Six coolest motorcycles for learners

Learner riders are spoilt for choice, with the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) offering a long list of safe, affordable, and easy-to-ride machines that are perfect first bikes for beginners.

The ‘best’ learner bikes should be safe, reliable, easy-to-ride and affordable. And learner riders should also take into account their own size and strength, riding style, purpose for riding, and budget.

But the best learner bike is not necessarily the coolest. Fortunately, there are plenty of learner bikes on the market that tick the right boxes and keep your street cred intact.

Cool factor is subjective, of course, but here are five fashionable bikes we think you should take a look at…

After a few decades living in the shadows of naked and adventure bikes, sportsbikes are mounting something of a comeback in the form of the middleweight segment. The YZF-R7 is one such example, and with an excellent parallel-twin engine, a superb chassis, and plenty of race-inspired style, the R7 is simply one of the coolest bikes on the market. It can be yours brand-new for less than $15k, and it would make for a great weekend track weapon too.

Related: 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7LA (LAMS) Review

Triumph’s Trident 660 was born from the Street Triple 660, but it presents a very different experience. With some subtle classic styling, the Trident offers learners a window in the world of elegant British motorcycling. It helps that the engine is a beauty, plus its packed with quality equipment and running gear that more that justifies its price tag of just over $14k. It’s also worth mentioning that this platform exists in sport touring (Tiger Sport 660) and sportsbike (Daytona 660) guises too.

Related: Triumph Trident 660: 2021 bikesales Learner Bike of the Year Winner

Royal Enfield’s latest 650 Twin model might not necessarily be its best, but it certainly might be the coolest. The Shotgun 650 is in some ways a chopped-down Super Meteor 650, but it offers a very different ride position, retuned suspension, and fresh styling that makes it feel a little more contemporary than its siblings. It goes well too, with a beautifully easy-to-ride engine, and fun handling ability. There is also plenty of room for customisation, which should appeal to the hip and trendy crowd.

Related: Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 2024 Review

Along with its smaller X350 sibling, the Harley-Davidson X500 is the Milwuakee firm’s re-entry into the learner segment. It’s previous learner model, the Street 500, was ridiculously popular, so the new X models should serve the brand well in Australia. And what learner wouldn’t feel cool riding a Harley-branded bike? Okay, so the China-built X500 might not be quite as cool as a big American-built V-twin, but the Harley badge still counts for a lot of street cred.

Related: Harley-Davidson X350 and X500 2024 First Ride

Any bike that wins the bikesales Learner Bike of the Year award has street cred, and this little dual-sport took home that title in 2023. With a fun and useable single-cylinder engine, a rugged and agile dual-sport chassis, and a surprising array of electronic features, the 390 Adventure is arguably the best single-cylinder adventure tourer on the market. And best of all, it costs just over $10k, which is an absolute bargain.

Related: KTM 390 Adventure: 2023 bikesales Learner Bike of the Year Winner - bikesales.com.au

The Svartpilen 401 with its scrambler-inspired Swedish style, is one coolest-looking bikes going around. It uses the same single-cylinder engine as the aforementioned 390 Adventure and rolls on a chromoly steel trellis frame. There is also a neo-retro roadster version called the Vitpilen, which we tested last year. Whichever version you choose, you’ll be sure to stand out. Both Husky 401 models have been overhauled for 2024 and are expected to arrive in Australia soon.

Related: All-new Husqvarna Vitpilen and Svartpilen 401 for 2024