Best Small Motorcycles with Seat Heights Under 30 Inches
Choices for smaller, affordable motorcycles are growing, and that’s good news for riders looking for a fun bike that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re new to riding and want something easy to handle or an experienced rider looking for a lighter or shorter bike, you have more options now than ever when it comes to finding the best small motorcycles!
Below is Rider’s 2022-2023 list of Best Small Motorcycles, an update of the popular post from 2019. Our new list includes motorcycles with seat heights up to 30 inches with an MSRP of $17,000 or less.
We’ve also curated lists of the best bikes with seat heights between 30.0 and 30.9 inches, as well as a list of bikes with seat heights between 31.0 and 31.9 inches. We’ll include links to those lists soon.
When possible, we’ve included a link to our test ride reviews so you can get a sense of how each bike performs in action. We’ve also included the 2022-2023 model year’s U.S. base MSRP (as of publication), seat height, and claimed wet or dry weight. 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.
Can-Am Ryker
$8,999
23.6-inch seat height
594 lb dry
Read our 2019 Can-Am Ryker First Ride Review
Indian Scout Bobber Sixty
$10,749
25.6-inch seat height
548 lb
Indian Scout Rogue Sixty
$11,249
25.6-inch seat height
540 lb
Read our 2022 Indian Scout Rogue First Ride Review
Indian Scout Sixty
$11,749
25.6-inch seat height
543 lb
Read our 2016 Indian Scout Sixty Road Test Review
Indian Scout Bobber
$12,249
25.6-inch seat height
553 lb
Read our 2018 Indian Scout Bobber First Ride Review
Indian Scout
$13,249
25.6-inch seat height
561 lb
Read our 2019 Indian Scout Tour Test Review
Indian Scout Bobber Twenty
$13,249
25.6-inch seat height
563 lb
Harley-Davidson Iron 883
(2022 is the final year for this model)
$11,249
25.7-inch seat height
564 lb
Harley-Davidson Softail Standard
Harley-Davidson Softail Standard
$14,399
25.8-inch seat height
655 lb
Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114
Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114
$16,599
25.8-inch seat height
631 lb
Honda Shadow Phantom
$7,999
25.8-inch seat height
549 lb
Read our 2010 Honda Shadow Phantom 750 Road Test Review
Honda Shadow Aero
$7,799
25.9-inch seat height
560 lb
Read our 2013 Honda Shadow Aero Review
Indian Chief
$14,999
26-inch seat height
670 lb
Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight
(2022 is the final year for this model)
$12,299
26.2-inch seat height
556 lb
Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic
$8,999
26.8-inch seat height
620 lb
Read our 2013 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic Review
Honda Fury
$11,449
26.9-inch seat height
663 lb
Read our 2010 Honda VT13VX Fury Road Test Review
Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom
$9,499
27-inch seat height
611 lb
Yamaha V Star 250
$4,699
27-inch seat height
324 lb
Read more about the V Star 250 in our 2008 Motorcycle Fuel Economy Comparison Review
Harley-Davidson Nightster
$13,499
27.1-inch seat height
481 lb
Read our 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster First Ride Review
BMW R 18
$14,995
27.2-inch seat height
761 lb
Read our 2021 BMW R 18 First Edition Road Test Review
Honda Rebel 500
$6,449
27.2-inch seat height
408 lb
Read our 2020 Honda Rebel 500 ABS Road Test Review
Honda Rebel 300
$4,749
27.2-inch seat height
364 lb
Triumph Bonneville Bobber
$13,495
27.6-inch seat height (optional lower seat of 27.2 inches)
553 lb
Read our 2017 Triumph Bonneville Bobber First Ride Review
Yamaha Bolt R-Spec
$8,899
27.2-inch seat height
542 lb
Honda Rebel 1100T DCT
$11,299
27.5-inch seat height
524 lb
Read our 2023 Honda Rebel 1100T DCT First Look Review
Honda Rebel 1100
$9,499
27.5-inch seat height
487 lb
Read our 2021 Honda Rebel 1100 First Ride Review
Suzuki Boulevard C50
$8,609
27.6-inch seat height
611 lb
Suzuki Boulevard C50T
$10,059
27.6-inch seat height
644 lb
Read our 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C50T Road Test Review
Kawasaki Vulcan S
$7,349
27.8-inch seat height
492 lb
Read our 2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S Road Test Review
Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe
$8,099
27.8-inch seat height
496 lb
Read our 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe Road Test Review
Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster
Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster
$13,495
27.8-inch seat height
580 lb
Read our 2018 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster First Ride Review
Harley-Davidson Sportster S
$16,399
28.9-inch seat height
502 lb
Read our 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S First Ride Review
The post Best Small Motorcycles with Seat Heights Under 30 Inches first appeared on Rider Magazine.
