Lightweight Motorcycles: Sport, Adventure and Budget Picks
Judge a lightweight motorcycle by its wet weight, meaning the weight with fuel, oil and coolant aboard. RIDE Adventures counts an adventure bike as lightweight below 400 lb fuelled. The adventure bikes below run from 331 lb to 432 lb on that measure. This page also covers the lightweight sport bikes and the cheap used bikes riders keep suggesting.
Weigh the bike with fuel in it
Makers like to quote dry weight. RIDE says gas, coolant and oil can add 30 lb or more once they are in the bike. Compare wet figures with wet figures and you avoid most of the confusion.
On the 500 lb question: none of the six bikes in RIDE’s list gets there. The heaviest, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, is 432 lb wet. RIDE also points out that a KTM 1290 Super Adventure or Ducati Multistrada V4 makes almost any middleweight look light. "Light" only means something inside one class.
Motorcycle Library’s video, "15 Lightweight Motorcycles That Are Easy To Handle!", goes through 15 bikes it describes as easy to handle. It is a quick way to see a range of small bikes side by side.
Video: 15 Lightweight Motorcycles That Are Easy To Handle! (Motorcycle Library)
How fast a light bike can really cruise
RIDE wants a minimum comfortable cruise of about 70 mph. It warns that a small bike may be claimed to reach 70, 80 or even 100 mph, but holding those speeds brings harsh vibration. Wind matters too. RIDE says even a Sportster feels fine only to about 60 mph, and above that the wind on shoulders, head and neck wears you down. A windscreen can be added later, but RIDE wants a sizeable one from the factory.
For the lowest cc that copes with a highway, RIDE’s own figures are the best guide. The 300cc class manages 65 to 70 mph. The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 can reach 75 mph, but RIDE says anything above 60 to 65 mph feels like torture. The 390 and 450 bikes in its list cruise at 70 to 75 mph.
Forum riders ask the same question. A poster on Grassroots Motorsports wanted an easy 60 mph with 70 to 80 mph for passing, and suspected a 125 or 150 would not do. One reply said they would not go below 350cc. Another said a TW200 is happiest at 60 mph and that more is pushing your luck.
Lightweight sport bikes
These are the sport bikes that built this category. Power is shown as each figure was quoted, so some are hp and some are bhp.
| Model | Engine | Power (as quoted) | Other facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTM RC 390 | 375 cc single | 44 hp | Second generation, revised ergonomics |
| Kawasaki Ninja 400 | 399 cc | 45 bhp | Step up from a 125 or 250 |
| Honda CBR500R | n/a | 47 hp | Legal on an A2 licence |
| CFMoto 450SR | 450 cc | 50 hp | Brembo brakes, 5-inch TFT, Bluetooth, A2 version |
| Kawasaki Ninja 650 | 649 cc twin | 67 hp | Beginner-friendly middleweight |
| Yamaha R7 | 682 cc | 72.3 bhp | Replaced the road-going R6 |
| Aprilia RS 660 | n/a | 100 hp | 169 kg |
| MV Agusta F3 800 | 798 cc triple | 147 hp | Torquier than the RS 660 |
Honda CBR500R and CBR650R
The CBR500R is styled as a mini-Fireblade. It is more compact and agile than the CBR650R, which has two more cylinders. Its 47 hp is enough to make you want more speed, and an A2 licence holder can ride it.
The CBR650R is a four-cylinder middleweight with echoes of the 1990s CBR600F. It was pitched as a gentler alternative to the CBR600RR. It will not wow anyone, and it is not a bike for a newcomer who overrates their skill. Honda’s current range lists the CBR650R with an E-Clutch option.
KTM RC 390
The RC 390 and the smaller RC 125 are the learner-legal end of KTM’s sport range. The second-generation RC 390 has MotoGP-style colours and much better ergonomics than the first. Its 375cc single sits in a small, space-saving chassis and is quick on tight, twisting B-roads.
KTM had no big sportbike after the RC8 990cc V-twin was retired. Its range now lists a 990 RC R for 2027. The 390 Duke has its own used buyer guide on this site.
Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Ninja 650
The Ninja 400 has a 399cc engine and 45 bhp in a light frame. It suits anyone moving up from a 125 or 250 and is calmer and more polished day to day than the old ZX-6R. The ZX-6R 636 is still racing, and has just won Kawasaki its first WorldSPB manufacturers’ title. Kawasaki’s current Ninja range lists a Ninja 300 and a Ninja 500 but no 400, so check dealer stock or the used market.
The Ninja 650 looks modest on paper. Its 649cc twin makes 67 hp, thrives on revs and rewards a well-balanced chassis on tight roads. Our Kawasaki model guide covers the wider family and used checks.
CFMoto 450
The 450SR was CFMoto’s second sportbike after the 300SR. Its face comes from the CR-21 concept. The 450cc engine makes 50 hp, a small edge over the CBR500R’s 47 hp. It comes with Brembo brakes, a 5-inch TFT dash and Bluetooth, and an A2 version exists. CFMoto’s range now lists the 450SS and the 450SR-S.
Yamaha R7, Aprilia RS 660 and MV Agusta F3 800
Yamaha’s R7 replaced the R6 in spirit. The R6 went track-only after 2020, having survived a purge of the supersport class that took out Suzuki and Triumph rivals. The R7’s 682cc engine makes 72.3 bhp. That is a warm sportbike, not a hot one, and the looks divide opinion.
