Every budding gearhead enters the world of motorcycles by looking at powerful, liter-class behemoths that flirt with 200 mph on the speedometer without breaking a sweat. However, those powerful bikes are never the right choice for beginners. Motorcyclists who are just beginning, looking to buy their first pair of wheels, should always go for more beginner-friendly, as well as budget-friendly choices.

UPDATE: 2023/11/04 18:08 EST BY SAMARVEER SINGH

In 2023, the motorcycle market has more options than ever before. In fact, bikes in the 300-400cc segment have only become more powerful, stylish, and refined. We have updated with the latest and coolest adrenaline-pumping options of the entry-level pocket rockets that can put a wide grin on your face.

Call it testing the waters, where you can dip your toe in the pond of motorcycles that can go pretty fast for a beginner without risking going completely out of control. Today, the market has some fantastic options to choose from in the beginner 300-400cc category, from Chinese makers like CFMoto offering entry-level speedsters, Japanese titans like Kawasaki and Yamaha vying for the bigger market share and even the German jumping into the fray with BMW's great bikes. That said, every gearhead still wants to go fast, and in that vein, here are the fastest 300-400cc motorcycles available on the market today.

We have compiled a list of the fastest 300-400cc motorcycles using information and data from the motorcycles' official product pages. All the bikes you will see are available to purchase brand-new from dealerships today.

12 CFMOTO 300SS

Top Speed: 87 MPH

When talking about entry-level sports bikes, value-for-money plays a huge role in the final decision a gearhead takes. As such, the Chinese sports motorcycle CFMoto 300SS offers fantastic power and agility for the price it asks. CFMoto has definitely left no stone unturned in styling the 300SS sports bike aggressively.

We're also fans of the 5-inch TFT display, among the other features this beginner sports bike brings to the table. With a wet weight of less than 370 lbs, beginners would certainly find the CFMoto 300SS quite nimble and easy to master, which goes to show that the manufacturer knows the target audience.

2024 CFMoto 300SS Engine Specs And Pricing

11 BMW G 310 GS

Top Speed: 88 MPH

Even with motorcycles, BMW continues to dominate the rest of its competition. Bikes like the S1000RR are perfect instances of their superiority over the rest. However, those are also the fastest and priciest ones. If you want the same quality but with less implicit danger, consider a BMW G310GS.

The BMW G 310 GS is made in India, and while it doesn't enjoy a lot of popularity in the United States, it remains a fantastic beginner bike that is hard not to recommend. This remarkable single-cylinder engine also arms BMW's naked motorcycle, the G310R, which you can go for if you don't like the GS' more adventurous approach to its styling. The BMW G 310 GS's 0 to 60 mph time is 6.6 seconds, while the G 310 R might get there a fraction of a second faster.

2024 BMW G 310 GS Engine Specs And Pricing

10 Honda Rebel 300

Top Speed: 90 MPH

Surprised to see a cruiser motorcycle among the rest of the sports bikes? Well, with its respectable top speed of 90 mph, Honda's Rebel 300 motorcycle is far from a slowpoke. The smallest of the Japanese brand's Rebel lineup, the Rebel 300 is wonderfully styled, and we can't ever look at it enough.

Pair that with Honda's fantastic reliability and remarkably comfortable ride quality, and any gearheads who don't want aggressively styled sports bikes have a great option that won't compromise on speed. The Honda Rebel 300 cruiser is also one of the best Japanese cruiser bikes you could go with, proving that newbies don't always have to spend an arm and a leg for an entry-level Harley.

2024 Honda Rebel Engine Specs And Pricing

9 Honda CB300R

Top Speed: 97 MPH

The Honda CB300R naked bike is tinier than the average motorcycle, sure, but it does have a price tag to match. The CB300R has cemented a reputation of being one of the easiest bikes to ride for newbies. Its smaller size and lighter curb weight make it a delight to throw around corners on the track, while in the urban environment, the CB300R is a breeze to handle and park.

Not only is it a great track toy for the weekends, but this Honda motorcycle is just as comfortable on the road if you want to use it as your daily vehicle. Plus, with a near-100 mph top speed, the last thing the Honda CB300R will feel is underpowered. The Honda CB300R's 0 to 60 mph time of 6.6 seconds is nothing worth writing home about, but it will never feel too slow.

2024 Honda CB300R Engine Specs And Pricing

8 Honda CBR300R

Top Speed: 98 MPH

If you want all the features, reliability, speed, and refinement of the Honda CB300R but with an enhanced road presence that makes you a head-turner on the roads, the Honda CBR300R is the bike for you. Plus, it's a bit faster, too, thanks to the sporty fairing and more committed riding position.

A brand-new Honda CBR300R can reach up to 98-99 mph on the speedometer, and the Honda CBR300R 0 to 60 mph is 6.4 seconds. Digital gauges, disk brakes, and ABS as standard all make the Honda CBR300R a fantastic purchase if you're on the lookout for a fun beginner sports bike that can do no wrong. Plus, Honda claims that the Honda CBR300R fuel economy is a whopping 71 MPG, which makes it a remarkable daily, too!

2023 Honda CBR300R Engine Specs And Pricing

7 Kawasaki Versys-X 300

Top Speed: 100 MPH

This one is a bit different from the rest that we've had on here so far. Instead of being purely a street bike, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is a dual-sport, able to go off-road just as well as on-road. Dual-sport motorcycles are enjoying more popularity than ever before, and among them, the Versys-X 300 proves to be the king of the hill in the beginner segment. The Versys-X also has a 250cc variant, but that isn't available for American customers just yet.

