Best Beginner Motorcycles: 125cc-700cc For Learners and New Starters

SO, you’ve passed your full or A2 motorcycle test and you’re now on the hunt for the best beginner motorcycles for new riders – a daunting task in itself.

You may be able to lean on the experience and advice of a family member or friend, or, like many, you may be delving into the world of two wheels un-assisted. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, Visordown is here to help, as we pick the best motorcycles for new and upcoming riders currently on sale.

In this article, we’ll be listing the best beginner motorcycles and updating the list as new bikes get released. Most of the motorbikes in this article will have been ridden and tested here at Visordown, and if we haven’t had a chance to test them yet we’ll make it clear in the sections below.

You can also read our best electric motorcycles article here.

How to choose a ‘Beginner motorcycle’

• Choose your engine capacity first. What sort of licence to you have? A2 (under 47bhp) or full (unlimited)?

• What sort of riding do you want to do? Do you want a ‘lairy’ toy or do you want something capable of longer distances, comfort and versatility?

• What’s your riding experience? Are you a relative novice (stick to middleweight bikes like Suzuki’s DR-Z400SM) or are you experienced in handling a higher-performance machine (the world's your oyster)

• What’s your budget? The most extreme bike here costs nearly £10K, but the cheapest is under £4000, but also don’t forget you may need to budget for insurance, security and some riding kit.

Yamaha R7 | Best beginner motorcycles – sports bikes

• Engine 689cc twin Power 72bhp Torque 49ft/lb 

• Weight 188kg Seat height 835mm Price new £8,916

The Yamaha R7 was launched, in 2022, right into the heart of the newly ignited middleweight sportsbike market, alongside bikes like the Aprilia RS660, and Kawasaki Ninja 650. Based on the MT-07 roadster yet featuring the DNA of the R6 and R1, it’s a bike designed to bridge the gap between the CBT-friendly R125, and the bigger R1 and R1M.

Out on the road and track the R7 is a delight to ride. It’s a featherweight of a machine, and that brilliant CP2 engine at its heart impresses even the hardiest of track riders. And it’s more than just an MT-07 with fairings bolted on, too. The chassis, suspension, and brakes for the R7 are all revised compared to its naked sibling. As a result, it’s more focused, accurate, and a hoot to ride on the road and track.

What we said: “It’s also easy to ride, perfect for new riders and looks every inch the baby R1 we all wanted.”

Pros
·       Supremely accessible and exciting engine

·       Featherlight weight

·       R1M-a-like styling

Cons
·      Cramped for taller riders

·      LCD tricky to read clearly

·      Town riding becomes tiresome quickly

More information on the Yamaha R7 can be found here.

You can read our Yamaha R7 review here.

Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory | Best beginner motorcycles – performance nakeds

• Engine 659cc twin Power 99bhp Torque 49.4ft/lb 

• Weight 181kg Seat height 820mm Price new £9400

Taking the excellent Aprilia RS660 sportster as its base, the Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory mates easy going ergonomics with RSV4-derived electronics and a manageable chassis package. With just under 100bhp on offer, it is one of the more powerful machines on this list, and with just 181kg to shift, it’s a perfect road bike for those looking for B-road bliss, if sometimes considered a little spicy to be on our best beginner motorcycles list.

We tested the Tuono 660 Factory on road and also at Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire. On the road, it feels like just about all the bike you’d need for maximum grin factor, and on the twisty and narrow Cadwell Park track, it was a match to some of the bigger, faster V4 machines.

It’s not without its gripes though, multi-level wheelie control and fiddly menus being the main two, although for pure riding pleasure on the road there really isn’t much to dislike about Aprilia’s brilliant middleweight weapon.

What we said: “The Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory is a cracking little bike. It’s fast, comfortable, easy to ride, and extremely frugal.”

Pros

·       Track-focused ultimate mid-weight naked

·       Advanced electronics

·       Easy-going character around town

Cons

·      Menus are a bit fiddly

·      Wheelie control either on or off

·      Pricy compared to the competition

More information on the Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory can be found here.

You can read our Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory review here.

Honda NX500 | Best beginner motorcycles – adventure bikes

• Engine 471cc twin Power 47bhp Torque 31.7ft/lb 

• Weight 196kg Seat height 830mm Price new £6,829

A firm favourite with riders new and old, the Honda NX500, previously called the CB500X, is one of the most popular bikes in the A2/new rider adventure motorcycle sector. Using the venerable 471cc parallel twin that is shared across this and four other Honda models, the NX is a bike for everyday commuting and touring, with some light off-road world thrown in.

Its simplistic specs and easy-going nature make it a perfect choice for riders looking to move up from CBT licence bikes yet is also a prime choice for those already riding bigger machines and just looking to gain their adventure bike spurs.

It’s frugal too, with motorway cruising returning upwards of 100mpg, meaning that 250+ miles between fill-ups are a very real possibility

In our review we said: “One of the most appealing things about the NX500 is its ability to be many bikes all rolled into one. It’ll happily tour, hack through winter, play on a B-road, and even trundle up a green lane without any real trouble or fuss.”

Pros

·       Extremely accessible engine

·       Big-bike adventure-ready look and feel

·       Lots of luggage and accessory options

Cons

·      Suspension can feel budget off-road

·      Buzzy bars at speed

·      Crosswinds can be an issue

You can read our Honda NX500 review here.

