Getting on two wheels for the first time is an exciting prospect for any new rider, but it’s important you do it the right way, not just in the learning parts of the process, but also in the stages of actually buying or financing your first motorcycle, too.

Whether you’re starting on a CBT or whether you’ve gone straight in for your A2 or even full motorcycle licence, this guide will cover bikes from 125cc up to 500cc, all whilst staying under 47hp to firstly comply with A2 licencing laws.

Secondly, you also want to make sure you’re not jumping straight onto something with silly amounts of power for your first time, even if you have gone straight in for your unrestricted licence!

In this comprehensive guide, we are going to be running down everything you need to know when searching for your very first beginner motorcycle, from choosing the right model for you, all the way down to the correct gear.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

As I covered in the article How to Ride a Motorcycle: Top 10 Tips for Beginners 2025, correctly preparing yourself and being sensible about safety is vital.

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the appropriate gear. You will need a protective motorcycle jacket, gloves, trousers (or approved riding jeans), boots (or riding trainers) and an approved helmet meeting either the ECE 22.05 or ECE 22.06 regulations.

It is also vitally (& legally) important that you gain at least a CBT Certificate or have an A1, A2 or Full motorcycle licence before heading out on the road, too.

There’s a saying I’ve carried with me for as long as I’ve been riding, which goes: ‘dress for the slide, and not for the ride’. If you take this with you, you are already in the best position in case things turn rubber side up.

Before considering your first motorcycle, there are a few key things you’ll want to be sure about.

If you’ve never been on a bike before, choosing a motorcycle with a low or average seat height will give you the best chance of maintaining balance and focusing on everything else. Ideally, you should aim for a maximum of around 830mm unless you are very tall!

Secondly, I would consider the bike’s weight as being vitally important. If you’re just starting out, you don’t want to be on something ridiculously heavy and be constantly worried about what happens if you drop it or the consequences that follow, so aim for a bike sub 200kg if you can (all the models on this list are below 200kg to keep things easy).

It also goes without saying that you need to make sure the bike you choose is compliant with your licence category. You can refer to our handy guide, all about Motorcycle Licensing Types, to read more about this!

If you’re just starting out on two wheels and haven’t got a bike yet, you may be wondering what the best method of purchasing is.

If you’re fortunate enough to have funds already available, then great, as this is the absolute best way to currently purchase a motorcycle by saving a considerable amount of interest, although you do lose a bit of leverage with dealers when it comes to bargaining, as they make more profit from finance.

Whether finance is right for you boils down to your personal preference, your current financial situation and ultimately, your choice.

Still, there are a few key finance options that are worth talking about to give you a clearer idea of whether it’s right for you and your situation, such as PCP (Personal Contract Purchase), HP (Hire Purchase) & Personal Loans.

If you are still stuck as to which avenue is best for you, make sure to take a look at both our full financing & buying guides.

Starting in tenth place, we have the brilliantly styled and even more brilliantly priced Zontes ZT125-C.

At just £2,899 + OTR (£150), this makes the ZT a little over £3k at £3,049, which, when combined with its great styling, big bike looks, and 2-year warranty, it soon adds up to being a great two-wheeler to start on.

Power is dispatched via a 125cc liquid-cooled single with Bosch ignition, producing a healthy 14.5hp, whilst stopping is controlled via dual-channel ABS from Bosch as well, making it a safe choice for anyone starting out on a CBT.

You’ll also find a dual USB socket as standard, one which is the usual Type-A socket and the second a Type-C variant, in one neat unit. Not only this, but the ZT125-C also has a ridiculously low 700mm seat height, making it accessible to almost all riders.

Taking us to ninth place is one for those who are either on an A2 or a full A licence – it is the £5,699 CFMoto 450MT.

Whilst it may initially appear as though it is an intimidating, big, heavy adventure bike, it is actually surprisingly approachable. The seat height is just 800mm as standard, and it produces a healthy 42hp with a slipper clutch as standard to make life a little easier when starting out.

It also weighs just 175kg dry without fluids, so you can start to see why it’s secured a place on today's list!

Whether you want a bike to start touring on, begin some adventures or simply commute to and from work, the CFMoto 450MT will do it all.