Because the Versys-X is designed like a lightweight dirt bike instead of a normal sports bike, 300cc will get you much further than it will on a heavier 300cc cruiser. It's also one of the few twin-cylinder engines in this segment, bringing a refinement to its ride that is difficult to find in many other motorcycles. From what we could gather on online forums, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 takes about 6–7 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

2024 Kawasaki Versys-X 300 Engine Specs And Pricing

6 KTM 390 Duke

Top Speed: 104 MPH

We haven't been able to bottle our excitement about the 2024 KTM 390 Duke. An all-new bike, the 390 Duke now has a bigger engine with more power arming it. KTM has always extracted the most out of the Duke's single-cylinder motor, and it only seems to be getting better for the 2024 model year. But for this comparison, we will pitch the last-gen 2023 Duke 390's specs.

Both the Duke 390 and its faired sibling, the RC 390, make this list because they are still in the 300cc category. Of course, it comes as no surprise that they are some of the fastest 300cc bikes on the market today, as they have been for quite a few years now. The KTM Duke 390 0 to 60 mph is 4.19 seconds, according to MotoStatz. While we await pricing details for the 2024 390 Duke, beginners could always get the 2023 Duke 390, which retails at $5,899 and boasts a 103-mph top speed.

2023 KTM 390 Duke Engine Specs And Pricing

5 Yamaha MT-03

Top Speed: 108 MPH

Naked bikes shouldn't be slept on, especially from Yamaha. Yamaha's YZF series isn't the only lineup that deserves praise, as the MT series presents those fantastic engines in a more composed and friendly manner. The Yamaha MT-03 is the smallest of Yamaha's naked motorcycles and what the brand calls a 'hyper-naked motorcycle'.

We've praised the Yamaha MT-03 for its impeccable handling, and there's plenty of power in the motor between its two wheels. This 370-pound naked motorcycle, with its accessible price tag and even friendlier riding characteristics, is quite hard to pass on if you're in the market and considering making your purchase. The Yamaha MT-03 0 to 60 mph speed is 5.11 seconds, and it's inarguably one of the best motorcycles to buy under $5,000.

2023 Yamaha MT-03 Engine Specs And Pricing

4 Yamaha YZF-R3

Top Speed: 112 MPH

How could the Yamaha YZF-R3 not have been on this list? The R3, for many years now, has been almost synonymous with entry-level twin-cylinder sports bikes, and for good reason. Yamaha's motorcycles aren't just the most reliable, according to a Consumer Reports motorcycle reliability survey, but they are certainly some of the most stylish and desirable as well.

The R3 extracts as much R1 DNA into itself as it can, with aggressive looks, a great-revving twin-cylinder motor, and near-perfect track handling. In fact, when it comes to track days and racing in the 300cc segment, nothing comes remotely close to beating the Yamaha R3, especially when tinkering with the engines is fair game. MotoStatz puts the 2023 Yamaha YZF-R3 0 to 60 at 5.11 seconds.

2023 Yamaha YZF-R3 Engine, Performance, and Pricing

3 KTM RC 390

Top Speed: 112 MPH

It's impossible to know even the first thing about sports motorcycles without hearing about the KTM RC 390. Renowned worldwide for its fantastic single-cylinder motor jetting out nearly 400cc and being one of the best entry-level sports bikes ever made, the KTM RC 390 can never be praised enough.

The RC390 has its own racing cup, too, which shows just how popular, remarkable, and well-made this race bike is. While it couldn't possibly match up to 600cc bikes on the interstate, the RC 390 remains composed and confident as it takes on those bikes on the track in the corners, thanks to KTM's excellent ergonomics and ride quality. If you're wondering, the KTM RC 390 shoots from 0 to 60 mph in 4.24 seconds. There's even a 2024 model RC 390 in the works, and we truly can't wait to see it.

2023 KTM RC 390 Engine Specs And Pricing

2 Kawasaki Z400

Top Speed: 112 MPH

Yes, we know. Before you get the pitchforks out, we'll admit that this one isn't a 300cc bike. However, the Kawasaki Z400 deserves a mention here, considering just how important an option it is in the beginner segment.

The Z400 isn't the humblest bike in Kawasaki's naked Z lineup, but it most certainly is where the power begins. Sure, you could always opt for the Z125 PRO, but that's not a bike worth writing home about, especially when we're talking about powerful beginner motorcycles.

2023 Kawasaki Z400 Engine Specs And Pricing

1 Kawasaki Ninja 400

Top Speed: 116 MPH

Again, yes, we know. But in the same vein as the Z400, the popular Kawasaki Ninja 400 had to get an honorable mention on this list. The high-revving parallel-twin motorcycle, which replaced the much-renowned Ninja 300, is every bit as impressive as its predecessor, if not more.

HotCars contributor Michael Van Runkle reviewed the Kawasaki Ninja 400 last year and had nothing but praises for the entry-level motorcycle.

It comes as no surprise that the Ninja 400 is also the fastest in this 300-400cc segment, with a 112 mph top speed. In terms of acceleration, the Kawasaki Ninja 400 0-60 mph is 4.14 seconds. While you could get the non-ABS model for $5,299, we'd recommend that any beginners spend the extra $400 to get the Ninja 400 ABS model.

Kawasaki Ninja 400 Engine Specs And Pricing

Sources for top speed figures and 0-60 mph timings: Acceleration Times, Zero To 60 Times, and MotoStatz