The Best Bikes for Smaller Riders (and Budgets): 2019 Edition!

[DaveM]

Bigger doesn’t always mean better, and fortunately for those of us looking for a fun, affordable motorcycle there are more choices than ever. Nearly every manufacturer now offers at least one model that will fit just about any rider’s size and/or budget.

Scroll down for Rider’s 2019 list of Best Bikes for Smaller Riders and Budgets. When possible we’ve included a link to our review, making it easy for you to get a real ride evaluation. We’ve also included the 2019 model year’s U.S. base MSRP (as of publication), seat height and claimed wet weight (when a wet weight was not available from the manufacturer, the claimed dry weight is listed). For more details, you can read our review, which includes comprehensive specs, or click on the bike’s name to be taken directly to the manufacturer’s page.

BMW F 750 GS


2019 BMW F 750 GS (Photo by Kevin Wing)

BMW F 750 GS
$10,395
32.1-inch seat w/ optional 31.1-inch seat or 30.3-inch seat
493 lbs.​

Read our Road Test Review of the 2019 BMW F 750/850 GS​

BMW G 310 GS


2018 BMW G 310 GS (Photo by Kevin Wing)

BMW G 310 GS
$5,795
32.9-inch seat w/ optional 32.3-inch seat
374 lbs.​

Read our First Ride Review of the 2018 BMW G 310 GS​

How did the G 310 GS stack up against the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and Royal Enfield Himalayan? Find out in our comparison test.​

BMW G 310 R


2018 BMW G 310 R (Photo by Kevin Wing)

BMW G 310 R
$4,750
30.9-inch seat w/ optional 30.3-inch seat
349 lbs.​

Read our First Ride Review of the 2018 BMW G 310 R​

Can-Am Ryker


2019 Can-Am Ryker Rally (Photo by Kevin Wing)

Can-Am Ryker
starting at $8,499 (600cc model)
23.5-inch seat
594 lbs. (dry, 600cc)​

Read our First Ride Review of the 2019 Can-Am Ryker​

CSC RX3


CSC RX3 (Photo by James Norris)

CSC RX3
$5,395
31.9-inch seat
450 lbs. (dry)​

Read our Road Test Review of the 2016 CSC RX3​

Ducati Monster 797+


2018 Ducati Monster 797+

Ducati Monster 797+
$9,295
31.7-inch seat
386 lbs. (dry)​

Ducati Scrambler Sixty2


2019 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2

Ducati Scrambler Sixty2
$7,995
31.1-inch seat w/ optional 30.3-inch seat
403 lbs.​

Read about Ducati’s updates to the 2019 Scrambler lineup​

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle


2019 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle

Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle
$10,995
31.4-inch seat w/ optional 30.6-inch seat
417 lbs.​

Read about Ducati’s updates to the 2019 Scrambler lineup​

Harley-Davidson Street Rod


2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod (Photo by Brian J. Nelson)

Harley-Davidson Street 500/750/Street Rod
starting at $6,899
25.7-inch seat
492 lbs. (dry)​

Read our first ride review of the 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod​

Harley-Davidson SuperLow


Harley-Davidson SuperLow

Harley-Davidson SuperLow
$8,699
25.5-inch seat
545 lbs. (dry)​

Harley-Davidson Iron 883


Harley-Davidson Iron 883

Harley-Davidson Iron 883/1200
starting at $8,999
25.7-inch seat
545 lbs. (dry)​

Check out our First Look Review of the 2018 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200​

Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom


2019 Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom

Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom
$10,999
26.6-inch seat
562 lbs. (dry)​

