Types of Motorcycles: All 11 Styles Explained (2026)

There are 11 main types of motorcycles: sport bikes, cruisers, adventure (ADV) bikes, touring bikes, naked/standard bikes, dual-sports, cafe racers, bobbers, choppers, scramblers and electric motorcycles, and for most new riders the best one to start on is a naked bike like the Yamaha MT-07 (~$8,000-8,600 new). Every type is built around a different riding position, engine character and job, from track-day weapons to 900-lb highway couches to street-legal dirt bikes. The right one for you comes down to where you ride, how far you ride, and what feels right when you actually sit on it.

All right guys, so here's the thing. The number one thing every new rider wants to know is "what bike should I get?" And bro, before we can even talk models, you gotta know what the categories are, because a "motorcycle" can be anything from a 330-lb dirt bike to a Gold Wing that weighs more than my fridge. I've been riding since 2013 and I'm a Honda sportbike guy through and through (the 1000RR, Tina's 600, the stripped-down black and red Honda sitting in my driveway), but I'm not gonna pretend sportbikes are the answer for everybody. They're not. Not even close.

So this page breaks down all 11 types: how each one sits, how the engine feels, who it's for and who should run the other way. If you're brand new, read my Complete Beginner's Guide to Motorcycles first for licensing, costs and gear. Then come back here so you can walk into a dealership (or scroll Marketplace at 1 a.m. like the rest of us) knowing exactly what you're looking at. Let's go.

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What Is a Sport Bike?

Okay, my people. A sportbike is built for speed, cornering and track performance, period. Full aerodynamic fairings, low clip-on handlebars, rearsets that tuck your feet up high, and engines that make their best power way up the rev range. My CBR1000RR is one of these, and so is Tina's 600, so yeah, I'm biased. Hella biased. But I'll be honest with you about what sucks too.

Riding position: Aggressive forward lean. Your weight is on your wrists, your knees are tucked up, your back is hunched. It looks insane in photos. After two hours on the highway though? Your lower back is gonna file a complaint, bro. Like a formal complaint, with paperwork.

Engine character: High-revving and peaky. Inline-four supersports like the Yamaha R6 or Kawasaki ZX-6R scream past 14,000 RPM. The parallel twins in the beginner class (Ninja 400/500, Yamaha R3) are way more forgiving, but they still reward you for using the upper revs.

Best for: Canyon carving, track days, spirited weekend rides, and riders who care more about handling than all-day comfort.

Popular models: Yamaha YZF-R7, Kawasaki Ninja 650, Ducati Panigale V4, BMW S 1000 RR, Aprilia RS 660

Who should buy one: Riders who already know they want performance and are cool trading comfort for it. If your commute is under 30 minutes and your weekends are all twisty roads, a sport bike makes perfect sense. Just know insurance on these runs higher than almost anything else out there, and for a brand-new rider on a supersport the quotes can be straight-up criminal, bro. I break down why in my insurance guide.

Engine: 399cc parallel twin | Power: ~45hp | Status: Replaced by the Ninja 500 in 2024, so shop used

Real talk guys, do NOT start on a 600cc supersport. I know, I know, Tina rides a 600. But the R6, CBR600RR and ZX-6R make 100+ horsepower, the throttle is twitchy, and the riding position punishes every mistake. A 300-500cc sport bike is way faster than you think and it'll teach you more in year one than a liter bike ever could. If you're stuck on the cc question, my motorcycle cc explained guide lays out what 300 vs 650 vs 1000 actually feels like.

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What Is a Cruiser Motorcycle?

Cruisers are the laid-back, feet-forward bikes that pretty much own American highway culture. They sit low, they rumble at idle, and they're made for comfy straight-line riding. Think Harley-Davidson, Indian, and the cruiser lineups from Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

Riding position: Feet forward on floorboards or forward pegs, hands up on wide or pullback bars, back upright or leaning back a bit. It feels like sitting in a chair. Like a nice chair. A recliner with a V-twin under it.

Engine character: Low-end torque all day. V-twins run this category (Harley's Milwaukee-Eight, Indian's Thunderstroke), with a deep exhaust note and strong pull right off idle. You don't need to rev these things to get moving.

Best for: Highway cruising, boulevard riding, chill weekend trips, and riders who want that classic American motorcycle feel.

