Motorcycle 101: The Definitive Guide to Motorcycling for Beginners

From cruisers to adventure bikes, here are the best motorcycles for beginners to start their riding lifestyle.

Many of us dream about owning and riding motorcycles from childhood. It could’ve been influenced by lots of action films or watching your favorite racing heroes navigating some of the toughest circuits against fellow competitors to put on a thrilling spectacle in front of our eyes. Whatever the reason might be, it’s not easy to take your eyes away from one of mankind’s best creations on two wheels.

For some, riding motorcycles is just a regular commute from A to B, but for others, it is an escape from reality; one that takes you to places far beyond the scope of your imagination. Motorcycles are available in various sizes, shapes, and forms, and it can become a tricky affair in picking up the best companion for you to start your motorcycling journey.

There’s nothing to worry about, though. This blog is tailored for beginners and amateurs who need guidance on picking the right bike.

What Beginners Should Look for in a Motorcycle

Buying your first motorcycle could be a daunting task at first, so here are some criteria that would help you understand your preferences to make an informed decision.

First and foremost, an ‘M’ classification on your license is proof that you have undergone sufficient safety training before you head out on public roads. This step is mandatory, and it is illegal to ride without a license.

After completing the first step, here are a few things to keep in mind before you head over to the nearest dealer.

Budget

Your budget for a motorcycle should be inclusive of all the costs involved in the vehicle’s ownership, including taxes, insurance, parts, riding gear, maintenance, and spares. Prices increase exponentially with an increase in power and displacement, so it is important to factor in your living situation and pick a comfortable range for you. Ideally, a budget of $ 3,000 – $10,000 would have some great options for beginner riders.

Another tip is to look for motorcycle incentives, as many manufacturers offer savings to make the buying process more affordable. It’s also important to understand what motorcycle dealer fees you should expect to pay when purchasing.

Power and Displacement

There are a plethora of configurations when it comes to motorcycle engine displacements. From a 100cc single-cylinder to a monstrous 2500cc inline-triple cylinder engine, the options are plenty. As a rule of thumb, the larger the engine capacity, the higher the horsepower, and the more difficult it becomes to control the machine without any prior knowledge or understanding. Hence, it is recommended for beginners to pick a motorcycle that is not more than 650cc’s in displacement, although there are exceptions in this list which I will get to later.

Versatility and Comfort

This point is subjective to the user’s riding style and their type of riding. Whether they go for regular touring, city commutes, track days, or hitting some trails, there are motorcycles for each scenario. Most of us fall under the category of the regular run-of-the-mill supermarket sprees and/or occasional weekend getaways. Therefore, it is necessary to pick a comfortable enough motorcycle for city conditions yet also fun to hit the highway or tackle some twisties on mountain roads.

The next section would be about various motorcycle design styles and the best beginner motorcycles for each category.

Cruisers

Cruisers are motorcycles with designs that mimic American bikes from the 30s to the 60s. They have a relatively low and comfortable seating posture with forward-set footpegs and a long, flat handlebar that’s easy to reach for the rider. They are easy-going motorcycles within the city and on the highway, with a good grunt in the low-end and midrange. The best cruisers for beginners on this list are the Royal Enfield INT 650 and the Triumph Bonneville T100.

Royal Enfield INT 650

Features

Royal Enfield harked back the ’60s and derived inspiration for the reincarnated INT 650 twin of today. The motorcycle features a simple twin-cradle tubular steel frame that was developed in collaboration with Harris Performance. It has a seat height of 804 mm, making it suitable for both tall and short riders. The instrumentation layout is also quite simple, with an analog tachometer/speedometer and a small LCD showcasing the odometer and a trip meter.

Despite the old-school classic look, the INT 650 twin gets all modern bits, including telescopic front forks, twin gas-charged rear shock absorbers, ventilated Disc brakes with ABS, and last but not least, a 650cc air-cooled fuel-injected parallel-twin engine with dual-exhaust pipes giving a raspy exhaust note!

Price

The INT 650 is available in six different colors and is priced at $5,799 (Silver Spectre, Mark Three, Orange Crush), $5,999 for a dual-tone finish (Baker Express, Ravishing Red), & $6,499 for a special shiny ‘Glitter and Dust’ paint job.

