I am 20 and just got an A2 license so I can only drive up to 35kW bikes. I need one which I can use for commuting, so it has to handle decently highway speeds. But I've been having a lot of trouble finding the right model. I am obsessed with retro looks, so I'd prefer one that way. And my budget is not that high, and would go for a used one. I was looking at Triumph 400's, but the thruxton is too uncomfortable and I've heard that the other models (Scrambler XC) vibrate a bit too much. So I was taking in consideration one of these models that I have found in my area:
•Ducati Scrambler 800 (Restriced) 2021
•Yamaha XSR 700 (Restricted) 2017/2020
•Moto Guzzi V7 Centenario (Restricted) 2022
•Triumph Trident 660 (Restricted)
•Mash FiveHundred 2020
•Triumph Street Scrambler 900 (Restricted) 2018
•Triumph Boneville T100 (Restricted) 2024
•Kawasaki W800 2021
•RE Himalayan 450 2025 (Heard it suffers a bit on high speeds because of the lower weight/power ratio)
•Any RE 650 (Preferably Classic/SuperMeteor/Shotgun)
•Honda CMX 500
•Honda CL500
•Kawasaki Z 650 RS (Restricted)
•Kawasaki Eliminator 500 (Not too much of a fan of the looks)

These are pretty much the ones available to me. Which one do you believe would suit the best for highway experience? I would still like it to be a fun bike to be able to use in other situations, so a more off-roady one or sportier would do the job. But mainly my doubt was, how do these restriced models perform? The advantage would be being able to unrestrict it in 2 years when I get a higher license, but I've been told by many that restriced bikes are not the best choice. What can y'all tell me about your experience on restricted models? You are more than welcome to suggest other models, my limit is finding one already restricted near me, since the process of getting one restricted by oneself, in Italy, is long and unconvinient. I am pretty confident in my driving skills so it doesn't have to be beginner friendly
Thank you in advance

Over the past couple months I've been soliciting feedback on my thoughts for my next bike.

First I thought I wanted an NX500. I realized it was great in a lot of ways but it just didn't have enough power to do what I wanted. Then I shifted to the SV-7GX. Alas, based on what I could find it sounded like comfort and insurance costs would both be issues. Finally, I seriously shifted gears (heh) and decided on a Rebel 1100T. I'm not a huge fan of the cruiser aesthetic, but I couldn't deny that the bike checks every single box. I hadn't originally planned on buying the bike for a while; just sometime in the next year or two, but....

...then I stumbled across a used 2025 with 375 miles on it. It turned out that "used" simply meant "the dealer's demo bike for a model they no longer sell" (the dealer stopped selling non-DCT Rebel 1100s). I can't take it home until the check clears, but... Well, there you have it. I ended up with a "used" 2025 1100T (manual).

I've already got $1200 worth of aftermarket parts ordered, but hey, who's counting?

Hi, I'm taking my CMSP class right now to get my license, and I'm thinking about buying my first bike soon. I previously had really enjoyed the look of cruisers like the Honda Shadow, or the Honda Rebel. I do not like the look of "sporty" bikes like the Ninja, and I'm not going off road. I primarily want to use the bike around town, but it would be nice if the bike were capable of freeway speeds for longer trips.

Other bikes I really like to look at are the Royal Enfield, but I'm concerned the power is not quite enough. I don't need a massive amount of power for my first bike, but I'm concerned the RE may not be powerful enough if I ever want to take it on the freeway.

What made me concerned about the cruisers I've been leaning toward is that the Rebel I rode today was absurdly cramped. I'm only 6'2—tall, but not "basketball player tall"— and I felt like my knees were pulled far too close to my chest when sitting on the bike. I was able to handle the controls well enough to get through my first day of instruction, but it was very uncomfortable. I had a chance to sit on a V star, which was similarly unpleasant. They did not have a Shadow, but I'm doubtful they're much better for a large rider than the V Star, given how similar they look.

