You’ve got your helmet and other riding gear. And maybe you’ve successfully completed the Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy New Rider Course and been down to the DMV to get your license. Now you need a motorcycle, and you want to join the Harley-Davidson family.

Picking a great beginner motorcycle to start on is a big decision, and making the right choice is important because you want to get your journey as a motorcyclist off to a good start. Riders you know may have all kinds of suggestions, but here’s the truth: there is no single “best beginner motorcycle.” There are simply too many variables at play. We are all different sizes, we have different tastes and riding styles, and we live and ride on different streets. With this in mind, we offer the following tips on picking the best Harley-Davidson motorcycle not for any beginner, but for you.

For Confidence

Ok, you can’t buy a bag of confidence to pour in your gas tank. But you should start riding on a bike that helps you build your confidence as you gain experience. Look for these confidence-building features.

• Low Seat Height – This is of course relative to your stature, but as a beginning rider it’s a confidence boost to be able to place both feet flat on the ground when the bike is not moving.

• Light Weight  – A lighter-weight bike may feel easier to handle at low speeds, to balance at a stop, or to lift off the side stand, and may feel easier to push around the garage. Lightweight doesn't necessarily refer to the overall weight of motorcycle, either. A motorcycle that weighs more but with a lower center of gravity may 'feel' lighter and be easier to handle at low speeds, as well. As a beginner, you want to pick a size that is right for your strength and skill level and having a lighter-weight bike may help to build confidence during skill development.

• Modest Power – A motorcycle with a powerful, high-performance engine can be more challenging for a beginner. Grabbing too much throttle can cause the bike to react faster than you, as a beginner, can respond. A motorcycle with an engine tuned for the street – not the racetrack – is a good choice. Most Harley-Davidson V-Twin engines are designed to make strong low-end power that’s perfect for smooth acceleration from a stop and easy riding on the street.

For Comfort

Comfort goes hand-in-hand with confidence. A great beginner motorcycle will place the rider in a neutral seating position, allowing great visibility, comfort, and range of motion. When you sit on the bike you should be able to feel a “triangle of comfort” from your hands on the handgrips, to your hips in the saddle, to your feet on pegs, and back up to your hands. To create an ergonomic riding position that works for you, start by focusing on the three points of that triangle:

• Handlebars – Placed in a position not too far forward and not too back, you should have a slight bend in your elbow and a flat wrist when gripping the bar.

• Footpegs – Your feet should comfortably reach the pegs, without being too stretched out or cramped. Be sure you can easily operate the controls as well as place your feet flat on the ground when you come to a stop.

• Seat – Choose your seat height and positioning based on your preferred relationship to the handlebars and foot pegs, while still maintaining the comfort and command of your bike described above.

One advantage of selecting a Harley-Davidson motorcycle is that Harley offers a wide range of accessory seats, handlebars and controls designed specifically to dial in a comfortable fit for almost any size rider on most Harley-Davidson models. Harley-Davidson dealers are experts at bike fit, too. Learn more at Harley-Davidson Guide to Motorcycle Ergonomics.

Ready to take a test ride? Here’s our short list of recommended beginner motorcycles for women from Harley-Davidson:

Nightster®

• Seat Height: 27.1" Weight: 481 lbs.* 

• Designed to inspire both new and experienced riders, the lightweight Nightster® motorcycle offers nimble handling, a confidence-inspiring ride and the smooth power of a liquid-cooled Revolution® Max 975 engine. The fuel tank is below the seat, which lowers the center of gravity and helps make the bike easier to handle at lower speeds.

Street Bob 114

Seat Height: 25.8" Weight: 655 lbs.*

The lightweight Street Bob® 114 motorcycle is well-equipped with a Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine for a quick-and-nimble ride with power to spare. Tall handlebars and forward foot controls contribute to a stretched riding position, but the tall bars give great leverage for lighter steering. The very low seat puts most rider’s feet flat on the ground.

