The Best Motorcycles Overall for 2023

Why We Picked It:

Both the Kawasaki Z400 and Z650 are considered some of the best beginner nakeds on the market, and despite some pretty fierce looks, are quite easy to ride. Both are powered by bulletproof Kawasaki parallel twins, one with 399cc and 45 HP, the other with 649cc and 67 HP.

The reason these get the nod for the naked sector is that Kawasaki jams as much technology and rideability into the lower end of the Z family. Standard features are dual-zone ABS, an assist-and-slipper clutch, very linear and smooth power from the parallel twin, and surprisingly supple an communicative suspension. On top of that, you get a very generous and easy to read combination analog/digital dash, with all the info you need and nothing more. It is one of those "keep it stupidly simple" designs that just works.

Both bikes are also ridiculously priced, in the best sense of the word. You are getting bikes that are quite able to be sold confidently at $7,000+ and $9,000+ each new, but the 2023 Z400 starts at $5199, and the 2023 Z650 is only $7,549! There is no knocking Kawasaki off the bargain throne in their lower end bikes, especially considering the bulletproof reliability of each bike, and the amount of tech that is shoved into it.

Veteran riders as well sincerely enjoy the Z-series from Kawasaki, as in experienced hands the friendly sport naked becomes an absolute road weapon. It is light, agile, with just enough power to be insanely fun without pushing too far. The Z650, and its fairing covered sport touring cousin the Ninja 650, are both very capable of being ridden hard on a track or through some canyon twisties, but on the way home, it calms down into a capable, dependable bike that should be on everyone's shopping list.

Why We Picked It:

Ever since it's introduction, the Honda Rebel has been firmly in everyone's best-of-whatever-year lists for one reason above all others: It is one of the best, rawest cruisers you can swing a leg over and ride. In its 300cc and 500cc forms, it is a superb beginner bike and an enjoyable cruiser for veteran rides, while in its 1100cc form, it becomes a torquey but very capable intercity cruiser that has no problems whatsoever on the freeway, even two-up.

While the 300 and 500 are manual transmission only, the 1100 does offer a DCT option for those wanting a simple cruiser with even less hassle. New for 2023 is also the Rebel 1100T, a hard-case bagger version of the bike with a touring cowl up front for better wind deflection. There is simply a bike for everyone in this lineup, from the absolute beginner wanting to go down the cruiser route, to a 20+ year veteran that wants a no-nonsense freeway cruiser or bagger that doesn't want to have their fillings shaken loose by a rumbly V-Twin.

What we particularly like about the Rebel is that for a newer rider, after it has taught them all it knows, the bike can become a mainstay of their garage. The Rebel 500 is an especially attractive option, for as long as you are under 6 feet tall and under 230 lbs, there is nothing, not one bike, at its price that can give you as much simple cruiser fun.

As well, being a Honda, it is very wallet-friendly. If you want to buy new, you will come in well under $7,000 for a 500 and under $10k for an 1100 manual, and buying used, it is fairly common to find either model in excellent condition for $4,000 or less. It's only when you want an 1100 DCT or 1100T that you go slightly over $10,000.

Why We Picked It:

Two Honda's on our list?! Yep!

Say hello to the middle ground between a full on dirt bike and a road-oriented ADV. The CRF300L Rally, as well as its non-rally counterpart the CRF300L, are great “adventure-enduro” style dual-sport bikes. These are bikes that are aimed at the fan of the Dakar Rally, who also wants to be able to ride comfortably on both pavement and dirt, with great fuel mileage, a massive payload capacity, and have their bike be as reliable as a wood burning stove.

The CRF300L Rally comes with a new, Euro5 compliant 286cc four-stroke single that gives a decent 27 HP and 19 lb-ft of torque. That may not sound like much, but remember, this bike, even with the big 21-inch front wheel, weighs a sneeze over 300 lbs. Even fully loaded up with a 200 lbs rider and up to 100 lbs of bags and gear, it will happily chug along at 70 MPH... although it might take a few seconds longer to get there.

One reason we really like this bike is that we here at MotorBikeWriter follow the exploits of a Dutch adventure tourist named Noraly, who is better known as ItchyBoots. In 2022, astride a brand new CRF300L Rally, she rode the entire Pan-American Highway from South America to the Northernmost tip of Alaska, a distance of no less than 38,000 miles. The only things that failed the entire time? One fork seal when she reached Alaska. Any other dents or dings were from small off-road crashes or the bike being knocked over due to extreme weather. That alone should be testament enough as to why this bike makes our list, especially considering that it costs just $6,499 with ABS, and $6149 weithout!

Why We Picked It:

While the Honda Rebel earlier in this list might have ruffled a few feathers of those looking for a cruiser, but want that V-Twin rumble and shake, a belt drive, 5 big chunky gears to click through, and more than enough torque to make your shoulders sore as you hold on for dear life, Harley-Davidson gives you the Iron 883.

