Selecting Your First Motorcycle

by Phil Floria

Deciding on just what type of motorcycle you want may not be the easiest decision. Give some thought about what type of riding you intend to do, touring, commuting, Sunday rides only, off road, or any combination. This may be harder than you think, especially if you're new, because you may not have a clue. You may have just fell in love with a particular style of motorcycle; just how you will use it or what it is intended for may be two different things.

Obviously a new Harley Fat Boy used off road may not be the best choice, as well as new dual sport equipped with knobby tires may not be the best choice for touring and long distance travel. New riders generally don't know just what type of riding they're going to want to do.. Just what do you do?

If your motorcycle choice is based on what your friends are riding, you need to take some time to really evaluate what you're getting into. Reading magazines will help you discover the differences in the machines and in the groups who collect behind the different types of motorcycles. Read as many different magazines as you kind find; if you only read Chopper or Sportbike content magazines you'll be shortchanging yourself and possibly miss out on just the right aspect of the sport which will really make you happy. Reach out and investigate the rest of the sport; you may find out that one motorcycle may not be enough for all of your interests.

The first bike for the new and returning rider should be a used middleweight motorcycle (500 - 750cc). Here's the problem with this choice, most of people are not too keen on admitting they're just learning or polishing up old skills. They're sometimes embarrassed to be riding an old smaller bike in a group of new slick chromed out Harleys or Gold Wings or the latest sportbikes.

You have nothing to be ashamed of or do you have to apologize to anyone on your choice of motorcycle because of its size, power, or style. If it fits you and you're riding that's all that matters. After all, you're the one making the payments, not your friends. Most riders will respect your decision to start right and learn how to ride before dropping a big wad of cash on a new bike.

Most of us all started on smaller machines and worked our way up the horsepower and weight ladder.

Ride it for a year, practice your skills and let those new riders' minor mishaps befall the old bike. Minor mishaps happen to all new and experienced riders alike; bikes falling over, kickstands not holding, parking on soft ground or hot asphalt and it sinking in until it falls over. A quick stop with the front wheel turned and having the bike drop like a rock from under you are just some of the minor mishaps.

My new R1 fell over in my garage when I moved the bike and somehow the side stand flipped up then without knowing I let go of it. Lucky for me it fell on me; now the "Beast" has a character dent in the tank from my femur.

A used bike can take all of that punishment a lot cheaper than a brand new one, as well as your ego. Just think how you would feel dropping a brand new motorcycle on the ground in front of your friends.

Harley's and Gold Wings are in the heavyweight range. Which presents another problem for the new or returning rider; a 750 lb plus motorcycle will be a handful to maneuver in a parking lot. The middleweight machine will be less than 500 lbs, smaller and easier to handle in close quarters.

Think about your physical size and strength, if you're built like me for speed, tipping scales at a heavy 160 lbs with long legs and gangly arms; handling a heavy bike will be more work than you think and may keep you from really enjoying your days out. This will wind up keeping you from riding more. Given some time handling the smaller bike your skills will develop faster and your confidence will be much higher, and later on you will be able to adapt to the bigger machine much easier. Besides, smaller bikes today make good power and handle well which means fun, lots of it.

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