Specifications

Triumph Bonneville T100

Features

The new Bonneville T100 maintains the quintessential British cruiser stance of its past but is up-to-date with all the necessary modern bits.

The classic round headlight, along with the simple taillight design, has stayed, although they’ve been given the LED Treatment. Like its counterpart, the Bonneville houses an analog instrumentation panel with a small LCD panel displaying the necessary info to the rider. The sweet 900cc parallel-twin engine now produces more power and torque while also getting lighter. The rider triangle is upright, with the footpegs and handlebar maintained in a neutral position.

Price

The Triumph Bonneville T100 is priced at $10,500 for a single-tone Jet Black finish & $11,000 for Lucerne Blue Fusion/White & Carnival Red Fusion/Black dual-tone finish.

Specifications

Best Overall Cruiser

The best cruiser among the two bikes is the Royal Enfield INT 650. The INT 650 retains the original Interceptor’s iconic stance and carries forward its legacy with simplicity and grace in the modern era. The 650cc parallel-twin is a sweet engine packed with enough punch to tackle the city roads and highways. It’s also priced quite competitively, making it an easy recommendation for anyone.

Sports Bikes

Sportbikes are those that would be your potential track day companions. They are designed to be quick and nippy, featuring powerful and very responsive engines while being balanced in a way that helps you ride at high speeds in straight lines and around corners and to have very good stopping power. Typical characteristics would be very strong top-end engine performance and low handlebars with slightly rear-set footpegs, providing an aggressive riding posture.

There are mainly two kinds of Sportsbikes, namely, Naked Sports and Fully Faired Motorcycles.

Naked Sports

Think of a typical sports bike, but without the plastic outer shell (aka Fairings), and you get a Naked Sports Bike. They offer you everything a regular sports bike has to offer while also being better suited for the road. You would compromise on some of the aesthetics and experience increased wind resistance, but they are still very fun to ride and easily manageable. The bikes in this category that I think would be best for beginners are the KTM Duke 390 and the Triumph Trident 660.

KTM Duke 390

Features

This bike is also called the Corner Rocket, and for good reasons. The 390 Duke is designed to be comfortable when commuting in the city while also giving a thrilling experience when riding out in the twisties. With this bike, you get comfortable but aggressive upright handlebars that offer great control while also being relaxed, a set of lightweight upside-down WP forks in the front, and a 150mm progressive spring shock absorber with adjustable preload to be easily tunable depending on necessity.

You also get a powerful motor and radial brakes that give excellent feedback. Furthermore, there are several electronic ride customization options along with mobile phone connectivity that displays information like incoming calls and the music you’re listening to on the bike’s TFT color display.

Price

The 390 Duke starts at $5,299 and is offered in Silver and Black paint schemes.

Specifications

Triumph Trident 660

Features

The Trident 660 is the new and very British, entry-level motorcycle from Triumph, one of very few powered by an inline 3-cylinder engine. Upwards of 90% of the torque is available right from around 3,000 rpm, which is quite impressive, making it very maneuverable in the city, while the peak power at the upper-end makes it feel great while out on a weekend spin. The bike is well balanced and doesn’t feel skittish around corners.

With a smooth and quick throttle response and suspension that is very composed and not bouncy, it is very confidence-inspiring, especially for beginners, while also being a lot of fun for experienced riders. It has more tech than the competition, such as two rider modes, traction control, a TFT screen, and optional extras like Bluetooth connectivity and heated handle grips. Bundle all of that with the sweet soundtrack exclusive to an inline 3-cylinder engine, and there isn’t a lot more that one could ask for.

Price

The Triumph Trident 660 starts at $8,095 for the Crystal White and Sapphire Black paint schemes and $8,220 for the Matt Jet Black and Silver Ice and a Silver Ice Diablo Red finish.

Specifications

Fully Faired Motorcycles

Fully faired bikes are a step-up from their naked sports counterparts. The primary design feature that sets these apart from other bikes is the inclusion of aerodynamic shells (fairings) and larger windshields to reduce drag and help them move faster. These fully-faired machines are derived from cutting-edge racing prototypes that are homologated for use on the streets.

Most of them feature powerful engines, top-shelf suspension, brakes, and communicative chassis, translating to superior performance, handling, and speed, at the expense of practicality and comfort. For those folks who can’t get enough of speed and excitement, the Yamaha YZF-R3 and the Kawasaki Ninja 400 are your best options to get started on your supersport journey.

