When you first start riding, finding the best beginner motorcycle to start out on can be tough. In the best-case scenario, your motorcycle or MSF course will have let you try out different styles of bikes throughout so that you can get a feel for each type. In the worst-case scenario, you were stuck with one bike throughout and have no idea what other styles feel like.
On top of that, we realize that almost everyone that is starting out on motorcycles wants to buy a good quality, reliable used one. This is both because while getting used to the rope, you will most likely drop your bike once, and because you want a bike that will potentially last you a season or two before you move up into the new bike owners club.
Worry not, then, new riders! We’ve put our heads together here and between all of us, have come up with a list of 5 Used Beginner Motorcycles that will see you through thick and thin. Some are what we would call generic starters, others are more specialized in the model subsets. But all of them are worth finding used!
Suzuki SV650
The Suzuki SV650 has attained near-mythical status as a great beginner bike, and even one worth hanging on to, with good reason. It has a narrow frame and engine thanks to being a V-twin, which allows almost anyone and everyone to flat foot the bike at a stop, but it is also relatively lightweight at just over 430 lbs wet, depending on which year and model you get.
As well, the SV650 has a multitude of styles. There is a fully naked, a half-faired version, a fully-faired version (also known as the Gladius that lasted for a couple of years only), and all of them have plenty of getting up and go from the 645cc V-twin. And when we say that V-twin is bulletproof, you can quite literally hit the engine with a sledgehammer and it will still run smoothly.
We recommend looking at the 2004 and later versions of the SV650, as the first generation had a higher seat, carburetors, and a slightly more uncomfortable, sport-aggressive seating lean. The SV is all about learning and finding out how a standard bike with some sporty leanings feels, and it is still the benchmark by which all other beginner bikes are measured, even in 2021.
Kawasaki Ninja 250/300/400/650
Those interested in going down the sportbike route towards potentially getting a supersport have the Kawasaki Ninja line of bikes to get them started off with. To alleviate confusion, keep in mind that these bikes are named “Ninja ###,” and not “Ninja ZX-##.” The ZX models are the Supersports, and until you’re comfortable on a regular sportbike, we suggest staying away from them.
So why is the Ninja the best sportbike to start out on? Two things.
First, they are incredible value-for-money, with robust, high-quality parts, excellent riding position, accessible and easy-to-understand controls, and in recent years, the latest in anti-wheelie, skid control, and dual-zone ABS.
Second, they are as reliable as a wood-burning stove. It may be because Kawasaki Motors is a part of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, meaning that redundancy and reliability are crucial. It may be because the Japanese have a sixth sense about how to make unbreakable engines. Whatever it is, as long as you do your maintenance on schedule, and have your valves adjusted every 10,000 miles or so, you can keep a Ninja going literally until the end of time.
Kawasaki Z300/Z400/Z650
Much like the Ninja above, the Kawasaki Z line at the lower end is packed with value. While the Z300 is no longer made, it is widely available in used marketplaces across the USA. The Z400 and Z650 are the recent Z bikes and are both stellar beginner bikes.
What makes the Z bikes different from the Ninja is that the Z bikes are naked sports standards and that there are no supersport versions of them. There is larger displacement Z900, Z900RS, and Z1000 models for those wanting to keep with the naked bike and move up once comfortable with their Z’s, and there is also the ridiculously powerful Z H2, which we recommend you have at least 5 years of riding experience before even sniffing at. A 200 HP supercharged 998cc inline-four is definitely not for beginners!
No matter which Z bike you choose from 300 through to 650, rest assured that you are getting one of the best pure naked bikes on the market. Yamaha may call their MT line the “hyper-naked,” and Honda’s CB line are close contenders, but you simply do not get as much of a complete package as you do with the Z branded bikes. And did we mention that they’re usually quite cheap used as well?
Suzuki DR-Z400
If you haven’t heard of the Suzuki DR-Z400, then in all likelihood you are not looking for a dual-sport bike that loves to be on the streets more than it does the dirt. It comes in two main models, the S and the SM. The S model has a big 21-inch front wheel, a decent 18 inch back wheel, compliant but the firm suspension, and is an absolute laugh to ride with its controllable and available power and torque.
The SM variant, or SuperMoto, however, is where you travel from laughing to grinning like a madman. With 17-inch wheels front and rear with street tires on, it is the perfect “friendly hooligan” bike. Consider: 322 lbs wet, 37 HP. In layman’s terms, the DR-Z400 in either guise is a bike that is infinitely agile, very sure-footed, and can hit 90+ MPH in SM form.
We recommend, if you are looking for a DR-Z400 to learn and keep for a couple of seasons, go with the SM variant. You will have hours of fun, it will carve corners with the best of the sportbikes, and it will also pootle along quite happily as a commuter. You will get 55 to 65 MPG on average, with the 398cc single thumper whacking away under your butt to give the bike a great sound and a great feel.
Suzuki V-Strom 650
The Suzuki V-Strom 650 is a corner-cousin to the SV650, using the same engine and ABS modules, but not much else. Often (and lovingly) nicknamed the “Wee Strom” to differentiate it from the V-Strom 1000, it takes that 645cc engine and tunes it to give most of its power in the low to midrange of the rev band, between 4,000 and 7,000 RPM.
This is because the V-Strom 650s primary market is not the adventure market, despite it being an adventure bike. Indeed, the V-Strom 650 is meant to demolish the miles on long tours or commutes in comfort, style, and with gas to spare. In fact, you will not often find a V-Strom 650 on any sort of dirt, except if it’s a hard-pack dirt road.
There is also a massive fanbase and third-party aftermarket collection for the V-Strom 650. Everyone from beginner riders to riders with 30+ years of experience under their belts love the Wee Strom, and for many, they’ve had the bike for 3, 5, even 10+ years and love the hell out of it. So if you pick up a V-Strom 650 as your beginner bike, you may not ever need to buy another bike if it becomes the one you love the most!
