Top 5 Cheap and Lightweight Motorcycles to Learn on

The most exciting thing about motorcycling is when you start learning it. A novice rider may feel excited and thrilled to start riding a motorcycle but also intimidated. However, confidence is a must-have to ensure you ride safely.

If this is your first time taking the motorbike on the road, make sure you are fully prepared. You must wear the right safety riding gear and be confident.

Nevertheless, your priority must be to choose the right motorcycle to learn on. If you want to learn all motorcycling skills without compromising on safety, you must choose a lightweight and small motorcycle to start with.

Continue reading this article to learn in detail about the best beginner motorcycles that are cheap, lightweight, and easy to learn on.

If you are completely new to motorcycling and want to start learning how to ride a motorcycle, your approach must be different. Everybody wants a motorcycle that looks powerful, muscular, and prominent with a large-displacement engine.

Moreover, as beginners, we must look for better things on a motorcycle to learn better and be safe. Let’s point out the most important things to look for in a beginner motorcycle.

An entry-level beginner-friendly motorcycle must be:

• Cheap

• Lightweight

• Low-powered

• Have small-displacement engine

• Low seat height

• Fuel-efficient

• Easy to maintain

• Easy to maneuver

• Offers nimble and light handling

• Easy to work on

• Should be comfortable

• Not too much compromise on the look

You may not find all these qualities in a single motorcycle. However, you can still look for a bike with the most beginner-friendly features.

It is good not to invest too much in your first motorcycle that you will use for learning. You will probably move to your 2nd motorcycle if you are a good learner.

Secondly, a small-displacement, low-powered motorcycle is a safer option for a beginner, particularly if you are in a learning phase. Also, a lightweight, nimble bike can make handling and cornering easier for you to learn.

Additionally, it will be easier and cheaper for you to work on and maintain your bike if it is simple and small. However, you must not compromise too much on the look of your first bike so people start considering you a complete newbie.

You should own a good-looking bike to keep your motorcycling passion alive and enjoy riding.

It is time to move on to the top 5 cheap and lightweight motorcycles to learn on.

On top of our list, we have one of the best modern-day entry-level bikes for beginners, the Honda Rebel 300. It is perfect because it is a considerably modern bike.

The Rebel 300 is also a very good-looking bike. It will not make you look like a complete beginner rider.

The Rebel 300 checks almost every box to become the best beginner bike. It is lightweight, low-powered, simple, and affordable. You can either buy a new model or a used one if you want to save more money.

Being manufactured by Honda, it is the most reliable beginner bike without a doubt. Being a modern-day cruiser, the Rebel 300 offers a low seat height of 27.2 inches and a low center of gravity, making handling easy.

The Rebel 300 offers an ideal beginner platform for novice riders to learn on. The Rebel series has bigger versions, including the Rebel 500 and the Rebel 1100. So, you can stick to the Rebel when you switch to your next bike.

The wet weight of 370 lbs (ABS variant) doesn’t feel too bothersome as it is mostly centered low to the ground. Above all, the programmed fuel-injected single-cylinder engine is highly efficient. It ensures a fuel mileage of 78 mpg (Claimed).

On a single full gas tank, the Rebel 300 can ensure an estimated range of 234 miles thanks to its adequate fuel storage capacity of 3 gals.

The 286 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine works impressively. It generates decent beginner-friendly power figures. The power delivery, along with the ride quality, is very smooth and impressive.

You will love to ride the Rebel 300 thanks to its comfortable ergonomics and rider triangle. The upright riding stance this bike offers is good for long continuous rides.

Another very sophisticated, simple, and easy-to-use entry-level bike by Honda is the CRF300L. If you ask experienced motorcyclists their opinions regarding which motorcycle to choose as a beginner, they will most likely suggest you choose from the dual-sport bike category.

Dual sports bikes are among the most favorite of beginners. Why? Because they are very versatile and capable of keeping you entertained for a long time.

Above all, they are small, lightweight, and easy to maneuver on almost every terrain. The Honda CRF300L has always remained at the top of the list of best dual sports bikes, offering great value for the money.

Everything is perfect about this bike, making it highly suitable for beginners. It has the same engine which powers the Rebel 300. The CRF300L also comes equipped with a programmed fuel injection, ensuring an impressive fuel economy of 70 mpg.

Being a rugged-style off-road-capable bike, the CRF300L is dependable for multi-purpose use. You can also use it for city traveling, light freeway cruising, and extreme off-roading.

Nevertheless, it is another great first bike for beginners so they can learn to ride.

There is only one drawback with the CRF300L, which is common with almost every off-road-capable dual sport bike: a taller seat height. Being a dual sport bike, the CRF300L has 34.7 inches of seat height.

A taller seat height can cause a bit of an issue for beginners to ride in the city, especially on busy roads. Navigating stop-and-go traffic can be a big problem for beginners as most riders may be unable to balance the bike with both their feet.

Apart from that, the CRF300L is an affordable, reliable, lightweight, and all-in-one bike to learn on.

Sports bikes are usually not considered the most ideal learning platform for beginners. They are aggressive, quick, and not the safest choice for new riders. However, there is an exception.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R is among the most notable and widely used beginner bikes. Not every rider who wants to start riding prefers a comfortable, wide cruiser. A majority of riders prefer sports bikes for everyday riding. It all depends on riders’ preferences and style.

Though the Ninja 250R is discontinued, it is widely owned and used by beginners to learn to ride a motorcycle. Being a Ninja, it has a high-reliability score. The power and torque figures are decent enough to keep you engaged in the riding process.