The Iron 883 is your ticket to rock concert that is all things Harley-Davidson, by being a relatively pared-down, simplified "greatest hits" album to gently ease you into things. When it hit the roads in its current Iron 883 form in 2015, after launching as the Sportster 883 in 2009, it made its imprint in the sand right away, as by ditching the Sportster tag off its name, it essentially became its own bike. On top of that, Harley-Davidson were also able to drop the price to downright affordable (for a Harley).

What makes the Iron 883 a worthy bike for our list is that after years and years of rider aids dulling down some of the fun of rumbling down the freeway with bugs in your teeth, Harley essentially made it an engine with controls, mid-forward pegs, and a fat rear tire. This is also know as "how to make an American sports cruiser 101." It was and still is a surprisingly humble, simplified bike from a brand that sells monsters of torque and power at sometimes stratospheric prices.

The only bad news about the Iron 883 is that 2023 is its last production year with the line ending in August, and with a price just around $11,000, it's worth snapping up. Going forward in the latter half of the year, the Nightster 975 will be taking over at the lower end of the sport cruiser lineup, with a 59 ci (975cc) V-twin laying down 90 HP and 70 lbs-ft of torque for around $13,500. A touch more powerful, but still well within the realm of a lower-powered, simpler Harley for those that just want the sport cruiser experience

Why We Picked It:

Suzuki is one of those brands that for the longest time seemed to sit fairly idle, simply churning out the bikes they had for sale without much fanfare. We now know that behind the scenes, they were setting about making new models and engines that were going to be insanely attractive for their new tech and new power.

One of the first two bikes of the offensive launched from the Japanese company is the V-Strom 800 DE, which is a bit of a misnomer as while it does have two cylinders, they are not in V. Instead, they are part of the amazing new 776cc 270-degree crank parallel twin that puts out 83 HP and 57 lbs-ft of torque. The crank is intentionally at that large of a timing angle to give the feel of a V-twin, but the linear power and smoothness of a parallel twin.

However, that doesn't discount the new 800 DE's bigger and smaller brothers. Still very capable bikes, they have always been more road-oriented in their design, with the ability to go off-road, but not really off road into the pathfinder/no-roads-here level of adventure riding. That is why we chose the 800 DE over the established models, as Suzuki gave this new ADV some serious touches, even claiming that the 800 DE is "the most dirt- and travel-worthy V-Strom ever," and from the specs alone, they are on to something.

A full inch more ground clearnance at 8.7 inches. Gully adjustable, long travel Showa suspension. Nissin brakes with adjustable ABS. A sturdier steel frame for off-road bumps and lumps, instead of the aluminum frame of the other V-Stroms. A brand new 5 inch TFT display dash. Most importantly for an ADV, it has tubeless spoke wheels, 21 inches in front and 17 inches in the rear.

The V-Strom 800 DE is not messing around, and we, for one, cannot wait to see it in some proper pathfinding action!

Why We Picked It:

Aprilia took one hell of a gamble when they made the RS660 and released it in 2021 as a 2022 model. Known for producing some of the most exciting superbikes and capable sport tourers on European roads, when it was announced that they were making a 600cc-class supersport, it shook the sportbike community into a fervor. Then they announced that it was a parellel twin instead of an inline four or even v-twin, and many riders cocked their heads sideways muttering "uhh..."

Yet, when the bike arrived, it silenced all of its critics the moment they swung a leg over and got it rolling down the road. With clip-on handlebars, it had the supersport DNA, but those handlebars are on a gentle riser that moves them up into a space between a sport tourer and a dedicated track weapon. Its 660cc parallel twin churns out 100 HP and 50 lbs-ft of torque, making it smooth and controllable on the road, yet able to catapult you down the front straight at a track day.

Then add on the fact that it has all the new tech on it one would expect of a supersport, including a quickshifter and ride mode select, but with added features like electronic cruise control, engine braking control, traction and stability control, even anti-wheelie control. Then look at its price tag and your jaw might pop open a little like ours did.

This is a bike Aprilia could demand a serious premium for, yet they have taken a page from Kawasaki and priced it thousands less than it realistically should cost. That is the sweet spot we mentioned in the header, and why it's here in instead of the amazing Kawasaki ZX-6R. It's just that little bit friendlier, that little bit more of a dual personality bike that won't shatter your wrists but will also let you tuck down over its tank when it's play time.

Why We Picked It:

The Kawasaki ZX-10R is one of the greatest superbikes ever made. There, we said it, now to explain why. First of all, Kawasaki are not just a dominant racing team in World SBK, they are the dominant team. 7 consecutive championship years from 2015 to 2021 were distilled into the 2021 version of the ZX-10R, which was also celebrated with a special edition ZX-10RR in that same year.

Since World SBK requires teams to use "real world" bikes, modified slightly for racing, the Kawasaki superbike you ride away from the dealership on is literally a race bike, just with a number plate, a couple of mirrors, and some concessions to real world needs on the road. But those concessions just make the bike all the sweeter.

