ALT-7 How to Choose the right Motorcycle for you
When deciding which motorcycle you're going for there are a number of things to consider. The first thing to consider is; what am I going to use the bike for? If the answer is; for the two mile journey to work every day and the occasional trip to the store, then a moped will probably do for you. Something like the 50cc Roketa Urban Tempo or the Bahama. Bikes like these will use very little fuel and are easy to master if this is your first foray into the world of motorcycle riding, the disadvantages are they are easier to steal than bigger bikes and small wheels and a lack of a manual gear box can make them tricky to handle in wet weather and of course you can only fit one person at a time on them. Maybe your journey to work is a few miles and there is plenty of open road as well as snaking traffic queues, then perhaps you should be looking at a 150cc version. Something along the lines of the Roketa Bali which has a wide comfortable pillion seat with a back rest so your passenger can travel in comfort as welll. The Bali comes with an FM/AM radio as well and at between $1200-1900 it won't break the bank. If saving the environment is high on your list of priorities, then you could opt for an electric scooter like the Tao Tao Ate 300. It has a range of 14 miles from a single charge, although it will take over an hour to complete the distance as the top speed is a paltry 11 miles per hour.
Perhaps speed is all important to you, if it is then you should be going for a race bike, the Japanese have dominated this market for some years now and so it's probably a good idea to go for an established Japanese brand. Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha are leaders in the field. If you are relatively new to motorcycle riding then it's wise to go for one of the less powerful racers such as the Honda CB250 FT Hornet. You will still be able to generate over 100mph top speed, but with this bike it's all about the middle range ride, it has a four cylinder four stroke engine, so delivers its power evenly. You can elect to ride at around 4000rpm at 30-40 mph or you can open up the throttle and whack the revs up to 12000 rpm and you'll be transformed into racing heaven. Being a 250cc it's not going to last as its 600cc cousin, but being a Honda it comes with the standard bombproof' engine.
If you're a bit more experienced and you feel more need for speed than the CB250FT can give you, then take a look at the jewel in Suzuki's crown the GSXR 750, this is a bike that has gone through quite a few major revamps over the years but the current incarnation of the GSXR is without doubt the best. It feels like the bike came straight off the race track into the showroom, it will deliver a frightening amount of horsepower to the back wheel and only the most experienced riders will come anywhere near to experiencing everything the Suzuki has to offer.
A bike that shouldn't be ridden before many years of experience on the roads is the flagship bike for Yamaha, the Yamaha YZF-R1 2008 version it is based on the bike that Moto GP rider and former champion Valentino Rossi rides the YZF-M1. This monster can deliver 180 break horse power to the back wheel and will easily do 200 mph, if you buy this bike you're buying for speed and exhilaration, not comfort.
If you're looking for something in between tootling to work and careening at breakneck speed along the highway then perhaps you should be looking at a cruiser. The name Harley-Davidson is synonymous with laid back cruising, the bikes are heavier than racers, but that extra weight gives extra stability. These bikes also tend to have panniers, cases fitted to the bike to allow you to put your luggage in, also if you're going to take passengers on a long journey then these are definitely the bikes for you. Harley-Davidson do a range of bikes all designed around the ethos of comfort and speed touring bikes like the FLTR Road Glide will take you a long way in comfort with ample room for your luggage. Whereas the Sportster XL 1200C will do the same thing but has more the classic Harley-Davidson look, which ever bike you go for make sure you have in mind what you're going to use it for most and then it's just a matter of getting the correct training and being safe.
