What’s a Good first Motorcycle
I wish I could get my 1550 cc Harley Davidson to go as fast as a 600cc sport bike, but you know what, it is just never going to happen.
Recommended motorcycles for beginners depends on a lot of things. Mostly, what the application of the motorcycle is going to be. Is it going to be a commuter bike? Is it going to be for weekend canyon carving with other sport bikers? Will it be something for longer road trips? Or, is it going to be for off the road entirely?
Well, that's basically four different kind of motorcycles. There is no replacement for training and education. An approved motorcycle safety course is good. Most of the one's here in the USA make you qualified to go 25 miles an hour in a closed parking lot. HUH? Did I just say that? Yes, I did and I meant it. The basic rider courses here in the USA are just that, basic. They teach you the controls of the bike, how to make it go, how to make it stop, how to drive around in between the cones, and how to swerve. That is about all the teach in the basic course. Or course, now you get the condom feeling, you feel secure in what your doing because after all, passing that class means you don't have to take the driving portion of the test at the department of motor vehicles right?
So sure, lets get off that little 250cc bike you learned on and go out and buy that road glide. No, actually you don't even if your smart want to get a new bike your first one out of the gate, wanna know why? Plastic and chrome is expensive, and when you fall down and break it it will cost more to fix it. That's right, WHEN you fall down. It is not about if, it is about when, and it is going to happen. Just about the time you think you know it all, and can handle anything, and get a bit cocky is when your going to end up face down on the pavement wondering exactly where you went wrong. You really wanna be doing this with your NEW bike? Yea, me either.
So, after you have had your training, what you want to do is determine what kind of riding it is you plan on doing. There is no sense at all in getting a small 500cc sport bike if what you really want is something you can load the saddle bags and take your girl for a weekend trip six months from now. And lets face it, who has the money to be trading in or up every six months, I know I don't. So, first determine what it is you want and need in a motorcycle. If your only riding is going to be out carving the canyons with the boys, (or girls) on the weekends your probably not looking for a big Harley or Indian or Victory. But, there are a lot of good sport bikes in the 500 and 600cc range that are not going to light your hair on fire, are easy to handle and have a lighter weight to them.
Same thing if comfort is your thing over speed. Something you can put a nice set of leather saddle bags on and get away for a few days. Again, many manufacturers offer nice mid weight cruisers in the 650 and 750 range. Good solid bikes to begin on, and, will still be a very serviceable bike in 6 months or a year when you have gained more experience and want to start taking that passenger with you. The bigger side does not mean faster all the time either. As I said it is about application and configuration. There is little chance of a large custom cruiser of 1800cc size keeping up with a 750cc sport bike. The configuration, weight, transmission gearing just don't allow for it so don't let the cc size of the motor be your determining factor.
Fit, can you, in the shoes you will be wearing touch the ground flat footed, and still have a little leg left. I.E. a bit of bend in your knee. It doesn't have to be a lot, just a little. Your going to have better control of the bike when stopped if you can do this.
Next is reach. Sitting on the bike if it is a cruiser, how do the bars fit you, are you having to lean forward a lot to be comfortable or can you stay upright on it fairly well. Some of these things can be fixed with simple adjustments while others require changing bars, or even bikes. How is the reach on those forward controls, that is the controls for the rear break and foot shifter, can you reach them comfortably or are they a little to far out there.
To many people say start small, and while that is fairly sound advice, I find it a bit inaccurate. If you learn on a small bike, and then buy a small bike, all you will be able to ride is a small bike. Learn on small, do your course on small, then, take it up a notch. Get a good solid used bike in the mid size range that will be a good solid bike for those first two years of getting used to actual riding.
Actual riding is what they only talk about in class but you don't experience. Grandma unable to decide if she is going to go left or right in front of you. That teenage girl talking on the phone and remembers to turn left at the last minute, right in front of you. That mom, harried from a day at work who just hung up from hubby and is mad he is going to be late yet again who didn't look before opening the car door in your path. The list goes on and on and on, and in about two years of riding, you will have a good feel for all the things you need to watch out for, and, watching out for them becomes second nature. You will even find yourself doing it when you drive your car.
So, it is the application of the bike, what your going to do with it, and, how well it fits your frame, and not necessarily the engine size that needs to be considered for that first bike. Oh, and be warned, bikes depreciate in value much faster than cars. This is why your first bike being a used one is a good idea. You just might decide you don't like it, and you sure don't want to get stuck paying off something you don't ride and can't get enough money for selling it used.
By the time your on your second bike, you will have more experience, and know exactly what it is your looking for.
Ride it like you stole it.
