The middleweight category has been experiencing something of a renaissance of late.
All the big Japanese manufacturers have been pumping out bikes that come in under 47bhp, and many of the European names have been following suit.
The A2 limit is 35kW (usually works out around 47bhp), on a bike that weighs no less than 175kg.
Key Specs
Horsepower: Usually a pretty good indicator of how scary a bike is going to be.
Engine Displacement: How thirsty are those cylinders? In this class, bikes with a bigger displacement are sacrificing peak power for a longer band- perfect for cruisers but not so great if you want to go fast.
Price: The most important statistic. All the prices here are for the entry level model of the bikes we’ve listed.
Restriction
All the bikes in this list come in at 47bhp or lower, so you can ride them straight out of the dealership on an A2 license.
Another option to consider, though, is buying a bigger displacement bike and an aftermarket restrictor kit.
These kits usually restrict the inlet port of each cylinder or simply cut off access to the top end of the power band by way of throttle stopping.
If you go down this route, you’ll have the option to take the restrictor out once you graduate to an A1 license and unleash the full power of your machine.
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Our 10 Best A2 Ready Motorcycles
10 of our favourites, and some key specs to compare.
Yamaha MT-03
All the styling and attitude of an 07 or 10, but in an A2 friendly package. Yamaha’s MT-03 has been called ‘the ultimate 300’, and there is clear evidence to the claim.
One of the only middleweight bikes to feature upside-down forks- for less steering inertia and a lighter feel on the bars- the MT-03’s aggressive lines and hefty lineage really set it apart from the pack.
Stats
Horsepower: 41.4bhp @9500rpm
Engine Displacement: 321cc single cylinder
Price: £5198
One of the only middleweight bikes to feature upside-down forks- for less steering inertia and a lighter feel on the bars- the MT-03’s aggressive lines and hefty lineage really set it apart from the pack.
Honda CMX500 Rebel
You’ll be hard pressed to find another small displacement bobber that looks this cool.
Stats
Horsepower: 45.5bhp @8500rpm
Engine Displacement: 471cc parallel twin
Price: £5799
Painted Matte black out of the factory, with an exposed frame, and sweet retro styling, the 500 Rebel certainly has an image.
Beauty is not skin deep, though, and the twin cylinder power plant used across Honda’s entire 500 twin fleet has plenty of grunt down low and a surprisingly long power band.
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
Here’s another bike that breaks the mold. Where other companies are sticking to street bikes and sport fairings, Royal Enfield maintains the classic aesthetic that helped it become a household name.
Stats
Horsepower: 47bhp @7250rpm
Engine Displacement: 648cc parallel twin
Price: £5699
The Interceptor is a work of art- all the charm of a bike from the 1940s with the guts of a modern stallion- and riding one of these around town you’ll definitely be turning heads.
KTM 390 Duke
Back to the nakeds now. Watching a Duke go by is a lot like seeing a streaker on a football pitch; the bright orange livery and angry buzz of the single cylinder engine will have you enraptured- at least until the police catch up…
Stats
Horsepower: 40.3bhp @8600rpm
Engine Displacement: 373cc single cylinder
Price: £4799
On a serious note, though, this is an incredibly fun bike.
The closest thing you’re going to get to a stunt bike with this engine size, the 390 Duke feels like a 125, but with that little bit extra to put a smirk on your face.
Honda CB500X
The first adventure bike in our roundup, the CB500X got an overhaul in 2019, with a bigger front wheel, styling adjustments, and a few other quality of life changes.
Stats
Horsepower: 47bhp @8600rpm
Engine Displacement: 471cc parallel twin
Price: £6119
As a first foray into adventure riding, you can’t go far wrong with this bike.
The extra weight and suspension setup mean that you’re not going to be scraping your knee with the street bikes anytime soon, but who’ll be laughing when you hit that pile of horse manure on the apex of a corner?
Honda CBR500R
You didn’t think we weren’t going to cover all the 500 twins, did you?
Honda’s stellar range of middleweights has something for everyone- and we’re going to cover them all.
Stats
Horsepower: 47bhp @8600rpm
Engine Displacement: 471cc parallel twin
Price: £6149
The CBR500R is the sporty one in the bunch, and boasts some beautiful race fairings and tricolour liveries.
This bike is often described as surprising- 31lb ft of torque on such a light chassis is going to leave anyone with a smile on their face.
Honda CB500F
Alright, one more and then we’re done with Honda, promise.
Stats
Horsepower: 47bhp @8600rpm
Engine Displacement: 471cc parallel twin
Price: £5599
This is the CBR500R, but without any clothes. What’s not to like?
With upgraded styling and a brand new instrument package that would be at home on an S1000RR, this street fighter is a perfect choice for a budget conscious commuter who still wants to enjoy a weekend ride.
BMW G310R
Moving back over to Europe, we have BMWs first sub-500cc since the days of the R2s and R39s.
Stats
Horsepower: 33.6bhp @9500rpm
Engine Displacement: 313cc single cylinder
Price: £4670
Bikes of this smaller displacement and weight are designed with smaller riders in mind, and the 310R will suit such an owner perfectly.
It has also been engineered specifically for city riding, with extra attention to the suspension and ABS, for an additional level of peace-of-mind in a hectic urban environment.
Ducati Scrambler Sixty2
Scrambler is a name that has always been synonymous with fun.
Stats
Horsepower: 41bhp @8750rpm
Engine Displacement: 399cc L-Twin
Price: £6795
The Scrambler Sixty2 epitomises this, a grunty 400cc engine on a lightweight frame, with chunky tires and bouncy suspension- perfect for yobbing around an industrial estate or taking the B roads to the coast and having a blast down the beach.
That is, if you’re not too scared of scratching it.
Kawasaki Versys X-300
Our second entry in the class, the smaller engined X-300 is a bike that carves its own corner out of the adventure market.
Stats
Horsepower: 39.3bhp @10000rpm
Engine Displacement: 296cc parallel twin
Price: £5149
A perfect entry point into the world of any-road touring, this bike is lightweight and easy to manage for riders of near any size and ability.
The bike will scream on motorways, but it will handle them, and you’ll reap the rewards when you get it to a green lane in the middle of the woods.
The Roundup
There you have it, 10 of the best bikes you can ride out of the dealership on your freshly minted A2 license.
In this list, you have all the tools a new rider could need.
6 or 7 years ago, it might have been worth waiting out the extra couple of years to get your DAS, but the saturation of the market with so many amazing bikes has made the A2 a much more attractive option.