Top 10 Motorcycles for Riders Over 50

Motorcycles may not be as comfortable as cars, but motorcycle riding has several advantages that make it a popular mode of transportation. Motorcycle riding has many mental health benefits, including reducing stress and increasing dopamine. It can also be a form of light exercise and help with socializing.

Motorcycle riding is a fun and safe activity if you follow traffic laws and wear appropriate riding gear. It does not matter how old you are, almost anyone can ride a motorcycle. However, the motorbike best suited for you depends on riding skills, experience, physical fitness, and personal habits.

If you are over the age of 50, It does not matter how fit you are; there is a limit to how much physical exertion you can handle. Riders over 50 years old should look for lightweight and comfortable motorcycles that are easy to handle and includes safety features. This article discusses the top 10 motorcycles for riders over the age of 50.

The Triumph Bonneville T100 is a classic retro-style motorbike with minimal styling and an elegant look. It is better suited to riders over 50 years old due to its low weight and comfortable ergonomics. The Triumph Bonneville T100 is fitted with a 900 cc liquid-cooled, Parallel-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 64.1 hp at 7,400 rpm and a torque of 80 Nm at 3,750 rpm. It has a five-speed transmission and torque-assist clutch to ensure the smooth clutch operation and gear shifts. The Triumph Bonneville T100 has a wet weight of 503 lbs (228 kg), making handling easier for older riders.

The 2022 Triumph Bonneville T100 comes with upgraded Brembo brakes and cartridge forks to provide better control and comfort. It is fitted with modern ride-assist features, including traction control and a standard ABS. The Triumph Bonneville T100 is equipped with a single-piece saddle capable of two-up riding and mid-mounted foot controls, making it ideal for daily commutes and weekend rides.

The Honda Rebel 500 is an ideal cruiser with a simple design and low weight. It is an all-around, affordable, and reliable motorcycle with modern ride safety features, including an optional ABS, assist & slipper clutch, and full LED lighting package. The Rebel 500 is powered by a 471 cc Parallel-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 45.9 hp and a torque of 40.54 Nm at 6,300 rpm. The 471 cc Parallel-Twin engine’s user-friendly powerband is ideal for riders over the age of 50. The Rebel 500 has a seat height of 27 inches and a wet weight of 408 lbs, ensuring a comfortable riding experience. It is easy to maneuver while riding through traffic and turning tight corners. The Rebel 500 has slightly sportier ergonomics, making it suitable for all riders.

The Kawasaki Vulcan S Café 650 is one of the most stylish and comfortable motorbikes for older riders. It comes with blacked-out parts and a dark-tinted windscreen, giving it a modern look. The Vulcan S Café 650 comes with the latest ride-assist technologies, including an Ergo-Fit, an Economical Riding Indicator, and a Dual Throttle Valve. The Ergo-Fit feature allows riders to adjust the handlebars, footrests, and seat position to better suit their riding styles.

The Vulcan S Café is fitted with a 649 cc engine capable of a torque of 62.77 Nm at 6,600 rpm. It comes with an adjustable seat height of 27.8 inches and a curb weight of 496.1 lbs. The Vulcan S Café 650 is an all-around cruiser with slightly sportier ergonomics and sports bike performance. Being a lightweight motorcycle, it is easy to handle at both low and moderate speeds.

The Vulcan S Café 650 comes with forward-mounted foot controls and the handlebars are within comfortable reach of the rider, ensuring an upright riding position. The comfortable ergonomics make it better suited for riders over the age of 50.

If you love to go on a motorcycle tour on a dual-purpose adventure motorbike, then the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is a good option. Despite being an adventure motorbike for both on- and off-roading performance and coming with stock hard saddlebags, it has a low wet weight of 485 lbs due to its lightweight aluminum frame.

The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is fitted with an 890 cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine. It is optimized for better on-road and light off-road performance. Being an adventure bike, it has an adjustable tall seat height of 31.9-32.5 inches to ensure a high ground clearance of 5.3 inches.

To ensure a safe riding experience, the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is equipped with the latest technology, including ABS, engine control unit (ECU), traction control system (TCS), front wheel lift control system, side control system, and electronically controlled suspension.

The front suspension has a wheel travel of 5.2 inches and the rear suspension has a wheel travel of 5.4 inches. The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT also comes with grip heaters that keep the hands warm even in cold weather.

Overall, the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is an ideal and comfortable motorbike for riders over the age of 50. However, if you are not looking for a motorbike capable of off-roading, then it is better to go with a cruiser or a street bike.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 LT is another lightweight and easy-to-handle adventure motorbike. It comes with the latest ride-assist features, including a standard ABS, traction control, and smartphone connectivity.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 LT is powered by a 649 cc Parallel-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 65.7 hp at 8,500 rpm and a torque of 60.74 Nm at 7,000 rpm. It also comes with stock saddlebags, a windshield, and hand guards. The Kawasaki Versys 650 LT has a low curb weight of 482.9 lbs and a tall seat height of 33.3 inches to ensure a high ground clearance of 6.7 inches. The Kawasaki Versys 650 LT is one of the most affordable adventure bikes, coming at a low cost of $9,999.

