15 Best Motorcycles for A Woman

As a motorcyclist, there’s nothing more empowering than the feeling of freedom that comes with riding on two wheels. With that said, finding the best motorcycle for a woman can be tricky – and it’s essential to ensure it fits your size, style, and needs as a rider. Choosing the right brand matters too, as different manufacturers build models tailored to different needs. This is especially important for female riders, who may face challenges in finding motorcycles for women that offer the right seat height, a manageable engine size, or a more upright riding position.

Let’s be honest, some of our favorite motorcycles are big bikes — heavy machines from major brand names like Harley‑Davidson or Indian Motorcycle — and that can feel intimidating for new riders or ladies shopping for a first bike. A heavy cruiser may seem overwhelming at first, but with experience and practice, many women riders find them manageable and enjoyable. A low seat height is usually the first hurdle: anything over 31 inches makes it hard for shorter riders to get their feet flat on the ground, which is why so many of the bikes below let you get both feet down at under 28 inches.

This list highlights the best motorcycles for women — from lighter-weight cruisers and small bikes through touring options, sport machines, and dirt-capable models — helping you choose a motorcycle that supports confidence, comfort, and pure fun in every ride.

One important note before we start. The motorcycle market has moved fast, and a lot of the bikes that filled lists like this even a few years ago are no longer sold new: Victory shut down entirely in 2017, the Yamaha R6 left the street market in 2020, and the Suzuki TU250X and VanVan both left the US lineup. Every model below is current for 2026, so you can actually walk into a dealer and test ride one.

1. Honda Rebel 300 / 500

If there is one bike that gets recommended to new riders more than any other, it’s the Honda Rebel. The 300 and 500 share the same chassis and the same 27.2-inch saddle, which is among the lowest in the class and lets most riders flat foot at a stop light without thinking about it. In practice, rider inseam, height, and experience matter more than gender when choosing a motorcycle, so many beginners are smart to start small.

The 500 runs a 471cc parallel twin making around 45 horsepower — enough for the interstate and longer rides — while the 300 uses a 286cc single that is gentler still. Both bikes feature a lightweight chassis at around 400 pounds, and the low centre of gravity makes the weight disappear once you’re moving. For 2026 the 300 is available with Honda’s E-Clutch, which lets you shift without touching the clutch lever, a real help in stop-start traffic.

The Rebel also has genuine classic cruiser charm — blacked-out finishes, a fat front tyre, a stripped-back tank — without the bulk of a full-size one. At $6,799 for the 500 it’s not the cheapest option here, but it holds its value, and a used bike from a few years back is one of the safest second-hand buys going.

Spec	Honda Rebel 500
Motor	471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Saddle height	27.2 in
Curb mass	414 lb
Gearbox	6-speed
MSRP	$6,799

2. Kawasaki Ninja 500

The old Ninja 250 and 300 were the default beginner sport bikes for a decade. Kawasaki has since replaced them — first with the 400, now with the Ninja 500 — and the current model is better in every way that matters to a new rider.

The 451cc parallel twin is torquier down low than the old 300, which makes it more forgiving when you’re still learning clutch control, and it stays light enough to manhandle in a car park. The Ninja 500 offers a fun ride whether you’re zipping around town or taking on a twisty scenic route, and its racing-inspired bodywork appeals to anyone drawn to the sport side of two wheels.

The one caveat is the 30.9-inch seat height. That’s tall compared with the cruisers on this list, so anyone shorter should try one before buying. A lowering kit is available if you need it.

Spec	Kawasaki Ninja 500
Motor	451cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Seat	30.9 in
Curb mass	375 lb
Gearbox	6 gears
MSRP	From $5,499

3. Triumph Street Triple 675

If you prefer a bike running on a sleek, stripped-down engine with that incredible café racer-style look, then you’ve picked the right choice with Triumph Street Triple 675 adorning your garage. This machine balances power and comfort, making it a great fit for women seeking both style and performance.

What makes it work for a lot of women is the riding position. Its bars are higher and closer than a race replica’s, giving a more upright riding position and a more natural posture for one rider over a long day. The scooped seat helps you reach the ground more easily than the numbers suggest.

This is not a beginner’s bike. With 130 horsepower in RS trim it demands respect, and it’s one to grow into once your skill level is there. But as a second or third bike it rewards you every single time.

