The Best Honda Motorcycles For Beginners

Honda is one of the most important names in the motorcycle world, offering everything from $20,000+ tourers to motocross bikes. With such a wide range it’s hard to know where to start as a beginner, but Honda have you covered with some great choices.

In this article, we’ve outlined some of our favorite options from the 2023 Honda range, which are all perfect for newer riders. Within our selection are a few surprises, but we wanted to give you as much choice as possible, and every rider is unique.

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What are the best Honda bikes for beginners?

Honda Powersports has a wide range of motorcycles currently on sale. There’s everything from touring bikes to supersport models, with a bike for almost anyone. For beginners, we’ve picked out four of the best options from Honda, and we’ll give you the stats on each model, along with our opinions.

We’re sure that if you’re looking for your first bike and you want to give Honda a try, there will be a motorcycle here for you…

Rebel 300 – from $4,749

Honda Rebel — *The Rebel 300 is the least expensive cruiser available from Honda*

The Rebel 300 is one of Honda’s entry-level cruiser models and a perfect place to start for newer riders. Powered by a single-cylinder 286cc engine, performance is more than enough considering the Rebel 300 weighs less than 400lbs. Handling is manageable for all experience levels and it’s a bike that’s easy to use in the city and for longer drives.

Part of the Rebel’s appeal is definitely in the comfort this motorcycle offers. With a low seating position, the Rebel is easier to manage when you’re stopping & starting at intersections, which will help beginners. You also get a lighter clutch here, helping you to manage the bike in traffic easier.

For under $5,000 another bonus to the Rebel 300 is the looks. The cruiser style may not be for everyone, but it’s difficult to argue that the Rebel 300 stands out, especially in the black and red paint combination. You also get a simple but easy-to-read digital gauge, to give you all the required info.

For some, the Rebel 300 might feel down on power and a little basic on features. For beginners though, it’s difficult to argue with the easy handling, throttle control, and price, which all make the Rebel 300 a great choice for newer riders.

The Good	The Bad
Great Pricepoint	Lacks some power
Comfortable to ride	Low on features
Easy to handle

CB300R – from $5,049

Honda CB300R — *The CB300R is Honda’s entry-level sports bike*

Next up on our list is the CB300R. This is Honda’s entry-level sports bike, and although it shares some features with the Rebel 300, this is a very different motorcycle. With a 286cc engine, you get a reasonable amount of acceleration and 31bhp, nothing that beginners can’t handle.

The CB300R is a smaller motorcycle, which has its upsides and downsides. Handling is easy, which makes maneuvering on crowded streets an easy task. The size makes this suitable for smaller riders too, but larger owners may find the CB300R uncomfortable on longer journeys. The pillion seat is extremely limited here too, so don’t expect to be taking many passengers.

With its naked roadster design, the CB300R feels like a more aggressive motorcycle when you are riding. Larger bikes in the Honda Sportsbike range will offer you far more precision and power, but this is a great introduction to that class of motorcycle.

At a starting price of just over $5,000, the CB300R comes in just under rivals like the BMW G310R. Some owners may expect more power from a sports bike, but as an entry-level option, this is worth considering.

The Good	The Bad
Less expensive than rivals	Too small for some riders
Fun to ride
Better than expected performance

Grom – from $3,499

Honda Grom — *The Grom is part of Honda’s Minimoto range*

We’ve moved away from the classic motorcycles here, and into something completely different. The Grom is one of Honda’s ‘Minimotos’ smaller in size and displacement than standard bikes, and more suitable for urban use. To be honest, we could have selected any of the Minimoto range, but the Grom stands out for us.

With a 124cc engine, this isn’t a motorcycle for challenging anyone at a set of lights, but the size of the Grom makes up for this lack of power. Honda claims the Grom will reach over 160 miles per gallon, which is incredible, although this requires a lot of careful riding. It’s especially important as the Grom only has a 1.6-gallon fuel tank, but with a total bike weight of 231 lbs, you can’t expect much more.

The obvious appeal of the Grom, and why it’s one of the most popular motorcycles worldwide, is the size. At less than 70 inches long, this is a tiny machine in comparison to most modern bikes, and as a result, can do things that others can’t. In many ways, the Grom is the perfect urban vehicle and a great alternative to modern Scooters.

The Grom is unlike anything else (outside the other Minimotos) and it’s impossible to compare it to other motorcycles. It’ll suit some owners perfectly, and for others, it will be too slow and small, but it’s great to have this kind of option on the market. At $3,500 the Grom is a perfect price for anyone starting their motorcycle journey on a budget, as long as you can live within its limits.

The Good	The Bad
Perfect for city riding	Low on performance
Incredible MPG	Limited to urban use for most owners
Great price for beginners

PCX – from $3,899

Honda PCX — *The PCX is part of Honda’s scooter range*

The final choice on our list is the PCX. This is one of Honda’s gas-powered scooters, and like the Minimotos, this was a difficult choice. The Scooter range at Honda includes some great options like the Ruckus, but ultimately we think the PCX has a better blend of practicality and handling for beginners.

The PCX has seen massive success across Europe, and its combination of fuel efficiency and practicality has kept it as one of the top sellers. With almost 16 bhp from a 157cc engine, the PCX is going to be manageable on highways, but far better in the city. Reports from PCX owners show around 100mpg, which is impressive, even in the scooter market.

Where the PCX shines for us in is the practicality. There are 30 liters of storage space here, with lockable compartments too. There’s also plenty of room for a passenger, and you have a USB socket to charge any electronics while you’re on the move.

With an automatic transmission, plenty of space, and great MPG, the PCX is a serious alternative to getting a motorcycle, particularly if you’re starting out. While you’ll miss out on the improved handling from the other options on this list, at just under $4,000 this is as well-rounded a vehicle as you can find.

The Good	The Bad
Good MPG	Scooter style will put some owners off
Plenty of storage space
Automatic transmission

So Which Is Best?

Overall, it’s incredibly difficult to pick from the above options. Each of the Honda motorcycles we’ve covered will suit a different owner, and at slightly different price points. If enjoyment is the key factor you’ll want to go with the CB300R, as it’s easily the most entertaining bike to use here. For style, we prefer the Rebel with its cruiser design and low seating position, but that’s subjective.

Where it matter for most beginners will be value for money and practicality. In these areas, The PCX is probably the most practical option here, but we can’t look past the Grom. Honda has created something special with their Minimoto range, and although motorcycle pursuits won’t like it, it’s a perfect introduction to the world of bikes.