The 7 Best Beginner Motorcycles [2024]

Never mind the big size, power, and ego - hit the road with a good beginner bike that suits you.

In this guide, we’ve picked seven motorcycles tailored for those taking their first step into the world of two-wheeled adventures. From approachable power to user-friendly features, these beginner bikes offer the perfect blend of excitement and accessibility, making them ideal companions for riders entering the world of motorcycles.

First, keep these tips in mind before buying your first bike:

1. Put Your Ego Aside

Concerned about what their friends will think or how quickly they will grow bored of a small displacement mount, many inexperienced riders often scare themselves by going too big too soon and then abandoning the hobby altogether. Considering that the super sport-litre bike you’ve had your eye on has a similar power-to-weight ratio to an F1 car, maybe impressing your friends shouldn’t be your number one priority.

2. Size Matters

Aside from budget and aesthetics, which are undoubtedly essential elements, consider your size, strength and proportions, and the riding you plan on doing. Learning to ride on a 700kg bagger in the city is not worth the stress, and a 250cc starter bike with a 5L tank will not be comfortable on long highway trips.

3. New Motorcycle vs Used

Years ago, my riding instructor assembled those who passed his course to offer advice on the first motorcycle. “Don’t go out tomorrow and buy your dream bike,” he said, “You will likely drop or scratch it and be more concerned with the bike than how to ride it properly.

RelatedBuying a Used Motorcycle from a Dealership Vs Private Seller: What to Consider First

It is easier to start small and work your way up.” It’s good advice I have shared many times over the years. Purchasing a used vehicle of any kind can be challenging. Still, it is especially questionable regarding motorcycles, so you can be forgiven for wanting the peace of mind associated with a bike whose collision or maintenance history is unquestionable. Well-maintained motorcycles tend to retain their value, so there is little harm in buying a bike you’ll only ride for a season or two before selling it and moving up.


  • Summary: Manageable power, comfortable ergonomics, and classic styling make the new Super Meteor 650 an ideal entry point for new riders.
  • Approximate Price: US$6,999 | C$9,599
black and chrome 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 sideview studio shot
2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. Photo: Royal Enfield

Royal Enfield is making a solid push into the North American market with a 648cc cruiser motorcycle ideal for beginners. The storied brand has been around for over 100 years and has been building cruisers for much of that time. Part of that success is keeping things simple, and the 2023 Super Meteor 650 follows that mandate, paying careful attention to the rider’s interface, combining an analogue speedometer and LCD for essential data, an adjustable clutch and brake levers and ergonomically designed hand grips with the Royal Enfield logo enhance the user experience.

2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 review
2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. Photo: Amee Reehal

Powered by a parallel twin, four-stroke, SOHC, air-oil cooled engine paired to a 6-speed constant mesh gearbox, the first-ever Super Meteor 650 is a proper cruiser with clean killer looks, ample power at lower RPMs for highway cruising, all packaged into a relatively uncomplicated offering at a decent price point.

Recommended ReadThe 2023 Super Meteor 650: Royal Enfield’s New Middleweight Cruiser with Retro Vibes


  • Summary: An excellent beginner motorcycle, known for its manageable power, agile handling, and stylish design.
  • Approximate Price: US$5,049 | C$7,088
black Honda CB300R side view in studio
2023 Honda CB300R. Photo: Honda

Offered in Candy Chromosphere Red or Matte Grey Metallic in 2022, adding two more for 2023 with Pearl Dusk Yellow and Matte Black Metallic, the CB300R is the newest addition to the Honda sportbike family. The 286cc single-cylinder naked bike is agile, fuel-efficient and more fun than a barrel of monkeys. (Speaking of monkeys, Honda brought back the Monkey for 2019, another decent beginner bike with a small 125cc engine.)

2019 honda cb300r
2023 Honda CB300R. Photo: Honda

Liquid-cooled and chain-driven, the simple design also makes maintenance easy and inexpensive. Being marketed as a ‘neo-sports café’, retro styling cues are mixed with modern design and materials. While the motorcycle isn’t bogged down with overwhelming techno-nannies, buttons, switches or variable rider modes to distract you from enjoying the open road, the ABS features an inertial measurement unit to distribute braking force between the front and rear brakes intelligently.

Recommended ReadUnbridled Love: History of the Classic Honda CB750


  • Summary: Superb choice for beginners, offering a near perfect balance of performance, user-friendly features, and sporty styling.
  • Approximate Price: US$5,299 – $5,499 | C$7,099- $7,299
black and green 2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400 side view studio shot
2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400. Photo: Kawasaki

The Ninja 400 is a starter bike that doesn’t look or feel like a starter bike. Before, available in any colour you liked, as long as that colour happened to be Metallic Spark Black; for 2023 there are the special edition colours Pearl Blizzard White, Metallic Carbon Gray, Metallic Magnetic Dark Gray, and Metallic Matte Twilight Blue.

black and green Kawasaki Ninja 400 on the track with rider
2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400. Photo: Kawasaki

Even experienced riders agree that this entry-level Ninja is a blast to ride and feels more substantial than its spec sheet suggests. Offering more power, less weight and improved styling over the 300cc model it replaced, the Kawasaki Ninja 400 offers a lot of motorcycle for the money. Other improvements over the 300 include better braking, beefier front forks, a slighter, shorter frame, a longer swingarm and a steeper head angle. Equally at home on the road or racetrack, handling is light and nimble, torque delivery is optimized for low-and mid-range grunt and the riding position is comfortable.

