Guides
What's a Good Beginner Cruiser Motorcycle in Canada?
Updated
A good beginner cruiser in Canada is one you can flat-foot at a stop, light enough to manage in a parking lot, with ABS and smooth power. Brand-new riders should take a recognized training course first, then start on the smallest bike they are comfortable on. For a bike to keep, common choices are mid-size twins: Honda Rebel 500, Kawasaki Eliminator 500, Benda Chinchilla 500 or Napoleonbob 500.
- Licensing is provincial. An Ontario M1 learner rides in daylight only and cannot carry passengers; in Quebec, a class 6B licence covers motorcycles of 400 cc or less, so a 475.6 cc cruiser needs class 6A.
- The Benda Chinchilla 500 and Napoleonbob 500 share a 475.6 cc liquid-cooled V-twin (35 kW), a 215 kg curb weight, belt final drive, a slipper clutch, and standard ABS and traction control; seat height is 705 mm and 695 mm.
- Benda’s own product pages describe the 500s as a step up from a smaller bike and place the LFC 700 Pro (63 kW) in experienced-rider territory, so none of Benda’s current motorcycles is aimed at someone who has never ridden.
A cruiser's low seat and relaxed riding position are why many new riders start their search there. But "beginner-friendly" is not a displacement number. It depends on how the bike fits you, how much it weighs, how the power arrives, and what your provincial licence lets you ride. This guide sorts those out, then says plainly which Benda motorcycles fit which kind of new rider, and which do not.
What Makes a Cruiser Beginner-Friendly
- You can flat-foot it. Being able to put both feet flat on the ground at a stop, on a cambered road or in gravel, matters more to a new rider than extra power. Seat height on a spec sheet is a starting point; sit on the actual bike.
- You can manage the weight. Weight shows up at low speed: stopping, turning in a parking lot, pushing the bike backwards out of a parking spot. A lighter bike is easier to hold up in those moments.
- The power is smooth. A twin tuned for midrange pull is easier to learn clutch and throttle control on than an engine that wants to be revved.
- It has ABS. Anti-lock brakes help keep the wheels from locking under hard braking, when a new rider is most likely to grab the lever. Confirm it is standard on the exact version you are offered.
- It matches your licence. Some provincial licence classes limit engine size, and learner stages limit when and how you can ride. Check this before you shop, not after.
Match the Bike to Where You Are as a Rider
The honest answer to "what's a good beginner cruiser" changes with how much riding you have done. Use the row that describes you.
| Where you are | What to look for | Where Benda fits |
|---|---|---|
| Never ridden a motorcycle | A recognized training course first. Then the smallest, lightest bike you are comfortable on, with a seat low enough to flat-foot. | No current Benda motorcycle is built for this stage. The smallest Benda cruiser on sale is 475.6 cc with a 215 kg curb weight. |
| Course done, newly licensed, buying a bike to keep | A mid-size twin with a low seat, ABS and smooth power. Examples: Honda Rebel 500 (471 cc parallel-twin), Kawasaki Eliminator 500 (451 cc parallel-twin). | Chinchilla 500 or Napoleonbob 500: 475.6 cc V-twin, 35 kW, ABS and traction control standard. Quebec class 6B holders cannot ride them (see below). |
| A few seasons in, wants more highway reserve | More power for passing and two-up riding; weight and power matter less than fit and comfort now. | LFC 700 Pro (676.9 cc inline-four, 63 kW) or Dark Flag 950 (948 cc V4, 80 kW). Neither is a first bike. |
Licensing: What Ontario and Quebec Require
Motorcycle licensing is set by each province, so the rules below apply only where stated. Riders in other provinces should check with their own licensing authority before choosing a bike.