Spec	Triumph Street Triple 765 R
Motor	765cc liquid-cooled inline triple
Seat	32.5 in
Curb mass	417 lb
Gearbox	6 gears
MSRP	From $9,995

4. Harley-Davidson Street Glide

Needless to say that Harley Davidson is one of the most iconic names in the biker community, and their motorcycles are prized for touring, style, and power. These Harley Sportsters and big cruisers are well-known, but if you’re looking for a big bike that still feels accessible, the Street Glide is a standout.

What’s unique about it? Despite its size, the 2026 Street Glide has a 27.4-inch unladen seat height, lower than most of the small bikes on this list. The Milwaukee-Eight 117 makes serious torque low in the rev range, which means you rarely need to work the gearbox, and the fairing takes the wind off your chest on longer rides.

The riding position is relaxed and feet-forward rather than racy — a common misconception about baggers. If you want the same platform with a frame-mounted fairing instead of a fork-mounted one, the Road Glide is its sibling at $27,999. Both come with the BOOM! Box infotainment system, hands-free calling, and navigation.

At $24,999 this is the most expensive bike here by a distance, and at over 800 pounds it’s a lot of motorcycle. Try one first.

Spec	Harley-Davidson Street Glide
Engine	Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin
Seat height	27.4 in (unladen)
Displacement	1,923 cc
Fuel capacity	6.0 gal
MSRP	$24,999

5. Honda CBR500R

One of the most significant results of Honda’s innovative capacity is the release of its 2011-launched Honda CBR250R motorcycle. The sport bike is typically designed with the women in mind. So if you desire a sport bike and looking for a comfortable ride, go for Honda CBR250R.

It was initially built with the engine running on the displacement of around 250. Still, with increasing popular demand and the company’s desire to keep pace with competitors, the bike’s displacement increased to 300cc for entry-level bikers and sportbikes.

So, whether you are talking about Honda CBR250 or the 300 models, you’re talking about fast-moving sports bikes full of high-tech features. Some models also come equipped with a slipper clutch, which helps reduce rider fatigue during frequent shifting and enhances comfort on longer rides. With transmission standing at 6-speed, this affordable, lightweight bike has a lower seat height of 30.7 inches. This height is excellent for a sport bike, especially for easy handling and control.

Spec	Honda CBR500R
Engine	471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Seat	30.9 in
Curb mass	425 lb
Gearbox	6 gears
MSRP	From $7,399

6. Yamaha YZF-R3

Yamaha deserves a mention among performance motorcycles, though the R6 that used to fill this spot left the street market in 2020 and now exists only as a track-only R6 RACE. For road riders, the R3 is the one to have.

It’s the most lightweight full-size sports model here at 375 pounds, with a 321cc twin that revs hard without ever feeling frightening. That combination is why the R3 is a fixture in club racing paddocks — it’s fast enough to teach you real technique and easy enough to pick up when it goes wrong.

The aggressive riding position tips you further forward than the Ninja’s, and the bike genuinely rewards a rider who wants to improve. Pair it with proper safety gear before your first track session.

Spec	YZF-R3
Motor	321cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Seat	30.7 in
Curb weight	375 lb
Transmission	6-speed
MSRP	From $5,499

7. Kawasaki Z650

The Kawasaki Z800 that used to sit here was discontinued years ago. Its spiritual replacement in the current lineup is the Z650, and for most riders it’s the better bike anyway — lighter, cheaper, and far easier to live with.

The 649cc twin makes around 67 horsepower, which is plenty quick without being intimidating, and the naked styling gives you an upright riding position that works as well in town as it does on a back road. At 412 pounds it’s genuinely manageable at walking pace.

As your skill level grows, the Z650 has enough performance to keep pace. It’s the classic step up from a 300 or 400.

Spec	Kawasaki Z650
Engine	649cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Seat	31.1 in
Curb weight	412 lb
Gearbox	6 gears
MSRP	From $7,999

8. BMW G 310 R

How would you feel riding a small bike that’s sporty but still very accessible? The BMW G 310 R fits that niche beautifully. It’s a great pick for a first ride, especially anyone who prefers a more upright riding position. That makes it comfortable to hold all day and easy in traffic.

Its engine size is small enough to be forgiving, yet it has enough power to make your rides enjoyable, whether in the city or out on a scenic route. Built with dual-channel ABS, it is beginner friendly and builds confidence fast. Because of its lightweight design, it’s a good option for someone who wants a dependable new bike rather than a cheap used bike of unknown history.

