Best Honda Motorcycles for New Riders on an A2 Licence

The Best Honda Motorcycles for New Riders on an A2 Licence in 2026

An A2 licence opens the door to a genuinely capable motorcycle, not a watered-down learner bike, and Honda has more strong options in this class than any other manufacturer on sale in the UK. All five bikes below share the same 471cc parallel twin engine, so the choice is not really about performance. It comes down to riding position, style, and what you actually want to do on two wheels.

Every bike here is available new at Blade Honda in Abingdon and Stratford-upon-Avon, priced between £5,699 and £6,899 on the road, with PCP and HP finance available and test rides bookable by appointment.

A2 Licence Rules: What You Can Actually Ride

The A2 licence is available from age 19 and covers motorcycles producing no more than 35kW (47bhp), with a power-to-weight ratio capped at 0.2kW per kilogram. If a bike is restricted down to meet that limit, the unrestricted version cannot produce more than double the restricted output, so the most powerful donor bike allowed is 70kW (roughly 94bhp).

The five Honda models below are all naturally within the A2 limit rather than artificially restricted, which means there is no de-restriction kit to fit and nothing to remember to do differently once you upgrade to a full licence. Every one of them comfortably clears the power-to-weight requirement too, with figures between 0.178kW/kg and 0.186kW/kg against a 0.2kW/kg ceiling.

Honda also sells A2-compatible versions of larger bikes such as the CB750 Hornet, which is ECU-restricted to 35kW and can be switched back to full power by an authorised dealer once you pass your direct access test. We've covered that route in a separate CB750 Hornet review, worth a look if you'd rather buy one bike for both licences.

At a Glance: The Five Bikes Compared

All five share the same 471cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin producing 34–35kW (45.6–46.9bhp). Prices are on-the-road at Blade Honda, correct at time of writing and subject to change — please confirm current pricing and offers with your local showroom before ordering.

Honda CL500: The One That Looks Best Doing Nothing

The CL500 borrows its silhouette from Honda's off-road racing history: a round LED headlight, a high-level twin-exit exhaust with a drilled heat shield, rubber fork gaiters and a slim, blacked-out mid-section. It is the cheapest bike in this list at £5,699, and the styling does more work for the money than anything else here.

It is not just a styling exercise, either. Longer-travel suspension, deep-grooved dual-purpose tyres and a 155mm ground clearance mean it will happily deal with a gravel car park or a rutted farm track, while a 790mm seat height and slim waist keep it manageable at a standstill. New seat foam and repositioned footpegs on the current model have improved all-day comfort over earlier versions.

The CL500 suits riders who want a bike with genuine character rather than one that blends into a car park full of naked commuters, and who like the idea of the occasional green lane or gravel track without needing a full-blown adventure bike to do it.

Key Specifications

Honda CMX500 Rebel: The Confidence Bike

At 690mm, the CMX500 Rebel has the lowest seat height of any A2-compliant bike Honda sells, and that single figure does more for new-rider confidence than any spec sheet number. Combined with a low-slung tubular steel frame and a kerb weight identical to the CL500, it is the easiest bike on this list to paddle around a car park, hold steady at a junction, or simply feel secure on from the first ride.

None of that comes at the cost of character. The 471cc twin is tuned for torque low in the rev range rather than an urgent top end, so the Rebel pulls cleanly from low revs with a pleasant, unhurried exhaust note. An assist/slipper clutch lightens the lever and smooths downshifts, and the fat tyres and bobber stance give it genuine road presence for a bike at this price point.

The CMX500 Rebel suits shorter riders and anyone who has felt intimidated by seat height on other bikes, as well as riders who want a relaxed, laid-back riding style over outright cornering agility.

Key Specifications

Honda CB500 Hornet: The Best All-Rounder

The CB500 Hornet takes the Hornet family's aggressive styling and drops it onto the proven 471cc platform, and for most new riders it is the strongest all-round choice here. It is the only bike in this list with a 5-inch full-colour TFT dash and Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity, plus Honda Selectable Torque Control to manage rear-wheel grip in the wet.

Showa 41mm SFF-BP upside-down forks and dual 296mm front discs with radial-mount Nissin calipers are shared with the CBR500R below, giving the Hornet sportsbike-level stopping power and front-end feel in a naked package. At 188kg it is also the lightest bike on this list, which shows up in how quickly it changes direction and how unintimidating it feels the first time you ride it in traffic.

The CB500 Hornet suits riders who want one bike that can comfortably do the daily commute, a weekend blast on B-roads and everything in between, without leaning too far towards any single use case.

