How-To-Ride

So you finally got your license or permit and are ready to buy your first motorcycle. Hopefully you have already taken the MSF course at this point and have a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into.

Your first motorcycle won’t be your last.

Way too many people bring up the idea that they want to get something that they can “grow into” and “won’t get bored with.” If these ideas are something you agree with right now, take a step back. Motorcycles aren’t clothes. You don’t “grow into” a bike. You find one that will suit your needs. As a beginner, it’s a really good idea to start looking into bikes that are more suited for beginners.

A few examples of the bikes you should be considering (but not limited to) are the Ninja 250, Ninja 500, GS500, Rebel 250, GZ250, and Virago 250. Do your research and look around. These bikes can generally be found for a fairly cheap price due to beginners selling them quickly. Which brings me to my next point…

Buying used vs. new.

There’s nothing stopping you from buying a brand new motorcycle right off the bat. It may be enticing hearing about the manufacturer deals that are going on that will offer you low monthly payments. Something to keep in mind is that you are a lot more likely to drop your bike in the first six months of riding than any other time. Would you care if you dropped your brand new bike while practicing in a parking lot? Would you mind if you lost your footing and tipped over your brand new bike in your garage? Mistakes are going to happen; all beginners make them. Do you want them to happen while on a brand new bike? If you answered “No” to any of those questions, you should probably go used.

You can save a TON of money by buying a used motorcycle. When I bought my first bike, it was four years old and had only been ridden about 350 miles. The maintenance had been kept up on it though and it was in perfect running condition. The bike was basically brand new. Because I got it slightly used, I saved myself about 2 grand.

If your one of those people who is afraid of ruining nice things, get something that has already been dropped. That way, if you accidentally drop it while learning, you won’t feel as bad. My bike didn’t have a scratch on it but I was prepared to deal with it if it happened since I paid so little for the bike in the first place.

You’ll still have time to change your mind about riding.

Many used bikes you find for sale are from owners who say that riding “just wasn’t for them.” Your first motorcycle will be with you when you determine if riding is right for you or not. Do you want to still have to deal with monthly payments on something that you just realized you don’t want to use anymore?

Don’t go overboard. Use some common sense. A 600cc supersport bike is NOT a good beginner bike, no matter what anyone tells you. The people who tell you “throttle control” or “responsible riding” are all you need to worry about probably won’t be there to help pick up the pieces of you and your 600cc bike when the inevitable happens. This topic has been debated back and forth between the smart riders and Darwin’s examples for many years.

All I will say is, put your ego aside and use some common sense when buying your first motorcycle. It is a very exciting moment but don’t let your emotions blind your sense of reality and safety.