Recommend ReadKawasaki KZ200 Café Racer: Not Your Average Tea and Crumpet Machine


  • Summary: The SV650, SV650X, and new SV650A excel as beginner motorcycles, delivering a combination of accessible power, versatility, and agile handling.
  • Approximate Price: $9,299 for SV650XA (both US and CDN according to Suzuki’s sites)
dark and red 2024 Suzuki SV650A sideview studio shot
2024 Suzuki SV650A. Photo: Suzuki

The SV650 has been a popular first motorcycle choice over the years, and with good reason. Comfortable ergonomics and ample performance from a well balanced V-twin at an approachable price point is an attractive proposition, even if its styling wasn’t. Enter the revised SV650X, offering the same versatility but with styling that won’t make you want to keep it under a tarp. Showing off a new seat, headlight cowl, braking setup, bodywork and clip-on handlebars at the Intermot show Germany back in 2021, the engine chassis, suspension and practical package that riders have come to know and love all remain intact.

black and blue Suzuki SV650 on the road with rider
2023 Suzuki SV650. Photo: Suzuki

Plus, the addition of the new Suzuki SV650A ABS which the company says “promises to have the sparkling performance, style and value that a broad range of riders will enjoy” similar to its predecessors. It retains the benefits of a mid-sized V-twin roadster.

In 2022, we believe the tank’s emblem had been changed from the signature ‘S’ mark to the SUZUKI logo. For 2023 and beyond, expect more colours: the SV650 will be available in grey and black with grey frame and red wheels; dark blue with bronze frame and wheels; and black with bronze frame and wheels.

Recommended ReadDysfunctional Utopia: 2002 Suzuki SV650 Comes Back to Life


  • Summary: Stylish and nimble urban motorcycle, combining modern aesthetics with agile handling.
  • Approximate Price: US$5,399 | C$6,999
white and black 2023 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401
2023 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401. Photo: Husqvarna

If cost is less of a concern than style, few bikes will get you more attention than the Vitpilen, a motorcycle that looks like someone from another planet designed a café racer from the future. Breaking cover at the EICMA show several years back, the production bikes vary little from the widely acclaimed concepts. Stripped of all but the most necessary elements, the design is simple and subtle yet progressive and unmistakably Swedish. Powered by a compact 373cc Single mated to a 6-speed gearbox and a ride-by-wire system, the power to weight ratio and torque curve will won’t leave you bored.

2023 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 on the road with rider
2023 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401. Photo: Husqvarna

Getting one of your own may require spending a few more shillings, but you’ll notice the difference in the build materials and quality construction. In 2022, the Vitpilen 401 received minor styling updates, with all-new white finish anodized rims, plus some detailing on the side panels replacing the outgoing bronze accents; not much changed for 2023.


  • Summary: A sleek and timeless design, offering a comfortable and easy-to-handle ride for those who appreciate the traditional cruiser style and laid-back cruising experience.
  • Approximate Price: US$7,999 | Unavailable in Canada
black and grey 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom sideview studio shot
2024 Honda Shadow Phantom. Photo: Honda

Low slung, simplistic and smooth, the Shadow makes for an excellent choice for those who are new to riding or happen to be shorter on inseam. The blacked-out retro-inspired Phantom is understated and mysterious with minimalist bodywork, bobbed fenders and matte finishes.

black, grey, and orange 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom on the road with rider
2024 Honda Shadow Phantom. Photo: Honda

Its throaty V-Twin also sounds great and promises bullet-proof Honda reliability, offering decent power at low- to mid-range rpm while delivering impressive fuel efficiency. Its smooth shifting five-speed transmission is limited in top end capability, making it more suitable as a bar hopper or back road cruiser than a long distance highway companion. For something a bit more fun (and charming) there’s also the ST125 Dax mini bike. Not only does the Shadow have a reputation for quality and longevity, but it also boasts a low cost of entry that holds its value over time, making it a good investment.


  • Summary: A bold and classic cruiser with a distinctive dark and aggressive design, powerful V-twin engine, and a compact, nimble profile.
  • Approximate Price (when new): US$11,249 | C$12,499
black 2020 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 sideview studio shot
2020 Harley-Davidson Iron 883. Photo: Harley-Davidson

Well, Harley ended production of this dual-cylinder, 883cc motorcycle in 2022, replaced by the more powerful Harley-Davidson Sportster S. That said, we still feel the Iron 883 is a terrific two-wheeler for new riders (and perhaps an opportunity to buy a used model). So, if you’re looking to get into motorcycling and cannot avoid the distinctive appeal of a Hog, skip the Street series and opt for the Iron 883 to whet your whistle.

dark Harley-Davidson Iron 883 sideview on the road with rider
2020 Harley-Davidson Iron 883. Photo: Harley-Davidson

The most popular model from the Milwaukee motorcycle maker for over then years, the blacked-out and brooding style is matched by the unmistakable sound and experience of that V-Twin rumble. It may not be as cheap or feel as refined as some of its competitors, but that’s kind of the point. Higher priced than many bikes on the market, the added cost of admission brings quality materials, reliability, limitless customization potential and a lack of depreciation.

Recommended ReadHarley-Davidson’s New Sportster S is Built to Perform Backed by Iconic Cruiser Looks


In summary, the seven beginner motorcycles are:

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Author:
Dustin Woods
Dustin Woods
For the better part of a decade Dustin has been contributing automotive, motorcycle, travel and lifestyle content to the likes of The Toronto Star, Robb Report, Motorcycle Mojo, Sun Media, Motorcycle.com, Moto123.com, Inside Motorcycles, HOG magazine, BMW Motorcycle Magazine, Modified Luxury & Exotics and Performance Auto & Sound. His passion for adventure and love of speed has taken him on a journey not for the faint of heart.