Best Motorcycles and Scooters for Commuters

If you are looking to buy the best commuter machine, either a motorcycle or scooter, there are a number of factors that you need to take into account before you hand over your cash.

The length of your commute, the time of day you will be riding and whether you wish to commute all year round are just some of the factors you’ll need to consider.

In this top 10, we are going to help walk you through the best motorcycles and scooters to use for commuting, taking into account all the factors above to help you make the best choice.

How to choose the best commuter machine for your needs

One of the first things to do is to choose with your head and not your heart. If you are buying a motorcycle or scooter purely and simply to get to work, you don’t need to have your heart leading the decision. That is easier if the commuter machine you are looking for is going to be your second bike, as the other machine can be the one you lust after, and this new one can simply be your workhorse.

The next thing to do is consider is whether you are going to use the bike or scooter as a year-round commuter, or simply in the summer or when the weather is good. If it’s the first option, you have much more to consider, like keeping warm and dry and having some storage space to carry dry clothes being just two of them. If it’s the latter there is less to take into account, opening up your options and making the choice a little bit easier.

How to choose a commuter motorcycle or scooter

• What’s your budget? The most extreme bikes here cost £17K – but you can get a capable commuter for under £5,000.

• Choose your engine capacity. What sort of licence do you have? A1 (ie sub 125cc); A2 (under 47bhp) or full (unlimited)?

• What sort of commuting do you want to do? Long distance or short distance?

• Do you want a ‘twist and go’ scooter, with underseat luggage capacity or do you want the full motorcycle experience? (Or, if you want something in-between, like Honda’s DCT-equipped NC750X?)

Best commuter motorcycles or scooters for short commutes

For shorter commutes, things like heated kit and clothing are slightly less of a necessity, as the shorter time on the bike means there’ll be less time for the cold to creep into your bones! You might also be more inclined to go for frugal economy over outright performance on the motorway. Here we include a cross-section of the best short-haul commuter motorcycles and scooters.

Honda NX500

• Engine 471cc twin Power 47bhp Licence required A2 

• Weight 196kg Seat height 830mm Claimed mpg 65mpg Price new £6,829

The NX500 is a cracker of a bike in its own right and can do it all, from scratching on a B-road to hitting the trails and taking on some serious off-road work. The 2024 successor to the CB500X, it’s the adventure bike variant of Honda’s hugely successful CB500 family of A2-specific, 500cc twins, the others being the CB500F roadster, CBR500R sportster, CMX500 Rebel and CL500 scrambler.

It's also brilliant a getting you from A to B in comfort while hardly using any fuel. Take a 25-mile-a-day commute, for instance. Take it steady on the NX500 and it’ll probably just scrape by on just one tank of fuel every five days – that’s seriously frugal commuting from a middleweight machine.

What we said: “Probably one of the most appealing things about the NX500 is its ability to be many bikes all rolled into one… Add to that the low cost of ownership, exceptional fuel economy and cost-effective insurance (not to mention Honda's dependability and excellent dealership backup) and there isn’t a lot to dislike about the new NX500.”

Pros
* Fully exploits A2 licence
* Adventure style versatility
* Easy and unintimidating to ride 

Cons
* No longer as cheap as some 
* Tall for, er, shorter riders 
* No luggage capacity

You can read our Honda NX500 review here.

Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech Max

• Engine 292cc single Power 27bhp Licence required A2 

• Weight 183kg Seat height 795mm Claimed mpg 78mpg Price new £7,250

We might scoff at scooters here in the UK - especially maxi scoots - but over on the continent they absolutely love them. And really, here in the UK, we should be falling for the charms of a step-through more than anyone else. With running boards and leg shields a scooter can keep you warm and dry in a way a motorcycle simply can’t, and with decent performance, like you get with the Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech Max, you don’t have to trundle along the dual carriageway at 45mph getting overtaken by trucks!

