Best Motorcycles for Women (as recommended BY women!)

Are you a female rider trying to choose a motorbike? Confused about the best motorcycles for women, especially if you need a low seat height or want to do long-distance rides? Don’t worry- you’re in the right place. Read on to discover the best bikes for women- as recommended BY women.

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Motorcycles for women- the problem

Trying to choose the best motorbike as a woman is a bit like trying to find the perfect pair of jeans. It’s got to fit your inside leg, knees, hips, ass AND feel comfortable.

BUT, most importantly, no matter whether you prefer sport bikes, dirt bikes or tourers, safety comes first. You must be able to touch the floor when on your motorcycle (with at least one foot!), balance the bike when stopped at traffic lights or junctions, push the motorcycle into and out of a garage or storage unit and, if the worst should happen and you drop it, pick the damn thing back up again! (On second thoughts, it’s WAY harder then buying a pair of jeans!)

Buying your first bike can be confusing for any gender, but it seems to be just a teeny bit harder for girls. Let’s face it, with some notable exceptions (including me!), average female riders are shorter than average male riders and the options can feel more limited.

So, to help, we’ve picked some of the best motorcycles for female riders- and what to look for when making your choice, no matter your skill level. All these motorcycles have been recommended by REAL women who ACTUALLY ride them.

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Can I only ride a 125cc or smaller bike as a girl?

Fu*k no! If your licence and body allows (more on that shortly), you ride whatever size bike you want to ride. I personally learned to ride on a 600cc Suzuki Bandit (which many consider a ‘big bike’), then went onto a 900cc Triumph Scrambler and then a 636 Kawasaki ZX6R (which is a smaller engine but waaaaaaaaaayyyy faster!)

I’ve toured all over Europe as well as commuted and done track days and plenty of day trips on these bikes and loved every minute.

Don’t forget, a motorcycle will only go as fast as you let it. It’s perfectly possible to ride a 1200cc slower and more carefully than a 125. It’s the RIDER that goes fast, not the engine size. So don’t let engine size put you off finding your perfect bike.

My first motorcycle as a brand new rider

My first motorcycle was a Suzuki Bandit 650. And I bought it entirely because I learned to ride and did my motorcycle test on a Bandit 600.

To be honest, a Suzuki Bandit is a really common first motorcycle . They’re pretty forgiving, have a pretty comfortable riding position, good acceleration and decent brakes- as long as you look after them. It’s a great starter bike.

However, I scared myself silly on this motorcycle, so needed to change it in order to build up my confidence again.

For new riders, what you can buy will depend on your age, budget and licence limitations but, assuming you’re allowed to ride any size bike, here’s what I would recommend for new/ beginner riders.

Best small motorcycles for female riders: under 500cc

Lots of female motorcycle riders start on with smaller cc bikes and they’re a brilliant way to get into riding. They’re less weight with a lower seat height and much easier to manouvre than bigger bikes.

If you’d like to buy a motorcycle under 500cc, here are the ones I recommend to my female friends to check out first:

Kawasaki Ninja (125-400cc)

If you want a smaller motorcycle which looks like a big sports bike but only has a small engine, the Kawasaki Ninja is an excellent choice – especially for first time riders.

Kawasaki bikes tend to come in two different models/ types- supersport ninja (lots of fairing) and naked ‘z’ bikes (less fairing= less to replace if you damage it!)

This range is constantly evolving, with different engine sizes being released, but every single one looks luuuuuuuush- and sounds just as good. Here are some of our favourites:

The 125cc Kawasaki Ninja is a great ride. It has enough power to feel like fun, but weighs just 149 kg (that’s the curb weight, which is the weight of the motorcycle including a tank of fuel) and has a seat height of 785mm. Unlike many 125s, it has a full-size chassis (if you’re a particularly short rider, this might not be the bike for you.)

One of the things I love most about Kawasaki’s is the Ergo-fit seat, which allows different seats to be fitted depending on your height!