Low Rider® S

• Seat Height: 27" Weight 679 lbs.* 

• The upright riding position is compact due to the combination of mid-mounted foot pegs and a handlebar set on 4-inch risers. This bike bundles the big attitude of West Coast style elements like the wind-blocking fairing the strong performance of a Milwaukee-Eight® 117 engine.

Heritage Classic

• Seat Height: 26.3" Weight: 728 lbs.* 

• Check out this bike if you love show-stopping vintage details and a classic profile inspired by the 1950s, paired with the Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine and modern upgrades. Locking saddlebags, a full-size windshield and wide footboards make this bike a willing partner for weekend getaways.

Road Glide®

• Seat Height: 26.6" Weight: 802 lbs.*

• A full-size “bagger” designed for long-distance touring in style and comfort. The very low seat height makes it easier to handle the weight of this model, and it comes loaded with Milwaukee-Eight® 117 performance, molded locking saddlebags for your gear, a 12.3-inch color touch screen infotainment display that can sync with your phone, and a sleek aerodynamic fairing.

There is no single “best beginner motorcycle," and that’s because riders come in a variety of shapes and sizes, prefer different riding styles and have a variety of different preferences.

However, most beginner riders considering a Harley-Davidson bike will feel confident and comfortable on a Cruiser or Sport model. These bikes are typically lighter and have a lower seat height than Touring and Adventure Touring motorcycles, making them a good fit for beginners. A Trike model offers a very different riding experience, with stability that many beginning riders may appreciate.

Harley-Davidson offers a wide range of motorcycle types, each designed for a certain type of riding and to appeal to a rider’s preferred style. You can learn more about each motorcycle type below:

See the Bikes

As a beginner, there are some good reasons to start out on a used motorcycle, and advantages to buying new. Consider these pros and cons of each, and how they fit your budget and lifestyle:

Here’s a way to buy a used Harley-Davidson motorcycle with new-bike confidence. Harley-Davidson Certified™  is a pre-owned motorcycle program supported by Harley-Davidson through its network of authorized Harley-Davidson dealers in the United States. A Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycle is subjected to a comprehensive quality-assurance inspection by certified Harley-Davidson technicians. Dealers also verify that the pre-owned motorcycle has no open recalls or a blocked VIN, has not been in a major accident, and that all scheduled service is up to date. Harley-Davidson motorcycles eligible for the program must be no more than five model years old and have less than 25,000 miles of use. Harley certified bikes are sold with a 12-month factory-backed limited warranty on the engine and transmission, and come with a one-year national H.O.G.®  membership which includes Roadside Assistance. Financing is available to qualified customers though Harley-Davidson Financial Services. This is a smart way to buy a pre-owned Harley motorcycle.

Looking to find the best Harley motorcycle for beginners? These Harley-Davidson models are great options for many beginning riders.

Best Harley Motorcycle for Beginners – New Models

Best Used Motorcycles for Beginners from Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson Street® 500 and 750 models – These are lightweight, standard-style motorcycles built for urban riding, but are also great beginner motorcycles. They are powered by the liquid-cooled V-Twin Revolution X engine designed to match stop-and-go traffic demands with nimble agility while delivering instant throttle response. They feature a very low seat height, comfortable suspension and broad handlebar sweep that provides confidence and maneuverability when managing tight turns.

Sportster® XL models – These feature the classic Harley-Davidson profile in many styles to suit every personality and stature. They’re equipped with low seat height and a narrow profile to inspire confidence, and a wide range of accessories are available to dial in fit and comfort. Fuel-injected air-cooled Evolution® V-Twin engine in 883cc or 1200cc displacement delivers reliable, street-friendly power.

For more expert advice on selecting your best Harley-Davidson motorcycle, visit and authorized Harley-Davidson dealer, or schedule a test ride on a new or Harley-Davidson Certified™ motorcycle. The Harley-Davidson Riding Academy offers motorcycle training for riders of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned riders.