The Best A2 Licence Bikes (2022)

The A2 licence allows anyone from age 19 to ride a bike up to 47 bhp. Some more powerful models can be restricted but this list focuses on those under the limit.

Read more about the A2 licence, check out all of the A2 models in the choosing tool or the top 10 restricted A2 models.

What Is It?

The Honda CB500F is designed to be the perfect A2 naked bike with a beginner friendly low seat, low weight, full LED lighting and even an emergency stop hazard flashing system.

It's often said that if you go out looking for an A2 bike you will most likely end up with a Honda. That's because they also offer the same package in adventure form as the CB500X, as a low seat cruiser in the Rebel 500 and as a sport bike in the CBR500R.

For 2022 Honda have listened to owners and added a Showa 41 mm SFF-BP upside down fork, dual front discs, a new lighter swingarm and a more powerful LED headlight.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £5,700
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 471 cc
• Power: 47 bhp / 35 kW
• Top Speed: 110 mph / 177 km/h
• Economy: 85 mpg / 3.3 L/100km
• Range: 320 miles / 515 km
• Seat Height: 789 mm / 31.1 inches
• Wet Weight: 189 kg / 417 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.249 bhp/kg

What Is It?

If adventure style bikes float your boat, with their long travel suspension, great weather protection, huge range and luggage options, then have a look at the CB500X.

It's been thoroughly updated for 2019 with taller suspension, a modern slip / assist clutch, LED indicators, new dash, a gear position indicator and a 19" front wheel. For 2022 Honda have listen to owners and added a Showa SFF-BP fork, dual front discs, a lighter swingarm and an improved LED headlight.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £6,200
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 471 cc
• Power: 47 bhp / 35 kW
• Top Speed: 110 mph / 177 km/h
• Economy: 85 mpg / 3.3 L/100km
• Range: 330 miles / 531 km
• Seat Height: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
• Wet Weight: 197 kg / 434 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.239 bhp/kg

What Is It?

The chain driven Rebel is a popular cruiser style bike and with good reason. It's incredibly learner friendly with a really low seat and low weight, it looks great and the pillion seat / pegs can be easily unbolted to create an instant Bobber look.

Equipment is pretty basic but it's a lot of bike for the money and many view it as a great base to create their own custom Rebel. Read the 2019 review.

For 2020 it gets a more comfy seat, a slipper clutch, a handy gear position indicator, improved rear shocks and a cool LED headlight.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £5,800
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 471 cc
• Power: 46 bhp / 34 kW
• Top Speed: 100 mph / 161 km/h
• Economy: 65 mpg / 4.3 L/100km
• Range: 160 miles / 257 km
• Seat Height: 690 mm / 27.2 inches
• Wet Weight: 191 kg / 421 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.241 bhp/kg

What Is It?

BMW's G310GS, launched in 2017, is arguably the most exciting thing to happen to the small adventure bike sector in years and a worth a look if you liked the Honda CB500X.

It doesn't have much in the way of an electronics package but does have a solid core of equipment and can be adapted to have some off-road potential if you want to go down that route.

For 2021 it gains Euro 5 compliance, an electronic throttle controller, increased automatic idle speed, an up to date assist and slipper clutch, LED lighting all round and adjustable levers.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £5,435
• Engine: Single Cylinder
• Capacity: 313 cc
• Power: 34 bhp / 25 kW
• Top Speed: 90 mph / 145 km/h
• Economy: 65 mpg / 4.3 L/100km
• Range: 160 miles / 257 km
• Seat Height: 835 mm / 32.9 inches
• Wet Weight: 170 kg / 375 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.200 bhp/kg

What Is It?

The Honda CRF300 Rally could well be the ultimate green laning machine you've never heard of, with genuine on and off-road potential.