| Ontario | Quebec | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 16 years old | 16 years old (with written consent from a parent or guardian if under 18) |
| Learner stage | M1, after an eye test and a written test on the rules of the road and traffic signs | Class 6R learner’s licence after the knowledge test; a driving course at a recognized school lasting at least 30 days; then a closed-track exam for the class 6A learner’s licence |
| Learner restrictions | Zero blood alcohol, approved helmet, daylight riding only, no roads with speed limits over 80 km/h except listed highways, no passengers | No riding between midnight and 5 a.m., no passengers, zero alcohol, no motorcycles on the SAAQ high-risk list |
| Next step | First road test after at least 60 days (M2); second road test after 22 months, or 18 months with a recognized Motorcycle Safety Course | Road test after holding the class 6A learner’s licence for at least 11 months, then a 24-month probationary licence |
| Engine-size limits | No displacement classes: the M licence (M1, M2) covers full-speed motorcycles | Class 6A: any motorcycle. Class 6B: 400 cc or less. Class 6C: 125 cc or less |
Two Quebec rules matter directly to cruiser shoppers. First, a class 6B licence covers motorcycles of 400 cc or less, so every Benda motorcycle currently on sale needs class 6A. Second, the SAAQ publishes a list of high-risk motorcycles that learners and riders who have held a class 6A, 6B or 6C licence for less than 24 months may not ride; check the model against the SAAQ high-risk motorcycle page before you buy. Sources: Ontario — Get a motorcycle licence, SAAQ — Obtaining a motorcycle licence (classes 6A, 6B and 6C).
Chinchilla 500 vs Napoleonbob 500 for a Newer Rider
The two Benda 500s share an engine and differ mainly in stance. Both are described on their own product pages as a reasonable step up for riders moving on from a smaller-displacement bike, not as a first-ever motorcycle.
| Chinchilla 500 | Napoleonbob 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Cruiser, wider stance, USD fork | Bobber with café-racer styling |
| Engine | 475.6 cc V-twin, liquid-cooled | 475.6 cc V-twin, liquid-cooled |
| Power / torque | 35 kW / 42 N·m | 35 kW / 42 N·m |
| Seat height | 705 mm | 695 mm |
| Curb weight | 215 kg | 215 kg |
| Rider aids | ABS, traction control, slipper clutch | ABS, traction control, slipper clutch |
| Final drive | Belt | Belt |
What they are not: the lightest bikes a brand-new rider could start on, and a Quebec class 6B option. Benda Canada is also newer than the Japanese brands and its authorized dealer coverage is narrower, so check the distance to the nearest authorized dealer before you decide.
Next Step
If the Chinchilla 500 or Napoleonbob 500 fits where you are as a rider, contact Benda Canada or find an authorized dealer. For a wider comparison across brands, see our mid-size cruiser comparison; for insurance, gear and winter storage, see the motorcycle buying guide for Canada.
Beginner cruiser questions
- Is a 500-class cruiser too big for a beginner?
- It depends on the rider and the bike, not the number alone. A mid-size twin with a low seat, ABS and smooth power suits many newly licensed riders; someone who has never ridden is better served by a training course and the smallest bike they are comfortable on. Benda’s own pages describe its 475.6 cc Chinchilla 500 and Napoleonbob 500 as a step up from a smaller bike.
- Can I ride a Benda Chinchilla 500 or Napoleonbob 500 on a Quebec class 6B licence?
- No. The SAAQ defines class 6B as motorcycles with an engine displacement of 400 cc or less. Both bikes have a 475.6 cc engine, so they require class 6A.
- Can I carry a passenger on an Ontario M1 licence?
- No. Ontario requires M1 riders to ride alone, only in daylight, with zero blood alcohol and an approved helmet, and to stay off roads with speed limits over 80 km/h except the highways Ontario lists as exceptions. You can take the first road test after at least 60 days.
- Is the Benda LFC 700 Pro a good first motorcycle?
- Benda does not position it that way. Its product page says the 63 kW (85 hp) inline-four puts it more in experienced-rider territory than a first bike, even though its 695 mm seat height is accessible.
- What should a beginner check before buying any cruiser?
- Sit on the exact model and confirm you can put both feet flat on the ground, confirm the bike matches your licence class, confirm ABS is standard on the version you are offered, get an insurance quote before you sign, and find out where the nearest authorized service point is.