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
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
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
BMW G 310 R
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
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
$5,395
31.9-inch seat
450 lbs. (dry)
Read our Road Test Review of the 2016 CSC RX3
Ducati Monster 797+
Ducati Monster 797+
$9,295
31.7-inch seat
386 lbs. (dry)
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
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
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
$8,699
25.5-inch seat
545 lbs. (dry)
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
Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom
$10,999
26.6-inch seat
562 lbs. (dry)
Honda CB300R
Honda CB300R
$4,649
31.5-inch seat
318 lbs.
Read our First Ride Review on the 2019 Honda CB300R
Honda CBR300R
Honda CBR300R
$4,699
30.7-inch seat
357 lbs.
Honda CB500F
Honda CB500F
$6,199
30.9-inch seat
415 lbs.
Honda CBR500R
Honda CBR500R
$6,699
30.9-inch seat
419 lbs.
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
Honda CB650R
$8,899
31.9-inch seat
445 lbs.
Read our First Look Review of the 2019 Honda CB650R
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
$5,199
34.4-inch seat
318 lbs.
Read our review of the 2017 Honda CRF250L Rally
Honda Grom
Honda Grom
$3,399
30-inch seat
229 lbs.
Honda Monkey
Honda Monkey
$3,999
30.6-inch seat
232 lbs.
Watch our video review of the 2019 Honda Monkey
Honda NC750X
Honda NC750X
$7,999 (2018 model)
32.7-inch seat
478 lbs.
Honda Shadow Phantom
Honda Shadow Phantom
$7,899
25.8-inch seat
549 lbs.
Honda Super Cub C125
Honda Super Cub
$3,599
30.7-inch seat
240 lbs.
Honda Rebel 300/500
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
$9,499
25.8-inch seat
542 lbs.
Read about Indian’s 2019 Scout lineup
Indian Scout
Indian Scout
$11,999
25.8-inch seat
550 lbs.
Read about Indian’s 2019 Scout lineup
Kawasaki KLX250
Kawasaki KLX250
$5,349
35.0-inch seat (squishes way down under rider’s weight)
304 lbs.
Kawasaki Ninja 400
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
Kawasaki Ninja 650
$7,399
31.1-inch seat
426 lbs.
Kawasaki Versys-X 300
Kawasaki Versys-X 300
$5,499
32.1-inch seat
386 lbs.
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
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
starting at $7,999
26.8-inch seat
617 lbs.
Kawasaki W800 Cafe
Kawasaki W800 Cafe
$9,799
31.1-inch seat
489.5 lbs.
Kawasaki Z125 Pro
Kawasaki Z125 Pro
$3,199
31.7-inch seat
225 lbs.
Kawasaki Z400
Kawasaki Z400
$4,799
30.9-inch seat
364 lbs.
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
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
$8,490
30.3-inch seat
470 lbs.
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
Royal Enfield Himalayan
$4,499
31.5-inch seat
421 lbs.
Read our first ride review of the 2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan
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
Suzuki Boulevard S40
$5,799
27.6-inch seat
381 lbs.
Suzuki Boulevard C50
Suzuki Boulevard C50
starting at $8,299
27.6-inch seat
611 lbs.
Suzuki Boulevard M50
Suzuki Boulevard M50
$8,699
27.6-inch seat
593 lbs.
Suzuki GSXR250R
Suzuki GSX250R
$4,599
31.1-inch seat
392 lbs.
Read our review of the Suzuki GSX250R
Suzuki GSX-S750
Suzuki GSX-S750Z
$8,499
32.2-inch seat
469 lbs.
Suzuki SV650
Suzuki SV650
$7,099
30.9-inch seat
432 lbs.
Read our first ride review of the 2017 Suzuki SV650
Suzuki TU250X
Suzuki TU250X
$4,649
30.3-inch seat
326 lbs.
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
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
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
Triumph Street Triple
$9,950
31.2-inch seat
370 lbs.
Yamaha Bolt
starting at $7,999
27.2-inch seat
542 lbs.
Yamaha MT-07
$7,599
31.7-inch seat
403 lbs.
Read our road test review on the 2018 Yamaha MT-07
Yamaha MT-09
$8,999
32.3-inch seat
425 lbs.
Yamaha TW200
$4,599
31.1-inch seat
278 lbs.
Read our review of the Yamaha TW200
Yamaha V Star 250
$4,349
27-inch seat
326 lbs.
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
Yamaha XT250
$5,199
31.9-inch seat
291 lbs.
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: RiderMagazine.com