The Cheapest V-Twin Cruiser Bike Available In 2025

One of the biggest misconceptions in the motorcycle industry is that small bikes can’t be fun. That couldn’t be further from the truth and one of the motorcycle manufacturers that proves this point is Yamaha. After all, it has several great small bikes on offer. Small in terms of both stature and displacement, this venerable little motorcycle has been around forever, seeing off several of its small displacement competitors. At its core, this is a very simple little cruiser, but it still oozes charm and quality. Unlike some of the equally affordable Chinese competitors, this is not a motorcycle that will win any spec sheet war, but in the real world, it will most certainly outlast any of them.

Harley-Davidson Nightster Third Quarter Full view hd cruiser wallpaper

Here Are The Cheapest Cruiser Bikes From All Popular Brands

The price range is wide, but many of the popular brands have cruisers in their lineup which attract the eye of budget-minded riders.

The Cheapest V-Twin Cruiser In 2025: Yamaha V Star 250

MSRP: $4,799

Yamaha V-Star 250

The V Star 250 has indeed been around forever and offers an authentic air-cooled V-twin. The one thing it has that other small bikes struggle to replicate is the charm of that little air-cooled engine. Modern liquid-cooled engines do make a lot more sense in terms of performance, but at this end of the market, performance is not really a priority. An entry-level motorcycle needs to be affordable, and unlike the newer competition, it achieves that by keeping things really simple.

Something that sums up the V Star 250 perfectly is the fact that Yamaha lists “electric start” as one of its features. So you know it is a bare-bones experience. Some of its competitors offer similar spec sheets to what you will find on much more expensive models, but it always begs the question of how long those shiny features will last. At this price point, there is a pretty real correlation between quality and features, and as a rule, the more features on offer, the more the quality drops.

Yamaha

If you are looking explicitly for a small V-twin motorcycle, the only other options are from China. QJMotor is a well-established player in the industry that owns and produces all Benelli motorcycles. The two bikes offered – well, essentially the same bike with a few tweaks – are the QJMotor SRV300 and the Benda Chinchilla 300 (sold under the Keeway brand in other markets). Both offer more features for slightly more money ($4,999 and $4,899 respectively). However, the duo also offers attractive financing options that keep them in the conversation.

If you are willing to set the need for a V-twin aside, then the Honda Rebel 300 and Royal Enfield Meteor 350 come squarely into focus. While the Honda is a little more expensive, you certainly get a high-quality product that will match the Yamaha any day of the week. The Meteor is more of a cheap and cheerful alternative, but delivers impressive real-world fuel economy and is certainly worth a look.

Rivals

QJMotor SRV300
Benda Chinchilla 300
Honda Rebel 300
Royal Enfield Meteor 350

The V Star 250 Offers Approachable Performance

Torque: 15 Pound-Feet

Yamaha

To be clear, the V Star 250 does not offer much in the way of performance. It is a very approachable motorcycle designed for riders still getting to grips with a motorcycle. What you get is enough power to keep up with traffic, and hop over to the next town. What it lacks in performance, you get back in retro charm, with its prominent V-twin advertising itself to the world. The chrome aesthetic is certainly no longer in vogue, but it suits the classic – some might say “copy and paste” – styling of the bike rather well.

One rather surprising thing about the V Star 250 is the fact that in between the cylinders of that V-twin, you will find a carb. Now, scoff at this fact as much as you want. But if you are interested in learning how to work on a motorcycle, there is quite literally no better place to start than an air-cooled bike with a carb. It is the least complex motorcycle to get started on and will help you build confidence in both your wrenching and riding ability.

Engine Specifications

Engine Type	V-Twin, air-cooled
Displacement	249cc
Max Torque	15 LB-FT
Transmission	5-speed

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The V Star 250 Is The Ultimate Beginner-Friendly Cruiser

New Rider Approved

Yamaha

The common theme here is that this is not the kind of motorcycle that you will buy and keep forever, but rather a tool that you can use to learn how to ride. While there are certainly different schools of thought with regard to this, it ultimately boils down to the individual rider. Just looking at the one and only cruiser alternative Yamaha offers, the Bolt R-Spec. It is a bike you can conceivably learn to ride on and keep forever. But it also costs twice as much and, quite frankly, will disappoint those wanting to hold onto it, as they will also potentially outgrow it too.

Even if they don’t, they will need to live with all the accumulated scars from the inevitable “new rider” spills. If you are willing to spend some time learning everything you need to on the V Star 250 first, it will open up a much wider selection of motorcycles for you for your second bike. You might even realize you don't like cruisers and want to try a bike from a different segment. It is a hardy little bike that will certainly be able to handle the odd drop, and you won’t feel nearly as bad. Not to mention light enough to pick up easily when – not if – you do drop the thing.

via: Yamaha

The biggest party trick this little bike has on offer has something to do with that carb we touched on earlier. It gets ridiculously good mileage. Yamaha claims 78 MPG, which will be pretty hard to replicate as carbs need to be re-jetted depending on what elevation you live at to achieve optimum fuel efficiency. That ballpark is still exceptional. You might find yourself hanging on to this little bike simply to handle the daily commute, able to justify getting something more fun for the weekend.