Spec	BMW G 310 R
Motor	313cc liquid-cooled single
Saddle height	30.9 in
Curb mass	362 lb
ABS	Dual channel
MSRP	From $5,190

9. Suzuki SV650

Ask a room full of experienced motorcyclists what one bike suits almost everybody and the SV650 comes up more than anything else. It has been in production, on and off, since 1999 for good reason.

The 645cc V-twin makes its power in a smooth, predictable way that flatters a newer rider while still being genuinely quick. It’s manageable at 437 pounds, the suspension is soft enough to be comfortable, and parts are cheap because so many were built. A cheap used bike here is a genuinely good buy rather than a compromise.

If you want one great bike to commute on, tour on, and take to a track day, this is the answer. The naked styling and upright bars keep it comfortable for longer rides.

Spec	Suzuki SV650
Engine	645cc liquid-cooled V-twin
Seat	30.9 in
Curb mass	437 lb
Transmission	6-speed
MSRP	From $7,699

10. Honda Grom

The KYMCO K-Pipe 125 that used to hold this slot is long gone, but the idea behind it lives on in the Honda Grom — and the Grom does it far better.

With a 124cc single and 224 pounds all in, the Grom is the lightest machine here by a mile. It runs out of puff around 60 mph, so it’s not a highway bike, but for learning clutch control, practising tight manoeuvres, and having stupid amounts of fun around town, nothing else comes close at the same price.

It’s also the cheapest new bike on this list at $3,599, and the aftermarket for it is enormous. Plenty of people keep a Grom long after moving on to something bigger.

Spec	Honda Grom
Engine	124cc air-cooled single
Seat height	30.0 in
Curb mass	224 lb
Gearbox	5 gears
MSRP	$3,599

11. Royal Enfield Hunter 350

The Suzuki VanVan 200 left the US lineup, and the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has taken over as the retro entry-level choice — at a price that’s hard to argue with.

The 349cc single makes modest power, which is exactly the point. It teaches you throttle control without ever threatening you, and the roadster styling gets more compliments than bikes costing four times as much. At $4,299 it’s the second-cheapest bike here.

The trade-offs are honest: basic suspension, softer rear braking feel, and a 31.1-inch seat taller than any cruiser here. But as a first bike that you won’t cry over if you drop it, it’s excellent.

Spec	Royal Enfield Hunter 350
Engine	349cc air/oil-cooled single
Seat height	31.1 in
Curb mass	399 lb
Gearbox	5 gears
MSRP	$4,299

12. Kawasaki Vulcan S

If seat height and reach are the things stopping you, the low seat height of the Kawasaki Vulcan S deserves a serious look. It’s the only bike here built around an adjustable fit system from the factory.

Kawasaki’s ERGO-FIT lets a dealer reconfigure the seat, footpegs, and handlebars across 18 combinations, grouped into Reduced Reach for riders 5’6″ and under, Mid Reach, and Extended Reach for 6’1″ and up. The fitting is free when you buy the bike. That means a 5’2″ rider and a 6’2″ rider can genuinely both be comfortable on the same model, which is rare.

Underneath it’s a 649cc twin — the same basic engine as the Z650 — in a low-slung chassis with a 27.8-inch saddle. It has more power than most entry-level rivals and handles better than its looks suggest.

Spec	Kawasaki Vulcan S
Engine	649cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Seat height	27.8 in
Curb weight	498 lb
Fit system	ERGO-FIT, 18 configurations
MSRP	$7,649

13. Triumph Bonneville T100

The Triumph Daytona 955i that used to close out this list hasn’t been built since 2006. The Triumph that belongs here instead is the Bonneville T100 — a modern classic that looks like 1969 and stops like 2026.

The 900cc twin is tuned for torque rather than peak power, which makes it relaxed and easy to ride anywhere. For 2026 the T100 gains an LED headlight, a USB-C charging port, and two riding modes, with ABS and traction control standard.

Power, durability, comfort, and a great look define it, and there’s room for a passenger. The 30.8-inch seat is the one thing to check, though the narrow waist means it feels lower than it measures.

Spec	Triumph Bonneville T100
Engine	900cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Seat height	30.8 in
Power	65 PS
Transmission	5-speed
MSRP	$11,495

14. Harley-Davidson Nightster

Always wanted a Harley without the bulk of a full cruiser? The Nightster is the entry point into the Harley Sportsters family, and at $9,999 it’s the cheapest way into the brand.

