About Our Selections
We all love the feel of a new motorcycle underneath us, the engine happily thrumming away as we ride off into the sunset. However, be they new models or new model year versions of long-lasting favorites, there are literally hundreds of bikes to choose from. While many riders already know which niche they want to ride in, from sport to touring or cruisers to dual-sport, there are an equal number of riders looking to switch styles or, in many cases, buy their first bike.
As such, we put all of our collective heads together here at MotorBikeWriter and really got into a deep, intense discussion about just which models made sense to recommend in 2023. We have had lists about the best dual-sports, the best sportbikes and supersports, even the best touring cruisers, but we needed to make sure that our selections for this list were the best of our combined brainpower.
As with all lists, do keep in mind that this is our opinion only. Your list might differ wildly, or it may align with 80 or 90% of our list. These are just the motorcycles that we find particularly attractive, reasonable, affordable, or in one case, so completely insane that we couldn't not recommend it!
Entry Level Best Motorcycles Of 2023
These picks reflect what we believe are the best entry-level motorcycles of 2023.
Kawasaki Z400 & Z650
Considered by many as some of the best beginner bikes on the market
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.
Specifications:
Price: $5,199 to $8,049
Engine: 399cc to 649cc parallel twin
Power: 45 to 67 HP
Torque: 25.1 to 48.5 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 364 to 412.3 lbs
Ideal For:
Newer riders that are looking for a capable bike with a ton of unobtrusive but present rider aids
Riders that are looking for a bike that is both an in city commuter and a weekend warrior
Highlights:
The best value for money bikes in the mid-range market without question
Bulletproof reliability (as long as you keep up on your maintenance!)
ABS, traction control, stability control, anti-wheelie, slipper/assist clutch, and much much more
Learn More:
2023 Kawasaki Z400 specs, features, & pics
2023 Kawasaki Z650 specs, features, & pics
Honda Rebel 300, 500, and 1100
Friendly, simple cruisers that provide amazing ride quality, wind-in-your-face fun, but aren't loud, shouting, "look at me!" machines
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.
Specifications:
Price: 300: $4,699; 500: $6,399; 1100: $9,499+
Engine: 286cc single; 471cc parallel twin; 1,084cc parallel twin
Power: 25; 46 HP; 86
Torque: 17.6 lbs-ft; 30 lbs-ft; 72 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 364 lbs; 408 lbs; 487 lbs
Ideal For:
Newer riders that don't want a used bike, but don't want to spend big money
Smaller riders wanting a fun cruiser that don't want to feel overwhelmbed by the size or weight of bike
Veteran riders wanting good torque and power without using a V-Twin (1100 models)
Highlights:
Friendly, linear power delivery
"Keep It Stupidly Simple" in motorcycle form, no extra features you don't need
Uses engines shared with other bikes such as the CB500 and 1100 Africa Twin, meaning proven reliable engines
ABS, slipper/assist clutch
Learn More:
2023 Honda Rebel 300 specs, features, & pics
2023 Honda Rebel 500 specs, features, & pics
2023 Honda Rebel 1100 specs, features, & pics
Honda CRF300L Rally
An unbelievably robust, reliable adventure tourer that can quite literally ride across continents
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!
Specifications:
Price: $6,499
Engine: 286cc single
Power: 27 HP
Torque: 19.6 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 335 lbs
Ideal For:
Riders that want a dual-sport to ride on and off road that is nearly indestructible
Riders looking to get into ADV bikes and want a great adventure tourer to get their feet wet (maybe literally) before putting down the big money for a big ADV
Highlights:
A very capable dual-sport in the budget market
Very forgiving suspension both on and off the road
Unbelievably rugged, with a little thumper that just does not quit no matter how hard you push it
Even off-road and fully loaded, 65+ MPG with a 3.4 gallon tank with 0.6 gallon reserve
On/off switch for ABS (Rally ABS model)
Learn More:
2023 Honda CRF300L Rally specs, features, & pics
Mid-Range Best Motorcycles Of 2023
These picks reflect what we believe are the best motorcycles worth your consideration for 2023, for either being new models, continuations of very popular models, or just being the top of their class
Harley-Davidson Iron 883
Only here until August 2023, an affordable sport cruiser that gives you classic American power and feel
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
Specifications:
Price: $10,749
Engine: 54 ci (883cc) V-twin
Power: ~50 HP
Torque: 54 lbs-ft
Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 564lbs
Ideal For:
Riders that want that classic American sport cruiser feel, without needing to take out a second mortgage on their house
Newer riders that want to get into the cruiser lifestyle without hopping immediately on a 70+ cubic inch road monster
Highlights:
Surprisingly friendly, mostly due to "just being an American cruiser"
Smooth and tractable engine as long as your right wrist shows respect to the throttle, as is true with almost all V-twin engine bikes
A more standard style seating approach than the forward controls most cruisers use, making it very controllable and even agile
Learn More:
2023 Harley-Davison Iron 883 specs, features, & pics
Replacement model: 2023 Harley-Davidson USA Nightster 975 page
Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE (650 & 1050 Honorable Mentions)
Affordable, powerful, capable. Three words that define one of the most popular ADV bikes, now with an all new engine
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!
