Best Beginner Motorcycles: 7 Bikes Compared for US and UK Riders

Seven bikes made this list, and each suits a different rider. The Kawasaki Z500 suits anyone who wants an upright naked bike. The Kawasaki Ninja 500 and Aprilia RS 457 are the sportbike picks. The Triumph Speed 400 and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 are roadsters. The Honda CB500 Hornet is the commuter for UK riders on an A2 licence. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is the adventure-styled option.

Every engine here is 471cc or smaller. Prices are US MSRP unless marked UK. Ride impressions come from named reviews at Visordown, RideApart and Rider Magazine, and I say where a bike has no independent review in my material.

Model	Price (market)	Engine	Power	Weight	Seat height	Best for
Kawasaki Z500	From $5,699 (US); SE ABS $6,399	451cc parallel twin	51 hp at 10,000 rpm (claimed)	As low as 335.2 lb dry; 370.4 to 372.6 lb curb (2024 SE)	30.9 in	Upright naked, first bike
Kawasaki Ninja 500	From $5,499 (US, KRT Edition); SE ABS $6,499	451cc parallel twin	51 hp (claimed, same engine as Z500)	As low as 339.6 lb dry (non-ABS)	n/a	Sportbike looks, light clutch
Aprilia RS 457	n/a	457 (from model name)	47 hp	385 lb wet (claimed)	n/a	Premium-feel sportbike, some track use
Triumph Speed 400	From $5,495 (US); $4,995 at 2024 launch	398cc single	39.5 hp at 8,000 rpm (claimed)	375 lb wet (claimed)	31.1 in	Easy-going roadster
Honda CB500 Hornet	£6,199 (UK, 2024 review)	471cc parallel twin	46.2 bhp at 8,600 rpm	188 kg kerb	n/a	A2 commuting
Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 (Apex)	n/a	452cc, liquid-cooled	40 PS	n/a	780 mm	Roadster with a sportier setup
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450	From $5,799 (US); varies by model year	Sherpa 450 (displacement n/a)	n/a	n/a	n/a (optional low seat)	Adventure styling

Weights are not like for like. Kawasaki quotes dry weight, Triumph and Aprilia claim wet weight, and Honda’s figure is a kerb weight. ‘n/a’ means none of my sources gave the number.

Kawasaki Z500: upright naked, easy to live with

If I were shortlisting for a new rider, the Z500 would go first. RideApart’s review is the reason. The tester is 5 ft 3 in with a 27-inch inseam, found the bike mostly manageable, and wished it had existed when they started riding.

The engine is a 451cc parallel twin. RideApart lists a claimed 51 hp at 10,000 rpm, 31.7 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm, a six-speed gearbox and an assist-and-slipper clutch. ABS is standard. Seat height is 30.9 in, the wheelbase is 54.1 in, and the 2024 SE’s claimed curb weight is 370.4 to 372.6 lb. Kawasaki’s Z500 page gives estimated dry weight as low as 335.2 lb.

On the road, the tester said the short wheelbase and light weight made the bike simple to place in traffic and quick enough on the highway. They found no false neutral all day and had to try hard to bog the engine in too tall a gear. The clutch lever is light, and the throttle and brakes were easy to modulate. For a rider still learning to shift cleanly, those details count.

Kawasaki’s page lists the Z500 ABS at $5,699 and the Z500 SE ABS at $6,399. RideApart’s 2024 review quoted $5,599 and $6,299, so the current page is $100 higher on both. The $700 SE adds a TFT dash, LED turn signals, frame sliders, a lower cowl, tank and knee pads and a USB-C port. The base bike has an LCD dash, and RideApart noted that green paint is limited to it.

The catch: RideApart said the SE’s pillion seat cover makes mounting harder for very short inseams. Stepping on the left peg fixes it, the tester wrote. My sources give no UK price or A2 specification for the Z500, so UK riders should confirm both with a dealer.