Popular models: Harley-Davidson Sportster S, Indian Scout, Honda Rebel 500, Kawasaki Vulcan S, Yamaha Bolt

Who should buy one: Riders who care more about comfort than cornering speed, want a bike that looks and sounds like a "real motorcycle" to your uncle, and mostly ride highways and main roads. Cruisers are also amazing for shorter riders, since a lot of them have seat heights around 27 inches or lower.

Engine: 471cc parallel twin | Power: ~46hp | Seat height: ~27 inches

One heads up with cruisers: ground clearance is low. Those forward pegs and that low frame will scrape in a fast corner way before a sport bike or naked bike would. Ride within what the bike can do in the twisties, and if you hear grinding, that's the bike telling you to chill.

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What Is an Adventure (ADV) Motorcycle?

Adventure motorcycles (everybody just says ADV) are the Swiss Army knives of motorcycling. Pavement, gravel, dirt, they're built for all of it: long-travel suspension, an upright seat, a tall windscreen, and enough luggage space to cross a continent. This category has blown up over the last decade, bro. Every brand has one now.

Riding position: Tall and upright. Straight back, arms reaching comfortably to wide bars, legs bent naturally at the knee. The catch is the seat height. Most ADVs sit 32-34 inches off the ground, which is scary for shorter riders. If you're tall like me though? These are the bikes where your knees finally stop touching your chin.

Engine character: All over the place. Mid-size ADVs (Yamaha Tenere 700) run punchy parallel twins. The big ones (BMW R 1250 GS, Ducati Multistrada) pack 150+ hp and blur the line between adventure bike and sport-tourer.

Best for: Long-distance touring, mixed-surface riding, commuting in any weather, and riders who want one bike that legit does everything.

Popular models: BMW R 1250 GS, Yamaha Tenere 700, KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Honda Africa Twin, Ducati Multistrada V4

Who should buy one: Riders who can't decide between touring and off-road, want a do-it-all bike, or plan long trips on roads that aren't always paved. Also sick daily commuters because of the upright seat and the wind protection.

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What Is a Touring Motorcycle?

Touring motorcycles exist for one thing: eating up massive distances in max comfort. They're the biggest, heaviest, most loaded-up bikes on the road. Full fairings, heated seats, stereos, GPS, cruise control, giant hard luggage, and wind protection that makes the highway feel like you're in a car. A car that leans.

Riding position: Upright and relaxed. Wide comfy seats (often heated), floorboards, bars that come right back to your hands. And the passenger gets a backrest, armrests and a seat that's honestly comfier than the rider's. If Tina saw that seat she'd never ride her own bike again, bro.

Engine character: Big, smooth and full of torque. Flat-six (Honda Gold Wing), boxer twin (BMW R 1250 RT) or big V-twin (Harley Road Glide), they all just glide at highway speed. You can sit at 130 km/h all day and the engine won't even break a sweat.

Best for: Cross-country road trips, two-up riding, and riders putting 15,000+ km a year on a bike who want to show up feeling fresh.

Popular models: Honda Gold Wing, Harley-Davidson Road Glide, BMW R 1250 RT, Indian Roadmaster, Yamaha Star Venture

Who should buy one: Experienced riders who already know they love long distance and want the ultimate road-trip machine. These are not beginner bikes. They weigh 800-900+ lbs and run $25,000-$40,000+. That's a whole car, bro. But for the riders they're built for, nothing else comes close. Want touring without the 900-lb commitment? Look at sport-tourers like the Kawasaki Concours 14 or Yamaha Tracer 9 GT, or an ADV. And if you're planning your first big trip on any bike, my first motorcycle road trip guide has the whole checklist.

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What Is a Naked or Standard Motorcycle?

Okay, this is the big one for beginners, so pay attention. Naked bikes, also called standards or streetfighters, strip the fairings off and show you the engine and frame. What's left is a raw, aggressive-looking bike with upright ergonomics and wide bars, and it's the most versatile riding position in the sporty world. Most riding coaches point new riders here, and for good reason.

Fun fact: my stripped-down black and red Honda in the driveway, the one with the chrome slip-on that I showed off in my exhaust guide, is basically what a streetfighter is. Pull the plastics off a sport bike and boom, you've got a naked. That's literally where the name comes from.

Riding position: Upright with a slight lean forward. Straight back, arms reach naturally to wide bars, feet right under your hips. It's the most neutral seat in motorcycling: comfy on the commute, fun in the canyons, easy in a parking lot.

