There is a growing selection of smaller, affordable motorcycles, and that’s good news for riders looking for a fun bike that doesn’t cost too much. Whether you’re new to riding and want something easy to handle or an experienced rider looking for a lighter or shorter bike, you now have more options than ever when looking for a bike. The best motorcycles for smaller riders!
Below is horsemanbest motorcycle list of 2023 for smaller riders, an update of popular posts from 2019. This list includes motorcycles with saddle heights between 31.0 and 31.9 inches with suggested retail prices of $17,000 or less.
We have also curated a list of best motorcycle with saddle height from 30.0 to 30.9 inchesas well as a list of best motorcycle with seat height under 30 inches.
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When possible, we’ve included a link to our test-drive reviews so you can get an idea of how each bike performs. We’ve also included the base US MSRP of the 2022-2023 model year (as of publication), seat heights, and published wet or dry weights. On models with the option to lower the seat height or shock absorbers, we have listed standard and lowered seat heights. You can also click on the model’s name to visit the manufacturer’s website for a full list of specifications and details.
The models on this list are sorted by seat height, the first model having the shortest seat height and the last model having the highest seat height on the list.
CFMOTO 450SS
$5,499
31 inch seat
370 lb
Read our 2023 CFMOTO 450SS First Look Review
Honda CBR500R
$7,299
31.1 inch seat
423 lb
Read our 2013 Honda CBR500R First Ride Review
Honda CB500F
$6,799
31.1 inch seat
416 lb
Read our 2017 Honda CB500F First Ride Review
Kawasaki Ninja 650
$7,999
31.1 inch seat
419 lb
Read our Kawasaki Ninja 650 2020 road test review
Kawasaki Z650
$7,749
31.1 inch seat
410 lb
Read our 2017 Kawasaki Z650 First Ride Review
KAWASAKI W800
$9,199
31.1 inch seat
496 lb
Read our 2020 Kawasaki W800 First Look Review
Royal Enfield Hunter 350
$3,999
31.1 inch seat
400 lb
Read our 2023 Royal Enfield Hunter 350 first ride review
Suzuki GSX250R
$4,999
31.1 inch seat
399 lb
Read our Suzuki GSX250R 2023 First Look Review
Victory Bonneville T100
$10,995
31.1 inch seat
503 lb
Read our 2017 Triumph Bonneville T100 First Look Review
Victory Bonneville T120
$12,695
31.1 inch seat
520 lb
Read our Triumph Bonneville T120 2022 First Look Review
Win Scrambler 900
$11,495
31.1 inch seat
492 lb
Read our Triumph Scrambler 900 2022 First Look Review
Yamaha TW200
$4,899
31.1 inch seat
278 lb
Read our 2017 Yamaha TW200 First Ride Review
CFMOTO 300NK
$4,199
31.2 inch seat
333 lb
Read our CFMOTO 300NK 2022 First Trip Review
Royal Enfield Scram 411
$5,099
Seat 31.3 inches
408 lb
Read our 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 first ride review
CFMOTO 700CL-X
$6,799
31.5 inch seat
432 lb
Read our 2022 CFMOTO 700CL-X Road Test Review
CFMOTO 700CL-X Sports
$7,199
31.5 inch seat
432 lb
Read our CFMOTO 700CL-X Sport 2022 First Ride Review
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT version
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT version
$9,699
31.5 inch seat
415 lb
Read our Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition 2023 First Look Review
Kawasaki Z900
$9,399
31.5 inch seat
468 lb
Read our 2017 Kawasaki Ninja Z900 ABS First Ride Review
Kawasaki Z650RS
$9,099
31.5 inch seat
412 lb
Read our Kawasaki Z650RS 2022 First Ride Review
Royal Enfield Himalayan
$5,449
31.5 inch seat
439 lb
Read our 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan first trip review
Honda CB300R
$5,049
31.6 inch seat
316 lb
Read our 2019 Honda CB300R First Ride Review
Honda NC750X DCT
$9,399
31.6 inch seat
493 lb
Read our 2018 Honda NC750X road test review
BMW R nineT
$15,945
31.7 inch seat
487 lb
Read our 2021 BMW R nineT First Look Review
BMW R nineT Pure
$10,995
31.7 inch seat
483 lb
Read our 2017 BMW R nineT Pure Road Test Review
KAWASAKI Z125 PRO
$3,399
31.7 inch seat
225 lb
Read our 2017 Kawasaki Z125 PRO First Ride Review
Royal Enfield Classic 350
$4,699
31.7 inch seat
430 lb
Read our 2022 Royal Enfield Classic 350 first ride review
Royal Enfield INT650
$6,149
31.7 inch seat
445 lb
Read our 2019 Royal Enfield INT650 road test review
Royal Enfield Continental GT
$6,349
31.7 inch seat
445 lb
Read our 2019 Royal Enfield Continental GT road test review
Trident Trident 660
$8,595
31.7 inch seat
417 lb
Read our Triumph Trident 660 2021 first look review
Yamaha MT-07
$8,199
31.7 inch seat
406 lb
Read our Yamaha MT-07 2021 road test review
Not Afraid
$12,995
31.8 inch seat
313 lb
Read our 2022 Zero S First Look review
Ducati SuperSport 950
$14,595
31.9 inch seat
405 lb (dry)
Honda CBR650R
$9,899
31.9 inch seat
445 lb
Read our Honda CBR650R 2023 First Look Review
Honda CB650R
$9,399
31.9 inch seat
445 lb
Read our Honda CB650R 2023 First Look Review
Suzuki GSX-R750
$12,849
31.9 inch seat
419 lb
Read our Suzuki GSX-R750 2023 First Look Review
Suzuki GSX-R600
$11,699
31.9 inch seat
412 lb
Read our Suzuki GSX-R600 2023 First Look Review
Suzuki GSX-S1000
$11,499
31.9 inch seat
472 lb
Read our Suzuki GSX-S1000 2022 test run review
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT
$13,349
31.9 inch seat
498 lb
Read our Suzuki GSX-S1000GT 2022 test run review
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
$14,099
31.9 inch seat
498 lb
Read our Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ 2023 First Look Review
Suzuki GSX-8S
$8,849
31.9 inch seat
445 lb
Read our Suzuki GSX-8S 2023 First Ride Review
1200 . double speed win
$12,895
31.9 inch seat
476 lb
Read our Triumph Speed Twin 1200 2023 First Look Review
YAMAHA XSR900
$10,199
31.9 inch seat
425 lb
Read our Yamaha XSR900 2022 first ride review
Yamaha Tracer 9 GT
$14,999
32.5-inch seat (31.9-inch optional low seat)
485 lb
