Best A2 Bikes in the UK for 2026
Britain registered 795 new Triumph Speed 400s in 2025, more than any other bike in this guide, and every one of them leaves part of the licence unused. An A2 licence allows 35kW. The Speed 400 makes 29.4kW, which is 84% of what the law lets you ride.
That gap is easy to close if you're willing to pay for it. Royal Enfield's Bear 650 makes 34.9kW, right up against the limit, and costs £1,554 more on the road. Two of the bikes here make the full 35kW, and the cheapest new A2 bike in this guide starts at £4,995.
Power isn't the only thing you pay for, though. The Bear 650 wants a service every 3,000 miles or six months, while the Speed 400 goes 10,000 miles between visits, and over a few years of ownership that difference costs more than the extra kilowatts are worth to most riders. The ranking below weighs both.
Every bike here is A2-legal as it leaves the showroom, with no restrictor kit to fit or remove. If you'd rather restrict something bigger, such as a Yamaha MT-07 or a Triumph Trident 660, our beginner guide covers that route.
What motorbike can I ride with an A2?
An A2 licence covers any motorcycle up to 35kW with a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2kW per kg. If a bike has been restricted to get under that limit, its full-power version can't make more than twice what the restricted bike does. You can take it from 19 by passing the theory and practical tests, or after holding an A1 licence for two years and passing a further practical test.
Engine size doesn't come into it. The Bear 650 has a 648cc twin and is legal as sold, because its output sits under 35kW. That's why the bikes here run from the MT-03's 321cc twin to the Bear 650's 648cc twin, and why the cc figure on a spec sheet tells you very little about which one to buy. Adventure-styled A2 bikes such as the CFMoto 450MT and Honda NX500 already have their place in the adventure bikes we rate, so they aren't repeated here.
The order here weighs three things together: how much of the 35kW each bike gives you, what it asks of you once it's yours, meaning how often it needs a service and how long the warranty runs, and what it costs. Where DVSA's MOT records cover a bike's model line, they count too.
The best A2 bikes, 8 to 5
8. Royal Enfield Bear 650: almost the whole allowance, and the most upkeep
The Bear 650 gets as close to the A2 limit as anything here without touching it, and Royal Enfield's £6,799 price includes road tax and first registration. You get a 648cc twin with a relaxed, low-down delivery and a light clutch, a 3-year unlimited-mileage warranty, and a Showa upside-down fork on spoked wheels. Britain registered 513 Bear 650s in 2025, so it isn't a rare machine and dealers see plenty of them.
It sits last because of what it asks for afterwards. A service every 3,000 miles or six months is the shortest gap in this guide by a distance, which on a typical year's riding means two dealer visits. At 214kg with 90% fuel, the Bear 650 is the heaviest bike here, and that weight shows at walking pace. The brakes are soft for the mass they're stopping, and the spoked wheels run tubed tyres, which makes a roadside puncture repair harder.
Buy it if you want a 650 twin on an A2 licence and you're happy for the dealer to see you twice a year.
7. Yamaha MT-03: the best MOT record, at a high price for its power
The MT-03 has the strongest reliability record of any bike here. The Yamaha MT-03 model line passed 91.5% of its MOT tests from 2022 to 2025 in DVSA data, across 1,288 tests, against 85.3% for every motorcycle between 300cc and 700cc. Yamaha now backs it with a 3-year warranty, and services fall every 10,000km, or 6,200 miles.
The problem is the price against the power. Yamaha's £6,302 list price makes it one of the dearest bikes in this guide, and its 321cc twin makes 30.9kW, 88% of what the licence allows. Dealers are selling 2025 and 2026 stock at about £310 under list, which helps, but the Guerrilla 450, next up, costs less again for similar power. The engine is smooth and flexible rather than peaky and sits comfortably at motorway speeds, though it gives away pace to the 35kW twins. It's agile in traffic and steady at speed, with firm, well-controlled suspension. At 167kg wet with a 780mm seat, the MT-03 is one of the easiest bikes here to manage, and ABS is its only rider aid.
We've covered it in more depth in our full MT-03 review.
6. Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: the cheapest way in
Nothing here costs less. Royal Enfield lists the Guerrilla 450 from £4,995, and two dealers advertise it at £5,045 to £5,050 on the road. That buys a 3-year unlimited-mileage warranty with roadside assistance for the same three years, which is better cover than several bikes costing £1,000 more. Britain registered 591 Guerrilla 450s in 2025, the second-highest figure in this guide, so used examples and dealer support are easy to find.