Engine character: Wide, usable power. Nakeds care more about mid-range torque than screaming top end, so you get strong pull from low RPMs without wringing the bike's neck. Triples like the Yamaha MT-09 and Triumph Street Triple are especially fire because you get twin-style grunt down low plus an inline-four rush up top.

Best for: Commuting, canyon carving, weekend rides, city riding and learning to ride. The most versatile type of motorcycle out there.

Popular models: Yamaha MT-07, Ducati Monster, KTM 390 Duke, Triumph Street Triple, Kawasaki Z650

Who should buy one: Almost everyone, honestly. If nothing specific is pushing you somewhere else (dirt, long touring, the cruiser look), a naked bike is the default right answer. Especially for beginners.

Engine: 689cc parallel twin | Power: ~72hp | Weight: ~400 lbs

The one thing that sucks about nakeds? Zero wind protection. At 110+ km/h the wind is hitting your chest and helmet the whole time, and on a long highway day that wears you out. A small flyscreen helps a lot if you commute on the 401 or any highway like it. I talk more about fighting wind blast in my riding in wind guide.

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What Is a Dual-Sport Motorcycle?

Dual-sport bikes are street-legal dirt bikes, bro. Plain and simple. They're built for real off-road stuff like single-track, fire roads, gravel and mud, but they've got lights, plates and mirrors so you can ride them to Timmy's after. They're lighter and more dirt-focused than ADV bikes, with long-travel suspension, knobby tires and barely any bodywork.

Riding position: Super tall and upright. A lot of dual-sports sit 35-37 inches high, the tallest of any category. You stand on the pegs off-road and sit on the pavement.

Engine character: Mostly single-cylinder thumpers that care about low-end torque and simplicity, not peak horsepower. Singles are easy to work on, reliable and light. A few bigger dual-sports run parallel twins.

Best for: Trail riding, fire roads, gravel roads, people who live on dirt roads, and anyone who wants one bike for both dirt and street.

Popular models: Kawasaki KLR 650, Honda CRF300L, Suzuki DR-Z400S, Yamaha XT250, KTM 500 EXC-F

Who should buy one: Riders who are actually gonna leave the pavement. If half or more of your riding is dirt, gravel or unpaved roads, a dual-sport is the right tool. They're also some of the lightest and cheapest bikes you can buy, which makes them sick first bikes if you want off-road capability.

Engine: 652cc single | Price: ~$7,000 new | Best for: Gravel, fire roads, long cheap trips

Quick tire thing: knobby off-road tires grip way less on wet pavement than street tires. Ride mostly road? Swap to 50/50 or 80/20 tires. Mostly dirt? Keep the knobbies. Tire choice changes how a dual-sport rides more than almost anything else, and my motorcycle tires guide explains how to read the sidewall before you buy.

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What Is a Cafe Racer?

Cafe racers come from 1960s British bike culture, where riders stripped their bikes down to the basics and raced from cafe to cafe. Modern cafe racers keep that vibe: minimal bodywork, low clip-ons, rearsets, a single seat or a little cowl behind it, and the whole point is looking fast while standing still. Which, not gonna lie, I respect.

Riding position: Low and forward, a lot like a sport bike. Clip-ons put your hands low and out front, giving you that classic hunched cafe racer look. It looks incredible in photos and feels committed on the road.

Engine character: Depends on the platform. Classic cafe racers use air-cooled singles or twins (Triumph Thruxton, Royal Enfield Continental GT). Custom builds can start from pretty much any donor bike.

Best for: Short city rides, coffee shop runs, bike nights, and riders who care about looks and moto culture as much as performance.

Popular models: Triumph Thruxton RS, Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, BMW R nineT Racer, Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer, plus thousands of custom builds on Honda CBs and Yamaha SRs. If you want a modern take that won't break the bank, check out my Triumph Thruxton 400 review.

Who should buy one: Riders who are drawn to the vintage look and don't need all-day comfort or cargo space. Cafe racers are lifestyle bikes. They look stunning, they've got character mass-produced bikes can't fake, and they plug you into a community that genuinely cares about this stuff.

Building one from a vintage donor (Honda CB350, Yamaha XS650) is one of the coolest garage projects in motorcycling. But buy it running first, bro. A non-running project bike in a hundred pieces is where motivation goes to die.

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What Is a Bobber?