Eighth place leads us to the Voge R125!

There’s a reason this bike proves so popular in the sales figures, and although a recently new brand to the UK (as of 2021), the R125 has proved a solid base for many new riders to start their two-wheeled career on.

Weighing just 136kg, the R125 is anything but intimidating, especially when combined with its low 795mm seat height. Despite its low weight, the power is on the limit for a CBT rider or A1 licence holder at 14.7hp, although it does have a reasonably small 10L tank, which may be a reason for its low weight.

Despite its competitive £2,799 price, the R125 features a steel trellis frame, mono rear swingarm instead of a basic box design (like the one seen on the newly released and much pricier Suzuki SV-7GX), and upside-down forks, all aiding that sharp big bike look and feel whilst remaining a great beginner-friendly option for those just starting out.

In seventh place is one from the big four – Kawasaki. It’s the Eliminator 500 SE!

At £6,399, it’s not the cheapest but then again, not the most expensive. It’s about right and what you’d expect for a machine with such a reputation as Kawasaki, especially for a mid-capacity cruiser anyway.

Although it may appear as though it’s a thunderous large-capacity Harley Davidson or the like, the Kawasaki is actually an A2-friendly 451cc parallel twin producing 44.8hp, meaning if you’re on an A2, it’s compliant right out of the box.

It’s a great option if you’re a fan of large capacity American-style cruisers but want something suitable for your licence or just something that is beginner-friendly, even if you have completed your full licence.

One big bonus to the Kawasaki is its weight, too; at just 177kg, it is considerably lighter than any Harley, which are typically around the 300kg+ mark!

Just sitting above the middle place today at sixth is the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450.

It was always going to feature on this list, given its popularity when we had it in for review back in October of last year.

I particularly favoured the dynamic handling and great geometry of the Guerrilla, which was only then further backed up by Showa suspension fitted as standard. For a beginner, the Guerrilla remains unintimidating, partly thanks to a low 780mm seat height and a reasonable 184kg kerb weight, not forgetting the easy-going 39.5hp you get from its 452cc liquid-cooled single.

It's also reasonably priced, too, with a starting price of a shade under £5k at £4,995, making it over £700 cheaper than the KTM 390 Duke it competes with.

The only real downside I felt on the Guerrilla was its high powerband and budget tyres, but if you get used to giving it a few more revs and change the tyres for some better rubber, it will improve things massively.

Sitting firmly in the middle position today is the Benelli BN125, a firm favourite for first-time riders on a CBT!

Whilst the BN125 cuts costs with an outdated halogen headlight, an 11.1hp air-cooled engine and a box-section swingarm, it regains points with a very competitive price of just £2,599 before on-the-road costs, 35mm upside-down forks paired with an adjustable rear monoshock & ABS.

It also benefits from a 13.5L fuel tank, allowing the frugal single to do the distance between each fill-up. Another great feature of the BN is its steel trellis frame, making the bike just that bit more agile and quick to manoeuvre. It also looks great, too, especially if you opt for the white or black colourway, as you get the frame painted in a very bright red colour!

Overall, it’s a great option for someone just starting out. It looks great, has some decent kit in strategic places and has a very reasonable price tag to go along with it.

Sitting just above the top three today is the KTM 125 Duke, a bike packed with top-spec equipment, whilst remaining as beginner-friendly as ever, as we found out when we reviewed the 2024 model.

Starting with the power and at 14.8hp, it is right on the limit for a CBT rider or A1 licence holder, pair that with the low fully fuelled weight of 154kg and a seat height of 800mm, and it begins to add up why it is great for beginners.

Unusually though, for a starter 125cc, the Duke packs some top-level kit, namely the 43mm upside-down WP Apex forks, WP Apex rear shock, 5” TFT, enormous 320mm front disc and sharp, angular bodywork.

It’s beginner enough to make for an unintimidating package, but also specced up enough to make sure it is a bike you can grow into once you gain some more experience, and that is why it makes it on our list.

It does make it one of the pricier 125ccs on the market, though, with a current price of £4,399 having been reduced from its previous price of £4,899.

Taking third place is a new release from Triumph, based on the ever-popular Speed 400 but now in a more ‘flat tracker’ flavour.