Key Specifications

Engine power and torque figures for the CB500 Hornet cross-checked against Honda's published data via Torquepedia, as the Blade product page did not list a separate engine spec table at time of writing. All other figures taken directly from the live Blade product page.

Honda CBR500R: The One With a Fairing

The CBR500R borrows its styling directly from the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, right down to the aerodynamic winglets on the fairing, and it is the only fully-faired bike in this list. Underneath the bodywork it shares the same 471cc twin, TFT dash and Showa suspension as the CB500 Hornet, but the riding position is more committed, with a slight forward lean towards clip-on style bars.

ECU settings are tuned specifically for the CBR, with ignition timing optimised for stronger drive through the low and mid-range rather than an all-out top-end rush, so it stays approachable despite the sportsbike looks. Honda Selectable Torque Control carries over from the Hornet, and the dual 320mm front discs are the largest of any bike in this comparison.

The CBR500R suits riders who have their eye on a sportsbike further down the line and want to start learning that riding position now, or who simply prefer the sense of occasion a full fairing brings over a naked bike.

Key Specifications

Honda NX500: The One That Goes Further

The NX500 is the adventure-styled option in the range, built around a taller, longer-travel chassis and a 17.7-litre fuel tank, the largest of any bike here. A tall screen and purposeful fairing genuinely cut wind blast on a motorway run, which matters if you plan to cover real distance rather than stick to short local rides.

It shares its underpinnings with the CB500 Hornet and CBR500R, including the TFT dash, RoadSync connectivity and Honda Selectable Torque Control, which can be switched off entirely if you take it onto gravel or a green lane. A 19-inch front wheel and dual-purpose tyres give it a genuine off-road-capable stance rather than a purely cosmetic one, and at 830mm it has the tallest seat height in this list.

The NX500 suits taller riders who want a commanding, upright riding position, and anyone planning longer trips or occasional light off-road use who would rather have the fuel range and wind protection than the sharper handling of the naked or sports options above.

Key Specifications

Which One Should You Choose?

All five run the same well-proven 471cc twin, so reliability and running costs are broadly similar across the range. The decision really comes down to riding position and intended use: the CL500 for scrambler styling and gravel-track versatility, the CMX500 Rebel for the lowest seat height and most relaxed riding position, the CB500 Hornet for the best all-round spec and lightest weight, the CBR500R for full sportsbike styling and the largest front brake, and the NX500 for the longest range and tallest, most commanding riding position.

Whichever one you're leaning towards, a test ride will tell you more in twenty minutes than any spec sheet. Book one at Abingdon or Stratford-upon-Avon using the links above, or get in touch and our Honda-trained team can talk you through finance options and current offers on any bike in the range.

Honda A2 Motorcycles, Frequently Asked Questions

What is the power limit for an A2 motorcycle licence?

A2-compliant motorcycles must produce no more than 35kW (47bhp), with a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.2kW per kilogram. The A2 licence is available from age 19, and a rider must hold it for a minimum of two years before taking a direct access test for a full, unrestricted licence.

Do any of these Honda models need to be restricted to meet the A2 limit?

No. All five bikes covered here, the CL500, CMX500 Rebel, CB500 Hornet, CBR500R and NX500 are naturally within the A2 power limit rather than being ECU-restricted versions of a more powerful bike. There is nothing to convert or de-restrict later on.

Which of these Honda models has the lowest seat height?

The CMX500 Rebel, at 690mm, has the lowest seat height in the range by some margin. The CL500 and CB500 Hornet sit in the high 700s, the CBR500R is similar, and the NX500 is the tallest at 830mm.

What happens when I upgrade from an A2 to a full licence?

Nothing changes on any of these five bikes, since none of them are artificially restricted,  you simply carry on riding the same motorcycle. If you'd prefer a bike that can grow with you in a different way, Honda's CB750 Hornet is ECU-restricted to A2 power and can be switched back to full output by an authorised dealer once you hold a full licence, which is worth considering if you'd rather not think about changing bikes at all.

Is finance available on these Honda A2 motorcycles?

Yes. PCP and HP finance are available across the range, subject to status, and current representative offers can be found on each model's page or by contacting your local Blade Honda showroom directly.

Find Your Nearest Honda Motorcycle Dealer

Blade Honda Abingdon
9c Nuffield Way, Abingdon OX14 1RL — 01235 550055

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Blade Honda Stratford upon Avon
Unit 9b Avenue Farm Industrial Estate, Birmingham Road, Stratford Upon Avon CV37 0HR — 01789 208960

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Figures correct at time of writing and subject to change — please confirm current prices, offers and stock availability with your local Blade Honda dealership before ordering.