Beginner Motorcycle Guide: How to Choose Your First Bike

Choosing a first motorcycle is less about finding the “best” bike and more about matching a bike to your license, your size and the riding you actually want to do. This guide works through those decisions in order, using state licensing pages, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) and manufacturer spec pages, so you can build a shortlist you’re confident in.

Get licensed first

In the US, motorcycle licensing is set by each state, not nationally. The names and steps vary, but the general pattern is similar:

• A motorcycle license or endorsement. Depending on the state, this is a separate motorcycle license class (for example, California’s Class M1 or Texas’s Class M) or a motorcycle endorsement added to your existing driver’s license.
• A learner or instruction permit in many states, which lets you practice under set conditions before you’re fully licensed.
• A knowledge test and a skills test, or an approved rider training course that the state accepts in place of one or both tests.

Always check your own state’s DMV (or equivalent agency) for the current rules. Here’s what two large states say on their official pages.

Example: California

According to the California DMV:

• There are two motorcycle license classes. Class M1 covers any two-wheeled motorcycle, plus everything in Class M2. Class M2 covers a motorized bicycle, moped or any bicycle with an attached motor.
• Under 21: you need to hold a motorcycle instruction permit for at least six months and complete the California Motorcyclist Training Course before you can apply for a motorcycle license. The DMV says all riders under 21 must complete this course to get a motorcycle license or endorsement.
• 21 and over: you don’t need an instruction permit first. You can either complete a California Highway Patrol (CHP) approved training course or pass a motorcycle driving test at a DMV office. You’ll also need to pass a vision exam and the knowledge test(s).
• The course completion certificate (DL 389) may be used to waive the motorcycle skills test at the DMV within 12 months of issue.
• To take the motorcycle driving test, you must provide proof of financial responsibility that meets California’s insurance requirements.

Example: Texas

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS):

• All applicants must complete a motorcycle safety course approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The completion certificate is valid for 24 months, and completing the course allows DPS to waive the motorcycle knowledge test.
• All applicants under 18 must pass a skills test administered by DPS. Applicants aged 15 are restricted to motorcycles of 250 cc or less until they pass a skills test at 16.
• Adults 18 and over may have the skills test waived if they hold a valid, unrestricted Texas Class A, B or C license and have completed a motorcycle safety course, or if they’re transferring a valid, unrestricted motorcycle license from another US state or Canadian province.

Training: the MSF Basic RiderCourse

For most new riders, a hands-on course is the best place to start. The MSF Basic RiderCourse is designed for beginning riders aged 16 and up. MSF describes it as about 5 hours of learning (often through an online eCourse) followed by 10 hours of on-motorcycle training over two days, and says motorcycles are provided for your use. The course covers straight-line riding, stopping, shifting and turning, then progresses to swerving and emergency braking. MSF also says course completion can earn you an insurance discount.

Whether a course replaces any of your state’s tests depends on the state. California and Texas each spell out their own rules above, and MSF notes that its online Basic eCourse on its own is not accepted as a license waiver by any state’s DMV. Check your state’s DMV page before you book.

Weight and seat height

Once you know how you’ll get licensed, the next question is which bikes you can handle comfortably at walking pace: in a parking lot, at a stop sign or on an uneven driveway. Two numbers help:

• Seat height. Can you get at least one foot firmly on the ground? Our motorcycle seat height guide explains how the figure is measured and compares current models using manufacturer-published figures.
• Weight. A lighter bike is easier to push, park and pick up. Check how the figure is measured. Yamaha’s US “wet weight” includes all fluids and a full tank of fuel, while some manufacturers publish dry weight, which will always look lower.

For example, Yamaha lists the 2026 YZF-R3 at a 30.7 in seat height and 373 lb wet, and the 2026 YZF-R1 at 33.7 in and 448 lb wet. The two bikes are similar in style but very different to manage.

