15 Best Beginner Motorcycles To Start Your Journey in 2024

Kawasaki Versys-X 300 ABS

For your next adventure on the open road, try the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 ABS! The adventure/touring bike is designed to handle both streets and trails, suitable for both beginner and advanced riders. It’s a compact, manageable bike that you’ll never have trouble handling, with a 296cc engine that delivers power enough to reach excellent top speeds without being overpowering.

The addition of ABS system is well worth the extra expense, giving you total control over your bike and improving safety for beginner motorcyclists. It’s nimble enough you can weave in and out of traffic or tackle those hairpin trail turns on a dime. For the price, you won’t find many better!

Harley-Davidson Iron 883

This cruiser will be the perfect bike for anyone planning cross-country travel, but who may still be fairly new to biking. The style is iconic, but the forward riding position and mid-mount foot controls make for a very comfortable long-haul trip.

The V-Twin rumble makes you feel like a total badass when you’re ripping down the highway, and it rides beautifully smooth while still delivering all the power you want for a high-speed ride. It’s definitely on the heavier side for a beginner bike, but with 54 ft-lb of torque, you know it has the oomph to get you where you want to go. Just be aware: this is one of the priciest bikes on our list, but well worth the investment.

HUSQVARNA VITPILEN 401

Take this café racer out on the open road, and you’ll always travel in style. The classic café racer style has been given a truly modern upgrade, resulting in a bike that packs all the power of a cutting-edge bike while still retaining the iconic look that has made these motorcycles such a popular choice.

The bike boasts the same chassis platform and engine as the KTM 390 Adventure, built onto an industry-leading chromium-molybdenum steel trellis frame supported by a truly epic WP suspension. Though it doesn’t pack insane amounts of power, it’s compact and zippy enough you’ll love using it for your everyday errands and trips around town, but comfortable enough for longer weekend getaways, too. You’ll love how lightweight it is—you’ll never have to wrestle with it to keep it upright and on course.

CLEVELAND CYCLEWERKS HEIST

The Cleveland Cyclewerks Heist delivers style in spades! The cruiser is a perfect entry-level bike for anyone who wants to hit the open road, but it’s well-suited for veteran riders, too, thanks to its high performance and classic design.

It’s far from the fastest bike on our list—a little over 70 MPH is all you’ll manage—but that’s ideal for anyone who’s just taking their first rides and doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by excessive power. It’s safe highway speeds and a design that maximizes stability and user control, delivering a much more beginner-friendly riding experience.

The design is sleek, the seat is low enough to be very comfortable as a low-rider, and best of all, the price tag is one you can definitely afford. You can even customize it to your exact specs to make it the perfect bike for you!

Yamaha V Star 250

The Yamaha V Star 250 delivers nimbleness and easy handling that few other bikes on our list can hope to match, which is why it’s one of our top picks. You’ll find it’s one of the smoothest rides around, and though it roars like a beast, it drives like a dream.

The small-bore cruiser looks like a full-sized bike and packs the powerful V-Twin engines, but it’s one of the most fuel-economical bikes around, perfect for commuting and long-haul travel. Shorter, lighter riders will find the low seat makes it the ideal choice, and its light weight makes it easy to manage. However, it’s got power and space enough to comfortably carry a passenger, making it a great option for couples and buddies planning to hit the open road in style.

HONDA REBEL 500

The Honda Rebel 500 is one of the best-known entry-level bikes, a powerhouse that combines agility with smooth handling and user-friendly performance. There is the option to add on ABS brakes to give yourself more stopping power, but even without them, the motorcycle is still a newbie-compatible bike that makes every ride easier, safer, and more fun.

Honda’s proprietary slipper/assist clutch will prevent you from stalling out and keep you gliding forward smooth as silk, and the engine has power enough to keep you zipping through city streets and roaring down the highway in equal efficiency. It’s also one of the best-looking bikes around, with a wide front wheel, blacked-out engine, black diamond-stitched seat, black fork boots/covers, and a headlight cowl painted to match the color of your bike. Now that’s a beginner motorcycle worth owning!

CAKE KALK INK

As the only electric motorcycle on this list, the Kalk Ink by Cake is a game-changing bike, offering impressive fuel savings while still being powerful enough to suit the trail warrior in all of us. The engine is powered by a battery that packs premium 18650 lithium cells, with 50 Ah that can deliver up to 3 hours of smooth riding before needing a recharge.

Though it’s far from the fastest bike on our list—only reaching speeds of around 56 MPH—you’ll find it’s perfect for zipping around those off-road trails and tackling wicked jumps. Plug it in to re-charge, and it’ll be juiced up to full in 3 hours. The bike features specially-engineered upside down MX spring forks with integrated rebound adjustment that makes it perfect for handling even the harshest off-road conditions. It’s also insanely light and suited to even younger riders.

Suzuki SV650 ABS

The Suzuki SV650 has been one of the most popular beginner motorcycles for over 20 years, and the iconic bike has been upgraded time and again to ensure it stays at the forefront of excellence and reliability.