Bobbers are stripped-down cruisers. The name comes from "bobbed" fenders: the original bobbers were stock cruisers with the fenders chopped short, extra weight pulled off, and everything non-essential deleted. What's left is low, mean and clean, with a solo seat and a fat rear tire.

Riding position: Cruiser-like, with feet forward or mid, hands on medium-height bars, upright back. But bobbers usually have stiffer suspension and that solo seat, so the ride is firmer and more raw.

Engine character: V-twins again, same as cruisers. Low-end torque, deep exhaust note, relaxed power. Factory bobbers like the Triumph Bonneville Bobber and Indian Scout Bobber balance character with modern reliability.

Best for: Short to medium rides, city cruising, bike nights, and riders who want the cruiser feel with a meaner, more minimal look.

Popular models: Indian Scout Bobber, Triumph Bonneville Bobber, Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob, Honda Shadow Phantom

Who should buy one: Riders who love cruisers but want more edge and less chrome. You give up some passenger comfort (lots of these are solo seat only) and luggage space for the look. Ride solo and care about style? A bobber delivers.

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What Is a Chopper?

Choppers are the wildest custom bikes on the road. Extended front forks raked way out, stretched frames, ape hanger bars and full custom fabrication. These are rolling art pieces where looks come first and literally everything else comes second.

Riding position: Totally depends on the build. Classic choppers have forward pegs, ape hangers that put your hands at or above shoulder height, and a laid-back posture that looks like you're chilling on a couch doing highway speed.

Engine character: Almost always V-twin. Harley Shovelhead, Panhead and Evo engines are the old-school chopper motors. Modern builds use S&S, RevTech or current Harley engines.

Best for: Short rides, bike shows, cruising the main strip, and riders who see their bike as pure self-expression.

Popular models: Choppers are almost all custom-built. You don't walk into a dealership and roll one off the floor. Builders start with a rolling chassis or donor bike and fabricate from there.

Who should buy one: Experienced riders with the wrenching skills (or the budget) to keep a custom bike alive, who are cool with the handling trade-offs that come with long forks and a raked-out front end. Choppers are not practical daily riders. They're built to turn heads.

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What Is a Scrambler?

Scramblers are the most versatile of the retro-style bikes. Take a standard or cafe platform, add some off-road ability (taller suspension, wider bars, a skid plate, semi-knobby tires, high pipes) and boom. You get a bike that looks rugged and adventurous but is still totally comfy on city streets.

Riding position: Upright and natural, like a naked. Wide bars give you leverage for slow-speed moves and light dirt. Seat heights are moderate, usually 31-33 inches.

Engine character: Parallel twins and singles mostly. Tractable mid-range over peak horsepower, so they're easy to ride when conditions get mixed.

Best for: City riding, light gravel, weekend exploring, and riders who want a bike that can handle a surprise dirt road without any drama.

Popular models: Ducati Scrambler, Triumph Street Scrambler, BMW R nineT Scrambler, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

Who should buy one: Riders who want the adventure look without the massive size of a full ADV. Scramblers are lighter, nimbler in the city and easier to manage than a 500+ lb adventure bike. They won't handle hardcore off-road like a dual-sport, but they handle light trails way better than a sport bike or cruiser. And honestly? Scramblers might be the best-looking category going right now. Parked outside a coffee shop or covered in dust on a fire road, they look dope either way.

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What Is an Electric Motorcycle?

Electric motorcycles are the newest category and the one changing the fastest. Most have no clutch, no gears and no exhaust, just instant torque from zero RPM and almost no noise. Range, charging speed and price are all getting better every year.

Riding position: Depends on the style. Electric sport bikes (Energica Ego), electric nakeds (Zero SR/F) and electric dual-sports (Zero FX) all copy the ergonomics of their gas versions.

Engine character: Instant torque, super linear power, nothing to shift. You twist the throttle and it just goes. No clutch, no hunting for gears, no gaps. It's the smoothest power delivery in motorcycling.

Best for: City commuting, short to medium rides (range is still the limit), riders who want new tech, and people who live somewhere with noise rules.

Popular models: Zero SR/F, Energica Ego, LiveWire Del Mar, Damon HyperSport, Cake Kalk

Who should buy one: Commuters with predictable daily distance, tech nerds, and riders who like the simplicity of no clutch. They're also a surprisingly good option for brand-new riders, since no clutch removes one of the biggest things beginners struggle with. Downsides are still range (roughly 160-240 km on most models), charging time, and a higher price than an equal gas bike. Rule of thumb: real-world range is usually 70-80% of the brochure number, and in a Canadian October? Lower. Cold batteries hate life, bro.

