Step 4: Buying your first motorcycle.
"Holy Tank Bike Batman! That thing is friggin' sweet! I'll take one of those!"
Oh no you won't. It's time we get down to business now. Trying to ride one of those as your first motorcycle is about like trying to fly the space shuttle on your first flying lesson. Those enormous adventure bikes, full dress cruisers, supersport race bikes and many in between might look incredibly fun and believe me, they are, but they are in no way suited for a beginner. Motorcycles are built with differing levels of experience in mind. Like many things in life, if you START with the ADVANCED option there's a very good chance it won't work out in many different ways and when you're risking not only your own but other people's lives and an expensive piece of machinery you best have what's properly suited for you.
"Oh man, what a kill-joy you are. So basically I can't start out riding anything cool, I have to start out on some silly little scooter."
Hey now, scooters are NOT silly... But I get the point you're making, allow me to disprove it with some of the best "beginner bikes" on the market.
Oh no you won't. It's time we get down to business now. Trying to ride one of those as your first motorcycle is about like trying to fly the space shuttle on your first flying lesson. Those enormous adventure bikes, full dress cruisers, supersport race bikes and many in between might look incredibly fun and believe me, they are, but they are in no way suited for a beginner. Motorcycles are built with differing levels of experience in mind. Like many things in life, if you START with the ADVANCED option there's a very good chance it won't work out in many different ways and when you're risking not only your own but other people's lives and an expensive piece of machinery you best have what's properly suited for you.
"Oh man, what a kill-joy you are. So basically I can't start out riding anything cool, I have to start out on some silly little scooter."
Hey now, scooters are NOT silly... But I get the point you're making, allow me to disprove it with some of the best "beginner bikes" on the market.
"Well hey, those don't look totally bad. I mean, they are no ZX10R's or Kingpin's but they're not bad at all, I'm sure they're fun to, right?"
To be honest, these will be a LOT more fun to you starting out than those bigger bikes. They'll be a lot easier to handle and you'll be able to pay closer attention to what you're doing, gaining you better skills and knowledge and well, you'll have a lot more fun flogging them around those twisty roads than on something that feels like it will kill you.
Not only that but, there are so many "oh shi-" situations that happen up on you, where on a big bike you will instinctively not know what to do and end up not being able to properly handle it in a dangerous situation, where as, your chances are MUCH better on a proper beginner bike. You start by riding ponies, not broncos.
"Speaking of safety, how well do these do in traffic? I mean, I need enough get up and go to well... Get up and go, right?"
Do not underestimate these "beginner bikes". They're quicker than most non-sports cars on the road. They've got about the same potential as a small sports car.
"But what about the freeways?"
You shouldn't be on those on a motorcycle yet anyways... But yes, they can handle them as long as you keep at or, god forbid, under the speed limit? Stay in the slow lane, you'll be fine.
"Speaking of slow... I'm kind of fat, will these bikes be okay for me?"
Yes, unless you're hugely fat. Which, at that point, no offense but you might want to concentrate a bit more on losing a few pounds first. Motorcycling can actually be physically demanding and requires a bit of balancing as well.
"Oh no no, I'm no land whale. No need to man the harpoons. I'm just a bit heavy."
You'll be just fine big guy.
"Speaking of weight, what about riding with a passanger?"
They can do that to, but honestly you shouldn't be doing this until you graduate up to a bigger bike anyways. Do YOU want to be the one to explain to HER parents what happened...?
"Oh hell... Good point. Alright alright, so tell me. Are these the only beginner bikes? Are there more?"
There are tons of them. In fact, there are far too many to list.
"Well, how about some general rules of thumb then?"
There's a lot of those to but, generally speaking...
If it's a Sport Bikes (or streetfighter/naked), it should be no more than 600cc's. The 250's are my personal recommendation but there are SOME 600's that will work. Please keep in mind, not all 600's are built equal. Some are worlds apart. For example, the Suzuki SV650 is a fabulous starter bike, but if you go buy a CBR600RR which is a supersport, you'll end up in a world of surprise and not the fun "Happy Birthday" kind but the more "I'm actually a dude" kind. Just make sure it's not a supersport and remember, just because it's older doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot of power and can kill you. Shoot for something with a softer powerband that sits up more "upright" and not so leaned down. Just make sure you don't get a full on supersport.