Honda CB300R


2019 Honda CB300R (Photo by Drew Ruiz)

Honda CB300R
$4,649
31.5-inch seat
318 lbs.​

Read our First Ride Review on the 2019 Honda CB300R​

Honda CBR300R


2019 Honda CBR300R

Honda CBR300R
$4,699
30.7-inch seat
357 lbs.​

Honda CB500F


2019 Honda CB500F

Honda CB500F
$6,199
30.9-inch seat
415 lbs.​

Honda CBR500R


2019 Honda CBR500R

Honda CBR500R
$6,699
30.9-inch seat
419 lbs.​

Honda CB500X


2019 Honda CB500X

Honda CB500X
$6,599 (2018 model)
31.8-inch seat
428 lbs.​

Read about the updates for the 2019 Honda CB500X​

Honda CB650R


2019 Honda CB650R

Honda CB650R
$8,899
31.9-inch seat
445 lbs.​

Read our First Look Review of the 2019 Honda CB650R​

Honda CBR650R


2019 Honda CBR650R

Honda CBR650R
$TBD
31.9-inch seat
456 lbs.​

Read our First Look Review of the 2019 Honda CBR650R​

Honda CRF250L


Honda CRF250L

Honda CRF250L
$5,199
34.4-inch seat
318 lbs.​

Read our review of the 2017 Honda CRF250L Rally​

Honda Grom


2019 Honda Grom

Honda Grom
$3,399
30-inch seat
229 lbs.​

Honda Monkey


2019 Honda Monkey (Photo by Kevin Wing)

Honda Monkey
$3,999
30.6-inch seat
232 lbs.​

Watch our video review of the 2019 Honda Monkey​

Honda NC750X


2019 Honda NC750X

Honda NC750X
$7,999 (2018 model)
32.7-inch seat
478 lbs.​

Honda Shadow Phantom


2019 Honda Shadow Phantom

Honda Shadow Phantom
$7,899
25.8-inch seat
549 lbs.​

Honda Super Cub C125


2019 Honda Super Cub C125

Honda Super Cub
$3,599
30.7-inch seat
240 lbs.​

Honda Rebel 300/500


Honda Rebel 500 (Photo by Kevin Wing)

Honda Rebel 300/500
starting at $4,499
27.2-inch seat
364 lbs.​

Read our First Ride Review of the Honda Rebel 500​

Indian Scout Sixty


Indian Scout Sixty

Indian Scout Sixty
$9,499
25.8-inch seat
542 lbs.​

Read about Indian’s 2019 Scout lineup​

Indian Scout


2019 Indian Scout

Indian Scout
$11,999
25.8-inch seat
550 lbs.​

Read about Indian’s 2019 Scout lineup​

Kawasaki KLX250


2019 Kawasaki KLX250

Kawasaki KLX250
$5,349
35.0-inch seat (squishes way down under rider’s weight)
304 lbs.​

Kawasaki Ninja 400


2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400 ABS (Photo by Kevin Wing)

Kawasaki Ninja 400
$4,999
30.9-inch seat
366 lbs.​

Read our First Ride Review of the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400 ABS​

Kawasaki Ninja 650


2019 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Kawasaki Ninja 650
$7,399
31.1-inch seat
426 lbs.​

Kawasaki Versys-X 300


2019 Kawasaki Versys-X 300

Kawasaki Versys-X 300
$5,499
32.1-inch seat
386 lbs.​

How did the Versys-X 300 stack up against the BMW G 310 GS and Royal Enfield Himalayan? Find out in our comparison test.​

Kawasaki Vulcan S


2019 Kawasaki Vulcan S

Kawasaki Vulcan S
starting at $7,099
27.8-inch seat
498 lbs.​

Read our Road Test Review of the Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe​

Kawasaki Vulcan 900


2019 Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Kawasaki Vulcan 900
starting at $7,999
26.8-inch seat
617 lbs.​

Kawasaki W800 Cafe


2019 Kawasaki W800 Cafe

Kawasaki W800 Cafe
$9,799
31.1-inch seat
489.5 lbs.​

Kawasaki Z125 Pro


2019 Kawasaki Z125 Pro

Kawasaki Z125 Pro
$3,199
31.7-inch seat
225 lbs.​

Kawasaki Z400


2019 Kawasaki Z400 ABS

Kawasaki Z400
$4,799
30.9-inch seat
364 lbs.​

Kawasaki Z650


2019 Kawasaki Z650

Kawasaki Z650
$6,999
30.9-inch seat
410 lbs.​

Read our First Ride Review on the Z650 ABS here​

KTM 390 Duke


2018 KTM 390 Duke (Photo by Kevin Wing)

KTM 390 Duke
$5,449
32.7-inch seat
359 lbs.​

Read our Road Test Review of the KTM 390 Duke here​

Moto Guzzi V7III Stone


Moto Guzzi V7III Stone

Moto Guzzi V7III Stone
$8,490
30.3-inch seat
470 lbs.​

Royal Enfield Continental GT


2019 Royal Enfield Continental GT

Royal Enfield Continental GT
$5,999
31.1-inch seat
461 lbs.​

Read our road test review of the 2019 Royal Enfield Continental GT​

Royal Enfield Himalayan


2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan

Royal Enfield Himalayan
$4,499
31.5-inch seat
421 lbs.​

Read our first ride review of the 2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan​

