How to buy your first motorcycle, part three

So now the fun part (well, the first fun part) begins!

It's time to go shopping for your first motorcycle.  I have to admit, shopping for motorcycles, gear and parts/accessories is one of the few kinds of shopping I like to do!  Hopefully you've talked to some friends about their bikes, looked at a few (or alot) of bikes, and decided what general type of bike you want for your first motorcycle.  So now it's time to find that motorcycle that speaks to you.

I recommend two ways to shop for your bike.  Both of them work, and have satisfactory results depending on your personality and other purchasing habits.

First, you can go to dealerships and shop for models that you like.  Most larger towns have a multi-make dealership that sells a variety of imported makes, aka "metric bikes" and other dealerships that specialize in one make.  A Harley-Davidson dealership is likely nearby if you are considering a Harley as your first cruiser.  Most dealerships will allow you to look around, sit on bikes and talk with them to find out features, costs and pro's and con's of the bike you are considering.  They will likely have a variety of sizes in most styles, and probably have a few used bikes or bikes on consignment.  Because their reputation among motorcyclists depends on the product and service they sell, you should find well-maintained, clean bikes on the showroom floor, a trained service staff, and quality accessories (if maybe a little pricey) at the dealership as you shop for your first motorcycle.  You also will find a financing office (more on that in another post).  Some dealerships offer deals on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation New Riders course, which I highly recommend taking, or offer their own new rider school.  Buying from a dealer is one good option for buying your first motorcycle.

The second option is buying your first bike from a private party, either a friend or via want ads or the nearly ubiquitous Craigslist.  You can even buy a motorcycle off of eBay, but I wouldn't recommend doing so for your first bike.  If you go this route the bike may not be as clean and well-maintained as at a dealership, but could also be in outstanding condition.  If you don't know much about motorcycles or other mechanical things, if you go this route having a friend who has a motorcycle go with you to look at the bike is a good idea.  The advantage of buying from a private party is that you will likely pay less, and depending on why they are selling, possibly make another riding friend.  Many used bikes are sold because the previous owner is moving "up", has too many bikes (NEVER, lol!) or just wants a different bike.  Some sellers won't be interested in teaching you much about motorcycling, and their attitude may tip you off that the bike isn't that great.  Buying a friend's starter bike can be a good deal, especially if they are a safe rider and have an interest in you becoming a safe motorcyclist on their/your first motorcycle.

Have fun, and remember, don't give in to peer pressure and get the bike that speaks to you.  While you most likely won't own it more than a year or two, it will always have special memories as your first motorcycle!

Picking out your first motorcycle

Today I'd like to talk about how to pick out your first motorcycle.  I've often felt that shopping for a motorcycle is also a lot of fun.  Not quite as fun as riding, but learning about motorcycles, visiting shops and looking at all the different bikes, and even sitting on a few is enjoyable.

It can also be very intimidating to buy your first motorcycle!  Many different models, expense, peer pressure, confidence in your ability to ride a motorcycle safely-all come into play.  So let me share a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for that first motorcycle.

First, understand while you will remember this bike forever, you won't own it forever!  Sure you can expect to spend anywhere from $1000 up to way more than you should for a first motorcycle (many bikes are over $10,000 now-a-days, with some approaching $25,000 or more), but that doesn't mean you have to own it for years and years unless you really like it.  You need to buy a bike you like and will be proud to ride, but don't think it has to be "the perfect bike" or even the dream bike. 

Second, watch out for peer pressure.  Your friends might all ride Kawahayazukida-Vicson's with tricked out chrome unobtanium after-market parts, and you may soon too, but right now you need a serviceable, safe motorcycle to get riding.  Later you can build the best bike in your ride group/club and win the Bike Night parking lot show, but that isn't what you are going after if you buy your first motorcycle right.  A "old school" Harley dealer once told me, "You want to learn how to wrench, buy this classic Ironhead Sportster.  You want to learn how to ride, buy a basic cruiser and ride it as much as possible for a year or two".  Great advice-even when it cost him a few thousand dollars when I walked away from buying a bike that needed lots of work.  Stylish and cool?  Oh yeah, but I wouldn't have ridden for months getting that "cool" ride back on the road.

However, the corrollary is also true-ask as many riding friends about their bike and why they have that style as you can.  First, they will like talking about motorcycles with you.  Also, that old-timer on the Gold Wing, Harley full dresser, or BMW super-sport tourer once started out just like you.  I just recently met a rider with 70,000 miles on a Hayabusa!  He knows exactly what that bike is capable of, but likely rode many a smaller sportbike before accomplishing a rare high mileage feat, and was easy to talk bikes with.  Some of us own multiple bikes of different styles, or have owned them, and can help you figure out if a standard, a cruiser, or a sport bike is best for you.

So what are those differences?  A "standard" bike, while not as common as they were, is your basic motorycle meant for transportation and general riding.  Once known as the "ubiquitous Japanese motorcycle" or UJM, these bikes had basic styling and parts, generally 750cc engines or smaller, and few accessories from the factory.  Many were customized for utility-the style for many years was to "acquire" a milk crate and strap it to the passenger seat or rack!  Kind of a reverse cool factor and quite functional.  Cruiser bikes are one of the two prevalent styles now and have generally replaced standards as the basic bike.  The seat is normally lower to the ground than other bikes, the feet are forward or just under the rider's knees, and the handlebars are higher than most other styles.  There is little bodywork, usually just fenders, a gas tank and maybe small side covers.  Windscreens can be added as can saddlebags, which can be handy and look better than a milk crate!  Sport bikes are the third general category to consider when buying your first motorycle.  These are the faired, "racing" bikes.  Handlebars are generally low (directly attached to the fork tubes in most cases), there is a small windscreen, and the rider is crouched over the bike as much as sitting on it.

All of these styles come in many sizes, and leads to the last piece of advice for today:  Don't buy too big a bike for your first motorcycle!  Re-read the paragraph above where I say you won't own this bike forever.  Even a 300cc sportbike (the smallest Ninja for example) and the basic cruisers (like the V-Star 250) are capable motorcycles and can do all legal speeds where a novice rider should be riding, including the freeway.   OK, if you weigh 225 pounds, and are going to put camping gear all over the bike, maybe not, but you probably figured that out already!  That also brings up safe loading and gross vehicle weight ratings, which really isn't the topic today anyway.

So think that through, and later we'll discuss shopping for this much-desired first motorcycle. 

New series on buying your first motorcycle

I've decided to take a different approach and post a few articles on how to buy your first motorcycle.  Over the last few years as my experience in owning, riding and maintaining motorcycles has grown, a few friends have turned to  me for advice.  So I thought, "Why not post some of the tips in the blog?"

I'll start with the pro's on why my advice is worth a hill of beans:  I've owned standard bikes, aka ubiquitos Japanese motorcycles (UJMs), one enduro, multiple cruisers including customs and a Harley-Davidson Sportster, a sport bike and a sport-touring bike.  Also, I'm not a salesman at a motorcycle dealership, so there is no vested interest.

So over the next few posts, I'll be sharing tips on buying your first motorcycle.  Posts will include choosing the right motorcycle for you, some tips on what type of riding you will be doing, how to shop for your first motorcycle, and some warnings and dangers when buying your first motorcycle and motorcycling gear.

I hope this info will help you out in choosing and buying your first motorcycle, and you come to enjoy riding a motorcycle for the first time and many times thereafter.  You might even get a bike by June 17th, National Ride Your Bike to Work day.