ALT-8 How to Choose the right Motorcycle for you
How To Choose The Right Motorcycle For You:
The difference between motorcycles is at least as much as the difference between various cars, but unlike cars, you can fall off a motorcycle if you can't handle it.
One of the first things you will have to ascertain are your own personal attributes, like: body-weight, reflexes, basic fitness level, age, height and also your level of dexterity. Different bikes are 'set-up' differently and also have vastly different power characteristics, so your attributes play a big part.
Next is the purpose of the bike. Is it for fun on weekends? Commuting to work? Taking passengers around the place? Taking long rides in the country? Off-road? The primary use is very relevant in your choice of motorcycle. Also the amount that you will be using comes into play here. Most bikes are reasonably heavy-duty on the miles but things will wear out quicker on some bikes if they are not designed for long treks daily, or idling for hours in peak hour traffic.
Your own experience level is of course vital in choosing a motorcycle. For beginners, stay away from the sports motorcycles if you can. Unless you are a (very) large person, steer clear of the big bikes too. Remember that some of these sports motorcycles have 150 hp and claim speeds of up to 200 mph! The top speed, though is not the most important point here; the acceleration of the motorcycles being produced today is absolutely staggering. If you are not used to this kind of power and torque you can wrap yourself (and the bike) around just about anything in no time flat.
So as far as basic types of motorcycles go we have: sports, trail, sports-tourer, tourer, street, and basic commuting (such as scooters, etc).
Touring bikes (generally med-large in size) are based on comfort and long-distance riding. The riding position is well-supported and comfortable and accommodates passengers. The bikes can get up to fair speeds but do not have crazy acceleration or handling. Put them on a line and they'll generally stay there.
Sports bikes, virtually the opposite of tourers, are all about speed and performance and start as small as 125cc and go all the way past 1000cc. You can go fast, you can stop fast, you can turn fast and you can even go fast, fast. The trouble is, you can get a sore back fast if you take one of these things for a long ride out in the country. The riding position is usually very aggressive (bent-over) and is not normally set-up well for passengers.
Also these things are very high performance so they do not do well in low rev ranges for extended periods of times (like heavy traffic). They are tuned to be revved high. Lots of fun if you can handle them.
Sports-tourers as you can probably guess are an intermediate between the two types.
Trail bikes are great for rough roads and weekend fun but are not as suitable for road riding. They have a very upright riding position and very high clearance from the ground. But they are a lot of fun if you know how to ride these things.
Street bikes are usually a sort of sports-commuter or very stylish type of city bike. These are great for beginners who want some power and performance but without the mind-warping acceleration and speed. They range in size and most manufacturers have at least one model of this type.
The size of bike that you choose has some relation to your own body size but also relates to your level of experience. A very experienced small person can handle a big bike with no trouble (ever seen the moto GP?).
If your experience is not high, it is best to look at a bike that does not daunt you for size, weight, power etc. If you can wheel the thing around manually, parking it and so on, pulling it backwards up a slight incline, or wheel it in a figure-eight with no balance trouble, then it is most probably a good size and definitely not too big for you.
Remember that choosing a motorcycle is not a one-shot occurrence so don't think getting something less-powerful than you really want is the end-all. Just like riding, buying the right motorcycle is all about smooth and steady changes. Get a bike that you can handle and then improve your riding on that. In the end you'll have what you want, just take your time with it. Smooth and steady is the name of the game.