Having been released alongside the sportier Thruxton 400, the Tracker 400 features lower, wider handlebars and set-back footpegs over the Speed 400 we previously reviewed, making it look and feel much sportier than the more relaxed Speed but still not quite as much as the Thruxton.

Despite this, the Tracker remains brilliant for first-time riders. With a low wet weight of just 173kg and a low 805mm seat height, it ensures an unintimidating experience regardless of the punchy single cylinder sat below you, dispatching 41.4hp at 9,000rpm from its 398cc capacity.

Pricing starts from £5,745, which is about what I’d expect for a bike that competes with the likes of the Guerrilla 450, even from a brand as highly regarded as Triumph.

Just missing out on the top spot is the Yamaha MT-125, one of the best-selling 125cc motorcycles sold in 2025 and for good reason. It’s not cheap, that’s for sure, at £5,300, putting it over £300 more expensive than the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 and just £45 less than the Triumph Speed 400, but it packs some premium kit from a well-regarded manufacturer.

Despite its premium price tag, it has a 5-inch TFT display, a clever 125cc liquid-cooled engine featuring exclusive variable valve actuation, traction control and a supersport-derived Deltabox frame with 41mm upside-down forks.

Power is on the limit for CBT/A1 at 14.8hp, so it's still beginner-friendly, and with the premium kit aboard the Yamaha, it’s not the sort of bike you’ll be longing to upgrade after a few months either!

Taking the crown today in first place is, of course, a BikeMatters favourite – the Honda GB350S.

Perhaps one of the most competitively priced models to appear on the bike scene last year, the GB soon stole the crown month on month as a best seller, and it was soon clear to see why when we finally got our hands on it back in October.

I personally loved the overarching sense of character from it, that long stroke single really does ooze a load of charm, especially when bobbing along a mucky single track lane. Not only this, but the Japanese build quality is typical Honda, and everything is finished incredibly well, right down to the stitching on the seat.

For a beginner, I don’t think I could fault the GB. It’s only £3,999, is incredibly manageable and lightweight and has nothing scary about it whatsoever. Yes, it is only 21hp and struggles to reach anything above 70mph on the dual carriageways, but it shines in the countryside and is a real Sunday charmer.

So, you’ve gone and got your very first motorcycle. It’s an exciting time and one forever remembered in the memories of nearly all bikers; that feeling of first sitting on the seat behind the bars gets transformed into a lifetime memory, so cherish these days as it’s one of the most important times of being a motorcyclist, but you must do it right.

No matter what bike you choose, your licence category or your eagerness to get going, making sure you’re safe applies to all bikes and on all roads too.

My 10 key top tips, as covered in the How to Ride a Motorcycle: Top 10 Tips for Beginners 2025 article, are as follows:

1.      Always dress for the slide, and not for the ride. Motorcycle gear is crucially important, even in the hot weather when shorts and trainers may seem tempting.

2.      Take the time to sit with the bike and learn the controls before you go out. Get a feel for it and familiarise yourself with where everything is.

3.      If you suddenly find the bike is out of your control when getting used to riding at slow speeds, pull the clutch in, and that will cut power going to the wheels immediately before applying the brakes.

4.      Use your front brake at higher speeds and your rear brake at lower speeds.

5.      Keep the pressure to speed ahead away and focus on getting it right in first gear before anything else.

6.      Learning to change gears on your new motorcycle will be a slow process to begin with, and gear changes are probably going to be clunky and slow, but it’s important to remember, don’t rush and allow yourself time to get used to how it all works.

7.      Keep your distance by learning the ‘2-second rule’. Also, be seen, ride defensively and do your lifesaver checks.

8.      Avoid target fixation by learning to look where you want the bike to go ahead of you. Look through the bend and not at it.

9.      Learn the benefits of countersteering.

10.  Learn the vanishing point, keep your distance in the rain, keep your headlight and visor clean and watch for reflections in the dark!

So, that’s all for our guide to the best starter motorcycles. We hope you found it useful and that it gives you some ideas or inspiration for your first bike. If something on this list has taken your fancy, then be sure to get your motorcycle insurance quote direct with Lexham!