Its 452cc single makes 29.4kW, the same 84% of the A2 allowance as the Speed 400. It pulls strongly from around 3,000rpm but is lumpy below 2,000rpm and fades before the redline, and vibration builds at motorway speeds. The handling is easy and forgiving, with a soft seat that stays comfortable through a long day, while the brakes are modest. At 184kg with 90% fuel it's 14kg heavier than the Triumph that otherwise matches its power. Services come at roughly 6,200 miles once the first one at 280 miles is done, and the 2026 Apex version adds lower, more forward bars and road-biased tyres for a sportier stance.
There's more on how it rides in our Guerrilla 450 road test.
5. Aprilia RS 457: full power, least clear on costs
On paper the RS 457 is the strongest bike here. Its 457cc twin makes the full 35kW, Aprilia quotes a dry weight of 159kg, and it's one of two faired sports bikes in the guide, with three riding modes, three-level traction control and a colour TFT dash as standard. The engine pulls harder low down than a small sports bike usually does, and the riding position is roomier than the class suggests. The steering is light and it holds corner speed well.
The reason it sits fifth is that the ownership picture is the least clear of any bike here. Aprilia's £6,720 list price doesn't say whether on-the-road costs are included, while two dealers, both part of one dealer group, list it at £5,739 on the road, £981 under list. Aprilia offers a further two years of warranty at no cost on top of the standard two, but only if conditions it doesn't spell out are met, and the dealers selling it still describe two years. Aprilia UK's model page doesn't list a service schedule, so check that with the dealer before buying. The suspension is preload-only and the standard tyres lose feel when ridden hard.
Buy it if you want a sports bike and can get one of those dealer prices in writing, with the servicing costs alongside it.
The best A2 bikes, 4 to 1
4. Kawasaki Ninja 500: a light twin with very little extra
The Ninja 500 replaced the Ninja 400 in 2024 with a longer-stroke 451cc twin, and the change shows low down: it pulls much harder in the low and middle revs than the bike it replaced, though it doesn't enjoy being revved hard and buzzes a little around 6,000rpm in the low gears. Its 33.4kW is 95% of the A2 allowance. At 171kg kerb with a 785mm seat it's light and easy to handle, and services come every 7,500 miles after the first at 600, the third-longest gap here.
It sits below the KTM because of what the price leaves out. Kawasaki's £6,099 is quoted before on-the-road charges, and the standard warranty is two years; a current Kawasaki UK offer adds two more through authorised dealers, but that's a promotion rather than the standard cover. Rider aids stop at ABS and a slipper clutch, with no traction control or riding modes. The suspension is soft and basic and taller riders may find the legroom cramped, but the brakes have good feel. The SE costs £500 more and adds a colour TFT dash and keyless ignition.
3. KTM 390 Duke: the most equipment for the money
KTM's £5,699 list price includes registration, delivery, pre-delivery inspection and 12 months' road tax, which makes it an on-the-road figure, and KTM UK is showing £300 off at participating dealers, so £5,399 is the realistic figure. For that the 390 Duke carries cornering ABS, cornering traction control, three riding modes, launch control and adjustable suspension at both ends, more equipment than anything else in this guide. Since the 2025 model year KTM's warranty runs up to four years, renewing 12 months at a time as long as every service is done by an authorised KTM dealer.
KTM quotes 45PS, which is about 33.1kW and 95% of the A2 limit, from a 399cc single that's strong and eager without needing to be revved hard. The handling is sharp, with light steering and strong brakes. KTM UK quotes 165kg with fuel.
Two things hold it below the Speed 400. The 390 Duke's 820mm seat is taller than every other seat here bar the Bear 650's, and its riding position gets cramped for taller riders, with a firm seat after a couple of hours. And services come every 10,000km, or 6,200 miles, against the Triumph's 10,000 miles, so over the life of a four-year warranty the KTM needs noticeably more dealer visits to keep that cover.
2. Triumph Speed 400: the easiest bike here to own
Triumph's £5,245 price is a true on-the-road figure, and it includes something no other price here does: the labour for the first service at 500 miles, when the supplying dealer does it. Two years of breakdown cover come with it too. After that it goes 10,000 miles or 12 months between services, the longest gap in this guide. Britain registered 795 Speed 400s in 2025, nearly four times as many as the CB500 Hornet, which means the deepest used market, the most dealer experience and the easiest resale of any bike here.