Kawasaki Ninja 500: sportbike styling on the Z500’s engine

RideApart’s Z500 review says the Ninja 500 shares the 451cc parallel twin and its claimed 51 hp. Kawasaki’s Ninja 500 page lists the same assist-and-slipper clutch, a trellis frame, a 41 mm telescopic fork and Uni-Trak rear suspension with five-way preload adjustment. Brakes are a 310 mm front disc and a 220 mm rear disc, with ABS available. Estimated dry weight is as low as 339.6 lb for the non-ABS bike.

Kawasaki describes clip-on bars and forward footpegs as a relaxed rider triangle, and says the slim seat and narrow tank help riders reach the ground. The page gives no seat-height figure.

It lists three priced versions: the KRT Edition at $5,499, the SE KRT Edition ABS at $6,399 and the SE ABS at $6,499. The SE ABS adds a TFT display, keyless KIPASS start, LED turn signals, a large windshield, frame sliders and a USB-C outlet. No price is shown for the plain Ninja 500, so $5,499 is the cheapest entry I can source.

I found no Ninja 500 ride review in my sources. RideApart’s Z500 test is the closest guide to the engine and clutch, though it can’t speak for the Ninja’s sportier riding position. RideApart’s Aprilia review names the Ninja 500 among the rivals the RS 457 is said to beat.

The catch for UK riders is power. The 51 hp claim is above the 46.2 bhp that Visordown calls the A2 limit, and my sources have no UK-market Ninja 500 specification. Check the restricted output before you commit.

Aprilia RS 457: the premium-feel sportbike

RideApart’s first-ride review carries a headline calling the RS 457 the closest thing to a perfect beginner sportbike. The tester spent a day on it in Manila, with some freeway and a twisty-road session, and said it felt as light as their first street bike, a KTM 390 Duke.

Aprilia claims 385 lb wet, which RideApart says is not light for the class, though the bike carries the weight well. Power is 47 hp and the rear tyre is a 150. The tester said the spec sheet stops mattering once you ride it. Acceleration is linear, the clutch pull is light, and the bike works as a commuter as well as on a twisty road.

Riding modes include Sport and Eco. Traction control is adjustable and can be switched off, and the suspension can be stiffened. RideApart called it ‘a sportbike you can use every day.’ It also sees the RS 457 as a base for track riders and aspiring racers.

The catch: the same review calls the ergonomics slightly aggressive. None of my sources gives an RS 457 price or a UK A2 statement. The 47 hp figure sits just above the 46.2 bhp Visordown calls the A2 limit, so check the UK-market output before assuming it fits an A2 licence.

Triumph Speed 400: smooth single, shorter reach to the ground

Rider Magazine called the Speed 400 and its Scrambler 400 X sibling the smallest and cheapest Triumphs in decades. The Speed has a 398cc single making a claimed 39.5 hp at 8,000 rpm and 27.7 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm. It has a six-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch, ABS and switchable traction control. Claimed wet weight is 375 lb, seat height is 31.1 in and the tank holds 3.4 gal.

Rider’s tester, who is 5 ft 1 in, started on the Speed for its lower seat and found it an adept city bike in Valencia. Short gearing gave quick acceleration, and the bike was nimble at low speed. In the mountains, power was smooth and even: a little less exciting for veteran journalists, the tester wrote, and controllable for newer riders. The suspension was plush, but the front end pitched forward under hard braking. The engine gets buzzy past about 75 mph, and its sweet spot is 4,000 to 7,000 rpm.

Rider also rode the Scrambler 400 X, which has a 32.9 in seat, a 395 lb claimed wet weight, a 19-inch front wheel and longer suspension travel. The tester found that seat a stretch. It adds an off-road mode and switchable ABS, but Rider would not pick it for serious trails.

Triumph’s US page lists the Speed 400 from $5,495 and cites long service intervals and low running costs, with no figures in the text I read. Rider’s launch report gave $4,995 for the Speed 400 and $5,595 for the Scrambler for early March 2024, so the two sources differ by $500. Rider also reported that Triumph built the bikes with Bajaj Auto, with production at Bajaj and in Triumph factories in Thailand and Brazil. It lists a two-year, unlimited-mile warranty.

