Deciding to start riding a motorcycle is as exciting as the thrill of hitting the open road for the first time. It’s the beginning of a life full of exhilarating experiences, freedom, and lasting memories. Whether you’re buying a motorcycle for commuting, adventure, or leisure rides on weekends, there are different types of beginner-friendly motorcycles in various styles to suit your unique taste. So, how do you choose your first motorcycle? Here are five simple tips.
1. Budget Wisely and Weigh Your Options of New vs. Used
When buying your first motorcycle, you need to budget wisely. Apart from the bike, you must purchase quality riding gear to ensure a safe and pleasurable experience. You’ll need a helmet, jacket, riding pants, gloves, and boots, but don’t skimp on quality. Also, ask yourself whether you want a new bike or a used one.
A quality used motorcycle is a good option when buying a beginner motorcycle. You’ll be spending more time on it and learning new things with every ride, and dings and scratches will likely be part of the experience. Once you’ve outgrown your first bike, you can start looking at buying a new one.
2. Look for the Right Fit and Weight
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is failing to check if a bike is the right fit and weight. How well does the bike fit you and your body? Getting the ergonomics right ensures a comfortable ride, better handling, and bike control. Your arms should reach the handlebars with the ability to turn them side to side without shifting in the saddle.
Your feet should comfortably rest on the pegs. You should also be able to place your legs flat on the ground and easily reach and operate controls and brakes. These small details go a long way in ensuring a smooth and confident riding experience. Is the bike too heavy? If you can’t push it around manually or lift it off the ground, it’s too heavy for you. Here are some tips for handling a heavy motorcycle at cycleworld.com.
3. Think About the Motorcycle’s Horsepower
What about the motorcycle’s power? Bikes under 600cc are a great starting point when buying a beginner motorcycle. As a new rider, you don’t want to start with the most powerful motorcycle as it can be dangerous – you might end up in an accident due to your inexperience. Look at the bike’s horsepower. Just enough is what you need to ride at highway speed comfortably. In our guide, Best Motorcycles for Beginners: Our 6 Top Choices, we offer some excellent picks with adequate power for first-time riders.
4. Choose Your Style and Try Before You Buy
Motorcycles get as personal as our unique style – they are expressions of our lifestyle and who we are as individuals. So, take your time choosing a motorcycle style that defines you. Try the bike before buying – that will give you a feel of how it rides and whether it’s the experience you need. Below, we briefly discuss the different types of bikes on the market.
5. Customize Your Motorcycle and Hit the Road
A motorcycle is never complete without customizing it to fit your riding style. Maybe you want to improve the sound of your first cruiser bike or add fairings and a windshield to enhance riding comfort during long rides. You can always add something to your first motorcycle to improve its style, sound, comfort, and performance. Go ahead and customize your bike, or check out these other custom bikes for inspiration to get you started.
Choosing a First Motorcycle that Suits Your Lifestyle
Knowing the different types of motorcycles available in the market makes sense as a beginner. That will help you choose the right bike for your needs and riding style. Perhaps you love speed or classic-style cruising on the road. Either way, your priority is to know what type of motorcycle you want before spending money.
Cruisers: V-twin cruiser bikes, favored by both beginners and experienced enthusiasts with a penchant for multiple bikes, offer a relaxed, classy ride in an iconic chopper style, known for high customization options and a distinct exhaust sound, featuring some top picks for beginners on our list.
Sport Bikes: For those enamored with speed and contemplating a motorcycle for track racing, opting for a sports bike is recommended; however, beginners should start with lower-powered options before advancing to more potent motorcycles, as sports bikes demand superior handling, exceptional skills, and a requisite level of experience for safe riding.
Naked Motorcycles: Filling the niche between iconic cruisers and street-favoured sports bikes, this popular motorcycle segment features a more upright riding style, making it ideal for beginners seeking the thrill of riding.
Touring Motorcycles: For those desiring extended and ultra-comfortable rides on the open road, touring bikes are designed precisely for that purpose, featuring heavyweight and large builds with powerful engines, ample luggage space, and advanced features, making them less ideal for beginner riders, but a worthy goal as experience as a rider grows.
Adventure / Dual Purpose Motorcycles: Motorcyclists embarking on adventurous journeys through deserts, high mountains, remote off-the-beaten paths, or continents often ride adventure bikes like the legendary Africa Twin. These bikes, crafted for the ultimate adventure, excel off-road with powerful engines and versatile, rugged features, showcasing the epitome of adventure touring.
Cafe Racers: Cafe racers, ideal for those seeking lightweight, highly customizable, and small motorcycles optimized for speed and superior handling, serve more as stylish accessories than functional choices, making them suitable for beginners and commuting but potentially lacking the comfort and long-term usability often sought in a beginner motorcycle. Explore our cafe racer features for inspiration.
Dirt / Off-Road Bikes: These bikes are for the speed and dirt enthusiasts. With tall suspensions and a pair of knobby tires, these bikes perform well on dirt roads, muddy trails, and gravel-filled paths. They’re your go-to-anywhere bikes and aren’t designed to ride on roads.
