The seat height is the most important reference point when looking for a low motorcycle. However, the shape of the seat, the tank, and the rider’s proportions also play an important role and ultimately influence the choice of a motorcycle that fits or not. So, the lowest motorcycle on this list does not necessarily have to be the best motorcycle for you! You can get an overview here, but only seat tests or test drives will give you certainty.
Some of the best Touring A2 models for small users with a low seat height in 2024
[Gallery of images showing different models]
For a better comparison, let’s first look at the A2 license category touring motorcycles. Then, we will find all low-displacement Touring/Trail bikes with over 48 hp.One might think that A2 motorcycles would have significantly lower seat heights, considering their limited power and reduced weights. But the reality is different. Interestingly, the lowest Touring/Trail A2 motorcycles with a seat height of 800 mm are the Benelli TRK 502, which are therefore taller than their larger sister, the TRK 702. However, when it comes to accessibility, seat height is not the only relevant factor, as mentioned above. The best example of this is the TRK 502, in which you sit very low and deeply integrated into the motorcycle, but then you also have to move a record weight of 235 kg for an A2 motorcycle. Therefore, the new Royal Enfield Himalayan is recommended for shorter A2 riders. With 825 mm, the seat height is significantly higher, but the narrow waist, low center of gravity, and a weight of 196 kg still make it very accessible. With a seat height of 830 millimeters, the KTM 390 Adventure and the Honda NX500 are not as low, but they are still among the 5 lowest Touring/Trail A2 motorcycles. Unfortunately, neither the Austrian nor the Japanese models offer a lower seat height in their own accessories. Apparently, manufacturers believe that A2 riders do not need it, as this additional option is often missing in the A2 segment.
As mentioned above, the Benelli TRK 702 is extremely low. A standard seat height of 790 mm is something that no other large Touring/Trail can come close to without modifications. However, with seats and accessory lowerings, all offered by the factory manufacturer, the circumstances become quite different. The Moto Guzzi V85 TT and Ducati Multistrada V2 have a standard seat height of 830 mm, which is quite below average, but the lowered seats from accessories add 20 mm and increase the seat height to 810 mm. The Triumph Tiger 900 GT can also be lowered from 820 mm to 800 mm, the Suzuki V-Strom 800 from 825 mm to 805 mm, and the adventurous Suzuki V-Strom 650 from 835 mm to 815 mm.
Bavarians take this lowering work very seriously. Five different seat variants are offered for the GS models, including two lower variants, and the entire vehicle is also lowered. With a seat height of 815 mm, the BMW F 750 GS is already one of the lowest touring enduros. The extra-low seat lowers it to 780 mm, and the lowered seat even to an extremely accessible 760 mm. Even with very short legs, the F 750 GS should provide good stability on the ground. However, this cannot be determined for sure based solely on the seat height, as the bike’s waist width, seat shape, and rider’s proportions also have an influence here. That’s why BMW also specifies the length of the inseam (measured from one sole of the foot to the other along the inside of the legs) for the lowering. This length is 1,770 mm with the F 750 GS’s extra-low seat and 1,730 mm with the lowering kit. For off-road enthusiasts, the BMW F 850 GS with its 21-inch front wheel is probably more interesting. With a standard seat height of 860 mm, it is a typical high-performance Touring/Trail. With the extra-low seat, however, it only needs to rise to 825 mm and find a secure base with an inseam length of 1,850 mm. With the lowered seat, the seat height is only 805 mm and the inseam is 1810 mm. No other 21-inch touring motorcycle suitable for off-road use can go down as much.
