For all of you aspiring 2 wheeled fanatics out there, taking that first step can seem like more of a leap if you don’t go in the right direction. If you have little to no experience riding, you should let that be the number one influence when deciding which motorcycle to buy. Choosing a bike that is too advanced or complex in the beginning could lead to a rougher road ahead, no pun intended! In choosing to buy a motorcycle, you will have to make some pretty exciting and important decisions ahead. There are so many options out there it could make your head spin. In order to help simplify the process, Gables Motorsports has put together some key items to consider in this article to ensure you have the information you need to pick the right bike for you.

Let’s take a look at few different variables of motorcycles and why each matters.

Height

During the course of riding you will inevitably have to pull up to a stop. When the motorcycle is at rest, the rider will ned to be able to balance it in an upright position. You need to take into account your height and the bikes height to find a comfortable solution in which your feet are able to touch the ground and stabilize the motorcycle. This height on paper may not appear to be that big of a difference, but compare in person and you’ll notice immediately how you could be affected. When online motorcycle shopping, check out the details or specifications sections for seat height. Some bikes have low seat options you can order or possibly even replace after the fact. An example of a low seat height vehicle if going with a sport bike, and a great choice for the beginner, is the CBR300R. It has enough power to get you where ever you need to go and yet a low enough seat height (30.7 in.) to allow both feet to touch the ground at stops.

Weight

When buying a motorcycle, keep in mind you need to be able to exert your own physical forces upon the bike to control it. In a nutshell, the lighter the bike, the less force you need to use. Again you will have to take into account your own size and strength in determining what bike you can handle well. With time and experience, this will become easier and you could potentially move up in bike size, but start smaller and stay in control. Depending on how you will use the bike will also factor in. You could start as small as the Honda Grom or the all new Kawasaki Z125 Pro, (Very Fun but limited on speed,) or  move into the Honda CB and CBR series that have lots of variations and certainly one to fit your needs. No matter the choice, make sure it’s an easy to handle machine.

Type

Where are you going? How long, how often, how far, what are you taking, and so on and so on. Think back to those 5 question words; who,what, when, where, & why. These will help you determine the right “how,” which is = #theperfectbike. Will you be riding around the city or making highway trips? Will you veer off the beaten path? Is this your every day vehicle or just for weekends? What climate do you live in? Take a look at all of the different class options:

• Touring – Comfort | Luxury
  • Highway |Lengthy Trips
• Adventure – Off/On Road | Performance
  • Pavement or Dirt Use
• Cruiser – Power | Style
  • Street and Highway Use
• Supersport – Power | High Performance | Flash
  • Racing or High Performance Based Riding
• Sport  – Performance | Style
  • Daily Performance Riding
• Dual Sport – Off/On Road | Performance
  • Pavement or Dirt Use

Within these styles are variations of height, weight, power and more. Decide where you will be using the bike and break down further into that category.

Engine Size:

The amount of experience a rider has should directly affect the size of motorcycle they buy. As a general rule of thumb, an adult beginner should choose a model that is 500cc or smaller for a street bike, or 250cc or smaller for a dirt bike. For beginning riders in the 10 to 15 year old range a dirt bike 125cc or less and kids under 10, 50cc will be plenty to get them moving.  For the most part, experienced riders already have a good idea of what their next ride would be so; let’s focus on helping out the first time or inexperienced rider.

Other Suggestions

 Take a Class:

Not everybody has a parent or an older sibling to teach them the basics, but there are beginner motorcycle classes available just about everywhere.  The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) is an internationally recognized and respected organization that offers free services for locating motorcycle classes for all experience levels. They are an all-around excellent source of valuable information for anything and everything motorcycle.

Seek Advice:

Service professionals at places like Gables Motorsports  are also a great source of knowledge and are ready, willing, and able to assist you any way possible. Whether you are looking for everyday street bike, a race ready motocrosser, or one that will tear a trail up on the weekend and then get you to work all week, the staff at Gables is there when you need them.

These are just a few of many important factors you should consider when buying a motorcycle. Explore your options and take your time before making a decision to make sure you get a bike you will be happy with.

Would you like more help finding your first bike? Fill out the form below to get personal assistance from an expert at Gables Motorsports.