The Kawasaki Z650RS has a 31.5-inch seat height. (Photo by Kevin Wing)

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 motorcycles for smaller riders!  

Below is Rider?s 2023 list of best motorcycles for smaller riders, an update of the popular post from 2019. This list includes motorcycles with seat heights between 31.0 and 31.9 inches with an MSRP of $17,000 or less.  

We?ve also curated lists of the best motorcycles with seat heights between 30.0 and 30.9 inches, as well as a list of the best motorcycles with seat heights below 30 inches. 
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 an...