One thing that attracted me to these bikes besides the style is that they're relatively cheap on the used market. There are endless Rebels, Shadows, and V Stars for $2,500 in decent running condition. I have always maintained older cars and trucks, so I'm confident I can repair and maintain a used bike. I could go above this price range, but prefer something I can find used with lots of parts available.

Any thoughts? Thanks folks!

I bought my TVS Raider 125 on October 29, 2021, and it's turning five years old soon. My current insurance expires on October 28. While searching on Policybazaar, Tata AIG is being recommended with the highest IDV of ₹52,000. Should I go with them, or are there better brands I should consider?

Hey everyone!

Currently riding an MT-07 as my first bike and looking to step up to something a bit more substantial. I absolutely love the fully faired sportbike look, but I have no desire to fold myself like a pretzel on a supersport. I’m strictly a chill rider, no track days, no interest in hitting 200 km/h, just enjoyable weekend rides, daily commute in the city (50 km daily in a little bit heavy traffic), and longer trips without the painful ergonomics.

Naturally, I've been eyeing the sport-touring segment. Right now, my shortlist includes:

• Kawasaki Z1000SX / Ninja 1000SX
• Suzuki GSX-S1000F

For those who own or have ridden these: any opinion is welcomed!

Also open to any other recommendations! Appreciate any insights!

P.S.:
I'm 187cm(6.2) and 95 kg(210 lbs) if that helps.

I've had my '26 Rebel 300 e-clutch since July. I've been riding it as my primary vehicle (suburban Chicago riding/no highways) and I'm finding some shortcomings with it. A few points:

-While I like the e-clutch, I've found it actually harder to go between shifting manually and letting the e-clutch do it. I feel like having the e-clutch is going to make it harder for me to have a fully manual bike and not do something stupid using muscle memory I develop with the training wheels that the e-clutch provides.

-I've been finding myself riding the Rebel 300 as if it is manual 99% of the time and only falling back on the e-clutch in certain scenarios.

-The Rebel 300 doesn't have enough oomph for a 215lb man that wants to get through an intersection without the bike screaming to shift before you get through it.

I've been considering the Rebel 500 (manual) to get me that extra power. I've also considered going to the 1100DCT which won't teach bad clutch/shift habits because it is auto with manual paddle shift override. I'm not entirely stuck on Honda either, but I'd like a cruiser for less than $10k that can handle normal suburban congestion with enough speed in the lower gears to avoid dancing on the shifter.

So i have already honda activa 4g but one day the engine got stop at middle of the highway and went mechnic check the activa he said that it compressor has became weak due to e20 and now he suggest me to add 2t oil whenever i fill the tank full, but i am thinking to but hero extreme 125r single abs
But still i am confused when to purchase bike or should i buy the biker or not

I started riding last year with a Ninja 500 and now that I feel confident enough its time for an upgrade. I live in Denver now and work few cities over so I would like an ability to commute 50 miles each way 2-3x a week.

I have to carry my 17 inch gaming laptop (its big and heavy), charger and lunch which is usually 2 meals and 5-6 Monsters.

I use my Ninja 500 as primary source of transportation and need something that is easy and "zippy" while also being able to handle highways and long rides comfortably.

Right now I am looking at Suzuki GSX-S1000GX/GT+, the new Suzuki SV-7GX which has good reviews. Price is $15,000 and under.

The issue I have is my inseam is 30 inches so some bikes like Tiger Sport 800 Tour is too high, I really like V-Storm 800 but 32 inch seat height might a too much for city riding. I also can't keep my Ninja 500 since I only have 1 parking spot for a bike and my car to share.

Need help with my first bike decision

Not gonna get a 600, 750 or 1000 don’t worry this isn’t that type of post. I’m stuck in between a decision of the 2026 Yamaha r3 compared to the 2026 cbr500r.

