW, the KLX is objectively the better of the two dual sports. The tall seat height, 34.8 inches to be exact, is out of reach for shorter riders, who may be less sure of themselves and need the comfort of planting both feet on the ground. This bike comes with fuel injection, LED lights and adjustable rear suspension.
7 Honda Grom
There is a whole category dedicated to shrunken versions of standard motorcycles. And judging by how many we see on the streets, miniMotos are extremely popular with novices and seasoned riders alike.
Perhaps the most well known of these mini bikes, and best to learn on, is the Honda Grom. It is perfect for beginners to learn how to shift gears, with its 5-speed manual transmission and 125-cc engine. It weighs only 223 lbs and gets an astounding 166 miles to the gallon. The seat height is a manageable 30 inches, and it is as reliable as any other Honda motorcycle. An added bonus if you want to learn how to wheelie, then doing it on such a tiny machine makes it super easy, without the heartbreak of dropping a brand new full-size bike.
6 Suzuki DR-Z125L
So you've looked at the Yamaha TW200 and found it to be lacking in all departments. And you just don't need the dual capabilities of the Kawasaki KLX 230, because you'll just be learning on dirt. Then Suzuki's DR-Z125L may be the answer you were looking for.
The one thing to point out here is that it is not a street legal motorcycle. You'd need a headlight, mirrors, turn signals and a license plate to ride it on paved streets. Nevertheless, it's still perfect to learn how to ride on. As long as that's done off-road. And because it doesn't need the parts required for street riding, it weighs only 196 lbs. The seat height is also somewhat manageable at 32 inches high. The brakes may be a little antiquated, but you won't be breaking any speed limits on the field out back. You can learn your friction zone, how to shift, slide, brake and fall, all in the safety of soft soil, grass or sand.
5 Yamaha MT-03
But what if dirt is the last thing you ever want to ride on. You live in a large city and want to learn how to ride a motorcycle so that you can commute to your job every day. You'd looked into getting the BMW G 310 R and found it to be of questionable build and reliability. As you'll be doing your riding to and from work, you want your first learner bike to be a long-lasting one.
Yamaha's hugely popular MT lineup does have that perfect bike for you. The MT-03 is a great urban beginner. Starting at just $4,999, you'll get a 321-cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine that's spritely enough to be exciting for a long time, yet tame enough to learn on with confidence. Add to that a low seat of 30.7 inches and a wet weight of 373 lbs and the MT-03 is right in that Goldilocks zone of beginner bikes.
4 Benelli 302S
Chinese motorcycle companies have made great strides in turning their motorcycles into more accessible, inexpensive and reliable machines. They know they have a long way to go to really compete with American, European and Japanese manufacturers, but judging by what CFMoto and Benelli have been producing lately, the distance between all of these bike makers is slowly shrinking.
Such is the case with beginner bikes. The Benelli 302S is very similar to the Yamaha MT-03. Yeah, if you look a little closer it's a tiny bit slower, weaker and heavier. But it's also cheaper and has a more traditional, streetfighter look, versus what Yamaha has been turning their MTs into lately. If you want a brand-new learner bike, but don't care if you drop it in the process, or you simply don't have any other inexpensive stylish options available to you, the Benelli 302S will teach you how to ride just fine.
3 Honda Rebel 300
There's just no getting around the fact that the original Rebel 250, despite all of its flaws, was one of the best motorcycles to learn how to ride on. It was ubiquitous in Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes, teaching shorter riders of all kinds how to use the friction zone, shift and make turns.
A few years ago Honda dropped a bombshell on the motorcycling world by release thoroughly new Rebel models in the forms of the 300, 500, and eventually the 1100. But it is the 300 that remains the right choice for hesitant beginners. Most of its specs almost don't matter, because the one that does, is the seat height. At 27.2 inches, this seat is accessible to almost everyone. Most new riders will be able to plant both of their feet firmly on the ground. The weight is also on the lower side, with 364 lbs. These new versions of the Rebels are miles ahead of the 250s they replaced, in all important aspects. They look great, are more comfortable and are typically reliable.
2 Royal Enfield Meteor
Royal Enfield are the choice of beginner riders the world over. They have tons of smaller bikes available for very reasonable prices. And if you're looking for a motorcycle with classic, cruiser looks, charming personality and low cost to learn how to ride on, none may be better than the new Royal Enfield Meteor. Many in the industry wish that this was the bike Harley-Davidson had built to enter the beginner, low displacement market. Alas, Royal Enfield have beaten them to the punch.
The Meteor 350 is a simple yet effective knockout of a bike. Spec-wise, there's nothing extraordinary there, if we're being honest. But that's the charm of the little machine. The seat height is 30.2 inches, which is accessible to any rider. The power is 20 hp, perfect for city streets. And though the weight exceeds 400 lbs, it's well-balanced. It costs a reasonable $4,899, and comes in many different color schemes, which is what Royal Enfield does better than any of its competitors.
1 Honda NAVI
There's only one bike out there that can teach you how to ride without bothering to actually teach you how to ride a motorcycle. You could pick a scooter, and that's a perfectly good option as well. But there's just no beating that price. The Honda NAVI costs an astonishing $1,807.
For that money you'll get Honda reliability, a seat height of 30 inches and an automatic transmission. That's right, you won't have to deal with those pesky gears. And if all you want is the ability to ride on two wheels to and from places, where you can park just about anywhere, the NAVI is second to none.