The latest model has been enhanced with a chassis that can handle some “exciting” lean angles when zipping around corners, a refined powerplant that cuts emissions and fuel consumption while delivering maximum power output, and four-piston Tokico brake calipers capable of stopping the light-bodied bike with impressive speed. Pair that with the sleek, modern look for which it’s famous, and you can see why it’s such a great choice for any rider looking to knock it out of the park with their first—and perhaps, only—motorcycle. Oh yeah, and it packs a whopping 650ccs of power, so you’ll have to get good at handling a lot of bike very quickly to keep this beast under control.

KTM 390 Adventure

Hit the open road or city streets on the KTM 390 Adventure, and you’ll always feel right at home. This bike features a lightweight chassis paired with a 373cc single-cylinder engine, and the combination ensures you’ve got enough power to hit impressive speeds. Added to that is a Bosch 9.1MP Two Channel-ABS system—including dual modes, “Cornering” for on-road speed and “offroad” for when you want to hit the dirt track or mud trail—and you’ve got a bike perfectly suited to both speed and performance.

It may be on the pricier side compared to some of the other bikes on our list, but it’s well worth every penny to get your hands on this powerhouse of an adventure bike. Whether you take it mudding or cross-country tripping, you’ll find it can handle anything you throw at it.

HONDA H’NESS CB350

The H’Ness CB350 is one of Honda’s latest offerings, and boy did they knock it out of the park with this beauty of a bike! It’s designed to look and feel like a cutting-edge motorcycle, but the handling remains true to every bike that has kept Honda firmly at the head of its industry for decades. Rev that engine and you’ll hear the roaring thump that lets you know this beast packs some serious power, but it’s built with the precision and fine attention to detail you’ve come to expect from Japanese manufacturers.

The low-mounted engine not only makes it safer and easier to handle by lowering the center of gravity, but gives it a more comfortable feel for the hours you’re sitting in the seat. Despite its massive-looking shape, it handles like a dream and delivers truly next-level performance.

Suzuki GSX250R

If you’ve always dreamed of owning a racing bike, the Suzuki GSX250R is the perfect entry-level option for newbie riders. Take one look at it, and you’ll see that it matches the classic “vibe” of your favorite racing bikes, complete with the larger-than-life design that makes the Suzuki GSX-R bikes some of the best on the market. However, it’s actually smaller and lighter than it looks, and it’s a much tamer ride, with just enough power to let you rip down the open road without getting out of control.

The 248cc, parallel-twin engine offers torque enough for any beginner and intermediate rider, letting you hit impressive speeds with just the twist of the throttle. Thanks to its lighter, narrower frame, you can handle its weight and keep it upright with only minimal effort. Sadly, it doesn’t come with ABS, but you’ll find Suzuki’s proprietary brakes are just as responsive and offer you excellent control over your speed.

Yamaha MT-03

The Yamaha MT-03 is one of the most affordable bikes on our list, which makes it one of the best beginner motorcycles for anyone trying to keep it cheap while still getting a quality bike. The engine is small but lively, and the lightweight frame makes it easy to manage when zipping around town or racing down the highway. The naked bike offers excellent comfort and an upright sitting position that won’t tire your back out or strain your shoulders even after hours of riding.

The bike looks like the larger Yamahas that are so popular, but the frame is just a bit more compact—thus, ideal for anyone trying to get the hang of their first few rides. It’s also available in a number of unique and ultra-cool color finishes that make it a truly stylish road bike for beginners.

Royal Enfield Classic 350

This bike combines a vintage look with modern performance and cutting-edge technology, delivering enjoyable rides for years to come. Whether you’re a beginner planning your first trip or an advanced rider ready for an upgrade, this stylish adventure bike is a great option.

The throwback look brings you back to Britain in the days following World War II, complete with the teardrop tank, large wrapround front and rear fenders, and casquette helmet. The single seat is well-sized and amply cushioned, so you’ll be comfortable even after long hours spend in the saddle. The 350cc engine has power enough for beginners, but the 429-lb weight is still fairly manageable. The option of ABS makes it a great choice for newbies, as does the approachable price tag.

DUCATI SCRAMBLER SIXTY2

Ducati is known for making big, powerful bikes, but the Scrambler Sixty2 is one of the smaller Ducatis on the market. It’s sized right for beginners, with a smaller displacement engine but still plenty of torque to get you up to top speed in a matter of seconds, and power enough to keep you racing through the city for hours on end. Granted, it’s pricier than some of the more affordable models on our list, but what else would you expect from a leading brand like Ducati? For your investment, you can expect peerless build quality, sterling customer support, and a bike that will last you for decades of regular use.

HONDA CB300R

Honda crafted this café racer specifically for anyone trying to learn, building a smaller, lighter bike with just enough displacement power to help you hit decent speeds (92 MPH) without risking being overwhelmed. The bike handles like a dream, features ABS brakes, an inverted fork to offer superior suspension, and a sleek look complete with blacked-out hardware that will turn heads everywhere you go. It’s an amazing choice for anyone looking to cut their teeth in real-world conditions, and can handle anything city and highway streets can throw at it.