How did the Himalayan stack up against the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and BMW G 310 GS? Find out in our comparison test here.​

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650


2019 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
$5,799
31.6-inch seat
473 lbs.​

Read our road test review of the 2019 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650​

Suzuki Boulevard S40


2019 Suzuki Boulevard S40

Suzuki Boulevard S40
$5,799
27.6-inch seat
381 lbs.​

Suzuki Boulevard C50


2019 Suzuki Boulevard C50

Suzuki Boulevard C50
starting at $8,299
27.6-inch seat
611 lbs.​

Suzuki Boulevard M50


2019 Suzuki Boulevard M50

Suzuki Boulevard M50
$8,699
27.6-inch seat
593 lbs.​

Suzuki GSXR250R


2018 Suzuki GSX250R (Photo by Enrico Pavia)

Suzuki GSX250R
$4,599
31.1-inch seat
392 lbs.​

Read our review of the Suzuki GSX250R​

Suzuki GSX-S750


2019 Suzuki GSX-S750 ABS

Suzuki GSX-S750Z
$8,499
32.2-inch seat
469 lbs.​

Suzuki SV650


2019 Suzuki SV650

Suzuki SV650
$7,099
30.9-inch seat
432 lbs.​

Read our first ride review of the 2017 Suzuki SV650​

Suzuki TU250X


2019 Suzuki TU250X

Suzuki TU250X
$4,649
30.3-inch seat
326 lbs.​

Suzuki VanVan 200


2019 Suzuki VanVan 200

Suzuki VanVan 200
$4,649
30.3-inch seat
282 lbs.​

A Man on a VanVan Without a Plan…read the story here!​

Triumph Street Scrambler


2019 Triumph Street Scrambler (Photo by Kingdom Creative)

Triumph Street Scrambler
$11,000
31.1-inch seat
447.5 lbs. (dry)​

Read our first ride review of the 2019 Triumph Street Scrambler​

Triumph Street Twin


2019 Triumph Street Twin (Photo by Kingdom Creative)

Triumph Street Twin
$9,300
29.9-inch seat
437 lbs. (dry)​

Read our first ride review of the 2019 Triumph Street Twin​

Triumph Street Triple


2019 Triumph Street Triple R

Triumph Street Triple
$9,950
31.2-inch seat
370 lbs.​

2019 Yamaha Bolt

Yamaha Bolt
starting at $7,999
27.2-inch seat
542 lbs.​

2019 Yamaha MT-07.

Yamaha MT-07
$7,599
31.7-inch seat
403 lbs.​

Read our road test review on the 2018 Yamaha MT-07​

2019 Yamaha MT-09.

Yamaha MT-09
$8,999
32.3-inch seat
425 lbs.​

2019 Yamaha TW200

Yamaha TW200
$4,599
31.1-inch seat
278 lbs.​

Read our review of the Yamaha TW200​

2019 Yamaha V-Star 250.

Yamaha V Star 250
$4,349
27-inch seat
326 lbs.​

2019 Yamaha XSR700.

Yamaha XSR700
$8,499
32.9-inch seat
410 lbs.​

Read our first ride review of the 2018 Yamaha XSR700​

We held onto our XSR700 for a long-term review; read it here​

2019 Yamaha XT250

Yamaha XT250
$5,199
31.9-inch seat
291 lbs.​

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 (Photos by Brian J. Nelson)

Yamaha YZF-R3
$4,999
30.7-inch seat
368 lbs.​

Read our first ride review on the 2019 Yamaha YZF-R3​

Check out Rider’s Guide to New/Updated Street Motorcycles for 2019​

Source...

 

[Rocky]

There certainly are plenty of choices in the smaller/medium sized bikes.
Ideal for beginning riders to have fun on instead of buying something too big and heavy right away.
When I came back to bikes in 1992 it was on a 650 Honda Hawk and it would go anywhere and as fast as you wanted.
I rode it all over eastern Canada for 11 years and down to New England without so much as a whimper from it.
I loved that bike and wished I had it back after I sold it