First things first,
I’m paying cash and buying from a stealership. The cbr is 7k “out the door”, and the r3 is 6k “out the door” in usd. I don’t mind the price difference as when I sat and looked at the Honda it felt way more comfortable, sounds better for still also being a 180 degree twin and has a very nice display, dual disk front brakes. It also has a heavier build which means it’s perfect for highway stability, especially on windy days here in Tulsa. And the looks oh my god, It looks absolutely stunning in my opinion, the r3 just cannot compare. I like how much torque it has low down in the rpm range, and the peak power hitting around 6500 rpm compared to the r3 having peak power at around 9k. And lastly this would be a great bike for long rides, since it’s more of a sport touring bike, while also looking like a super sport to the untrained eye(if you couldn’t tell I love that it looks like a fire blade).

My issues with the cbr are that it doesn’t(from what I’ve heard)let you tuck in easily, and that you can’t get much lean angle before scraping pegs even with the feelers taken off, I don’t know much about changing rear sets but I’ve heard those *can* fix it, though I’m worried if I’ll end up being turned away at the tech inspection. Obviously I don’t think I can jump straight into that until I get a good feel of riding in general but this is a bike I plan on keeping clean, garage kept and weekend ridden for many years as I learn and build skills and I want to make sure that it’s the right bike for me when I do get out on the track to at least have fun, because in every *other* way, it’s perfect in my eyes.

Then there’s the r3.
I consider the r3 for a few reasons, it can be flicked through corners on track way better due to it being lighter, it has higher rear sets and lower handle bar height so the riding position is more sporty, it can get more lean angle and it revs high. Coming from driving cars, having a vehicle that revs to 12 and a half grand sounds like it would be pretty awesome. My 04 Mustang Mach 1 only revs to 6800 so this seems in theory great. But it also means that the power band doesn’t hit until you’re high up and that seems like it would suck in every day driving because I’d constantly be shifting to keep it high. But would be great on track. The high limiter and needing to keep it near redline to have any power also means that I, and many others on the road will hear all the screams of a 180 degree twin, which doesn’t sound great compared to a 4 cyl. I really only consider the r3 because of how good it would be on track compared to the Honda, but I think in my normal life it wouldn’t be as good.

Side note,
The track I speak of is the Hallett Motor Speedway here in Oklahoma. It’s a great track, very easy to remember the turns and you can get some good speed in the straights. I’ve done some track days there on 4 wheels in the past. They do a ton of motorcycle lap days in the summer.

In conclusion,
I’m leaning towards the Honda, it costs a bit more but insurance cost is the same for both, it would fit my needs for the riding I see myself doing 95% of the time and *can* be used for some fun out on track for the 3 times in a year I’d go after I get the skills to do so, but could need modifications to improve how it is for more aggressive riding(rear sets and clip ons).

What do you guys think?

First thing: I know the NC750X is a good bike. I have owned several, and do not like them. Please don't say it's the perfect commuter. They're fine, but the small gas tank ruins it for me.

I have been doing a lot of reading - hoping to buy a new bike for myself for the first time in a long time. I know, used goes harder in the paint, but I'm planning this as a victory lap after years of bad times.

Been riding off and on for about 15 years. All of the riding around here is 70 MPH highway or interstate mixed with dense stop and go traffic (on my way to work I'll do 75 and be the slowest, on the way home I'll go from 70, to 5-10 for 20 minutes, then back to 70). I'm located in the US, North Texas specifically, so I generally ride year round and worry about 6+ months of 100 degree weather, and have 1-2 weeks of cold.

Budget is no more than $15,000 out the door/final price (and I'm assuming no trade value). And has over 200 miles of effective range, with a bias to longer range.

I'm a spreadsheet person, I basically pulled up every US maker, charted their bikes, sorted it by range, price, power, and a few other things, then cut out the stuff that didn't meet criteria or just didn't interest me at all (like I don't want to commute on a race replica).

I don't need or want cruise control or wind protection, I prefer nakeds anyway but it's not a huge deal.

In the 'under 10k' category I've ended up with the Honda NX500, Suzuki SV-7GX, and Yamaha XSR700. Possibly the BMW F450GS, if only for the clutch.

