Kelly’s Korner: From Dreams to Reality-Buying Your First Bike
Last Updated: February 5th, 2021
FROM DREAMS TO REALITY – BUYING YOUR FIRST BIKE
The motorcycling bug bit you. You’ve taken the classes and earned your endorsement. You’re ready to ride. Except you have no bike.
With any luck, that’s about to change. So, with a new year and all its attendant positive possibilities in sight, let’s talk about how to buy that first motorcycle.
Be ready to have fun, most of all. This process should give you joy, not stress. Remember getting your first car, the thrill and scent of freedom it provided? Acquiring your first bike should feel similar. Let go of those adult restrictions we too easily wrap around ourselves and embrace your inner (happy, excited, fun-loving) teenager again.
Start by pinpointing the type of motorcycle you want. Is it a cruiser? A sport bike? A touring bike? A supermoto? A dirt bike? Do you prefer the naked style or fairings? When you’re driving and hear a motorcycle, which ones tend to make you crane your neck the most? For those who don’t already know the brand of bike they want, narrowing down the type of motorcycle will lead to the names that specialize in that particular look, sound and capability. Strongly consider the weight of the motorcycle. Starting with a lighter motorcycle to build skill and confidence is a path that works extremely well for most, if not all, riders.
Once you know what you’re after, you can attend to the financial side of the equation. If you want to buy new or need easy financing access, a dealer is your best option. If you want to pay cash and avoid sales tax, go with Craigslist, Cycle Trader and sites of that ilk. Just be sure previous ownership is verifiable and the title is in order (ed: Kelly speaks from experience here).
Adding a mentor into the shopping mix might be helpful. They can utilize their knowledge and wisdom to help you avoid some bike purchase pitfalls. Understand, though, they may inject their bias into the review process. Keep in mind at all times that your desires come first. If the mentor recommends a bike that doesn’t make you want to roll up the garage door and ride, then the recommended bike is not for you.
The shopping adventure comes next. It’s time to go sit on the bikes whose looks you like so you can decide which one feels most right to you. This will require patience. You don’t want to sit on the bike for five minutes and then make a decision — give yourself time to absorb the ergonomics and positioning. You may know right away which bike you want, or you may need to go back and forth between a couple of bikes. I knew, somehow, with no prior knowledge or experience, that the Ninja 650 was the one as soon as I sat on it. To make extra certain, I gave the Suzukis, Yamahas and Hondas fair shrift even though my gut told me the Ninja was the one. And she was. SoJo was the perfect first bike for me.
Typically there is no such thing as a motorcycle test ride.. While dealer demo events are great for looking at the latest and greatest from a motorcycle manufacturer, they are not the recommended place for new riders to have their first group ride. Resist the temptation to use demo events unless you are absolutely confident in your abilities on the road.
Alternatively, when shopping at dealerships, ask if you can turn on the engine and rev it so you can hear the sound in the showroom. If you’re working with a private party, you may be able to take a ride around the block, depending on the seller. Be prepared to buy it if you break it though.
And that brings up a critical point: Should you buy new or used? The answer, of course, is that it depends. It depends on money, application, and perhaps even on age. I chose to buy my first bike new because I was so proud of and excited about this somewhat out-of-character (then, not now) undertaking. I also was 31 years old and not prone to excessive risk-taking. Yes, I feared damaging or crashing a brand-new motorcycle until I accepted that if that happened (and it did), everything would be all right anyway. That’s why we have insurance. But for my fulfillment, I didn’t want to begin my riding career on a beater bike. This decision will vary for everyone and there is no wrong move. Purchase the bike that is right for you. The most important decision is just to ride.
Tell me how you selected your first motorcycle. Or, if you’re in the process, send me any questions you might have. I always love hearing from you. kellyteal13@gmail.com
Happy New Year,
Kelly
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