10 Things to Consider When Buying a Motorcycle

1. Level of Experience

An individual’s level of riding experience has a major impact on determining what bike is the best fit for one’s needs. An inexperienced rider may be able to safely ride a large, powerful machine from point A to point B, but he or she may not enjoy the experience if they find the bike difficult to maneuver or are intimidated by the machine’s power. Conversely, an experienced rider may quickly find themselves bored with a bike that does not offer the power or handling their riding skills can handle. Also, if you are returning to the sport or haven’t rode much in recent years, keep this in mind as your skills may take a while to build up. Generally speaking, it is better to purchase a machine that fits your current riding abilities versus buying one that you will “grow into”.

What is your level of riding experience?

a. None – this will be my first motorcycle and my first time riding b. Minimal – I’ve rode before, but not often or regularly - less than 1000 miles a year c. Returning rider – I’ve rode in the past and would like to return to the sport d. Experienced – I ride regularly and have been for years - more than 3000 miles a year e. Veteran – I live on two wheels 2. Where you want to ride Motorcycles are wonderful machines that come in a variety of different sizes and styles to fit a wide range of riding conditions. Most bikes are designed to be ridden primarily on paved roads. However, there are dual purpose bikes that perform well on both paved and unpaved roads, as well as dirt bikes that are made strictly for dirt tracks and rugged off-road trails. Where do you plan on riding? a. Street – paved roads only b. Off Road – dirt trails, gravel roads, etc. c. Both - Combination of paved and dirt roads 3. Body style There are several common styles of motorcycles that impact how the machine rides and how you will be positioned on it while riding. The following are brief descriptions of riding position associated with each style of bike: Cruiser - feet are placed forward, hands at or above chest level, and rider is seated upright or slightly leaned back Sport bike - aggresive leaned over riding position where the handlebars are below the rider's chest and feet are tucked beneith or behind the body Touring - seating position is similar to that of a cruiser, but the feet are not necessarily placed as far forward and the riding position is more erect. Touring bikes are designed for comfortable long distance riding Standard - riding position is similar to a sport bike in that the feet are generally positioned under the body. However they feature a more erect riding position that can be more comfortable than a sport bike Dual purpose - Riding position is similar to a standard bike, however given the off road capability of these machines the seat height is generally higher to accomodate the additional suspension travel Dirt - similar to a dual purpose with a high seat height and simplistic design that allows the rider greater leeway to position themselves as needed when maneuvering through corners and over jumps What style of bike are you considering? a. Cruiser b. Sport bike c. Touring d. Standard e. Dual prurpose f. Dirt 4. Type of trips The motorcycle that is best for you will depend greatly on what type of trips you plan on taking. Cruisers and touring bikes are designed with comfort in mind and can often be rode for miles on end. Sport bikes feature a bent over riding position that can be more physically demanding over the course of several hours of riding. When thinking about what bike is right for you, spend some time thinking about what type of trips you would like to take and how important comfort is to you. What type of trips do you plan on taking? a. Simple transportation – short trips running errands, visiting friends, etc. b. Short leisurely trips less than 200 miles c. Commuting to work each day d. Day long outings – 200 to 500 miles e. Multiple day touring trips 5. Frequency of use Service costs should be carefully considered when purchasing a motorcycle. These costs are largely determined by how much you ride, but can vary greatly from bike to bike. If you plan on putting a large number of miles on your machine each year, you may want to select a bike that that doesn’t require frequent interval services based on mileage. For example, some motorcycles require a valve adjustment every 4,000 miles, while others only require this service every 25,000 miles (or not at all). On the other hand if you are only going to ride a couple thousand miles a year, service costs become less of an issue and may not be as important when finding the right bike for your needs. How many miles do you plan on riding each year? a. Less than 1,000 b. 1,000 – 3,000 c. 3,000 – 10,000 d. More than 10,000 6. Engine size/ displacement Motorcycle engine displacement can range anywhere from 125 to over 2000 cc's. Generally speaking, the larger the engine displacement, the more power it will produce. However, the engine configuration can have a big impact on how much and what type of power is generated. The size of the engine is also directly correlated to the weight of the machine. More displacement = more weight, which is an important thing to consider. What size engine are you considering? 100-250cc 250-500cc 600-800cc 800-1000cc 1000-1300cc 1300-1800cc