ALT-2 What you need to know before you Buy a Motorcycle
Buying a motorcycle is a big step. Not to sound sexist, but most people that ride are male. It is a bigger decision than what your wife may do to you when you come home on a gleaming ride after she has been wanting the living room floor redone for the last 2 years. There are much more serious things to think about. Things that are very, very important for you to know.
It has been stated in almost every article written that motorcycles are dangerous. Just because it has been said over and over again doesn't make it untrue. They are dangerous. They are dangerous to the rider, the passengers and even the motorists you share the road with (not to mention the various wildlife that may only cause a bump in a car but cause you to go down on a bike).
The first and foremost thing that you need to know prior to buying one of your own is knowing how to ride. No one is born with the ability. It is a skill that gets better with practice. Even this may not save you. Your fatal crash may happen within the first 10 miles or after 100,000 miles. Sometimes it is your fault and other times you are doing everything that you should and conditions outside your control will change everything. To a beginner it may sound silly but you have to constantly be ready for the unexpected. That carefree look you see on an experienced rider is masking the fact that they are continually watching and evaluating the situation around them and anticipating what might happen. It has been known as having your head on a swivel. You constantly take in information from all around, process it, and use it for your next decision.
If you aren't ready for this kind of a commitment, you don’t need to have a bike.
As for learning to ride, an approved course that teaches you the basics is a great idea. You can learn from a friend on their bike but it is much better to be taught by a professional instructor that is up to date on current laws and bikes. Most experienced riders that take a refresher course will say that they learned something new.
Many times these courses provide the bikes for you to use. After you have completed the course, borrow a friends bike (good luck with that) and practice. The more comfortable you are with the way the bike works the better.
You are going to have to know the laws in the land you call home. Almost all states require helmets. Whether required or not, it is a good idea to get one especially if you are a new rider. Make sure that you get a DOT approved helmet. There are more brands and styles than can be listed. They all have their good and bad points. Find the type and style that fits you (and the look you want).
Make sure that you have all the other safety equipment that you will need as well. Boots, leather jacket, denim jeans (at the least) and gloves are all mandatory you want to be safe.
In most states, a motorcycle license is a special class. You will have to got to the DMV (or whatever your government agency is called, in Illinois it is the Secretary of States office) and get a “class M” license. This will mean that you have the skills required by the state to ride. In Illinois (the author’s home state) all the license consists of is a “M” on your standard drivers license.
All of this sounds like a pain in the butt, but it is necessary. Just like anything in life, riding is a skill that takes practice. If you aren't willing to jump through all of these hoops, take the responsibility of riding and being safe, to be blunt, you don’t belong on a bike.
While this is a lot of information, it is really a “cliff notes” version of what you have to due before you purchase a motorcycle. It is much more than just going into a dealership or responding to a classified ad. You have very important responsibilities that you must take very seriously. It is for your safety as well as everyone else’s on the road.
