ALT-1 Recommended Motorcycles for Beginners
Do you have a deep seated urge to feel the thrill of experiencing the open road from upon a two-wheeled steel monster? Understanding what drives the young and old to risk life and limb without the safe confines of a steel box, may befuddle many, but to the few who are still determined to ride, there can be a great deal of decisions to be made before strapping on a helmet and heading for the highway.
Motorcycle riders are commonly defined by reason they ride, whether it's the excitement from living the lifestyle of a rider, or if it is just more practical due to the rising fuel costs associated with traveling. Either way a rider must decide what bike is best suited for his first choice, when making the plunge into motorcycle riding.
Before I address the main points of this topic, I would like to digress to the utmost importance in taking a motorcycle training course. As a new rider there is a great deal of perils to be found, and an accredited motorcycle safety course may properly equip you for something you might not be prepared to handle.
Deciding which bike is right for your first ride is an important decision, and should be made with consideration to how comfortable you are riding. Most new riders should consider a bike with the smallest engine size which is rated in CC (Cubic Centimeters); most street bikes start around 250cc and move upward into much higher sizes like 1400cc class bikes. This size will determine the maximum speed, velocity of torque, and the actual size of the machine chosen.
Another important role in choosing the right bike would be your own body size and height. A small 250cc bike might be great for a smaller rider, but take a six foot, 200 pound man, and place him on a tiny crotch rocket, and you may find considerable problems. Go to a local bike store, and try a couple on for size! A motorcycle should be tall enough or short enough to allow a rider to firmly place both feet on the ground, while sitting comfortably on the bike. The rider should not have to lean to the left or right to achieve this position. Next a rider should not have his knees touching the underside of the handlebars, to facilitate full turning capability.
Another important understanding is motor size. If a rider feels the weight of a larger bike to be difficult to sway back and forth in side to side motion, without the fear that it is going to fall over, this is an indication that the bike may be larger than the rider is prepared to handle. Riders commonly make a mistake by choosing a machine that has too much power for them to control, resulting in a serious crash. Take it from a rider of over fifteen years without an accident; the bike rider has to own the bike, and if the machine is in control than the results will not be pretty.
Honestly a motorcycle between 250cc-600cc is quite ample for any new rider to get his feet a little wet. Once a rider has begun to understand centrifugal force, balance, and rider awareness, they can consider upgrading to a lager machine. Timid riders may benefit from smaller, less powerful bikes, but can still move to a slightly larger motorcycle. Honda makes a great series of starter bikes ranging from later model Nighthawk series, Shadow VLX, or even the older CB series, but motorcycles are more of a personal choice that should be researched and trialled before making any final decisions.
Before I conclude I would like to add a bit of age old wisdom that I have acquired over the years. In the world of motorists a motorcycle is the bottom of the food chain, because of its undeniable size. Most car and truck operators have a small window called a blind spot, which means anything in this range is invisible. Motorcycles also have the ability to stop much faster, and can maneuver around traffic more readily. A rider must be aware of everything around him at all times, and with experience he or she will also be able to read the actions of the surrounding drivers. A common example of this is the head turn: Drivers sometimes fail to use signals, but will often tilt their head to briefly check their right or left side before changing lanes, which could easily cut a motorcycle off! If you see an action such as this, than be prepared to decelerate or stay comfortably within distance to avoid becoming a victim.
I also urge new riders to avoid taking on passengers until they are fully comfortable with riding by themselves. A second person on a motorcycle can prove to be new experience, and weight shifting, and simple turning can be much more difficult with someone else on the bike. Motorcycling can be a unique freeing experience and I wouldn't trade my bike for anything, but it is not for everyone, and it should be taken with a great deal of care and respect it deserves.
