Walking into a dealership as a shorter rider, or as someone who just wants a smaller ride, can feel a little limiting. You stroll by impressive and imposing machines that you might admire but don’t want to fight with as your main bike. You might find one or two models off in the back that are a comfortable fit, but you’re disappointed that there aren’t any more options to choose from. Luckily, options for smaller motorcycles are growing, and we’ve compiled those options into two Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders list.
In our first Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders post, we focused on bikes with seat heights under 30 inches. That seat height limit meant almost all the models on that list were cruisers, and while we certainly enjoy cruisin’, we like a little variety too. With this second Best Motorcycles for Smaller Riders post, we’re excited to include some sportbikes, minimotos, and an ADV. And while the seat heights may be taller than on the first list, many of the models on this list weigh and cost less than the shorter-seated cruisers.
This list consists of motorcycles with a seat height between 30.0 and 30.9 inches. When possible, we’ve included a link to our test ride review, so you can get a sense of how each bike performs in action. We’ve also included the 2022/23 model year’s U.S. base MSRP (as of publication), claimed wet weight, and seat height. 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.
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.
Honda Grom
$3,499
30.0-inch seat
223 lb
Read our 2022 Honda Grom First Ride Review
Honda Navi
$1,807
30.0-inch seat
234 lb
Read our 2022 Honda Navi First Ride Review
Royal Enfield Meteor 350
$4,899
30.1-inch seat
421 lb
Read our 2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Road Test Review
Triumph Speed Twin 900
$9,895
30.1-inch seat
476 lb
Read our 2019 Triumph Street Twin (former name) First Ride Review
BMW G 310 R
$4,995
30.9-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.3 inches)
362 lb
Read our 2018 BMW G 310 R First Ride Review
BMW F 900 R
$8,995
32-inch seat (optional lower seat to 31.1 inches and lower suspension to 30.3 inches)
465 lb
Read our 2020 BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR Road Test Review
BMW F 750 GS
$9,995
32.1-inch seat (optional lower seat to 31.1 inches and lower suspension to 30.3 inches)
493 lb
Read our 2019 BMW F 850 GS and F 750 GS Road Test Review
CFMOTO Papio
$2,999
30.5-inch seat
251 lb
Read our 2022 CFMOTO Lineup First Ride Review
Ducati Monster Plus
$12,995
32.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 31.5 inches and lower suspension to 30.5 inches)
366 lb dry
Read our 2021 Ducati Monster First Ride Review
Honda Monkey
$4,249
30.5-inch seat
231 lb
Read our 2019 Honda Monkey First Ride Review
Benelli TNT 135
$2,699
30.7-inch seat height
266 lb
CFMOTO 300SS
$4,499
30.7-inch seat
364 lb
Read our 2022 CFMOTO Lineup First Ride Review
CFMOTO 650NK
$6,499
30.7-inch seat
454 lb
Read our 2022 CFMOTO Lineup First Ride Review
Ducati Scrambler Icon
$10,995
31.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.7 inches)
408 lb
Read our 2023 Ducati Scrambler Range First Look Review
Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle
Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle
$12,195
31.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.7 inches)
408 lb
Read our 2023 Ducati Scrambler Range First Look Review
Ducati Scrambler Nightshift
$12,195
31.3-inch seat (optional lower seat to 30.7 inches)
421 lb
Read our 2023 Ducati Scrambler Range First Look Review
Honda CBR300R
$4,899
30.7-inch seat
354 lb
Read our 2023 Honda Returning Models First Look Review
Honda Super Cub C125
$3,849
30.7-inch seat
238 lb
Read our 2019 Honda Super Cub 125 ABS First Ride Review
Indian FTR
$13,499
30.7-inch seat
514 lb
Read our 2022 Indian FTR S First Ride Review
Indian FTR Sport
$15,749
30.7-inch seat
522 lb
Read our 2023 FTR Sport First Look Review
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone
$9,190
30.7-inch seat
492 lb
Read our 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone First Ride Review
Moto Guzzi V7 Special
$9,590
30.7-inch seat
492 lb
Read our 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 Special First look Review
Moto Guzzi V7 Special Edition
$9,990
30.7-inch seat
480 lb
Read our New and Updated 2023 Moto Guzzi First Look Review
Yamaha YZF-R3
$5,499
30.7-inch seat
375 lb
Read our 2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 First Ride Review
Yamaha MT-03
$4,999
30.7-inch seat
373 lb
Read our 2020 Yamaha MT-03 First Ride Review
Kawasaki Ninja 400
$5,299
30.9-inch seat
362 lb
Read our 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 400 ABS First Ride Review
Kawasaki Ninja 400 KRT Edition
Kawasaki Ninja 400 KRT Edition
$5,499
30.9-inch seat
362 lb
Read our 2023 Kawasaki Returning Models First Look Review
Kawasaki Z400 ABS
$5,399
30.9-inch seat
364 lb
Read our 2019 Kawasaki Z400 ABS First Ride Review
Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber
$10,490
30.9-inch seat
463 lb
Read our 2017 Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber First Ride Review
Suzuki SV650
$7,399
30.9-inch seat
432 lb
Watch our 2017 Suzuki SV50 Video Review
HD Nightster 27.1″. Sportster S 28.9″. Softtail 25.8″. Streetbob 25.8″. Lowrider 27″. Classic Tourer 26.1″. Why would you omit all of these motorcycles? Did HD fail to pay the vig? Weak.