Specifications:
Price: $11,349
Engine: 776cc parallel twin
Power: 83 HP
Torque: 57 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 507 lbs
Ideal For:
ADV riders that are familiar with the V-Strom model line wanting one that can actually mix it up off road with the likes of KTM and Honda
Newer riders that are of the "big & tall" size wanting a capable on-road adventure tourer that can get down and dirty (and muddy!) on the weekends
Highlights:
A much more off-road oriented V-Strom, that also behaves just as well on the road
776cc 270-degree crank parallel twin gives the pulse of a V-twin but the power delivery of a parallel
2023 levels of tech, including S.I.R.S, adjustable ABS, fully adjustable front and rear suspension, and a TFT dash that shows you all the vital info you need, and lets you select the modes and adjustments you want
Learn More:
2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE specs, features, & pics
Aprilia RS660
Out of all the supersports we could have chosen, the Aprilia RS660 is still right in the sweet spot for us
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.
Specifications:
Price: $11,499
Engine: 660cc parallel twin
Power: 100 HP
Torque: 50 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 403 lbs
Ideal For:
Newer riders that have a couple of seasons under their helmets and want to move up to a sportbike that has supersport DNA
Veteran riders looking for a comfortable canyon carver and track bike that can also be their daily commuter, with ride modes for each and every occasion.
Highlights:
Selectable ride modes that also affect the multimap ABS, from fully on to "Barely there" for track use
Very linear power that responds at any revs, in any gear
Bang-up-to-date TFT dash with various display modes depending on ride mode, from rev-centered for track days to informative for commuting
Quick shifter, cruise control, engine braking control, even wheelie control
Learn More:
2023 Aprilia RS660 specs, features, & pics
Kawasaki ZX-10R
It may have been around for a couple of years in the current form, but 2023 updates make it even better
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!
Specifications:
Price: $17,399
Engine: 998cc inline-four
Power: 203 HP
Torque: 82.5 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 455 lbs
Ideal For:
Riders wanting a multiple championship winning bike in street form, that will happily ride in the city and on the freeway, but gets serious when shown a corner or three
Veteran riders wanting a superbike to chase the lap record at their local track on, and be able to achieve it
Highlights:
Pure racing technology in a road-going superbike, with the only real difference being concessions for street comfort
Every bell and whistle you could want for street riding, and most of them can be turned off in race mode
Dual zone ABS, traction control, stability control, launch control, anti-squat, anti-wheelie, variable throttle intake valves, and much more
Learn More:
2023 Kawasaki ZX-10R specs, features, & pics
High-End Best Motorcycles Of 2023
These new bikes for 2023 were chosen as the best examples of models that have received major updates, are the best example of their class, or are all new and ready to roll
Indian Super Chief Limited
When you absolutely want to do some American touring on a bike that does it pretty much better than anyone else
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.
Specifications:
Price: $21,499
Engine: 116 ci (1,890cc) Thunderstroke V-twin
Power: Est. 79 HP
Torque: 120 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 714 lbs
Ideal For:
Riders wanting a classic American cruiser that has all the modern tech they could want, at an affordable price, with superb range capability
Those that tour solo often, as while the passenger seat is comfortable, it is not the full seat that something like a Roadmaster will feature
Highlights:
Immense yet smooth and tractable torque
Saddlebags, touring handlebars, windscreen are all standard and included
9.7 gallon long distance tank for those big open interstate stretches
ABS, stability control, traction control, ride modes, and all the other tech a touring cruiser needs
Learn More:
2023 Indian Super Chief Limited specs, features, & pics
Ducati Diavel V4
Leave it to the Italians to go stone-cold mental with their muscle "cruiser." Then again, we like things slightly crazy!
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!
Specifications:
Price: $26.695
Engine: 1,158cc Granturismo V4
Power: 170 HP
Torque: 93 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 465 lbs
Ideal For:
Riders wanting one of the craziest bikes to come from Ducati in quite a while, or those looking for something reminiscent of the bonkers Yamaha VMAX of the 2010s
Highlights:
The fastest, most powerful Diavel Ducati has ever made
Bang-up-to-date rider aids including a 6-axis IMU, dual zone ABS, four riding modes, traction, stability, anti-squat, and anti-wheelie control, and much more
Quickshifter, electronic cruise control, and launch control functionality included as standard
Learn More:
2023 Ducati Diavel V4 specs, features, & pics
KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
What many ADV riders have been asking about for a couple of years now lands in 2023
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.
Specifications:
Price: $20,299)
Engine: 1,301cc V-twin
Power: 160 HP
Torque: 101.8 lbs-ft
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
Curb Weight: 524 lbs
Ideal For:
ADV riders wanting to have a powerful, long-distance adventure tourer that is more at home away from the beaten or paved path than anywhere else
Highlights:
Very capable in almost every situation, be it urban riding, intercity travel, or leaving the road behind and just going on an adventure
Now a global model, after a limited North American and European soft launch in 2022
Bang up to date with the latest tech, including a whole new version of the KTM Navigation system
Full suite of rider aids, which can be changed via multiple ride mode selections
Learn More:
2023 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R specs, features, & pics