You get Kawasaki's awesome 6-axis IMU stability and traction control, dual zone ABS, and cornering management system that is making tiny adjustments hundreds of times per second. Electronically variable throttle valves, anti-squat and anti-wheelie systems, as well as the full suite of ride mode selections from the 2021 ZX-10RR are all standard. Then, just for fun, Kawasaki gave the bike a full launch control system that uses all of the tech above to ensure you are simply launched from a standstill to over 60 MPH in about 3 seconds flat.

At the heart of the bike is a 998cc inline-four that chucks out 203 HP and is an absolute peach. It is one of those bulletproof engines that you can beast around a track for hours on end, screaming it all the way to the redline in sixth down the straights, and it just eats it up for breakfast. Then comes the crowning jewel, as being a Kawasaki, it is ridiculously underpriced. It should be $21,000+, but all you need to hand over is $17,399. Bargain superbike of the decade, we think!

Why We Picked It:

This choice might ruffle some touring cruiser feathers, but there is a distinct reason we picked the Indian Super Chief Limited over competitors from Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson, Suzuki, and the like. One of the prime reasons, and we think even Harley fans will agree with this, is that the Super Chief Limited wields the awesome Thunderstroke 116 V-twin, with its 120 lbs-ft of pavement shredding torque.

It is also just over a year old in its model lifetime, and while it looks like it rode straight out of the 1960s, it has all the 2023 tech you could want. The best of these is the touchscreen Ride Command Unit, which is styled to look like an old-school dash, but is fully bluetooth integrated, controls all of the rider aids on the bike, as well as is the display for the sat nave.

Other tech includes a USB charge port, keyless ignition, full LED lighting all around, alongside Indian classic touches like full floorboards, wide and relaxed touring handlebars, full leather saddlebags, and a full windscreen. It also has cruise control, which is useful when you are riding along with the 9.7 gallons of fuel that the tank holds, giving you amazing range on top of just being an all around badass touring cruiser.

Then, consider that all of that tech, all of those features, the gigantic torque from the engine, all of it... comes in at $21,499. Awesome power, great range, and affordable for what it does? Yes please.

Why We Picked It:

There are times that we here at MotorBikeWriter wonder if the designers and engineers at Ducati are fully in control of their faculties, as they have made some insane motorcycles in the past few years. The newest creation from those mad scientists is pretty much the most powerful European cruiser ever made.

Taking the 1,158cc Granturismo V4 engine that is at the heart of the new Multistrada V4 ADV bike, they did absolutely nothing to it before mounting it into a Diavel, meaning it still produces 170 HP and 93 lbs-ft of torque. This is more power than even the XDiavel, which was the most powerful model in 2022 but is a pale shadow now at just 153 HP.

Then, of course, being Italians, they made some changes in the design. The intake plenums are bigger and run alongside the reprofiled tank that looks like it's a wild animal hunching up to pounce. It has a quad exhaust from Akrapovic that is fully titanium and carbon fiber, giving it a sonorous roar. The rear wheel is a special design, making the whole bike look fast even when sitting still.

It is an utterly ridiculous motorcycle, not just a ridiculous cruiser. Yet, somehow, it makes sense. Ducati is a manufacturer that makes fast bikes of all types, from the Hypermotard 950 to the Panigale V2, and for a while the Diavel was "slow." Not anymore.

We love it when a company goes completely mental and makes a bike like this, for example Yamaha with the VMAX, which is why it makes our list!

Why We Picked It:

ADV riders around the world, rejoice, as the newly revamped KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, the dedicated off-road monster from Austria, has made it to global release in 2023! It was meant to be global last year, but had a soft-launch in Europe and North America only, while the rest of the globe continued on with the 2022 and 2021 models.

The 1,301cc LC8 V-twin is still the heart of the beast, but has been boosted over the Super Adventure S to make nearly bang on 160 HP, but on the Super Adventure R features three oil pumps for triple redundancy on long-distance off-road adventures.

All new for the off-road R is a scratch resistant 7 inch TFT display with a brand new navigation system for 2023, which now features Turn-by-Turn+ and the ability to set waypoints and diversions, all through a handlebar mounted switch. It also has the newest version of KTMConnect, allowing the bike to handle music, phone calls, intercom connectivity, the whole lot, seamlessly.

However, the off-road ADV crowd will love the new Bosch 10.3ME 6D sensor for lean sensitive rider aids such as traction control, stability control, selectable ride modes, ABS damping or even switching rear ABS off, and the like. The Super Adventure R also features a 21 inch front wheel and 18 inch rear, both full off-road tubeless spoked units.

Of course, being KTM, you get a full set of WP XPLOR suspension, with the rear shock having a full 8.7 inches (220mm) of travel, and the front feature full 48mm inner tubes for whatever mother nature throws your way.