The Aprilia RS 660 makes 100 hp and has no direct rival, because it is not a shrunken superbike. It is more powerful than the Ninja 650 and CBR650R and carries tech from the RSV4. The 169 kg figure does not say whether it is dry or wet, so compare it with care. The family it started now includes the Tuono 660 and Tuareg 660, and Aprilia also lists an RS 457.
The F3 800 uses a 798cc triple with 147 hp, strong torque and a special feel. It is less agile and sure-footed than the RS 660. It competes with bikes of far larger displacement.
Electric sport bikes
The Zero SR/S is a faster, more rounded take on the older SR/F roadster, though its headlamp area looks dated. The Energica Ego, covered in our Energica first look, was an early case for pairing an electric drivetrain with a sportbike. I have no current sourced prices for either, so ask a dealer before comparing them with the petrol bikes above.
Lightweight adventure bikes, with RIDE’s numbers
RIDE sets five tests: under 400 lb wet, about 70 mph cruising, a large screen, a way to carry luggage and roughly 200 miles of range. Only a few bikes pass, it says. All figures below are from RIDE, and the prices are its US MSRPs.
| Bike | Wet weight (lb) | Power (hp) | Torque (lb-ft) | Cruise (mph) | Range (miles) | US MSRP (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CRF300L Rally | 331 | 27 | 19.6 | 70 | 250+ | $6,499 |
| Suzuki DR650S | 366 | 43 | 47 | 70 | 175 | $7,099 |
| KTM 390 Adventure R | 386 | 44.4 | 28.8 | about 75 | 248 | $7,599 |
| Kawasaki Versys-X 300 | 386 | 39.3 | 19.2 | 65 | 250 | $5,699 |
| CFMoto Ibex 450 | 425 | 44 | 32.5 | 70+ | 250+ | $6,499 |
| Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 | 432 | 40 | 29.5 | 75 | 270+ | $5,799 |
Honda CRF300L Rally. RIDE calls it the featherweight that most deserves the adventure label. It has over 10 inches of suspension travel, 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, bigger brake rotors than the standard 300L, and basic handguards and a skid plate. Honda firmed up the suspension for 2025, which fixed RIDE’s main complaint. The screen gives up above 70 mph, the price rose $300 for 2025, and RIDE lists vibration over 70 mph as a con.
Suzuki DR650S. RIDE notes Suzuki is still building it. It has no wind protection and only 175 miles of range. The aftermarket is huge, with bigger tanks and bolt-on screens. RIDE says used ones sell for about half the new price, and that about $2,000 turns a stock DR into a capable adventure bike.
KTM 390 Adventure R. It costs $600 less than the original 390 Adventure, according to RIDE, and adds a spoked 21/18-inch wheel pair, long-travel suspension, handguards and a skid plate. The 34.5-inch seat is tall, and RIDE says long-term reliability is unknown because the model is new.
Kawasaki Versys-X 300. A windshield and rear rack are standard. RIDE says optional 17-litre hard bags and a 30-litre top case bring the total to about $6,300. It returns 50+ mpg. Its engine needs revs, and it vibrates when you use them.
CFMoto Ibex 450. RIDE says riders nicknamed it the mini Tenere. It has an adjustable windshield, handguards, a skid plate, folding mirrors and fully adjustable KYB suspension. At 425 lb it feels light between the knees, RIDE says. The downsides are buzz over 70 mph, a poor seat and thin aftermarket support.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. RIDE says it will go anywhere a CRF300L will, with better highway manners. It has 7.9 inches of Showa suspension travel, a full-colour TFT dash, switchable ABS and ride modes. RIDE reports no problems with its own bikes over the last year. The TFT takes practice to learn.
Used bikes under $2,000, according to forum riders
The Grassroots Motorsports thread has a $2,000 ceiling and a van to load the bike into. Replies are opinions, not tests. One poster thought the budget keeps you on used bikes, since even imported Chinese bikes cost more new. Another said hauling anything bigger than a 250 on a rear carrier gets sketchy. New riders who can spend more should see our comparison of best beginner motorcycles for US and UK riders.
- Ninja 250 to 300 and their standard versions, plus the CBR250 and YZF-R3, were suggested as a safe bet.
- Honda Rebel 250 was called a fit, as there are plenty around.
- Savage 650 or Suzuki S40 was described as a 650cc single with 30 hp, about 40 lb heavier than a Rebel 250.
- SV650 and GS500 came up as good answers. A GS500 owner said it suits riders under 6 ft. One poster advised fewer cylinders on a carbureted bike.
- CX500 was flagged for a water pump and charging system that could trouble a new rider.
- Honda Ascot came in a V-twin VT500 and a single FT500. A poster found a 7,000-mile FT for two grand. A Nighthawk twin was also said to sit near the ceiling.
- DR-Z, DR350, KLR250 and Super Sherpa: a DR-Z rarely drops below $3,000, while DR350s, KLR250s and Super Sherpas sometimes appear under $2,000.
- Royal Enfield J-series 350s and Triumph 400 singles were praised, but one poster warned the Triumphs cost more. Triumph’s 400 family lists the Speed 400, Scrambler 400 X and Thruxton 400.
Fit counts for any adult on a small bike. A poster pointed out that rider height and weight change the advice, and RIDE flags the KTM’s 34.5-inch seat as too tall for some. Sit on the bike before you buy it.
A poster with experience also warned against fitting knobbly tyres to a street bike. A hard stop on a drizzly day, with a driver running a light across you, ends badly.