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Which Motorcycle Type Is Right for You?

All right, so how do you actually pick? It comes down to three honest questions.

1. Where are you actually gonna ride? Highways and long distances push you toward touring or ADV. City streets favour nakeds, scramblers or cafe racers. Off-road trails need a dual-sport. Twisty roads reward sport bikes and nakeds.

2. How far are you riding in one go? If most rides are under an hour, comfort trade-offs (sport bike ergonomics, bobber suspension) are fine. If you regularly ride three-plus hours, pay for comfort: touring, ADV, or at least a naked with a windscreen.

3. What feels right when you sit on it? I know it sounds vague, but this matters more than any spec sheet. If a cruiser's feet-forward position feels wrong to you, no amount of logic fixes that. Go to dealerships, sit on a bunch of different types, and trust your gut. My motorcycle ergonomics and fit guide shows you how to check reach, knee bend and seat height in like five minutes.

Oh, and by the way guys, side note. The fact that I'm out here telling people to go sit on bikes at dealerships is hilarious, because there was a point where Tina's 600 was literally somewhere under a pile of boxes in our garage. Like, there's a motorcycle in there, I promise. But anyways.

Want actual model picks? My full list of the best beginner motorcycles for 2026 goes bike by bike. And if you're doing the MSF course or your provincial training first (you should, bro, seriously), the Motorcycle Safety Foundation training bikes are mostly small standards and cruisers, which is a pretty good hint about what's easiest to learn on.

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Do You Need Different Gear for Each Motorcycle Type?

Nope. No matter what type you pick, the gear is the same: helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, pants. Every single ride. A lowside at 55 km/h on a cruiser takes off just as much skin as a lowside at 55 km/h on a sport bike. The road doesn't care what you ride, bro. ATGATT, all the gear, all the time.

The only thing that changes is style. Cruiser riders lean toward leather and open-face helmets, ADV riders go textile and modular, sportbike riders go race-style leathers. Just make sure whatever matches your bike still has real armor and a DOT or ECE helmet. My riding gear guide covers what to buy first.

And before you buy any bike, look at the full money picture beyond the sticker price, because insurance, gear and maintenance add up fast: The Real Cost of Owning a Motorcycle.

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How Do All the Motorcycle Types Compare?

Prices are rough new-bike ranges in US dollars and they move around every model year, so treat them as ballpark, not gospel.

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So What Should Your First Motorcycle Be?

If you made it this far, here's my honest take, guys. Naked bike if you're not sure. Rebel-style cruiser if you're short or you just love that look. Small sport bike if you know deep down you're a sportbike person (welcome to the family, bro). Dual-sport if your riding is half dirt. Everything else? Ride a couple of seasons first, then go wild.

I love bikes. I freaking love bikes. Every type on this list has somebody out there who'd fight you over it, and that's what makes this whole thing fun. So go sit on some bikes, take the course, get the gear, and send me a pic of whatever you end up copping. Let's go.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What type of motorcycle is best for beginners?

Naked or standard motorcycles are the best type for most beginners. They have an upright riding position that keeps weight off your wrists, wide handlebars that make slow-speed turns easier, and engines tuned for smooth mid-range torque instead of a peaky top end. That combination is forgiving when you make the normal new-rider mistakes, like grabbing too much throttle or braking hard in a corner. The Yamaha MT-07, Honda CB500F and KTM 390 Duke are three of the most recommended beginner nakeds. If a naked bike does not fit your style, a small cruiser like the Honda Rebel 500 is great for shorter riders, a 300-500cc sport bike like the Kawasaki Ninja 400 or 500 works if you love the sportbike look, and a dual-sport like the Honda CRF300L is perfect if you plan to ride dirt. Whatever type you pick, keep the engine under about 700cc for your first season or two.

What is the difference between a cruiser and a touring motorcycle?