Power and engine size

There’s no single “right” engine size for a beginner, and we don’t recommend one. Check whether your state sets any engine-size limits for your age (Texas, for example, restricts 15-year-olds to 250 cc or less). Beyond that, what matters is that:

• the power delivery is predictable enough for you to practice slow control, braking and cornering;
• the bike’s weight and seat height suit you;
• you can afford to insure it. Insurers price by rider and bike, so get quotes before you commit.

Engine size (cc) on its own doesn’t tell you how a bike behaves. Two bikes with similar displacement can have very different power and weight, so compare the manufacturer’s published figures, not just the cc.

Bike types for beginners

The type of bike shapes your riding position, comfort and where you can take it. For example, a sport bike leans you forward, a naked or standard bike sits you more upright, and adventure and dual sport bikes are built for mixed roads and trails. Manufacturers don’t all use the same labels. Yamaha’s US site, for example, lists the XT250 and TW200 as Dual Sport and the Ténéré 700 under Touring. Our guide to adventure vs dual sport vs enduro bikes explains the differences.

Think honestly about how you’ll use the bike most of the time. If it’s commuting and weekend road rides, a tall off-road bike may be more bike than you need. If you want to explore dirt roads, a street-legal dual sport may suit you better than a sport bike.

Gear and insurance basics

• Gear for training. MSF’s enrollment system asks students to bring and wear full-fingered gloves (preferably leather), a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long non-flare denim pants or equivalent, and over-the-ankle footwear. Check with your course provider about helmets and eye protection.
• Helmet laws differ by state, so check your state’s DMV handbook. Whatever the law, budget for a properly fitting helmet.
• Insurance. Minimum insurance requirements are set by each state, so check your state DMV’s page for the current minimums. California, for example, requires proof of financial responsibility before the motorcycle driving test. Get quotes before you buy, because premiums can vary a lot between bikes.

Your first-bike shortlist checklist

1. License path: you know your state’s steps (permit, tests or approved course) from your state DMV’s page.
2. Training: you’ve booked a Basic RiderCourse or your state’s approved course.
3. Fit: you’ve sat on the bike in riding boots and can get a foot firmly down.
4. Weight: you’ve checked the manufacturer’s figure (and whether it’s wet, dry or curb) and can walk the bike backward.
5. Riding style: the bike type matches most of your riding, not the occasional trip.
6. Insurance: you have quotes, and the cover meets your state’s minimums.
7. Specs checked at the source: you’ve read the manufacturer’s US spec page for the exact model year, not a reseller listing.
8. Gear: your budget includes a helmet, gloves, boots, a jacket and pants.

Beginner motorcycle FAQ

What cc motorcycle should a beginner get?

We don’t set a cc number, because power, weight, fit and your riding matter more than displacement alone. Check your state’s rules too. In Texas, for example, 15-year-olds are restricted to 250 cc or less.

How do I get a motorcycle license?

It depends on your state. Typically you get a permit, pass a knowledge test, then pass a skills test or complete a state-approved rider course. Start with your state DMV’s motorcycle license page.

Does the MSF course replace the DMV test?

In some states and situations, yes. California says its course certificate may waive the skills test, and Texas says its approved course waives the knowledge test. But it varies by state, and MSF says its online eCourse alone is not accepted as a waiver by any state. Check your state’s page.

What is a motorcycle endorsement?

It’s an addition to your existing driver’s license that allows you to ride a motorcycle. Some states issue a separate motorcycle license class instead, such as California’s Class M1 or Texas’s Class M.

Is an adventure bike a good first bike?

It can be, if it suits your size and riding. Many adventure bikes are tall and heavy, though, so check the seat height and weight on the manufacturer’s spec page and sit on one before deciding.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Licensing rules change, so always confirm with your state’s official page before booking training or buying a bike.

• California DMV, Motorcycle licenses.
• Texas Department of Public Safety, Motorcycle license.
• Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Basic RiderCourse and Start Your Ride.
• Yamaha Motor USA spec pages for the 2026 YZF-R3 and 2026 YZF-R1.