What You Should Know Before Choosing A Motorcycle

Knowing what you should do before buying a motorcycle can be confusing and frustrating. You are ready to see that bike parked in you garage, you are ready for the adventures of the road, but your not sure what you need to know before you buy that bike.

Owning a bike and riding a bike will be your own personal adventure. So why not think of the buying experience as the beginning of that adventure? Owning a motorcycle is very personal relationship between you and machine. You will need to learn a great deal more about your bike then you have ever learned about you car or truck. Riding a motorcycle is a completely different experience as it will expose you to sounds and events that are you could never experience in your auto.

First you need to decide what type of motorcycle you want to have. You need to decide what type of bike best suits you, how comfortable you are riding, and if you are looking for a comfortable bike or a fast bike. Most dealers will help you pick a motorcycle that is suited to your needs. If this is your first bike it should be easy to ride, not overly large, and not so heavy that you cannot pick up should you go down. Most people buy a bike with their heart and not their head.

Being a new rider you should not get over confident and think "oh I can handle that bike." The super sport bikes require an experienced rider. That low rider chopper that screams pick me or the touring motorcycle that you dream of taking on a cross country trip may be better suited for your second bike once you have gained some riding experience. The larger bikes may be better suited in your dreams for awhile yet.

Consider your choices carefully. Don't try to do more with a bike than it was designed to do. A touring bike will not do well in the off road places you want to go, but the dirt bike will not do too well as a touring bike. The dual sport motorcycle is a good choice for both types of riding.

The dual sport motorcycle is an all round good bike that you can use off road and on road. The only problem is they have a tendency to sit very high on the road compared to other motorcycles and they can be a bit awkward in parking lots due to the height of the machine.

Touring bikes are very heavy not only in bike weight but in the cost to your pocket book. Some of these motorcycles can weigh up to 900 pounds with accessories. Shop around some manufacturers make smaller an lighter ones.

The other alternative is called a step through bike or scooter. They have been very popular and they have out sold a lot of other style of motorcycles over the years. Scooters are well built, lighter, and can cost far less that some of the other bikes. With a luggage compartment on the scooter you can even take short trips

The larger scooters have a 200 cc or 300 cc engine and they are an excellent adult beginners bike. Smaller scooters are a good starter bike for the teenager in you family.

Having decided on what type of bike you want to purchase brings on a whole new set of problems. What are the rules where you live in regards to insurance? Will you have to buy a helmet? Are you going to need a security system to protect your investment?

Insurance is required in most places but the costs very from location to location. Check around to find the best price for you. With bikes high on the list to be stolen talk to your dealer to find out the best type of locking defense you can us on the bike you purchase.

To buy new or used is always a hard question. The amount of money will be a factor. The problem with a used bike is you have no idea as to the abuse or lack of maintenance it may have endured. If you buy a new motorcycle you will be the only one responsible for its maintenance, along with your dealer. Some used motorcycles can be a good investment. If you find one that you think qualifies, have it taken to a dealer for a inspection. Chances the dealer knows the motorcycle and if not he can do a full inspection to make sure it's in tip top shape.

Over the life of a bike all will need repairs and regular maintenance. You need to factor this into your yearly costs. If you not sure what this maintenance cost talk to a dealer, they will be able to give you approximate cost.

Most importantly, enjoy your bike and ride safely. Happy biking

Kristopher is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com

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