An A2 motorbike licence opens a new world of possibilities in terms of bikes you can ride.
Forget about the pros and cons of a 125cc; you can now hop on any saddle as long as the engine below it doesn’t exceed 47bhp (35kW).
The good news is that you can pick from a much wider range of bikes, including some amazing sports bikes.
The models below are a mix of bikes designed to meet the A2 restricted criteria, bikes that meet A2 and don’t need restricting and bikes that were conceived well before the A2 licence but are a great fit
From the fastest A2 motorcycles to characterful sportsbikes we’ve got a good mix for you to choose from.
Honda CBR500R
Honda CBR500R Key Specs
- Engine: 4-stroke parallel twin
- Max power output: 47bhp (35kW)
- Displacement: 471cc
- Gearbox: 6-speed
- Seat height: 785mm
- Weight: 192kg
The CBR500R from Honda is perfect for the adrenaline-fueled rider who wants to explore more than just the daily commute.
With a Fireblade inspired look and a punchy but not ballistic parallel-twin engine, the CBR serves up the speed you were dreaming of since you first hopped on an A1 bike.
The steel frame and decent suspension offer great feel and feedback even at maximum lean angles.
Good handling and big bike feel make it a solid all-rounder ideal for novice as well as experienced riders.
Kawasaki Ninja 400
Kawasaki Ninja 400 Key Specs
- Engine: 4-stroke DOHC
- Max power output: 33kW
- Displacement: 399cc
- Gearbox: 6-speed
- Seat height: 785mm
- Weight: 164kg
Offering renowned Japanese reliability, Kawasaki’s Ninja 400 is another A2-friendly pocket sportsbike.
One of the lightest A2 sportsbikes out there, it’s also surprisingly comfortable thanks to its relatively low seat. It’s an excellent choice for the weekend warrior who wants to get out there and find the best twisty roads.
Perfect for novices, it’s lightweight and easy to manage at low speed, great for navigating through urban congestion with ease. If you find it too expensive but like its look, the older Ninja 300 could also be a great alternative.
Yamaha YZF-R3
Yamaha YZF-R3 Key Specs
- Engine: Liquid cooled 4-stroke twin cylinder
- Max power output: 30.9kW
- Displacement: 321cc
- Gearbox: 6-speed
- Seat height: 780mm
- Weight: 167kg
Yamaha’s response to the KTM RC 390 and the Ninja is the YZF R3, a budget-friendly sportsbike with a trim, MotoGP inspired look.
The newest model boasts a range of features that make it an exciting bike for most A2 licence holders.
Built with racing in mind, YZF R3 also brings unrivalled riding comfort with its enhanced suspension, revised handlebar position, and lower fuel tank.
Its engine gives away a few cubes when compared to the KTM and Kawasaki but it’s a great choice for rookies.
KTM RC390
KTM RC390 Key Specs
- Engine: Liquid cooled 4-stroke 1 cylinder
- Max power output: 32kW
- Displacement: 373.2cc
- Gearbox: 6-speed
- Seat height: 820mm
- Weight: 147kg
From country roads to racetracks, KTM RC 390 delivers agile, fast, and smooth riding; a sportsbike in its purest form suitable for A2 as well as full licence riders. Short riders looking for a lightweight sportsbike with a low seat height should give the RC390 serious consideration.
An minimal design approach ditches all unnecessary weight, enhancing speed and torque to help you get the best out of its 373cc engine. Precise handling, decent performance and punchy power from its single-cylinder engine, finished off with superb looks that will make heads turn.
Suzuki GSX250R
Suzuki GSX250R Key Specs
- Engine: Liquid cooled 4-stroke twin cylinder
- Max power output: 18.4kW
- Displacement: 248cc
- Gearbox: 6-speed
- Seat height: 790mm
- Weight: 182kg
A2-friendly but with big bike feel but that’s mainly down to its big-bike weight. It’s not the lightest in class.
The eagle-eyed among you will notice that it’s a GSX250R and not a GSX-R250. Perhaps Suzuki were modest enough to know that this sportsbike-pretender doesn’t quite warrant the iconic GSX-R badge.
While it’s not a ‘proper’ sportsbike, the 250 shares the same aggressive looks and style as it bigger-capacity cousins. However, it is £1000 cheaper than its main rivals.
The GSX is comfortable and enjoyable to ride on twisty roads. While not an extreme sportsbike; it has one of the best paintjobs of any A2 sportsbike and what it lacks in power it makes up for in accessible usability.
The Best A2 Sportsbike for You
Whether you’re looking for a better way to get to work or for a way to improve your open-road riding skills before obtaining your full licence, an A2-friendly sportsbike offers a great mix of speed, style and comfort. The only one who can decide which is the best, though, it’s you.
Luckily, the market offers a huge range of choices. Brand new A2 sportsbikes are available with single-cylinder engines and punchy twins. There are also a lot of older singles and twins on the market.
If you want a smoother four-cylinder A2 bike you’ll need to look at models that are a quite a few years old. For example, Honda’s CBR600F or RVF400 (pictured above) or Kawasaki’s ZXR400.
For some bikers these 400s are the last of the genuine pocket-rocket sportsbikes, due to their high power output, high rev ceilings, quality specification and mini superbike looks. They genuinely were an almost exact replica of their bigger brothers but with a lower capacity engine. Modern A2 sportsbikes might look like their bigger siblings but they tend to have a far lower spec, simpler engine and a completely different chassis.
The 1-minute insurance estimate
Do you know roughly what you’ll need to budget to insure your A2 sportsbike?
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Questions or Comments?
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