The catch: the smooth power that suits a beginner may feel tame to someone with experience. For UK readers, 39.5 hp is below the 46.2 bhp Visordown calls the A2 limit, but my sources have no UK price.

Honda CB500 Hornet: the sensible A2 commuter

Visordown’s tester spent a week on UK roads with the CB500 Hornet and described it as a CB500F with a new name and light styling changes. The 471cc parallel twin makes 46.2 bhp at 8,600 rpm and 31.7 lb ft at 6,500 rpm, which Visordown says sits right at the A2 limit. Kerb weight is 188 kg. The six-speed gearbox has no quickshifter option.

The Hornet name brings a five-inch colour TFT with Honda RoadSync phone connection and turn-by-turn directions. It also adds Honda Selectable Torque Control, switched on with a press-and-hold on the left switchcube. Brakes are twin front discs with four-piston Nissin calipers, and the fork is a 41 mm Showa unit.

Visordown found the bike agile and quick to change direction, helped by a narrow 160/60/17 rear tyre. That tyre costs a little confidence in fast corners, the tester said, and the chassis gets overwhelmed on undulating roads at speed. Low-speed throttle is not always smooth. The brakes have plenty of power but are hard to modulate. Fuel economy averaged about 65 mpg in a week weighted toward country roads. Visordown adds that the CB500F is popular with riding schools.

The review’s verdict is a sensible workhorse and a great first bike, though a rider buying purely for leisure may outgrow the engine.

The price was £6,199 in that 2024 review, with a PCP example of a £1,320.69 deposit and 36 payments of £79 at 9.9% APR. Check today’s figure. The CB750 Hornet cost £1,100 more, with 755cc, 90 bhp and 55 lb ft. Visordown says it can be ridden on an A2 licence with a restrictor kit, and that its electronic throttle is snatchy at low speed. My sources give no US price or seat height for the 500.

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: the roadster alternative

Royal Enfield’s US Guerrilla page now centres on the Guerrilla 450 Apex, a sportier version, and says specifications vary by variant. It lists a 452cc liquid-cooled Sherpa engine making 40PS and 40Nm, a 780 mm seat (about 30.7 in), 169 mm of ground clearance and a 1,440 mm wheelbase. Brakes are a 310 mm front disc and a 270 mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS. Showa suspension gives 140 mm of front travel and 150 mm at the rear.

The Apex has a forward-leaning riding position, a lower aluminium handlebar, 17-inch Vredestein Centauro ST+ tyres, and Sport and Street riding modes. The 4-inch colour ‘Tripper’ dash shows map directions built with Google Maps Platform. Royal Enfield calls the wheelbase the longest in its segment and the tyres the widest and stickiest in the category. Those are the company’s claims.

The catch: the page lists no price or weight, and my sources hold no independent ride review of the Guerrilla. Royal Enfield describes a more committed, forward-leaning position, so sit on one first. A 40PS output is below the 46.2 bhp Visordown calls the A2 limit, but I have no UK price.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450: the adventure pick

The Himalayan is the one dual-purpose bike here. Royal Enfield’s US page lists a 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel with dual-sport tyres, an inverted Showa cartridge fork, a steel twin-spar frame, ride-by-wire with four riding modes and switchable ABS. The tank holds 17 litres. A joystick on the switchgear controls the dash. The engine is the Sherpa 450. The Guerrilla page gives 40PS for a 452cc Sherpa engine, but the Himalayan page prints no output or weight.

The page also lists an adjustable two-piece seat, an optional low seat, and a slim seat and tank meant to help riders reach the ground. It gives no seat-height number. With a 21-inch front wheel and longer-travel suspension, I would check the reach at a dealer before ordering.