As far as Cruisers go, generally speaking it should be no more than about 800cc. There are some exceptions, but definitely don't go up over 1000cc's and honestly, 800cc's and under is best. Another thing to keep in mind is, try to get a more "thin" profiled bike and not one of those big "fat" ones that have the big wide front tires, the big wide tanks and well... They're just big and fat! The bad thing about this is, they're usually harder to balance, they're not nearly as maneuverable or agile and can end up being a bit heavy as well. Once again, I'll recommend the 250's like the Yamaha Virago 250, Honda Rebel 250and Suzuki Savage 250. A 500cc cruiser is also a equally good option, but if you get bigger than that try to keep the profile then and the CC's right around 800 or below.
As far as Adventure Bikes and Enduro's go, I don't have much experience with them but I can say as a general rule of thumb, once again, start on a 600 or below. Also, both feet should be able to COMFORTABLY touch the ground and it should not feel overly heavy for you.
As far as Dirt Bikes? Well, this is a street guide, sorry to disappoint and scooters...? Well, it doesn't really matter. Don't start on some 650 recumbent.
"That's... A lot to take in. Can't you at least give me a small list? Something to work off of, just for some ideas?"
Oh fine. But this list is not complete nor does it include all your options. Just some of the best off the top of my head, also things that you can generally purchase in America so don't be surprised if your favorite European option is not listed... Before I give you the list though, at the very least go to the websites of Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Aprilia, Hyosung and just look around for bikes matching the descriptions I gave above. Remember, 250 is generally the magic number.
Sport Bikes (and streetfighter/naked):
Kawasaki Ninja 250, Kawasaki Ninja 500, Kawasaki Ninja 650r, Suzuki SV650, Suzuki GS500F, Yamaha YZF125, Aprilia RS4 125, KTM Duke 125, Hyosung GT250, Hyosung GT250R
Cruisers:
Yamaha Virago 250, Suzuki Savage 250, Honda Rebel 250, Honda Shadow Spirit, Suzuki Boulevard S40, Harley Davidson Sportster 883, Triumph Speedmaster, Triumph America, Triumph Bonneville, Royal Enfield Bullet
Adventure Bikes/Enduro:
Kawasaki KLR250, Honda CRF230, Suzuki DR 200SE, Yamaha XT 250.
As far as scooters and other bikes like motards and supermoto's go, you'll have to do the research on your own. Again, this is not an all knowing guide, just a few quick examples so yes, there's more options than this but these are some of the best as well.
"Those all look like new bikes... What about used?"
I'm going to make this short, simple and to the point. Nothing is wrong with buying used, but I must stress to the ends of the world and back, BUY A RELIABLE FIRST MOTORCYCLE. If buying used, buy a NEWER used bike and make sure it has been well taken care of. Generally, nothing older than about ten years although there are some exceptions.
"But I found a 1987 Whatchamacallit on my local classifieds for only $500! Please may I start on this?"
No. Absolutely not. You're going to end up hating motorcycling instead of enjoying it. Motorcycles can be very temperamental so on something so old for so cheap you're just asking for trouble. I guess if you're already a seasoned auto mechanic and have a garage full of tools and don't mind spending the majority of your time working on your bike just so it's ridable then knock yourself out, but even THEN I would advise heavily against it for your first bike.
"Well, I did find a 1999 Ninja 500 in good condition for just $1500, it seems to check out fine and doesn't have too many miles, is this alright?"
Something like that is a lot more sensible, yes.
"Alright, well, what should I keep in mind when taking a look at a used bike then?"
Well we both know you don't know jack squat about bikes yet, but don't fret, it's alright. Take some one along who does, and I'm not talking about your squid buddy who rides around in a wife beater, shorts and tennis shoes on his supersport that's louder than a jet, nor am I talking about the old man who knows a lot about cars but not a damn thing about bikes even though he thinks he does. If you don't have some one who is truly a good motorcyclist to bring along, just go alone.
Now, some things you need to keep in mind and ask when looking at these bikes...
"Do you have the maintenance records?"
"Is it up to date on maintenance?"
"How many miles are on the tires?" (Remember, they only last for about 10,000 and some times much less)
"When's the last time the oil was changed?" (Remember, it should be every 5,000 or so miles)
"When's the last time it had the valves adjusted?" (generally speaking it's good to have had this done at least once by 20,000 miles or you're taking a risk)
"When's the last time it had maintenance done on it?"
"Does it have a clean title?" (If it has no title or a salvaged title you avoid that thing like the plague or my advice for you stops right here)
"How long has it been sitting for? Have you started it up regularly?"
These are some of the most important questions you will definitely want to ask.