It’s fairly cheap to buy, very cheap to run, has storage space for days under the seat and, for a scooter at least, it looks bloody great. If only more ‘bikers’ would swallow their pride and at least give them a try.

What we said: “It’ll easily cruise at 70mph and (slightly) beyond, keep you drier than a bike when it rains, is comfier than your sports bike or super naked, and will still return a healthy 80mpg. Add to this frugality the sporty handling of the XMAX 300 and how easy it is to ride in the city, and I really get the feeling a lot of British riders are missing out on what is a very good bike for pretty much all of their needs.”

Pros
* Brilliant midi-scooter practicality
* Sporty, premium touches
* A2 compatible 

Cons
* Pricier than some
* Not as much comfort/luggage capacity as some rivals 
* Not really a pillion machine

You can read our Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech MAX review here.

Rieju Aventura 125

• Engine 125cc single Power 15bhp Licence required A1 

• Weight 138kg Seat height 780mm Claimed mpg N/a Price new £4,199

If you never go near motorways or dual carriageways, you could consider a 125 as a workhorse. We think the Rieju Aventura 125 is a solid enough choice. It’s got all the good bits of an adventure bike like a commanding riding position, bags of weather protection, and room for luggage, but without any of the weight, expense, or £35 tank refills!

Visordown group editor Matt recently tested the bike at a UK press event and found it to be a solid performer, if not that fast. At its price, though, you can’t argue that it’s not good value for money, and when you add to that the potential low running costs, it all adds up to cost-effective commuting that’s still better than taking the bus.

What we said: “The Rieju Aventura 125 makes a strong case for itself for anyone on an A1 license, whether they just intend on using it for commuting, or even some touring.”

Pros
* Adventure style…
* …but in a 125cc/A1 package
* Affordable and frugal

Cons
* Performance limited 
* Fairly rare 
* Too tall for some

You can read our Rieju Aventura 125 review here.

Best commuter bikes and scooters for medium commutes

For a medium commute, we’ll assume a distance of between 50 and 100 miles a day, and for this, you might want some slightly longer legs for extended periods on dual carriageways and motorways.

Triumph Tiger Sport 660

• Engine 660cc triple Power 81bhp Licence required Full 

• Weight 206kg Seat height 835mm Claimed mpg 50mpg Price new £8,945

Again, another cracking little bike in its own right, the Triumph Tiger Sport 660 is scalpel-sharp on a B-road, but just as good on a schlep up the motorway. It’s comfortable, has a decent amount of wind and weather protection, doesn’t get buzzy at speed and can be specced for heated grips and a seat for riding through winter. It also has a fairly expansive 17.2-litre fuel tank and a range of around 200 miles, you can also slap on some panniers or a top box to save you from wearing a rucksack - winning!

What we said: “Triumph has hit the mark with the launch of this Tiger Sport 660. It's a mid-range motorcycle that can compete with bikes in its own category and, why not, with those with more cc's.”

Pros
* Brilliant mix of performance, practicality and value
* Three-cylinder character
* Triumph/British badge

Cons
* Lacks a little oomph
* Spec a touch basic
* Some colours cost extra

You can read our 2022 Triumph Tiger Sport 660 review here.

Honda NC750X

• Engine 745cc twin Power 57bhp Licence required Full 

• Weight 216kg Seat height 802mm Claimed mpg 67mpg Price new £7,499 (DCT = £8,299)

The Honda NC750X was never going to set the world alight when its spec sheet was revealed. But what it did do (bloody well) was win over a hoard of year-round commuting fans, who love its frugal simplicity and any weather comfort. It’s also probably one of Honda’s best-selling DCT motorcycles, and if that’s not your thing there is a slightly lighter (and cheaper) manual option too. Like a maxi scoot, you get a decent amount of storage within the dummy fuel tank, and as with the Triumph above, it can be kitted out with optional heated seats, grips, and luggage is easily available.