The page shows three MSRP lists under year tabs labelled 2027, 2026 and 2025, and the lists appear in that order, though the text does not label them. Read that way, the 2025 list runs from $5,799 (Kaza Brown) to $6,099. The 2026 list runs from $5,999 to $6,599, and the 2027 list from $5,999 to $6,799. The top price in each is Mana Black, which includes Rally hand guards, a Rally seat, a Rally mudguard and tubeless spoked wheels. Royal Enfield says MSRP excludes destination and handling fees, tax, title, license and registration. It also says all new Royal Enfield motorcycles come with a three-year, unlimited-mile warranty and roadside assistance.

The catch: my sources have no independent review of the Himalayan 450. The page carries a testimonial from Dakar rider CS Santosh praising its suspension and power in the mountains. That is promotion, not a test. Our Himalayan hub tracks news on the model.

How to choose between them

For a second opinion, ridinsolo’s ‘Top 5 Beginner Motorcycles!’ video is a rider’s own five-bike list. It is not tied to my picks, so expect some differences.

Video: TOP 5 BEGINNER MOTORCYCLES! (ridinsolo)

Start with seat height, the one number you cannot change. The lowest sourced figures are the Guerrilla 450 at 780 mm, the Z500 at 30.9 in and the Speed 400 at 31.1 in. Rider’s 5 ft 1 in tester found the Scrambler 400 X at 32.9 in a stretch. The Ninja 500, RS 457 and CB500 Hornet have no seat height in my sources, and the Himalayan page gives none. Sit on them.

Next, power and weight. Claimed outputs run from 39.5 hp on the Speed 400 to 51 hp on the Z500 and Ninja 500, with the Hornet at 46.2 bhp. Claimed wet weights are 375 lb for the Speed 400, 385 lb for the RS 457 and 395 lb for the Scrambler 400 X. Kawasaki’s dry weights leave out fuel and fluids, so the bikes weigh more on the road.

UK riders on an A2 licence should treat Visordown’s figure as the yardstick: 46.2 bhp, which it calls the limit. The Hornet sits at it. The Speed 400 and Guerrilla 450 are below it on their published numbers. The 51 hp Kawasakis and the 47 hp RS 457 are above it, and I have no UK-market specifications for them.

Engine size is the question readers ask most. This list stops at 471cc. My sources do not rate 600cc, 750cc or 1000cc bikes for first-time riders, so I won’t either. The one larger bike they discuss is Honda’s 755cc CB750 Hornet. It makes 90 bhp against the 500’s 46.2, and Visordown calls the 500 a great first bike and the 750 the better buy for pure fun. Rider makes a related point about small bikes: new riders no longer have to wrestle large-displacement machines while building skills. If you are weighing a 600 anyway, our guide to modern middleweight sportbikes lists what is on sale.

There is no cruiser here. The Honda Rebel and Yamaha YZF-R3 were on my shortlist, but my material had no current figures for either, so I left them out. RideApart does name the Rebel as a long-running beginner choice. It also says the Kawasaki Eliminator uses the same 451cc twin as the Z500 and Ninja 500, though I have no price or seat height for the Eliminator.

If new prices of $5,000 and up are a stretch, our Kawasaki Ninja 400 used buyer guide covers what to check. RideApart noted in 2024 that the 2023 Z400 ABS started at $5,399, only $200 under the Z500. Budget for a lid as well: our best motorcycle helmets guide covers the options.

US financing is worth a question. Kawasaki’s Ninja 500 and Z500 pages both carry an offer of financing as low as 2.95% APR for 60 months on select new models, with amounts financed of $5,000 or more, valid through 31 December 2026. The pages say the APR assigned will be 2.95%, 16.45% or 22.95% depending on credit approval, and model and year exclusions apply. Ask the dealer whether your bike qualifies.

All US prices here are MSRP. Only Royal Enfield’s page spells out that its figure excludes destination fees, tax, title, license and registration. The other pages do not say, so ask each dealer for an out-the-door price.

Featured image: Clarkinternationalspeedway-californiasuperbikeschool-trackday-2025-kawasaki-z500-7621 by Monkinvideos, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.