"Alright, I took all that information down, but we both know people will try to run one over on you. What should I look out for when some wise guy is trying to sell me a lemon?"
Well, there are a lot of things people will say that you need to avoid. The two biggest "avoid at all cost" red flags are, "It needs the carbs adjusted/cleaned" or "It needs a new battery" or "It has a salvaged title but it's fine". It's not fine, and when you try to register and insure that bike with a salvaged title you'll find out why he was selling that 2011 ZX10R for $3,000.
Also, "It needs the carbs cleaned/adjusted", "It needs a new battery" and "It needs a valve job" are salespeak for "The engine is completely fucked but I'm using these as excuses as to why it's running like absolute shit or not running at all." AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
"Okay... I think I've got it now. I'll do my best to make a smart and sensible purchase. It sounds like they're out there, I just need to use some common sense about it. I do have more questions though, is there anyway I can get them answered?"
I'll do my best... Head on over to step 5 and lets wrap this up.
To be honest, these will be a LOT more fun to you starting out than those bigger bikes. They'll be a lot easier to handle and you'll be able to pay closer attention to what you're doing, gaining you better skills and knowledge and well, you'll have a lot more fun flogging them around those twisty roads than on something that feels like it will kill you.
Not only that but, there are so many "oh shi-" situations that happen up on you, where on a big bike you will instinctively not know what to do and end up not being able to properly handle it in a dangerous situation, where as, your chances are MUCH better on a proper beginner bike. You start by riding ponies, not broncos.
"Speaking of safety, how well do these do in traffic? I mean, I need enough get up and go to well... Get up and go, right?"
Do not underestimate these "beginner bikes". They're quicker than most non-sports cars on the road. They've got about the same potential as a small sports car.
"But what about the freeways?"
You shouldn't be on those on a motorcycle yet anyways... But yes, they can handle them as long as you keep at or, god forbid, under the speed limit? Stay in the slow lane, you'll be fine.
"Speaking of slow... I'm kind of fat, will these bikes be okay for me?"
Yes, unless you're hugely fat. Which, at that point, no offense but you might want to concentrate a bit more on losing a few pounds first. Motorcycling can actually be physically demanding and requires a bit of balancing as well.
"Oh no no, I'm no land whale. No need to man the harpoons. I'm just a bit heavy."
You'll be just fine big guy.
"Speaking of weight, what about riding with a passanger?"
They can do that to, but honestly you shouldn't be doing this until you graduate up to a bigger bike anyways. Do YOU want to be the one to explain to HER parents what happened...?
"Oh hell... Good point. Alright alright, so tell me. Are these the only beginner bikes? Are there more?"
There are tons of them. In fact, there are far too many to list.
"Well, how about some general rules of thumb then?"
There's a lot of those to but, generally speaking...
If it's a Sport Bikes (or streetfighter/naked), it should be no more than 600cc's. The 250's are my personal recommendation but there are SOME 600's that will work. Please keep in mind, not all 600's are built equal. Some are worlds apart. For example, the Suzuki SV650 is a fabulous starter bike, but if you go buy a CBR600RR which is a supersport, you'll end up in a world of surprise and not the fun "Happy Birthday" kind but the more "I'm actually a dude" kind. Just make sure it's not a supersport and remember, just because it's older doesn't mean it doesn't have a lot of power and can kill you. Shoot for something with a softer powerband that sits up more "upright" and not so leaned down. Just make sure you don't get a full on supersport.
As far as Cruisers go, generally speaking it should be no more than about 800cc. There are some exceptions, but definitely don't go up over 1000cc's and honestly, 800cc's and under is best. Another thing to keep in mind is, try to get a more "thin" profiled bike and not one of those big "fat" ones that have the big wide front tires, the big wide tanks and well... They're just big and fat! The bad thing about this is, they're usually harder to balance, they're not nearly as maneuverable or agile and can end up being a bit heavy as well. Once again, I'll recommend the 250's like the Yamaha Virago 250, Honda Rebel 250and Suzuki Savage 250. A 500cc cruiser is also a equally good option, but if you get bigger than that try to keep the profile then and the CC's right around 800 or below.
As far as Adventure Bikes and Enduro's go, I don't have much experience with them but I can say as a general rule of thumb, once again, start on a 600 or below. Also, both feet should be able to COMFORTABLY touch the ground and it should not feel overly heavy for you.
As far as Dirt Bikes? Well, this is a street guide, sorry to disappoint and scooters...? Well, it doesn't really matter. Don't start on some 650 recumbent.