For 2021 Honda have evolved the popular CRF250 Rally into the CRF300 Rally by adding 37 cc's of capacity, a few more ponies and reducing the already light weight by 4 kg. It also gets a gear position indicator, improved range and a modern slip / assist clutch.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £6,040
• Engine: Single Cylinder
• Capacity: 286 cc
• Power: 27 bhp / 20 kW
• Top Speed: 85 mph / 137 km/h
• Economy: 80 mpg / 3.5 L/100km
• Range: 230 miles / 370 km
• Seat Height: 885 mm / 34.8 inches
• Wet Weight: 153 kg / 337 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.176 bhp/kg

GEAR & ACCESSORIES

Protection and Tail Tidies

Helmets

Jackets

Boots

Gloves

Jeans

What Is It?

If you fancy more of a cafe racer style, with low bars and oodles of modern styling, then the Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 might be worth a look. Vitpilen means "The White Arrow" in Swedish.

It's the smaller brother to the Vitpilen 701 and is based on the KTM Duke 390 engine, suspension and Brembo's budget ByBre calipers.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £4,850
• Engine: Single Cylinder
• Capacity: 373 cc
• Power: 43 bhp / 32 kW
• Top Speed: 105 mph / 169 km/h
• Economy: 70 mpg / 4.0 L/100km
• Range: 150 miles / 241 km
• Seat Height: 835 mm / 32.9 inches
• Dry Weight: 151 kg / 333 pounds

What Is It?

Sticking with cafe racer theme, but with an old school take, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a lot of retro cool for your money. True it may not make much power from the 648 cc engine but it ticks the retro box and 80% of the torque is available from just 2,500 rpm.

They also offer a more relaxed version called the Interceptor which has higher bars and is more pillion friendly.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £6,100
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 648 cc
• Power: 47 bhp / 35 kW
• Top Speed: 110 mph / 177 km/h
• Economy: 55 mpg / 5.1 L/100km
• Range: 150 miles / 241 km
• Seat Height: 793 mm / 31.2 inches
• Wet Weight: 208 kg / 459 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.226 bhp/kg

What Is It?

There are many reasons to love the Himalayan and only a few not to, so let's start with those. It's under powered for the A2 licence in the UK, it's heavy and has a minimal electronics package.

It is however super qualified for proper off-road mile munching with an easy to fix simple design, all metal construction, loads of low down torque, plush long travel suspension, a friendly low seat height and it's incredibly good value!

For 2021 it received the "Tripper" navigation system, switchable rear ABS and improvements to the seat / screen / luggage rack.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £4,600
• Engine: Single Cylinder
• Capacity: 411 cc
• Power: 25 bhp / 19 kW
• Top Speed: 85 mph / 137 km/h
• Economy: 65 mpg / 4.3 L/100km
• Range: 210 miles / 338 km
• Seat Height: 800 mm / 31.5 inches
• Wet Weight: 185 kg / 408 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.135 bhp/kg

What Is It?

The Benelli TRK 502 represents great value for money and is worth looking at if you are in the market for the Honda CB500X. Standard kit includes the handguards, luggage rack, chain guard and even engine bars.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £5,300
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 500 cc
• Power: 47 bhp / 35 kW
• Top Speed: 100 mph / 161 km/h
• Economy: 65 mpg / 4.3 L/100km
• Range: 290 miles / 467 km
• Seat Height: 800 mm / 31.5 inches
• Wet Weight: 213 kg / 470 pounds

What Is It?

For 2019 Kawasaki have turned their popular W800 Street model into a cafe racer version. It's now Euro 4 compliant but is surprisingly still air-cooled for maximum retro effect. You do get a few modern touches thrown in though with an LED headlight and ABS subtly designed in.

More info, pics, prices and videos →

Key Specs

• RRP: £9,100
• Engine: Parallel Twin
• Capacity: 773 cc
• Power: 47 bhp / 35 kW
• Top Speed: 115 mph / 185 km/h
• Economy: 50 mpg / 5.6 L/100km
• Range: 160 miles / 257 km
• Seat Height: 790 mm / 31.1 inches
• Wet Weight: 223 kg / 492 pounds
• Power to Weight: 0.211 bhp/kg

Want To See More Bikes Like This?

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How Did We Rank Our Top Ten?

We looked at all the A2 compliant bikes you can buy new and picked the top contenders for each type taking into account style, power, technology and value for money.