It is usually not common for a sports bike to ensure a decent fuel economy. However, thanks to the small-size engine, the Ninjna 250R ensures a good fuel mileage between 55-75 mpg.

No matter where you live, you can easily find a Ninja bike, as Kawasaki has sold many worldwide.

Unlike the Kawasaki supersport or hyper sport Ninjas, the Ninja 250R is considerably comfortable, offering a slightly upright riding stance. You can comfortably use this bike for everyday riding.

The Ninja 250R is not only a good beginner bike, it also makes you look cool. You can get professional sports bike-style riding gear to resemble a professional racer. Learning how to ride a motorcycle can be more fun with the Ninja 250R.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R is lightweight and highly maneuverable, even at lower speeds. Above all, the power output is quite manageable, making it suitable for beginners.

Regardless of being discontinued in 2017, the Ninja 250R is still a notable option in the used motorcycle market. Also, you can easily get a good-looking used Ninja 250R under $2,000-3,000 in good condition.

If you are hesitant to choose a Ninja sport bike for learning, don’t be. It is a widely recommended and used entry-level bike. Learning how to ride a motorcycle will be fun.

The KTM 250 Duke is another great option for beginners. The term “Duke” is synonymous with being fun, highly maneuverable, and agile. The KTM 250 Duke is among the smallest in the Duke family. However, it is still a Duke with all great features and aggressive styling.

This bike has only a 249 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, offering 30.84 hp horsepower and 25 Nm of torque. Considering its engine size and power figures, it serves as an ideal beginner platform for learning how to ride a bike.

Nevertheless, due to being an aggressive-style naked bike, the KTM 250 Duke can also go completely hooligan. It is a lightweight, highly maneuverable bike. Being a common characteristic of almost every Duke model, the 250 Duke can change direction with a little effort.

You can take this bike for daily rides, weekend trips, city traveling, and quick, short rides. The KTM 250 Duke is a great solid bike with decent ergonomics and an affordable price point.

To be safe, you must ride this or any other bike above your limits. If you don’t consider sports or a naked bike a safe option, don’t go for the KRM 250 Duke.

If you have zero prior experience of riding a motorcycle, the Honda Grom is the ideal option for you. It is a standard-style mini motorcycle from Honda and is widely popular for various reasons.

Being completely new to motorcycling, if you are intimidated by bigger bikes and feel frightened to take a bike out on a busy road, there is no better option than the Grom.

It is small but decent enough to offer a comfortable riding stance. The Honda Grom is among the very popular small-sized bikes due to its beginner-friendly features. It is used as a beginner bike around the world.

Why is it the best beginner platform? It has only 124 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. The construction is extremely simple. The engine only produces 9.7 hp of horsepower and 7.7 lb-ft of torque. You only have to focus on your ride and nothing else.

The small size and low power figures allow you to concentrate more on the road and traffic. Learning how to ride a motorcycle is much easier on the Honda Grom.

As you sit on this bike, it doesn’t feel like a minimoto. In fact, the Grom looks cool and attractive. Above all, it is quite an affordable option. You can purchase the 2024 Grom model for only $3,599.

You can also buy the aftermarket body panels/covers if you want to completely change the look of this bike. The bolt-on panels/covers are easy to change, making customization a very easy option for new riders.

Being small and low-powered, the Honda Grom offers a remarkable fuel economy of 166.5 mpg. All these amazing beginner-friendly features of the Honda Grom make it the most eligible entry-level bike to learn to ride on.

As a beginner rider, you must not spend more than $4,000-5,000 on your first motorcycle. Investing too much on your first bike is not a good idea as you may need to switch to your next bike early if you are a good learner. Also, it is better to focus more on learning new skills rather than looking cool on a new first bike.

There may be instances when you will drop your first bike while learning. If you buy an expensive first bike, the repair or replacement may cost you more. Therefore, buying a used first bike is better so you don’t feel too bad even if you drop your bike while learning how to ride a motorcycle.

According to most novice and experienced riders, cornering is the hardest thing to learn on a motorcycle. A rider is required to lean and countersteer his/her while cornering, which is not a piece of cake for beginners. New riders may require years of practice to improve at turning a corner.

It is a skill that can take years to master. Sometimes, even the experienced riders don’t look very confident while turning a tight corner.

Yes, small and lighter motorbikes are easier to ride and handle, so they are great for learning. You can easily maneuver or change the direction of a lightweight motorcycle. Cornering is also much easier on a lightweight bike.

A lightweight motorcycle offers negligible resistance while steering or leaning. Riders don’t feel as intimidated as they would while riding a heavyweight motorcycle like a cruiser or a touring bike.

Ideally, a 125-300 cc bike is considered ideal for beginners, particularly in the U.S. However, it largely depends on the individual preferences and skills of riders. If you have zero knowledge, no prior riding experience, and no road sense, it is better to prefer a 125 cc bike; for example, a Honda Grom will be a better choice.

If you have the basic motorcycle know-how and are familiar with the clutch action and gear shifting, you can go with a 300 cc bike.

Finding yourself the best motorcycle to learn to ride requires a great deal of research and effort. We have made it easy for you to pick one from the list of top five cheap and lightweight motorcycles to learn about.

The beginner-friendly motorbikes mentioned in this article are one of the best and trusted beginner platforms for new riders. We made sure to suggest the cheapest, lightweight, and safer options so you can learn more effectively.

We suggest you not invest heavily in your first bike. Most beginners are often seen choosing the wrong bike just because they want to look cool. You may get emotionally attached to your first bike but will not ride it forever.

To be safe and learn effectively, starting with a cheap, lightweight, low-powered, and nimble bike is better.