The 398cc single makes 29.4kW and picks up sharply around 6,000rpm before an abrupt limiter. Short gearing makes it lively in town but leaves it buzzing at 70 to 75mph, though there's enough left to overtake without changing down. The suspension is very good at both ends, the front brake bites hard with plenty of feel, and the handling is sportier than the price suggests. At 170kg wet with a 790mm seat it's easy to live with, and build quality looks well above its price.
It isn't first because it gives up a sixth of the licence. The winner makes 5.6kW more, and on fast roads and motorways that gap is the one you'll notice.
1. Honda CB500 Hornet: the whole licence, with the fewest compromises
The CB500 Hornet makes the full 35kW from its 471cc twin, which only the Aprilia matches, and it backs that up better than anything else here. Honda's £6,399 is an on-the-road price for the E-Clutch version, which can handle the clutch for you at pull-aways, stops and gear changes while still letting you use the lever. Two dealers list the manual-clutch bike at £6,299 on the road.
What lifts it above the Speed 400 is that it pairs that power with ownership numbers close to the Triumph's. Services come every 8,000 miles or 12 months. The standard warranty is two years, but Honda renews it a year at a time up to six years in total, provided every service is done by an authorised Honda dealer, with no mileage limit. The Hornet is the CB500F renamed and updated on the same engine, so it already has an MOT record. The Honda CB500F model line passed 89.7% of its MOT tests from 2022 to 2025 in DVSA data, across 436 tests. That compares with 85.3% for every motorcycle between 300cc and 700cc.
The engine is keener than the old CB500F's and pulls well towards the redline. It steers quickly, the twin front discs are strong if hard to modulate, and it's comfortable for a full day, although weather protection is poor and the suspension gets unsettled on fast, undulating roads. At 191kg kerb it's 21kg heavier than the Speed 400. That weight is the trade for the extra 5.6kW, the longer warranty route and the MOT record, and at £1,154 more than the Speed 400 it's a trade worth making.
Honourable mention
The Honda Rebel 500 has the lowest seat of any A2 bike we looked at, at 690mm, and makes 34.0kW from the same 471cc engine as the Hornet. Honda UK lists 2025 stock from £5,799. It misses the ranking because Honda UK already lists a 2027 E-Clutch version without a price, so the bikes in showrooms now are 2025 stock with a replacement on the way.
Which A2 bike suits which rider?
| Bike | Suits | Pick it for | Think twice if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB500 Hornet | The rider who wants every kilowatt the licence allows | 35kW, 8,000-mile services, warranty to six years | You want the lightest bike here |
| Triumph Speed 400 | The rider who wants the lowest running demands | 10,000-mile services, first service labour included | You'll spend long stretches at 70mph |
| KTM 390 Duke | The rider who wants the most equipment | Cornering ABS, launch control, warranty to four years | You're tall or ride for hours at a time |
| Kawasaki Ninja 500 | The rider who wants a light, faired twin | 171kg, 785mm seat, 7,500-mile services | You want traction control or riding modes |
| Aprilia RS 457 | The rider who wants a sports bike | 35kW and a 159kg dry weight | You want the servicing costs pinned down first |
| Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 | The rider on the tightest budget | From £4,995 with a 3-year warranty | You ride a lot of motorway miles |
| Yamaha MT-03 | The rider who values a proven record | The best MOT record here, 780mm seat | You want the most power for the money |
| Royal Enfield Bear 650 | The rider who wants a 650 twin | 34.9kW from 648cc | You'd rather not book a service every six months |
Picked your bike? Enter its registration below to see what we stock that fits it.
Find the parts that fit your bike
Reg is the fastest way to match your bike.
A2 bike specs compared
| Bike | Price | Top speed | Power | Weight | Seat height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CB500 Hornet | £6,399 OTR | 109mph (claimed) | 35kW | 191kg (kerb) | 785mm |
| Triumph Speed 400 | £5,245 OTR | Not published | 29.4kW | 170kg (wet) | 790mm |
| KTM 390 Duke | £5,699 OTR | 105mph (estimate) | 33.1kW | 165kg (fuelled) | 820mm |
| Kawasaki Ninja 500 | £6,099 plus OTR | Not published | 33.4kW | 171kg (kerb) | 785mm |
| Aprilia RS 457 | £6,720 RRP | 118mph (estimate) | 35kW | 159kg (dry) | 800mm |
| Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 | £4,995 list | Not published | 29.4kW | 184kg (90% fuel) | 780mm |
| Yamaha MT-03 | £6,302 RRP | 105mph (estimate) | 30.9kW | 167kg (wet) | 780mm |
| Royal Enfield Bear 650 | £6,799 OTR | 110mph (estimate) | 34.9kW | 214kg (90% fuel) | 830mm |
The Hornet's top speed is Honda's own claim. The KTM, Aprilia, Yamaha and Bear 650 figures are estimates from published road-test specifications rather than timed runs or maker claims, and no figure is published for the Speed 400, Ninja 500 or Guerrilla 450.