Read the headline, Mark: “Seat Heights 30-30.9 Inches.” For seat heights below 30 inches, see the following post (and read the part about limiting the list to motorcycles priced at $17,000 or less):
https://ridermagazine.com/2023/01/06/best-small-motorcycles-with-seat-heights-under-30-inches/
OMG you mean you have to read to comprehend the article!!! SO mean!!!
What about Benelli TNT
Thanks for the reminder – we’ve added it.
Did I miss it? Was the Kawi Vulcan 650 on the previous (30 less) list? Does Kawi still offer the 800/900 Vulcans?
Yes, the 650cc Kawasaki Vulcan S is on our guide for motorcycles with seat heights less than 30 inches. The Vulcan 900 Classic and Vulcan 900 Custom are also on that list:
https://ridermagazine.com/2023/01/06/best-small-motorcycles-with-seat-heights-under-30-inches/
Great article. Thank you all! 😀😀
How about the Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low? Seat height of 30.32″.
https://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/motorcycles/adventure/tiger-900-gt/gt-low
According to the factory media kit (https://triumph-mediakits.com/en/motorcycles/adventure/tiger-900.html), the Tiger 900 GT Low has a seat height range of 760-780mm (29.9-30.7 inches), so it’s included in our guide for motorcycles with seat heights less than 30 inches:
https://ridermagazine.com/2023/01/06/best-small-motorcycles-with-seat-heights-under-30-inches/
Indian Scout Bobber 60 & Scout 60 – 25.6 in (649 mm)
This guide lists motorcycles with seat heights 30-30.9 inches. We have a separate post for motorcycles with seat heights under 30 inches, and the Scouts are listed there.
https://ridermagazine.com/2023/01/06/best-small-motorcycles-with-seat-heights-under-30-inches/
The bikes on this list only amplify what I have been saying about the major manufacturers ignoring an entire riding group. Namely women riders, and people of shorter stature. Every motorcycle my wife has ridden has had to be modified in some way for her to touch the ground while seated. Meanwhile the rear of the bike has a foot of daylight between the tire and bottom of the rear tail.
I just want to say that the seat height numbers, while seemingly a convenient comparison point, can be misleading. On a recent trip I had the opportunity to ride both a Kawasaki Versys 1000 (33.1 inches as per Kawasaki) and an Aprilia Capo Nord 1200 (33.1 inches as per Rider magazine). Yet because of the different shapes of the seats, particularly the width of the front part of the seat, I actually had an easier time getting both feet on the ground at stops on the Aprilia. So the takeaway is that it’s still best to visit as many dealer showrooms as possible to try out the fit and don’t rule out a particular model just because of the numbers on paper.
You make a good point, Christopher, and some manufacturers design seats to be narrow in front so they have a lower “effective” stand-over height. Unfortunately, there’s no way to objectively measure that, so seat height is the only metric we can reliably report. Interestingly, Harley-Davidson is the only manufacturer that reports both unladen seat height (as other manufacturers do) and laden seat height, measured with the weight of an average rider sitting on the bike.
Your recommendation is a good one. If a motorcycle interests you and it’s seat height seems within reach, go to a dealer and throw a leg over one. Better yet, try to arrange a demo ride.