"That's... A lot to take in. Can't you at least give me a small list? Something to work off of, just for some ideas?"
Oh fine. But this list is not complete nor does it include all your options. Just some of the best off the top of my head, also things that you can generally purchase in America so don't be surprised if your favorite European option is not listed... Before I give you the list though, at the very least go to the websites of Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Aprilia, Hyosung and just look around for bikes matching the descriptions I gave above. Remember, 250 is generally the magic number.
Sport Bikes (and streetfighter/naked):
Kawasaki Ninja 250, Kawasaki Ninja 500, Kawasaki Ninja 650r, Suzuki SV650, Suzuki GS500F, Yamaha YZF125, Aprilia RS4 125, KTM Duke 125, Hyosung GT250, Hyosung GT250R
Cruisers:
Yamaha Virago 250, Suzuki Savage 250, Honda Rebel 250, Honda Shadow Spirit, Suzuki Boulevard S40, Harley Davidson Sportster 883, Triumph Speedmaster, Triumph America, Triumph Bonneville, Royal Enfield Bullet
Adventure Bikes/Enduro:
Kawasaki KLR250, Honda CRF230, Suzuki DR 200SE, Yamaha XT 250.
As far as scooters and other bikes like motards and supermoto's go, you'll have to do the research on your own. Again, this is not an all knowing guide, just a few quick examples so yes, there's more options than this but these are some of the best as well.
"Those all look like new bikes... What about used?"
I'm going to make this short, simple and to the point. Nothing is wrong with buying used, but I must stress to the ends of the world and back, BUY A RELIABLE FIRST MOTORCYCLE. If buying used, buy a NEWER used bike and make sure it has been well taken care of. Generally, nothing older than about ten years although there are some exceptions.
"But I found a 1987 Whatchamacallit on my local classifieds for only $500! Please may I start on this?"
No. Absolutely not. You're going to end up hating motorcycling instead of enjoying it. Motorcycles can be very temperamental so on something so old for so cheap you're just asking for trouble. I guess if you're already a seasoned auto mechanic and have a garage full of tools and don't mind spending the majority of your time working on your bike just so it's ridable then knock yourself out, but even THEN I would advise heavily against it for your first bike.
"Well, I did find a 1999 Ninja 500 in good condition for just $1500, it seems to check out fine and doesn't have too many miles, is this alright?"
Something like that is a lot more sensible, yes.
"Alright, well, what should I keep in mind when taking a look at a used bike then?"
Well we both know you don't know jack squat about bikes yet, but don't fret, it's alright. Take some one along who does, and I'm not talking about your squid buddy who rides around in a wife beater, shorts and tennis shoes on his supersport that's louder than a jet, nor am I talking about the old man who knows a lot about cars but not a damn thing about bikes even though he thinks he does. If you don't have some one who is truly a good motorcyclist to bring along, just go alone.
Now, some things you need to keep in mind and ask when looking at these bikes...
"Do you have the maintenance records?"
"Is it up to date on maintenance?"
"How many miles are on the tires?" (Remember, they only last for about 10,000 and some times much less)
"When's the last time the oil was changed?" (Remember, it should be every 5,000 or so miles)
"When's the last time it had the valves adjusted?" (generally speaking it's good to have had this done at least once by 20,000 miles or you're taking a risk)
"When's the last time it had maintenance done on it?"
"Does it have a clean title?" (If it has no title or a salvaged title you avoid that thing like the plague or my advice for you stops right here)
"How long has it been sitting for? Have you started it up regularly?"
These are some of the most important questions you will definitely want to ask.
"Alright, I took all that information down, but we both know people will try to run one over on you. What should I look out for when some wise guy is trying to sell me a lemon?"
Well, there are a lot of things people will say that you need to avoid. The two biggest "avoid at all cost" red flags are, "It needs the carbs adjusted/cleaned" or "It needs a new battery" or "It has a salvaged title but it's fine". It's not fine, and when you try to register and insure that bike with a salvaged title you'll find out why he was selling that 2011 ZX10R for $3,000.
Also, "It needs the carbs cleaned/adjusted", "It needs a new battery" and "It needs a valve job" are salespeak for "The engine is completely fucked but I'm using these as excuses as to why it's running like absolute shit or not running at all." AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
"Okay... I think I've got it now. I'll do my best to make a smart and sensible purchase. It sounds like they're out there, I just need to use some common sense about it. I do have more questions though, is there anyway I can get them answered?"
I'll do my best... Head on over to step 5 and lets wrap this up.