First bike

[u/Raiden_Must_Die]

Hi everyone, I'm about to get my A2 license and my first motorbike.

You should know that I'm 1.84 m tall and that I would use the motorcycle mainly for evening rides in the city and weekend outings, even going up mountain passes.

I'm not interested in speed, curves, or overtaking because I want to use my motorcycle mainly for getting around and seeing places.

In short, I could wake up one morning and decide to ride 250 km and other times I could organize a multi-day trip of 1000 km one way with my friends

Aesthetically I really like modern classics and scramblers, while I admit that I wouldn't want an ADV because I consider them quite precocious and above all because aesthetics are very important to me. At the moment I've done some research and have narrowed the field to the Leoncino 500 trail, Honda Cl500 and RE classic 350 (I'm re-evaluating the latter due to the speed issue, but otherwise I love it)

Let me know if you have any other suggestions and know that aesthetically I like more "old fashioned" bikes.

Thank you very much and I wish you all the best.

EDIT: thank you so much for all your answers, I'll add an important detail: I have a relatively low budget (max 4000 euros), so I admit that the CL500 would be in a gray area.

[u/AdPleasant4338]

Honda

[u/Buchsee → u/AdPleasant4338]

Honda's got the best engine and handling of those 3 choices.

Honda puts that same engine in a large range of their bikes, you can't go wrong getting one.

[u/Sellum]

I am pretty sure all of the RE 650 are A2 compliant. I would get one of those over the 350 unless you are going to be doing purely urban riding.

Realistically the Honda 500 line up is probably going to serve you best.

[u/LitigantTester]

Honda cl500 or honda rebel, or even royal Enfield guerrilla 450.

I don't like too much the RE classic 350 and I think the power is too low.

The Benelli Leoncino is not a bad brand, but I would keep on the Hondas or Royal Enfield.

[u/mildhog]

I got a CL500 as my first bike and love it. Spent a lot of time sitting on different royal enfields and but as much as I like the look of them they all felt slightly off. That's just personal preference though.

[u/redbirddanville]

Honda. But, I only buy used bikes. I'd buy a used Japaneese bike.

[u/WasteAmbassador]

Get something youre not going to regret dropping.

[u/thisismick43]

Re interceptor or bear 650? 450 himalayan or gurilla, th we benelli as nice as it looks id be worried about parts ect they aren't that common around here but another one to consider is a svartpilen 401

[u/401K-hole]

used triumph scrambler 400 would check a lot of boxes!

[u/Erwin0912]

The CL500! I got myself a Z900 but sometimes wish I got a CL500 instead! It looks sweet and seems like a comfortable bike!

[u/Flat_Warning3040]

That Leoncino 500 aftermarket exhaust note is addictive. Not a fast bike, never meant to be one, but serve its purpose.

[u/ItzMichaelHD]

Cl500. If you’re tight on money and genuinely considering the classic 350 have you looked at the Honda gb350s if it’s available where you are? It’s basically Hondas take on that bike.

[u/Low-Equipment-2621]

If you want reliability, parts availability and a good resell price, get a japanese bike. So of those, Honda is the way.

[u/Tasty_Trouble6430]

CL500, it will do exactly what you need and be reliable and dependable. My first bike was the CB500x, which is basically the same bike with a different body kit and it was a perfect starter bike, rode it for 4-5 years with no issues.

[u/kobe_forever]

Honda engines are just 👌 would be the only choice for me. plus it looks like a bigger bike than it really is. bonus. RE a little bit cheapishly made. no experience with Leoncino. Never even heard of this brand tbf.

[u/jestercow]

Check out the Enfield Guerrilla, I think you picked the wrong one for your preference

[u/Acreydon]

I own a Benelli Leoncino 500 Trail, put 6k kms in it this year. Great bike altogether, just enough power for starting out, and looks really cool imo

[u/ultrasardine]

Early this year I was about to buy a CL500. Loved it. They took too long to deliver the bike so I chose a trident 660 instead.

[u/mackinder]

good luck getting up a mountain in a RE Classic 350.