KTM 390 Duke | Best beginner motorcycles – easiest to ride naked

• Engine 399cc single Power 44bhp Torque 29ft/lb 

• Weight 165kg Seat height 820mm Price new £5,699 

The KTM 390 Duke has been around since 2013 and is a firm favourite with new riders and those moving up the ranks. The 390 Duke features funky, youthful styling, a punchy single-cylinder engine, and sweet handling. Simply put; it’s a weapon in town and fun once you get out of it.

It’s a bike that hasn’t seen massive, mechanical updates since it first launched, instead being steadily evolved, with facelifts and technical upgrades along the way.

It’s an engaging thing to ride, with a rev-happy engine that doesn’t red-line until around 10,000rpm, and still delivers some shove further up the rev range. It’s not without its faults, as with any bike, and the biggest gripe from owners is the build quality. The TFT dash can allow water inside if left in the rain, and electrical gremlins are two of the most common complaints we hear from owners online. It’s also a popular bike with thieves, so make sure you get some top-spec security – and remember to use it after every ride!

We said: “The KTM 390 Duke is a sweet little bike. Maybe not something you'd put a poster of up on your bedroom wall, but, more satisfyingly, something you could happily put in your garage.”

Pros

·       Funky styling

·       Friendly single-cylinder engine character

·       Decent-spec WP suspension

Cons

·      Build quality can be questionable

·      Comfort over distance isn’t great

·      A favourite among bike thieves – invest in decent security!

More information on the KTM 390 Duke can be found here.

You can read our KTM 390 Duke review here.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350 | Best beginner motorcycles – retro roadsters

• Engine 349cc single Power 20bhp Torque 19.9ft/lb 

• Weight 181kg Seat height 800mm Price new from £3,899 
   

Post-CBT motorcycles simply don't get more accessible than the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 launched in 2022. It's as simple as it gets, on the surface at least, with a single-cylinder 350cc engine, simple brakes and suspension and a relaxed and spacious riding position. There are no fancy electronics to worry about, just a simple ABS system and an LCD dash. It is, though, a peach to ride in the city, with nimble handling and a sweet exhaust note that echoed off the skyscrapers as we passed below.

If you are looking for a slice of classic British style, but the larger and more powerful machines from Triumph, BSA, and Royal Enfield (with its 650cc parallel twins) are a little intimidating, the little Hunter 350 could be just the ticket to get you on two wheels – although Triumph’s new 400 single (see below) is worth a look, too.

What we said: “It’s a stylish-looking retro that is genuinely pleasing on the eye. It’s comfortable, very easy to ride and as simple as motorcycling gets.”

Pros

·       Probably the most accessible 'big bike' you can get

·       Excellent around town

·       Chunky styling and funky paint options

Cons

·      Engine is breathless above 50mph

·      Tyres lack grip and feel in any conditions

·      You might quite quickly long for something quicker

More information on the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 can be found here.

Read also: Royal Enfield hunter 350 review.

Other ‘Beginner bikes’ to consider…

Triumph Speed 400/Scrambler 400X, £5195/£5795

Launched in 2024, the British brand’s all-new 400cc single-cylinder roadster/scrambler duo have proved hugely popular and stand out for their perky 40bhp performance, fine handling and quality.

Read our Scrambler 400 X and Speed 400 review here.

Honda GB350S, £3949

New for 2025, this bargain priced retro single has bags of charm, extremely easy (21bhp) manners and is a classy Enfield HNTR alternative. If you want more, Honda also has the £6199/47bhp CB500 Hornet twin, £5499 CL500 Scrambler and £5699 CMX500 cruiser.

You can read our Honda GB350S review here.

BMW G310GS, £5890

BMW’s entry-level adventure-style single is built in India to keep costs down. Performance is adequate rather than exceptional, there’s also the £5190 roadster G310R, but it’s a great way into premium BMW ownership.

Fins out more about the BMW G310 GS here.

Top 10 ‘Beginner bikes’ | Key Specifications and Technical Details Comparison

What licence do I need to ride a motorcycle?

To legally ride a motorcycle on the road in the UK you will need to pass your motorcycle test, or at the least complete you Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). The licence you need, and the way you go about gaining it, will be dependent on the motorbike you want to ride. Simply put, there are restrictions on the power output of the bike in which you can ride on some licences, and specific licence types for bikes with no more than 11kW (15bhp), 35kW (47bhp), and unrestricted machines.

Motorcycle licence types and how to get them

'AM' Motorcycle Licence

If the bike in question, be it geared or twist-and-go, has a speed range of between 25kph (15mph) and 45kph (28mph) you can ride it from the age of 16. You will need to complete your Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and hold a provisional licence.

'A1' Motorcycle Licence

If the bike has no more than 11kW (15bhp), a CBT, theory and practical test are needed and you can get on the road at 17 years old.

'A2' Motorcycle Licence

If the bike has no more than 35kW (47bhp) you can either take a direct access approach, theory and practical exam, or a progressive approach. Progressive will require you to have at least two years of experience on an A1 equivalent motorcycle and licence. Either method can see you on two wheels from 19 years old.

'A' Motorcycle Licence

A full A motorcycle licence allows you to ride any motorcycle of any capacity. To gain this you must be 24 to use direct access (only one test - practical and theory), or 21 if you choose progressive access. Progressive access also requires two years on an A2 equivalent motorcycle and licence type.

Motorcycle licence types and requirements