What we said: “If you want a bike to get you places using very little fuel, while keeping you warm, dry and safe, there is probably nothing else on two wheels that can truly go toe-to-toe with the NC750X.”

Pros
* Brilliant half motorbike/half scooter concept
* Semi-automatic DCT option
* Very frugal

Cons
* Slightly drab performance
* Not the most exciting
* Or particularly exclusive

You can read our 2025 Honda NC750X review here.

Kawasaki Versys 650 Grand Tourer+

• Engine 649cc twin Power 69bhp Licence required Full 

• Weight 216kg Seat height 840mm Claimed mpg 52mpg Price new £9,799

Now, it might seem strange that I’ve chosen the top-spec Grand Tourer+ edition of the Kawasaki Versys 650 here (given that earlier I was talking about choosing with your head not your heart), but hear me out. Basically, it comes down to economics. You see, the Grand Tourer+ edition of the Versys comes with everything you need for year-round comfortable commuting on two wheels. You get panniers and a top box, a taller screen, heated grips, fog lights, hand guards, crash protection and more. Now you try adding all that onto the standard bike and see what sort of price you come back with.

And when the working week is done, you have a machine that is still capable enough to take two people and all their luggage on a cheeky weekend away. What’s not to like about that?

What we said: “The Kawasaki makes an excellent middle-weight tourer as well as a really good all-rounder.”

Pros
* Brilliantly versatile – yet conventional
* Decently entertaining
* Full luggage option

Cons
* Now aging slightly
* Not the cheapest to run
* Others more frugal

You can read our Kawasaki Versys 650 Grand Tourer review here.

Suzuki Burgman 400

• Engine 400cc single Power 28bhp Licence required A2 

• Weight 218kg Seat height 755mm Claimed mpg N/A Price new £7,199

One of the biggest names in the maxi-scooter game is the Suzuki Burgman 400 (or Burgervan if the Suzuki PR person isn’t listening!) and there’s a reason it’s been around for so long. It’s good value, superbly easy to ride, well specced with plenty of storage space and is slightly smaller and lighter than some of the competition. 

If you had to commute into the city from the suburbs or surrounding towns, even up to 30 miles away, the 400 is going to tick most of the boxes for you, despite the lack of flat-out performance. The original super scoot, the Old Lady of big-bore step-thrus, the Burgman 400 – she’s still a very capable contender indeed.

What we said: “It transformed the modern scooter sector from a purely urban transport tool, into a much more capable performer, that could take on motorways and dual carriageways, giving a comfy, capacious and clean commuting option.”

Pros
* Definitive maxi scooter commuter
* Hugely practical
* Relatively cheap to run

Cons
* Design ageing slightly
* Too large for some
* Not the ‘sexiest’ option

You can read our Suzuki Burgman 400 review here.

Best commuter motorcycles for long-distance commutes

For these machines, we’ll assume that you’re commuting up to 200 miles a day or more and for distances like that you are going to be looking at the more premium end of the spectrum.

Honda NT1100

• Engine 1,084cc twin Power 101bhp Licence required Full 

• Weight 238kg Seat height 820mm Claimed economy 47mpg Price new £12,679 (DCT = £13,679)

The Honda NT1100 is, in my mind, Honda doing what Honda does best. Like the NT models of old, the NT1100 isn’t the flashiest, sexiest, or most exciting machine in the range but it is one of the best at taking you long distances in total comfort. Beneath the sleek bodywork of the NT lies the frame and engine from one of Honda’s most famous adventure bikes, the Africa Twin, although to get on and ride, you’d never know there was any link whatsoever. It steers beautifully, has good suspension, powerful brakes and a thumping 1084cc parallel twin. With 101bhp on tap, performance is about all you’ll need on your morning commute, and the bark from the exhaust is actually sportier and more enjoyable than you’d expect.

It’s one of the more expensive options for commuting to work, but if you’re doing 200+ miles a day, a bike like the NT, and its Honda reliability, are just what you need.