The z125 has a slightly higher seat height (815mm) and weighs 147kg with a tank of fuel.

The 250cc was replaced by the 300, which was then replaced more recently by the 400cc. But they are all very very similar bikes, so don’t be scared by a 400cc engine! There are plenty of 300cc’s available on the second-hand market and you can also find a few Kawasaki 250cc motorcycles for sale- but these are getting a bit old now so choose with caution.

The 400cc has a seat height of 785 mm as standard, but the seat is pretty narrow, so it’s easier to reach the ground. It also has a light trellis frame (curb weight is only 168kg) and has one of the largest brake disc in its class, so you don’t need to worry about braking too hard!

Seat height: 30.9 in (785 mm) Weight: 370.3 lb (168 kg)

Other small motorcycles for women: KTM125 Duke

If you like the naked motorcycle look, check out KTMs. The KTM125 Duke mirrors the look of its bigger siblings, in a much more beginner-friendly package. Again, it has a trellis frame, which keeps the curb weight light (lighter than the Kawasaki 125) and if you’re a shorter rider it’s possible to lower the seat height if needed.

Seat height: 30in (785mm) Weight: 302lb (137kg)

Other beginner motorcycles to consider

If you want a naked bike with a slightly larger cc engine, check out the KTM 390 Duke- it’s a great choice.

If you want a lighter 125 which looks sporty, check out the Suzuki GSX-R125 (only 134kg!)

If you like the look of Suzuki’s, but want a more powerful engine, consider the Suzuki Inazuma 250. It’s got a really good engine AND it has a gear indicator (I LOVE having a gear indicator.) Although not much taller than the other small bikes we’ve mentioned, it’s a lot heavier at 183kg, so that could be a downside.

If you’re taller but want a smaller engine size motorcycle, look at the Yamaha XT250. The seat height is 32in (812mm), yet curb weight is only 132kg. (Optional lower seat and lowering kits are available too).

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Best big bikes for female riders

When you’re feeling more confident and ready to buy a motorcycle over 500cc, the world opens up and you’re faced with all sorts of choices based on your riding style.

Do you want a touring or adventure bike for longer journeys on the open road, want something sporty and fast for track days, or a bit of everything? By now, you’ve probably got some idea of what sort of motorcycling you enjoy, so here are some big bikes for all situations.

What motorcycle did I buy?

For me, I currently ride the Kawasaki ZX6r. I chose this bike because it’s great fun on the track (as you can see in the photo above!) but it’s also fun to ride around town or the local countryside.

I did also try the Honda CBR and the CBF650. I didn’t like the CBF- it just didn’t fit my frame right and the CBR felt a bit uncomfortable too. Having said that, the ZX6 is a little small for my long legs (I have a 35″ inside leg) but the ZX10r is too expensive for me at the moment!

Best ‘next bike up’ for female riders

Again, this post could be about 7000 words long, but I asked my female rider friends what they’d recommend as best beginner motorcycles or for girls looking to by their first bike over 500cc and here are their suggestions:

Kawasaki z650

I swear this blog post isn’t sponsored by Kawasaki (although, if you’re reading this Mr Kawasaki, feel free to get in touch!), but this bike came up a couple of times as a great big bike for newer riders.

The Kawasaki Z 650 has a more upright riding position than some sportier models (like the Ninja) and therefore more comfortable and a little easier to control for smaller riders. My friend who is 5ft1′ rides this both around town and on the track, and she loves it (seat height is 790mm).

You might also want to consider the Kawasaki Vulcan S- several female riders I know have had one and loved it- it’s easy to control at low speed.

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Yamaha 700 Tracer

The 72hp parallel-twin Tracer offers plenty of performance and poised handling. It can switch from highway hauls to bend swinging in the blink of an eye. Moreover, there’s a reasonably-sized fairing to tuck behind.    

For shorter riders (female or male), Yamaha sells a low seat option and aftermarket lowering kits are also available for this model.