Verdict
The Honda CB500 Hornet is the best A2 bike for most riders because it's the only one that gives you the full 35kW, a long service gap and a long route to warranty cover at the same time, with an MOT record that beats the class. It costs £1,154 more than the Triumph Speed 400, and the Speed 400 is easier to run, but the Hornet makes 5.6kW more for that money, and on an A2 licence that's the difference you'll feel every time you overtake.
If the budget stops at around £5,250, the Speed 400 is the one to buy.
Key takeaways
- Every bike here is A2-legal as sold, from £4,995 for the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 to £6,799 for the Bear 650.
- Only the Honda CB500 Hornet and the Aprilia RS 457 make the full 35kW the licence allows.
- Service gaps run from 3,000 miles on the Bear 650 to 10,000 miles on the Triumph Speed 400.
- The Yamaha MT-03 has the best MOT record here, at 91.5% against 85.3% for the class.
- The Speed 400 was Britain's most-registered bike in this guide in 2025, with 795 sold.
Common questions
The Aprilia RS 457 makes the full 35kW an A2 licence allows and has the highest top speed figure of the bikes in this guide, an estimated 118mph. Because the licence caps every bike at the same power, top speeds sit close together, and most manufacturers in this class don't publish one at all.
A 600cc bike is fine on an A2 licence as long as it makes no more than 35kW, stays within 0.2kW per kg, and, if restricted, came from a bike with no more than twice that power. The Royal Enfield Bear 650 has a 648cc engine and is A2-legal as sold, because it makes 34.9kW.
An A2 licence is the middle step of the UK motorcycle licence, letting riders from 19 ride bikes up to 35kW with no L-plates, a pillion allowed and motorway access. You get it by passing the theory and practical tests directly, or after two years on an A1 licence plus a further practical test.
The A2 motorcycle test costs £113.50 in GOV.UK fees on a weekday: £23 for the theory test, £15.50 for module 1 and £75 for module 2. Module 2 rises to £88.50 in the evening, at weekends and on bank holidays. Training is charged separately by the school.
An A1 licence covers bikes up to 125cc and 11kW and can be taken from 17, while an A2 licence covers bikes up to 35kW from 19. Holding an A1 for two years lets you move up to A2 with one further practical test.
Class 2A usually means the A2 licence category, and the Honda CB500 Hornet is the best A2 bike for most riders, with the full 35kW, services every 8,000 miles and a warranty Honda will extend to six years with dealer servicing. The Triumph Speed 400 is the best on a budget at £5,245 on the road, and the KTM 390 Duke carries the most equipment.
The Aprilia RS 457 is the best A2 sports bike for most riders, making the full 35kW with a 159kg dry weight and traction control as standard. The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is the alternative at £6,099 plus on-the-road charges, with a 785mm seat and 7,500-mile services but fewer rider aids.
What to do next
Get the on-the-road price in writing, because these bikes aren't all quoted on the same basis, and two dealers can be hundreds of pounds apart on the same bike. Ask what the first two services cost and when they fall, since on the Bear 650 they come round every six months. And if a longer warranty is part of the reason you're buying, check exactly which services the manufacturer needs to see to keep it, because on the Honda and the KTM that's what the extra years depend on.
Moto Planet picks
- Luggage and racks: top box racks, pannier racks and tank bag kits for the bikes in this guide.
- Crash protection: frame sliders, lever guards and radiator guards.
- Stands: paddock stands for the jobs between services, such as adjusting the chain.
About these figures
Prices are the manufacturers' UK list prices checked in October 2026, with prices from two or three dealers per bike where they differ. Each price carries its basis: OTR where the maker includes on-the-road costs, plus OTR where it doesn't, and RRP or list where the maker doesn't say. Power, weight and seat height are manufacturer figures, except the RS 457's seat height, which comes from a published road test, and the KTM's power, converted from its 45PS figure. MOT pass rates are DVSA MOT test data for normal tests from 2022 to 2025, pooled across each model line's generations, and registration figures are DVLA new registrations for 2025. Licence rules and test fees are from GOV.UK.