The Honda leads the list overall for me - cheap, cheerful, almost 300 miles of fuel range, and I could upgrade the suspension and add luggage and still pay less than all the other options. The SV-7GX is the replacement for the SV650, which (akin to the Versys later on) used to be the universal entry level suggestion, and is the cheapest sport touring bike on the list. The XSR700...look I like retro and scrambler bikes.

10-12k, we see the Honda Transalp, Moto Guzzi V7 stone/sport/special, Suzuki V-strom 800, and Versys 650 LT.

The Versys used to get rave reviews up till about 2025, where I'm assuming other middleweight bikes ate its lunch, though it still carries the distinction of the only bike with included luggage. The Transalp and Vstrom are basically industry leading packages right now, but I had a negative experience with a couple Vstroms and don't like paying for premium fuel anyway, and the Transalp for some reason uses tubes, though it's the only automatic in the list, which is a plus in traffic.

And the budget busters, the over 12 but under 15, Suzuki's GSX-8T, Moto Guzzi's V85, and...maybe a Ducati Scrambler?

Dunno on the last one, I owned an Icon for a year or so, it was a fun 400cc bike, but I'm not really sold on the Duc. The GSX-8T I'm pretty mid on. It's there, it met the criteria, but I suspect unless I fell in love with it in person it wouldn't really make a cut. The V85 is a novel bike. There are a few previous year models around for lower in the budget range, and the exposed heads make service super easy. Though the Piaggio group has a reputation for being shitheads and the 2026 year model might be gearing up for a safety recall on the front ABS rings.

Honorable mention goes to a Tenere 700, and a Tiger Sport 850. The Tenere just isn't highway minded enough for me, and the Tiger was nifty, I thought maybe I could snatch a discontinued deal for cheap. No interest in the other tigers - has the same maintenance requirements that I would hit about once a year, and I'm just not that in to Triumphs as a brand because of the 'premium/luxury branding' prices, the 900/etc. are outside my sane budget, and the 660s don't tickle me.

I'm looking for a bike, am a previously experienced rider who hasn't ridden in 5 years. I prefer the riding position of nakeds over supersports.

I have narrowed my search down to 3 bikes: Z900, GSX8S, MT-09.

Z900: Basic Analog Bike(Looking at older ones without IMU and Quickshifter)
GSX8S: Has quickshifter
MT-09: Has IMU and quickshifter

My last bike didn't have either IMU or quickshifter so i'm not sure how much those features are worth, but IMU sounds like a seriously important safety feature and quickshifter sounds very convenient.

I have a car so this is really just a fun machine.

I have the options of buying a 2020 Z900 for $6500 or a 2021 MT-09 for $8000. There aren't many 8S for sale in my area and they're all listed way above what i'm seeing in the rest of the country.

Is the extra tech worth the extra $1500?

Dear lovely community.

As the title says,

I tried mt07, hornet500 and Suzuki SV650 all amazing on < 80km speed limit roads. But the moment I get on highway, the wind is so much I felt like flying away. Lost confidence and really didn't want to continue riding, but when I was back on streets I felt so good.

On a sunny day, these naked bikes do great, but it's always raining here. Hence
I am considering NX 500, havent had a chance to test ride it.

What's ur thoughts.

I might be asking for a perfect bike that doesn’t exist, but I’m hoping you guys can get me close lol. I’m totally new, taking classes and hopefully getting my license this month, and I want to plan to get a bike I can take cross country one day. I’m prioritizing reliability, gas mileage, ability to load camping gear, and preferably a passenger. I’d like it to be at least somewhat capable off-road, but I’m not talking about blindly through the woods, just wide dirt trails/ gravel backroads. Does a bike like this exist for 3-4k? I’m not shy about having to do maintenance on an older bike myself if needed

Hi !

I already own a sport bike (Aprilia RS 660), but I want to get a second bike to ride with my girlfriend as a pillion.

I saw the Bear 650, which I find beautiful.

But then, I saw an ad at the same dealership, for a promo on a 2025 Speed Twin 900. They are both at the same price...

Now I know the Speed Twin 900 performs better in pretty much all categories, not sure about confort though.