The Revolution Max 975T engine is liquid-cooled and far more modern than the air-cooled Sportsters it replaced, making around 90 horsepower with a flat torque curve. The chassis is solid, the wheels turn in easily, and it handles corners remarkably well for a cruiser.

The 27.0-inch seat height is the lowest on this entire list, so almost anyone will get both feet flat on the ground. What works for one rider may not suit another, so it’s important to test ride and find the bike that matches your personal comfort and style.

Spec	Harley-Davidson Nightster
Engine	Revolution Max 975T V-twin
Seat height	27.0 in
Displacement	975 cc
Gearbox	6 gears
MSRP	$9,999

15. . Honda NC750X

The NC700S never officially reached the US, but its successor did, and the NC750X is one of the most quietly sensible motorcycles you can buy.

The trick is the storage. Because the 745cc twin lies almost flat in the frame, Honda put a 23-litre luggage compartment where the fuel tank normally goes — big enough to swallow a full-face helmet. No other bike here lets you commute without a backpack.

The engine is tuned for low-end torque rather than revs, which makes it effortless in traffic, and a DCT automatic version is available if you’d rather not shift at all. The 31.6-inch seat is the tallest here, so it suits taller riders best.

Spec	Honda NC750X
Engine	745cc liquid-cooled parallel twin
Seat height	31.6 in
Storage	23-litre front compartment
Transmission	6-speed or DCT
MSRP	From $9,299

FAQs

What to know when buying your first motorcycle? Riding a motorcycle offers an exhilarating and unique experience, but it also demands physical effort and coordination. The thrill of hitting the open road on a motorcycle is incomparable to the confines of a car, train, or any other vehicle.

However, it’s important to recognize that you will mostly be riding solo, aside from an occasional passenger and limited cargo. This increases your exposure to harsh weather, difficult road conditions, and the mistakes of other road users. The risk factor is significant — riders are 30 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than car passengers, according to the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

I’m not here to deter you, but to inform you. Understanding the risks will help you take the necessary precautions. When buying your first motorcycle, it’s vital to be discerning. Your initial experience can shape your future decisions, so making a wise choice is crucial.

Begin by asking yourself why you want to ride. Your answer will guide you in selecting the motorcycle that best suits your needs and riding style. The more bikes you have ridden, the better you will understand what suits your needs and riding style. Then, ensure you have the right knowledge by completing a motorcycle riding course, such as an msf course. Pick an appropriate insurance and safery gear and of-course sign-up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to keep-up-to-date with the motorcycle word news.

How do I know which motorcycle is right for me? Motorcycles vary greatly in their functions and designs. While they all transport you from point A to point B, their specific purposes differ significantly. Some motorcycles are built for modest off-road use, others for long-distance highway trips, and some are versatile enough for both. Each style and performance level is unique, and fuel consumption can range from highly economical to fuel-hungry.

Motorcycles and scooters span a wide spectrum, from lightweight, fuel-efficient models to 200-horsepower behemoths. Pricing also varies based on type, model, manufacturer, and capacity, so your budget will play a crucial role in your decision.

For beginners, it’s crucial to focus on key features such as ease of handling, manageable power, and comfort. Agility and balance are important, but so is finding a motorcycle with a smooth and forgiving ride. Additionally, consider factors like seat height, weight, and the bike’s overall ergonomics to ensure you feel confident and in control. Some cruisers sit very low—for example, the Suzuki S40 Boulevard has a 25.4-inch seat height—so fit can matter more than what some guy calls a category label. Automatic transmissions can be helpful for some, but they’re not essential; what matters most is choosing a bike that feels right for your skill level and intended use. Buying a used motorcycle is advisable for beginners to reduce financial commitment and emotional stress upon dropping it.

Women ride a wide variety of motorcycles, from cruisers to sportbikes, and personal preference plays a key role in choosing the right bike.

Lastly, for new riders, scooters often provide a more beginner-friendly experience and are available in models up to 850cc, making them a practical choice compared to high-end motorcycles.

Conclusion

If you’re considering buying a motorcycle, you now have insights into some of the best choices and different styles for women. Whether you want to cruise the highway on road trips or tackle off road terrain, there is a bike suited to your needs and preferences. Explore your options and choose the model that offers the look, feel, and power that best fits you.

Remember, the safety of other road users is intertwined with your own. The best advice is to always prioritise their wellbeing whenever you make a decision, whether major or minor. I wish you safe and enjoyable rides every time you get on your bike. Stay tuned for the next post.

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