Things to Consider When Buying Your First Motorcycle

Buying your first motorcycle may not be that different from buying your first car. In fact, the excitement and anticipation are often the same. The only difference--aside from the price--may be the amount of time it takes to choose a bike. Many motorbikes are highly-specialized these days, and choosing one that's not just comfortable to ride on but also suitable to your needs may generally be more challenging than what you get with a standard vehicle.

Still, we’re not here to convince you not to buy a bike. In fact, we’re here to convince you, otherwise. Riding a bike is fun--the trick here is to make sure it’s something you want to ride in the first place. And how will you know it’s the one? By making sure you’ve covered all these points:

Choose the right motorcycle for you.

While motorcycles may look similar from afar, they’re more specialized according to the rider’s needs.

Cruiser Bikes

Cruisers are a biker's favorite because not only do they look cool, but they looks tough as well.

But here's a little secret for the newbies: they're not really that difficult to maneuver. This is especially true if you choose those with sizes 1,000 cc (and lower). The seats are also low, so it's easy to control your balance. Cruisers are for you if you're the type of person who enjoys riding more than arriving at your destination in one piece.

Sportbikes

This bike isn't for the slow-pokes. In fact, this type can make those snotty, expensive sports cars bite the dust when it comes to speed.

This is the reason why we usually don't recommend sportbikes for newbies. They're harder to control and manage. The only exception here is if you're already trained for it. If that's the case, try to choose the beginning 300cc to 500cc bikes. Also choose those that offer tech features that can help and support beginners, like ABS, ride mode options, and the like.

Dual-Sport Bikes

This bike is a good beginner bike because it helps you hone your skills well without putting heavy pressure on your fuel consumption. What’s more, they’re easy to use, lightweight and tough-as-nails, so they'll take on those god-awful, nasty bruises should you drop them from time to time.

But what makes them really good is their versatility. They’re the ones that you call on to when you want to go to work--and head off to the woods to decompress. Note, however, that you need to have it customized if you’re on the shorter side. These bikes are often built on the tall side,  and may be harder to control if your feet can’t touch the ground.

Touring Bikes

They're heavy and can be complicated to use at first. But if you're the type of person who likes to arrive in style (and high on tech), then you should consider owning a touring bike.

If you're very careful in choosing the right one for you, then touring bikes can give you the most comfortable and relaxed ride of your life. Aside from the bigger fuel tanks that many of them offer, these bikes also offer a huge storage space. Now you can travel across the country with your kitchen and bedroom packed in one place.

Dirt Bikes

They’re called dirty because they’re meant to be dirty. These off-road bikes are the ones that you turn to for some serious good, off-road fun, because really, what’s fun without getting straight down and dirty, right?

Still, these bikes are not something to toy with. They're very powerful, and even those with smaller engines can be quite challenging--even for those who have been riding it for some time.

If you're extremely new to the scene, then opt for the 100cc to 250cc first.

Scooters

Scooters are one of the best modes of transportation for beginners who live in the city. This is especially true for those who like taking short trips in and around the metro. Not only are they easy to use, but their incredible gas mileage can save you a lot on fuel expenses. What's more, they're fun to drive--and finding a parking space isn't that difficult (in most cases).

We'd like to warn you, though that most scooter seats are not that comfortable to drive after a couple of hours.  And many have limited speeds due to their small wheels. So forget it if you plan to use it daily on highways. And don't even think of using it to go from Manila to Palawan in light-speed mode. Better take the plane, instead--or the Millenium Falcon if you're into Star Wars.

Regular Bikes

Regular bikes are like your favorite shoes--they're comfortable, and low-maintenance. Nothing snazzy or fancy here--just their good ol’ self to make your day (hopefully) brighter. These bikes will follow your lead depending on what you want to do at the moment, like deliver sacks of dog food, impress your date with your riding prowess, or just enjoy the wind on your face.

Choose those with sizes from 250cc to 700cc, and don't forget to look for those with supportive tech features to help you as well.

Choose the right motorcycle that fits you.

This is very important: Choose the bike that fits your body. More than that, choose the bike that makes you feel good. Otherwise, you’ll spend the rest of your riding life like you’re in rider’s purgatory--not fun.

When trying on a bike for the first time, make sure to check for the following for comfort and ease of use:

1. Seat height
2. Bike weight
3. Tank size
4. Handlebars
5. Engine vibration
6. Foot peg
7. Seat cushion
8. Brake and clutch lever
9. Engine temperature

Ideally, the more checks you make here, the better. Remember, you’re going to use your bike in many of your rides, so you’d better make sure that it’s something you’ll enjoy using all the time.