While we love our four-wheeled automobiles, we also love the two-wheeled variety. Motorcycles can be just as fun as any car, offering perhaps a more raw and unfiltered motoring experience. For a beginner, it’s easy to get carried away and jump onto something big and cool, but that isn’t the best way to go.

This list then goes through ten motorcycles that beginners best avoid. They are fast, powerful, and sometimes unhinged machines, whereas beginners should go for less powerful, easier-to-ride bikes so that they are less likely to fall off.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are heavy, making them difficult to ride. The mighty Sportser 883 Iron is an example: Ironically, it works well as a first Harley motorcycle but not for two-wheeled beginners.

The Sportster Iron 883 is a powerful bike with a 45-degree air-cooled pushrod V-twin that produces 51.2 horsepower and 50.2 lb-ft of torque. That might not sound like a lot, but Harley’s riding position and weight don’t make it the best beginner’s bike.

Yamaha YZF-R1M

Yamaha is one of the biggest and most famous motorcycle manufacturers in the world, with the YZF-R1M showcasing just how powerful they can make a bike. This superbike benefited from input from MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who first introduced it in 2015.

Its power comes from a 998 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine, producing 198 horsepower and 83 lb-ft of torque. It’s an incredibly potent bike most at home on the track, and it has some genuinely brilliant handling to back up that power.

Energica Ego+ RS

Electric motorcycles are starting to come thick and fast as manufacturers try to future-proof their lineup. Some new brands are also emerging, with Italian specialists Energica being one of those who are producing electric motorcycles.

Their most impressive bike is the Ego+ RS superbike. It can produce up to 171 horsepower and 159 lb-ft of torque and has a monumental 0-60 mph time of just 2.6 seconds. Top speed is limited to 150 mph, but even that shows just how wild electric motorcycles can be.

Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa

Few bikes can conjure up images of power and performance quite like the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa. An all-new version was launched in 2021, with a wealth of new electronics, such as its fancy new TFT dashboard and various other mod-cons.

However, the Hayabusa really stands out in terms of power. It packs 187.4 horsepower, an astronomical amount that beginners would certainly not be able to handle. The latest Hayabusa is a worthy successor to the original 1999 model, and it is still one of the best superbikes on the market.

BMW S 1000 RR

BMW has become just as well known for its motorcycle range as it has for cars such as the M3 and the M5. Sitting high up in its tree is the S 1000 RR, technically the company’s first sports bike and one that has been around for well over a decade.

Its power comes from a 999 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine, which produces a massive 205 horsepower and 83 lb-ft of torque. Off the starting line, the S 1000 RR is a rocket, and its weight of just 434 lbs means it can also hold its own in the corners.

Norton V4SV

British manufacturer Norton still has a significant role to play in the motorcycle world, and rightly so, as it is one of the most historic motorcycle manufacturers in automotive history. The British manufacturer recently re-engineered its V4SV to produce a new version that is fault-free and just as powerful as its predecessor.

Its frames have a mighty 185 horsepower engine, down slightly from the 200 horsepower of the old model. However, it handles better than the old model, has fewer faults, and even offers a level of luxury that some other superbikes lack.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R

Kawasaki is another Japanese manufacturer deeply involved in motorcycles. It bravely challenged the mighty Hayabusa with the Ninja ZX-14R, which has become one of the most powerful motorcycles on the market.

A 1,441 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine produces 208 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. It might look like a giant and weigh more than some at 593 lbs, but the ZX-14R is more than capable of taking on tight and twisty roads. Acceleration is impressive, too, with a 0-60 mph time of just 2.5 seconds.

Honda CBR 1000RR-R Fireblade SP

You could argue that Honda is the most iconic motorcycle manufacturer, becoming most famous throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, it has continuously evolved its products, and the current CBR 1000RR-R Fireblade SP also embraces some of the MotoGP technology from Honda’s works team.

The Fireblade SP’s power comes from a 999 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine. This engine makes 215 horsepower and 84 lb-ft of torque. The bike’s lightweight design helps it maximize its power-to-weight ratio. It also ensures the bike is excellent in corners and not just on the straights.

MV Agusta Rush

Italian brand MV Agusta is another motorcycle manufacturer steeped in history. Of all its modern releases, one that stands out is its 300-unit limited edition carbon-covered Rush. It is a concept bike based on the Brutale 1000, but it is so good that MV Agusta had to put it into production.

MV says the 998 cc inline-four engine can produce 212 horsepower and has an impressive top speed of 186 mph. It’s also one of the best-looking performance bikes on the market, looking every bit as mean and angry as its engine suggests.

Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory

Aprilia is one of the smaller Italian motorcycle manufacturers, at least compared to MotoGP world champion Ducati. However, the Noale-based manufacturer is more than capable of taking on its bigger rival, and in some cases, its superbikes are actually better.

The RSV4 1100 Factory is an astonishing superbike. It boasts a 1,099 cc liquid-cooled 65-degree V4 engine that makes 217 horsepower and 92 lb-ft of torque. The RSV4 1100 Factory also weighs just 445 lbs, making it superb on twisty roads and race tracks; just don’t throw a beginner onto it as their first bike!