Choices for smaller, affordable motorcycles are growing, and that’s good news for riders looking for a fun bike that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re new to riding and want something easy to handle or an experienced rider looking for a shorter bike, you have more options now than ever when it comes to finding the best motorcycles for smaller riders! 

Below is Woman Rider’s 2022-2023 list of Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders, an update of the popular post from 2019 on our sibling publication Rider Magazine. Our new list includes motorcycles with seat heights up to 30 inches with an MSRP of $17,000 or less. 

We’ve also curated lists of the best bikes with seat heights between 30.0 and 30.9 inches, as well as a list of bikes with seat heights between 31.0 and 31.9 inches. We’ll include links to those lists soon. 

When possible, we’ve included a link to either our test ride review or a review on Rider so you can get a sense of how each bike performs in action. We’ve also included the 2022-2023 model year’s U.S. base MSRP (as of publication), seat height, and claimed wet or dry weight. On models with options to lower the seat height or suspension, we’ve listed the standard and lowered seat heights. You can also click on a model’s name to go to the manufacturer’s webpage for a full list of specifications and details.  

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The models in this list are arranged by seat height, with the first model having the shortest seat height and the last model having the tallest seat height in the list. 


Can-Am Ryker 

Can Am Ryker Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Can-Am Ryker 

$8,999 

23.6-inch seat height

594 lb dry 

Read our 2019 Can-Am Ryker First Ride Review 


Indian Scout Bobber Sixty 

Indian Scout Bobber Sixty Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Indian Scout Bobber Sixty 

$10,749 

25.6-inch seat height 

548 lb 


Indian Scout Rogue Sixty 

Indian Scout Rogue Sixty Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Indian Scout Rogue Sixty 

$11,249 

25.6-inch seat height 

540 lb 

Read our 2022 Indian Scout Rogue First Look Review 


Indian Scout Sixty 

Indian Scout Sixty Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Indian Scout Sixty 

$11,749 

25.6-inch seat height 

543 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2016 Indian Scout Sixty Road Test Review 


Indian Scout Bobber 

Indian Scout Bobber Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Indian Scout Bobber 

$12,249 

25.6-inch seat height 

553 lb 

Read our 2017 Indian Scout Bobber First Look Review 


Indian Scout 

Indian Scout Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Indian Scout 

$13,249 

25.6-inch seat height 

561 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2019 Indian Scout Tour Test Review 


Indian Scout Bobber Twenty 

Indian Scout Bobber Twenty Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Indian Scout Bobber Twenty 

$13,249 

25.6-inch seat height 

563 lb 


Harley-Davidson Iron 883 

Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Harley-Davidson Iron 883 

(2022 is the final year for this model) 

$11,249 

25.7-inch seat height 

564 lb 


Harley-Davidson Softail Standard 

Harley-Davidson Softail Standard Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Harley-Davidson Softail Standard 

$14,399 

25.8-inch seat height 

655 lb 


Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114 

Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114 

$16,599 

25.8-inch seat height 

631 lb 


Honda Shadow Phantom 

2023 Honda Shadow Phantom Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Honda Shadow Phantom 

$7,999 

25.8-inch seat height 

549 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2010 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 Road Test Review 


Honda Shadow Aero 

2023 Honda Shadow Aero Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Honda Shadow Aero 

$7,799 

25.9-inch seat height 

560 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2013 Honda Shadow Aero Review 


Indian Chief 

Indian Chief Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Indian Chief 

$14,999 

26-inch seat height 

670 lb 


Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight 

Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight 

(2022 is the final year for this model) 

$12,299 

26.2-inch seat height 

556 lb 


Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic 

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic 

$8,999 

26.8-inch seat height 

620 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2013 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic Review 


Honda Fury 

Honda Fury Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Honda Fury 

$11,449 

26.9-inch seat height 

663 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2010 Honda VT13VX Fury Road Test Review 


Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom 

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom 

$9,499 

27-inch seat height 

611 lb 


Yamaha V Star 250 

Yamaha V Star 250 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Yamaha V Star 250 

$4,699 

27-inch seat height 

324 lb 

Read more about the V Star 250 in Rider‘s 2008 Motorcycle Fuel Economy Comparison Review 


Harley-Davidson Nightster 

Harley-Davidson Nightster Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Harley-Davidson Nightster 

$13,499 

27.1-inch seat height 

481 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster First Ride Review 


BMW R 18 

2023 BMW R 18 in Mineral White Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

BMW R 18 

$14,995 

27.2-inch seat height 

761 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2021 BMW R 18 First Edition Road Test Review 


Honda Rebel 500 

2023 Honda Rebel 500 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Honda Rebel 500 

$6,449 

27.2-inch seat height 

408 lb 

Read our 2020 Honda Rebel 500 ABS First Ride Review 


Honda Rebel 300 

2023 Honda Rebel 300 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Honda Rebel 300 

$4,749 

27.2-inch seat height 

364 lb 


Triumph Bonneville Bobber 

Triumph Bonneville Bobber Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Triumph Bonneville Bobber 

$13,495 

27.6-inch seat height (optional lower seat of 27.2 inches) 

553 lb 

Read our 2017 Triumph Bonneville Bobber First Ride Review 


Yamaha Bolt R-Spec 

Yamaha Bolt R-Spec Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Yamaha Bolt R-Spec 

$8,899 

27.2-inch seat height 

542 lb 


Honda Rebel 1100T DCT 

23 Honda Rebel 1100T DCT Bordeaux Red Metallic RF34 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Honda Rebel 1100T DCT 

$11,299 

27.5-inch seat height 

524 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2023 Honda Rebel 1100T DCT First Look Review 


Honda Rebel 1100 

2023 Honda Rebel 1100 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Honda Rebel 1100 

$9,499 

27.5-inch seat height 

487 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2021 Honda Rebel 1100 First Ride Review 


Suzuki Boulevard C50 

Suzuki Boulevard C50 Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Suzuki Boulevard C50 

$8,609 

27.6-inch seat height 

611 lb 


Suzuki Boulevard C50T 

Suzuki Boulevard C50T Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Suzuki Boulevard C50T 

$10,059 

27.6-inch seat height 

644 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C50T Road Test Review 


Kawasaki Vulcan S 

Kawasaki Vulcan S Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Kawasaki Vulcan S 

$7,349 

27.8-inch seat height 

492 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S Road Test Review 


Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe 

Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe 

$8,099 

27.8-inch seat height 

496 lb 

Read our 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe Road Test Review 


Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster 

Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster Small Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster 

$13,495 

27.8-inch seat height 

580 lb 

Read our 2018 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster First Ride Review 


Harley-Davidson Sportster S 

Harley-Davidson Sportster S Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders

Harley-Davidson Sportster S 

$16,399 

28.9-inch seat height 

502 lb 

Read Rider‘s 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S First Ride Review 


Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

$7,269 (estimated)

29.1-inch seat height

531.3 lb

Read Rider‘s 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 First Ride Review


Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low

Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low

Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low

$14,995

29.9-30.7-inch seat height (adjustable suspension)

425 lb dry

Read Rider‘s 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low Road Test Review

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3 COMMENTS

  1. You forgot all of the Honda mini-motos. Some riders like motorcycles with very small displacement engines, and new MSRPs in the $2K to $4K price range. I know I do.

    • Thanks for the comment, Fred! We’ll have Honda’s mini-motos on the next Small Motorcycles post. This one was only for bikes with seat heights under 30 inches, and the Honda mini-motos all have seat heights at or above that number. Our next post will include motorcycles with seat heights between 30 inches and 30.9. You’re right that it’d be a shame not to include those.

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