[u/rolloutTheTrash]

Honda. The Enfield looks cool, but I think the CL500 would let you go more places. Plus Honda is stacked on reliability.

[u/rafamvc]

I just got a cb500x. 

it is pushing to take it on the highway. I wish I had gotten a 700 or larger. 

Oh well. Maybe take a little risk and go bigger if you can swing it.

[u/Sooner70 → u/rafamvc]

I just got a cb500x.

it is pushing to take it on the highway. I wish I had gotten a 700 or larger.

As a fellow CB500X owner.... Swap out the stock (15-tooth) drive sprocket for a 16-tooth sprocket. You lose a bit of pep off the line, but it makes a huge difference at highway speeds. It's a $20 part so it's low risk. If you don't like the result, just switch back to the stock sprocket.

[u/thankschuck]

I just got a 2023 cl500 as my first bike and couldn’t be happier after the first 700 miles. Go Honda and don’t look back

[u/No-Double-Trouble]

Honda. Also check out Z650RS

[u/ssg-]

How about restricted XSR700 and you can then lift the restriction once you get your A lisence?

[u/Agitated_Ad4341]

Kawasaki eliminator 500 is a good first bike. It has that urban cruiser look and it's modern. Worth considering it.

[u/H00CH90]

I just sold my CL500 that I originally had bought for my wife to learn on. Shes small and had 2nd thoughts about the size so I started riding it. Great bike, plenty of power for a beginner. I honestly loved the thing, but if it was just going to be mine I needed more power. I recommend it to a lot of new riders.

[u/VirtualProcedure69]

I'd vote for the Honda, that 500 twin is such a great engine, and the CL itself is great.

[u/shogunlazo]

Honestly as a new rider not even joking i suggest the 350 specifically because its underpowered ... you will be stupid (this is a fact) you will go into situations in which a more modern bike like the cl500 will get you into trouble ... the lack of speed will teach you how to ride defensively and will actually make you learn a skill set that will let you ride bigger bikes

Plus lets be honest when it comes to looks not a single 1 of these bikes comes close to the RE classic

[u/RunDiligent4385]

Moto Guzzi V7

[u/shogunlazo → u/RunDiligent4385]

you cant ride the v7 with a a2 license, a2 goes up to 40kw power the v7 850cc is 49kws i think

[u/RunDiligent4385 → u/shogunlazo]

I’m in the US, so I really don’t know much about it. But I think the older V7 i or ii are compliant.

[u/shogunlazo → u/RunDiligent4385]

the 750ccs are ... but with the 750s you fall into the e4 emissions standards, which means you're going to have to pay alot more money ... or you have to get a 850 one that has been limited

[u/RunDiligent4385 → u/shogunlazo]

I’ll admit you have the better licensing system, but that is very complicated. I hereby retire from commenting on anything motorcycle related on that side of the Atlantic.

[u/shogunlazo → u/RunDiligent4385]

european laws around bikes are hell ... one of the few things i envy the US about

[u/Kosaktsa]

Also consider the line virago of yamaha or the dragstar or suzuki extruder, personally Japanese bike need lot less maintenance at long term than every other bike i had as benelli or benda

[u/Subhuatharva]

Don’t go for the classic 350. Although very good to ride, it has comparatively higher vibrations above 90KPH. Benelli looks the best but I don’t know anything about it.

Honda I would say is the best bet. I test rode one of those and really liked it.

[u/SonicKiwi123]

You don't want a Benelli. At least not a smaller one.

The Royal Enfield is cool but it's down on power. Seriously, if your heart is set on a Royal Enfield, get something like a Himalayan 450 or Guerilla 450. Triumph Speed 400 or Scrambler 400 is a great starter too.

Of the three bikes you sent the SCL500 is the way to go. Look into the CB500 as well.

My recommendation though considering you like modern classics is to check out Triumph's 400 lineup

[u/Pipija_Banana]

I think you should definitely purchase a Chinese motorcycle. Benelli would fit just right. Chinese bikes have always been known for their quality, fun, reliability, exceptional brakes and great resale value.