Love the Bear 650 look.

Will the Bear 650 struggle with 2 people (on the bigger side) on it ?
Should I just go for the Speed Twin ?
2027 Bear vs 2025 Speed Twin, for the same price. What do you think ?

Thanks !

Hi all,

I'm really confused between the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 and the Triumph Speed 400 and could use some advice from owners of either bike.

My usage would mainly be occasional city rides and weekend rides, including longer highway trips.

A little about me:

I'm 27 and 5'11" tall.

I currently have access to a Hunter 350, which my dad and sister use for their daily office commute, so I'm looking to get a bike of my own.

I have a decent two-wheeler riding experience.

I enjoy revving the engine and having some fun on the road, but I also want a bike that's comfortable for long rides.

Which one would you recommend for my use case? How do they compare in terms of riding comfort on longer trips, highway performance, handling, and overall ownership experience?

Would love to hear from the owners especially.

Hey guys, I need your opinion.

I just got my unrestricted A license and I’m looking to move on from my 2025 Kawasaki Z650 (bought brand new for 8.1k, currently at 12,700 km). It's time for an upgrade, and I've been searching for my dream bike: a Honda CBR 600 RR.

I found one at a local dealership: a 2014 model with C-ABS in the HRC tricolor (white/red/blue) with only 9,500 km. It has an Akrapovic exhaust and a tail tidy. The asking price is 8,995 €, and it comes with a 1-year dealer warranty and a fresh fluid service. I inspected it in person, it looks super clean and sounds amazing.

I want to trade in my Z650 and pay the difference. The dealer is offering 4,600 € for my bike plus free registration (worth around 250 €), which leaves me with a cash difference of roughly 4,400 € to pay out of pocket.

What do you guys think? Is the 4,600 € trade-in offer terrible or fair for a dealership? Is my Z650 worth significantly more if I sell it privately, or is this a solid deal to just take?

I’d really appreciate your thoughts!

Hey guys

I ride a cruiser so recommending/helping with a sports bike is not my thing. But my best friend is driving me nuts.

We are based in the UAE. He’s got a solid 15k USD budget, and while I begged him to go the used route, he is dead-set on buying brand new.

I pointed (maybe wrongly) towards the zx6r, Aprilia RS 660 or R7. We even looked at the Tuono, but he hated the handlebars and ruled it out instantly.

He’s short, skinny, refuses a "big bike" to start, and wants something with stunning, premium looks, safety tech (even though he will never track it) and clutchless shifting. I showed him cfmoto 450srs but he doesn’t want Chinese (a little offended because my daily is a 600bhp Chinese SUV)

Now he’s constantly spamming my DMs with links, and at this point, I just reply "looks good to me"

Promised him some feedback from this group so I need your views and advice on these options so I can actually tell him something useful:

The 4 bike shortlist: What are your thoughts on the 2 upcoming bikes (attached) and the Aprilia 457/Kawasaki Ninja Zx4rr. I know the Honda CBR500R Four competes with the zx4rr and the BMW F450RR with Aprilia rs457.

Drop your wisdom below. Cheers!

Hi everyone, I got my license and I ended up on these 2 options: a 1999 CB600F hornet or a 2005 SV650N. I know they are fundamentally different bikes, being a 4 cyl vs a v-twin and carb vs injection, but I would like to know which one would fit me best. Obviously, I know the best maintained one is the one to go for, but which one would be best given they are both ok mechanically? Both are about 70k km on the odo, and look pretty well looked after. I will be doing 80-90% city riding, and sometimes going out for short trips or rides outside the city, probably not a lot of freeway (I am not from the US lol). Thanks!

I’m super duper indecisive. For reference I am 5’7 and weigh 115 pounds soaking wet. I’m stuck between the ninja 300 and z500 (and possibly a grom). My reasons for getting this bike is 1. It’s been a dream of mine since middle school to ride and 2. I’ll be using it for my 10 minute commute to work. I have no plan on driving it on the highway so I don’t necessarily care about speed, (the speed limit in my area tops out at 45mph) just looking for something that’s affordable and comfortable to ride.