For older beginner riders, the Honda Money is one of the best motorcycles to ensure safer rides. It is a retro-styled mini motorbike fitted with a low-powered 124.9 cc engine. Despite being a mini retro motorbike, the Honda Monkey has a seat height of 30.5 inches. However, a low wet weight of 231 lbs makes it better suited for beginners over the age of 50. The Honda Money also comes with a standard ABS for reliable braking and an inverted hydraulic front suspension for better control and handling.

The Harley Davidson Street 500 is one of the lightest motorcycles with the smallest engine in the Harley Davidson lineup. It was discontinued in 2020, but it is still popular among novice riders. The Harley Street 500 is also best suited for riders over the age of 50. It is a simple cruiser with blacked-out parts, mid-mounted foot controls, and a single-piece saddle capable of two-up riding. The Harley Street 500 is powered by a 494 cc Revolution® X V-Twin engine capable of torque of 40 Nm at 3,750 rpm. The Revolution® X V-Twin engine has smooth power delivery and throttle response. The Harley Street 500 is ideal for daily commutes and easy to maneuver at high and low speeds. It has a low seat height of 28.3 inches and a low wet weight of 514 lbs (233 kg). The Harley Street 500’s low seat height, low center of gravity, and optional ABS ensure confidence while turning tight corners and riding through traffic. The front telescopic fork suspension and rear dual shock absorbers are tuned to ensure better performance. If you are an older beginner and a Harley Davidson fan, then the Harley Street 500 is the best option.

The Harley Davidson Super Low is a simple cruiser with minimal design. It has a low seat height of 27.7 inches and a wet weight of 568.8 lbs (258 kg), which makes it stable and easy to handle. The Harley Super Low is powered by an 883 cc Evolution™ engine capable of a torque of 69 Nm at 4,750 rpm and a horsepower of 52.3 hp at 5,750 rpm. Despite being a cruiser, it has slightly sportier ergonomics with mid-mounted foot controls and an upright riding position. The Harley Super Low’s low seat height, low center of gravity, and better handling make it an ideal option for riders over the age of 50. Its comfortable ergonomics and narrow frame ensure confidence when turning tight corners. The Harley Super Low also comes with an Emulsion rear shock absorber with a screw adjuster to ensure comfortable riding on bumpy roads.

The Suzuki Boulevard S40 is one of the most lightweight cruisers with a single-cylinder engine. It was introduced in 1986 and was discontinued in 2019. The Boulevard S40 comes with a rigid, strong chassis and frame design, ensuring better handling and responsiveness. It is fitted with a 652 cc engine capable of smooth low-end torque and power delivery. The Suzuki Boulevard S40 comes with a five-speed transmission that connects to the rear wheel via a belt drive. It has an exceptionally low wet weight of 381 lbs (173 kg) and a low seat height of 27.6 inches.

The Suzuki Boulevard S40 has mid-mounted, swept-back handlebars that are within comfortable reach of the rider. The forward-mounted foot controls provide adequate legroom for a comfortable riding experience. The Boulevard S40’s bigger front wheel and raked-out front end provide linear stability. The adequate legroom, swept-back handlebars, and low wet weight make this cruiser ideal for riders over the age of 50.

The Harley Davidson Sportster Iron 883 is a popular motorbike among beginners and women riders due to being an agile and low-powered motorcycle. It is one of the easiest motorcycles to ride due to its nimble and lightweight build. The Harley Sportster Iron 883 is also aesthetically appealing with its slightly sportier look and ergonomics. It is fitted with slightly swept-back, low-mounted handlebars, mid-mounted foot-controls, and a low seat height of 25.7 inches which ensures a low center of gravity and comfortable ergonomics. The rider has to sit in a slightly forward position to reach the handlebars. The Harley Sportster Iron 1200’s compact and narrow design ensures better handling and cornering.

The Harley Sportster Iron 1200 is powered by an 883 cc air-cooled, Evolution V-Twin engine capable of a horsepower of 54 hp at 6,000 rpm and 73.21 Nm at 4,750 rpm. It comes with a five-speed transmission that connects to the rear wheel via a belt drive. The Harley Iron 883 is also fitted with an Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) that ensures optimal fuel delivery to the engine and a fuel economy of 51 mpg. The high-quality suspensions provide better damping rates to ensure comfortable rides on highways and busy roads. It is ideal for daily commutes and riding through traffic.

Motorcycle riding is not only a fun activity but there are also many physical and mental health benefits as well, especially when you are over 50 years old. It is a form of light exercise that keeps your mind active, improves your cognition, and helps you socialize. However, riders that are over 50 years old prefer comfort over high performance. They look for motorbikes that are lightweight, nimble, and easy to ride through traffic. Motorcycles with a wet weight below 500 lbs, an engine displacement between 300-900 cc, and an upright riding position are ideal for older riders. The motorcycles listed above are best for riders over the age of 50.

If you want to improve the safety features, aesthetics, and comfort of your motorcycle, Viking Bags has several aftermarket parts available. The aftermarket parts include sissy bars for mounting luggage bags and passenger safety, and crash bars for motorcycle safety. There are different luggage options as well, including saddlebags and sissy bar bags for larger storage capacity. Other parts include handlebars and fairings which can help improve comfort.