Cruisers are lighter, simpler and built for shorter rides, with a low seat, feet-forward pegs and little or no luggage. Most weigh somewhere between 400 and 700 lbs and focus on style and relaxed low-end torque. Touring motorcycles are much bigger and heavier, often 800 to 900 lbs or more, and they are packed with comfort features for multi-day trips: full fairings, tall windscreens, heated seats, stereos, GPS, cruise control and large hard luggage. Touring bikes also give the passenger a proper seat with a backrest, which makes two-up riding far more comfortable. A simple way to think about it is that a touring bike is a luxury sedan and a cruiser is a muscle car. Some bikes sit in the middle, like bagger cruisers such as the Harley Street Glide, which add a fairing and saddlebags to a cruiser chassis without going all the way to full touring weight and price.

Are sport bikes dangerous for new riders?

Small-displacement sport bikes in the 300-500cc range, like the Kawasaki Ninja 400 or 500, Yamaha R3 and Honda CBR500R, are perfectly reasonable first bikes. They make roughly 40 to 50 horsepower, have predictable throttle response, and are light enough to recover from small mistakes. Large sport bikes and supersports are a different story. A 600cc inline-four like the Yamaha R6 or Honda CBR600RR makes over 100 horsepower, revs past 14,000 RPM, and has a twitchy throttle and aggressive riding position that punish beginner errors. Liter bikes are even more extreme. The danger is less about top speed and more about how fast these bikes can get away from you when you panic or grab a handful of throttle. Insurance on supersports is also very expensive for new riders. Start small, take a training course, and move up once you have a season or two of real riding experience behind you.

What type of motorcycle is most comfortable for long rides?

Touring motorcycles like the Honda Gold Wing and Harley-Davidson Road Glide are the most comfortable bikes for long-distance riding. They have wide padded seats, floorboards, full fairings that block wind, cruise control and big luggage, so you can ride all day and still feel decent when you get there. Adventure bikes like the BMW R 1250 GS and Yamaha Tenere 700 come in a close second. Their tall upright position, long-travel suspension and adjustable windscreens make them comfortable on rough roads too, and they are lighter than full tourers. Sport-tourers such as the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT are another strong option if you want comfort with sharper handling. On the other end, sport bikes, cafe racers, bobbers and choppers are the least comfortable for long rides because of their aggressive or extreme riding positions and firm or minimal seats. Whatever you ride, a good seat and some wind protection make the biggest difference.

Can you ride an adventure bike on the highway?

Yes, adventure bikes are excellent on the highway. Their upright riding position keeps your back and wrists relaxed, their tall windscreens push wind off your chest, and their strong mid-range torque makes passing at highway speed easy. Many ADV riders use their bikes mainly for touring and commuting and rarely touch dirt at all. The BMW R 1250 GS became one of the best-selling big motorcycles in the world precisely because it handles long highway days and rough back roads equally well. The things to keep in mind are seat height and tires. Most adventure bikes have seats around 32 to 34 inches, which can make stopping in traffic tricky for shorter riders, and aggressive knobby tires can feel vague and wear quickly on pavement. If you mostly ride highways, run a road-biased adventure tire and you will get a smooth, stable, comfortable ride that eats up kilometres all day long.

What is the cheapest type of motorcycle to own?

Dual-sport motorcycles and small naked bikes are usually the cheapest motorcycles to own overall. Many new models cost around $5,000 to $8,000, and used ones go for much less. Insurance tends to be low because they are small-displacement and not classed as high-performance sport bikes, and fuel economy is excellent, often 50 to 70 miles per gallon. Their single-cylinder or parallel-twin engines are simple to maintain, parts are cheap, and many basic jobs like oil changes and chain care are easy to do yourself at home. The Honda CRF300L, Kawasaki KLR 650 and small nakeds like the KTM 390 Duke or Honda CB300R are good examples. The most expensive types to own are supersports, because of insurance and tires, and big touring bikes, because of their purchase price and maintenance. Buying a used bike in good condition is the single biggest way to cut the total cost.

Should I buy a cruiser or a naked bike as my first motorcycle?

Both make great first motorcycles, so the choice really comes down to how you ride and what fits your body. Pick a cruiser if you are on the shorter side, like the laid-back feet-forward position, and plan to ride mostly on highways and main roads. The low seat height of a cruiser like the Honda Rebel 500 lets you plant both feet flat at stops, which builds confidence fast. Pick a naked bike if you want a more versatile upright position that handles city traffic, twisty roads and commuting equally well. Nakeds like the Yamaha MT-07 turn quicker, have more cornering clearance and teach skills that carry over to almost any other type of bike later. If you can, sit on both at a dealership and take a short test ride. Whichever one makes you want to ride more is the right answer, because the best first bike is the one you actually ride.