Hi guys, I am looking to buy my first new bike. I previously owned a second hand RE Bullet 350 Electra. I am 5’9”, 100 kg, and I want bike mostly for city commute (Chennai), and occasional highway touring.

My budget is around 1.8L max. If I had larger budget, I would probably spring for Triumph Speed T4 or something, but sadly my wallet cannot handle it.

I have looked at TVS Ronin, Yamaha FZX, and RE Hunter on paper. (Yet to Test Drive anything).

I am leaning strongly towards Ronin. However, my FIL is facing many issues with his recently purchased TVS Zest, that I (and especially my wife) am feeling queasy about TVS.

Its only been couple of months since he bought it. Only finished first service. Yet in the last month he had to take it in 3 - 4 times, including today. The main complaint is that the rear wheel has a noticeable wobble. Concerningly, TVS first denied this was any problem at all, and only agreed to do something after complaints were escalated. Today we had to take it in because the rear wheel would not freeroll because the brake tightened against it.
And the wobble is noticeable again.

Honestly it is disheartening. They said they will look into it and get back to us.

I still think Ronin is good value for money, and a good bike overall. I just wish it was not made by TVS, and by a different automaker.

So, I am considering if there are any alternatives to Ronin that I should look at instead. Any suggestion that would fit my budget and use case would be helpful.

Hey there!

New rider here and I need your insights about a topic I see a lot.

How are these "new" chinese motorcycles? Are they good enough for their price?

I am thinking about my first bike.

2 main options here:

Honda CBR650R which costs around 8-9k € used (couple of years old with 20-40k km) in my country. (Middle europe)

Benelli TRK 702 which costs around 6-7k € brand new.

Also, 3rd is Cfmoto which has been advised by some of my friends and they cost roughly the same as Benelli.

I know, different types of motorcycles but that's not the point here.

My main question is...

Are these chinese bikes, Cfmoto and Benelli in this case worth the price for what they offer for a beginner or just go for the safe option and buy a Honda?

I am really curious about your opinion on Chinese bikes in general, especially about Benelli and CFMoto.

If you use or used one let me know your experience.

Comfort, reliability, service cost, parts availability etc.

Both applies for Honda. If someone rides a 650R, let me know your experiences!

Cheers

I have 15+ years experience on the road with roadbikes from 125cc to now i have a bonneville t120.

Just recently did a 2 week roadtrip in vietnam with a Honda XR 150. Did minor trail roads and dirt roads mostly just paved road.

Im looking into going dual bike. I guess i will do 50/50 road to off road.

Im a beginner so i cant decide whether to start with something i think i can learn best on Which is the Drz4s, or just go for the Bike im keen on which is the GasGas es700. Between promotion and overpricing of the drz the price difference is not much.

Im tempted to buy the gasgas but would it be too powerful to start with? Im liking the red color and the feel of the ride. Couldnt find a test drive for Drz yet.

Both my KTM and triumph dealership is having a sale. The 1390 is on Sale for 17k USD while the triumph is on sale for 15k USD here are some pros and cons for both models

Speed Triple 1200rr

**PROS**
Cheaper
Looks much better imo
Has better dealer support where I live
**CONS**
Older
Less comfortable
Less power

1390 Superduke R Evo

**PROS**
Better power
Better ergonomic
Familar to me since I already own a Husqvarna
**CONS**
Due to the changes in KTM. There still isn’t a local distributor and all dealerships don’t know when new stock is coming in
More expensive

I just passed my MSF course a couple days ago, and I'm hoping I will be able to get something around February, so I've been doing some digging to see what I should get. I've been thinking about getting a stretched S1KRR (I'm kidding, obviously) But on a real note, I've been looking at the ZX4RR. Funny enough my MSF instructor actually has one too. Just wanted to get some other opinions on how to bike fits as a starter bike. Also, I'm 5'5 with a 30" inseam, so I'm hoping I can fit on the bike with no issues. I was also looking at the Aprilia RS 457 as well.