What we said: “The changes make the bike more appealing than ever. What’s more, it’s still excellent value.”

Pros
* Easiest of ‘big’ tourers
* Semi-automatic ‘DCT’ option
* Honda comfort and quality

Cons
* Drab image
* Not the cheapest
* Unexciting performance

You can read our Honda NT1100 review here.

Suzuki GSX-S1000GT

• Engine 999cc four Power 150bhp Licence required Full 

• Weight 226kg Seat height 828mm Claimed mpg N/a Price new £12,899

Something of a leftfield option now, given that the majority of these are adventure tourers, but the sporty and attractive Suzuki GSX-S1000GT would make a very good long-distance commuter. It shares much of its DNA with the GSX-S1000 and while both of those can trace their roots back to the Middle Ages, there isn’t a hint of geriatric dementia in the way either of them handle.

The GT is blessed with some beautifully set up suspension, an extremely comfortable riding position, good weather protection and all the tech and goodies you need to keep warm and heading in the right direction. It’ll also have you pulling off the motorway early to hit the B-roads, where its GSX-R heritage will shine through. It’s also probably one of the only bikes on this list that wouldn’t get totally embarrassed in the fast group on a track day.

What we said: “The idea of useable performance and everyday comfort of the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT will no doubt appeal.”

Pros
* Comfort is very good
* Manners around town are almost scooter-like
* The engine is still a gem – despite being older than some of our readers!

Cons
* Clutch is fairly hefty
* The OE hoops aren’t bad, more sporty tyres are available
* Heated grips are a £300 option!

You can read our Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT review here.

Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro

• Engine 1,160cc triple Power 148bhp Licence required Full 

• Weight 246kg Seat height 850-870mm Claimed economy 46mpg Price new £17,295

It might sound like overkill to be schlepping up and down the motorway on a Tiger 1200, but trust me, I’ve been doing it all year, and it’s bloody brilliant. I’ve been using a GT Pro for the majority of my 200+ mile Coventry-to-London commutes. Come rain or shine, the Tiger 1200 has kept me dry thanks to its expansive screen, warm thanks to the heated grips and seat, and going in the right direction thanks to the Bluetooth Connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. 

Commuting on a big ADV bike, right into the heart of central London, might sound like trying to negotiate the shopping centre in an articulated lorry, but without any panniers on it, and just the cavernous top-box, you can filter through pretty much any of the gaps that the maxi-scooters and naked bikes can. It also gives you a view of what is going on around you that’s better than you get on a smaller bike. From your throne on high, you can pick out the pedestrians about to leap into the road or spot any Just Stop Oil protestors who might have glued themselves to a traffic cone.

What we said: “The new bike has been improved in every single direction while still retaining those traits owners held so dear.”

Pros
* Hugely versatile
* 148bhp performance
* Excellent handling

Cons
* Heaviest and priciest here
* Lacks image of some rivals
* Almost too nice to be a commuter

You can read our Triumph Tiger 1200 review here.

Other commuters to consider…

Honda CB125F, £3149

A perennial best-seller, Honda’s simplest, most frugal 125cc roadster is cheap to buy, can be ridden on a CBT certificate, returns around 155mpg and is about as economical as motorcycles get.

Honda Forza 750, £10,499

Honda’s biggest scooter is based on NC750 running gear, has bags of comfort, weather protection, motorway cruising ability and luggage space, has a premium, luxury, super-scooter ‘feel’ yet is far cheaper than Yamaha’s TMAX.

BMW R1250RT, £17,580

If your budget allows and your lifestyle demands mile munchers don‘t get any more comfortable, brisk, capable and luxurious (depending on spec) than BMW’s definitive tourer. And being boxer twin powered and shaft-driven it’s not that expensive to run, either!

Top 10 commuter motorcycles and scooters Key Specifications and Technical Details Comparison