Best woman friendly bike ever?

While the Rebel 500 doesn’t have a classic V-twin engine, it has held its own for years as an excellent all-around motorcycle.

It’s been about seven years since I started riding motorcycles. Those seven years have been some of the most transformative of my life—sappy, maybe, but true. Now, instead of going on about the freedom I’ve experienced and the fun I’ve had, I’m going to help you experience it all yourself.

In the early 1900s Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle put America on the newborn map of motorcycling. Like baseball and apple pie, the cruiser is an all-American pastime—though often as not these days it’s done on Japanese brands—that continues to resonate with riders across the states and around the globe. Cruisers are admired by men and women alike for their iconic style, rumbling engine (primarily of the V-twin variety), and low stance. Here is the only motorcycle that made both of my lists for women, the Honda Rebel 500.

Why it's one of the best cruiser motorcycles for women
Honda’s Rebel 500 is famous for attracting female ridership; in fact, according to Honda, a remarkable 28 percent of Rebel 500 owners are women. The Rebel 500 sits nicely between Rebels 300 and 1100, and was picked for this list because it strikes a nice balance between approachability and usability, perfect for those new to motorcycling. Not only that, but the 500 performs admirably, with comfortable power from its 471cc parallel twin and impressive handling thanks to a compact 58.7-inch wheelbase. Pricing is entry-level friendly as well, with a starting MSRP of $6,399.

Old reliable. The Honda Rebel maintains its status as a great, likable beginner motorcycle.

One of the best beginner motorcycles for women, here's why
No list of beginner motorcycles is complete without the Honda Rebel. The Rebel has been around for decades in its many forms, introducing countless motorcyclists to the sport, and with good reason. The Rebel 300 and 500 have low seat heights at a claimed 27.2 inches, approachable engines with nonthreatening power delivery suitable for rider growth, and low centers of gravity that make the bikes easy to handle. Plus, they have Honda reliability. For 2022, the 300 slots in with an MSRP of $4,699 and the 500 comes in with an MSRP of $6,399.

Browse our Honda Rebel 500 inventory