Yamaha YZF-R3

Features

The YZF-R3 is one of the best bikes to get started on your supersport journey. The most standout features of this motorcycle are its engine and chassis. Its parallel-twin heart is incredibly responsive with linear power delivery and revs all the way to 13,000 rpm, while the revered Deltabox frame is well balanced and allows for some spirited riding on mountain roads or hitting the apexes on racetracks.

The ergonomics and riding position are oriented towards sporty riding but still comfortable enough for city use. It is one of the best tools to get started on track days, albeit with the drawbacks of a total lack of electronic aids and the dated design.

Price

The YZF R3 is priced at $5,299 and is available in three different colors; Team Yamaha Blue, Matte Stealth Black, and Electric Teal.

Specifications

Kawasaki Ninja 400

Features

The Ninja 400 is the successor to the Ninja 300 and is a mean and green Kwacker with the performance to back it up. It follows a design language akin to its older brothers and houses a killer engine suitable for beginners and other experienced riders.

It is further complemented by a lightweight trellis frame and a slip-and-assist clutch for precise handling and control. You get a multi-functional instrumentation panel with a negative LCD for easy visibility in all lighting conditions. All the equipment aside, the Ninja has a comfortable seating posture with slightly relaxed ergonomics compared to its counterpart.

Price

The Ninja 400 is priced at $4,999 – $5,199 for the non-ABS variants, while the ABS variants cost from $5,399 – $5,599. It is offered in three different shades; Pearl Nightshade Teal/Metallic Spark Black, Passion Red, and Metallic Magnetic Dark Gray.

Specifications

Best Overall Sportbike

With such a competitive quartet up for contention, it wasn’t the easiest of decisions to come up with a winner for the category. In terms of price-to-performance ratio, the best possible choices are between the KTM Duke 390 and the Kawasaki Ninja 400. The Duke edges out the Ninja in terms of features and hooliganism. On the other hand, the Ninja gets back at the Duke with the amount of horsepower on board.

If you like more features along with the naked sport design, the Duke is your best option. If you like to tear up the tarmac with a fully faired motorcycle, then the Ninja is yours to behold. The choice is yours, my friend.

Adventure Bikes

This category is made for people who want to go on long adventurous rides, be it on the asphalt or off the beaten path. Adventure bikes have a high threshold for pain; they can take a nice beating and still keep going.

The best part? (Wait, there’s more?) They are arguably the most comfortable bikes you can find. Easy to ride with a very relaxed upright seating position is how you would often find these bikes described. Since off-roading is one of the specialties of an adventure motorcycle, it features long-travel suspension, clever electronic aids, and is built like a tank to handle rough terrains.

Honda Africa Twin

Features

Where do I even begin with this? The Africa Twin is one of the most feature-rich motorcycles on the market today. The first feature begins with the parallel-twin heart that awakens the beast to life. It produces oodles of torque from low-down all the way up to the redline without losing any steam. Honda also included an exclusive DCT variant that is just as durable as the manual gearbox but with the added comfort and ease of riding in challenging conditions.

It also gets an advanced multi-functional touchscreen display consisting of various rider modes and settings along with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay support for navigation, music, and other smartphone controls via an app. Most importantly, it gets a fully adjustable electronic suspension, adjustable windscreen, and comfortable rider ergos while sitting or standing on the motorcycle. Despite the features and kit on offer, this is one of the easiest ADV bikes to ride for beginners and professionals.

Price

The Africa Twin is offered in four different variants, including the standard, DCT, Adventure Sports ES, and Adventure Sports ES DCT. These are priced at $14,399, $15,199, $17,199, & $17,999, respectively.

They don’t fall under the price bracket of beginner bikes but are an option for those interested in exploring the unknown.

Specifications

Summary

If you’ve made it to the end of the blog, congratulations! You have been armed with all the knowledge to purchase your first motorcycle, and trust me; there’s no better feeling than this! Before you go ahead to the showroom and make a purchase, make sure to do your research by referring to multiple sources and make up your mind on what to buy. Make a checklist of all the documents you need to have, and ask for a test ride at the dealer’s or your buddies’ motorcycles to find out what works for you and what doesn’t. Follow the ‘ATGATT’ (All the Gear all the time) approach to riding and play by the rules.

Happy Riding!