Seat height:  32.8in (835mm) Weight: 432lb (196kg).

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Best Touring Motorcycles for Women Riders

Triumph Scrambler

Let me be frank- I LOVE my Triumph Scrambler. I’ve toured all over Europe with it and it’s a FANTASTIC machine. Don’t be scared by the 900cc engine- I promise it’s an easy ride and comfy as hell on long journeys. The seat height may be too much for some shorter riders, but if you can ride it safely it’s well worth looking at.

Seat height: 32in (825mm- can be lowered) Weight: 506lb (230kg)

The Ducati Scrambler is also worth looking at- very similar to the Triumph Scrambler and perfect for off-road/ gravel roads as well as touring. You can get a low seat option (30.6″), which can be lowered even further with a cafe racer seat or lowered suspension.

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Other touring bikes to consider: Harley- Davidson Road King

Everyone picks the H-D Ultra Classic as their top tourer. Yet the Road King comes with hard luggage, screen and running boards and weighs over 100lb less! This lighter weight makes it easier to control, especially at lower speeds- although it’s still a very heavy bike!

Seat height: 28in (711mm) Weight: 800lb (363kg)

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Best Low Motorcycle For Female Riders: Indian Scout Sixty

If you want a reeeeeeeeeally low motorcycle, you may want to consider a bobber or solo seat motorcycle like the Indian Scout. Although it has a 1000cc V-twin engine, it has a seat height of just 25.5in (649mm!)- perfect for short riders. However, these are very heavy bikes- curb weight is 542lb (246kg!)

Another motorcycle cruiser with a low seat to consider for long distance rides is the Honda Rebel 500. Seat height is just 27.2in (691mm) and curb weight is a little more manageable at 421lb (191kg).

Or, get a custom motorcycle designed for you!

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Best Motorcycle for tall female Riders

Ahhh, where are my tall girls at! Sadly, whilst being tall means we can ride all sorts of bikes, we’re not exempt from the difficulties of finding a motorcycle to buy. You might find your legs are too long, or the riding position is uncomfortable on long rides and you get cramp in your hips or calves.

If you’re particularly tall, like me, you might even find you need risers to make the seat height taller so it’s more comfortable- ask your dealer or local bike shop for more advice.

I’ve been lucky enough to try out lots of bikes- here are some I love (apart from the ones I’ve already owned and mentioned!)

Ducati Multistrada 950

Cheaper and almost as much fun as its 1200cc big brother, the 950 Strada is one of the most versatile motorcycles on the market. It has a lovely high seat- perfect for long legs which don’t like to bend in leathers!

 Seat height: 33.1in (840mm) Weight: 456lb (207kg)

Runner Up: Kawasaki Versys 650

If you like height but not weight, the dual-sport Kawasaki is a good choice.

Seat height: 33.1in (840mm) Weight: 399lb (181kg)

If you’re a new rider, you’ll still be learning. It’s perfectly ok to get a sporty race bike, or a big tourer or whatever you want, but please bear in mind the things to look for above.

Best motorcycles for women- final thoughts

So here’s the thing. There are HUNDREDS of motorcycles on the market. And absolutely every single one of them is right for female riders providing:

• Your licence allows it
• You can safely stop and put your foot down
• You enjoy riding it.

That’s it.

Of course, while style and personal preference will play a HUGE part in choosing your favourite, the MOST IMPORTANT THING is that it feels good to ride and you enjoy riding it.

My advice is to take as many motorcycles as possible for a test ride. Until you get on one and see how it handles, it’s tough to know whether it’s for you or not.

When I got on the Triumph Scrambler, I fell in love. It just felt ‘right’.

If you’re hell-bent on a particular make and model but you’re too short for the motorcycle, you can make it happen with thick-soled boots, low seats or suspension kits. If you’re too tall, you can add risers.

But don’t let anyone tell you you CAN’T ride a certain make or model of motorcycle because ‘you’re a girl’.

Happy shopping!

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