Imagine: riding down the roadways in fall, summer, spring, and even winter if you’re willing to be careful. Life on a motorcycle isn’t always a picnic, but there is something to be said about having the wind in your face with plenty of sun to go along with it. If you’re in the market for a motorcycle, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind in order to make the experience a really good one.
Motorcycle prices are all over the place, which is why you need to know what type of features you really want to have. The only price that really matters is the real cost of bike ownership. Like owning a traditional vehicle, there are many costs that go beyond gas prices and the motorcycle itself. You have to think about how much it’s going to cost to properly maintain the motorcycle. Some bikes really are cheaper to own than others, and the only way to really know for sure is to do your homework before diving in. Do you already have a motorcycle mechanic in the area that can take care of your new ride? If you don’t have anyone in mind, it is a great idea to get some references on who can take care of your new motorbike.
By the way, insurance policies cover a car or a motorcycle, but not both. This mean that you’ll have to add the motorcycle to your car insurance, and you’ll most likely need to pay a significant premium to do that.
There are other things that you’ll need to handle on the motorcycle as time passes. New chains, drive belts, oil changes, spark plugs, and tires are all considered standard maintenance. The tires have to be changed more often on a motorcycle than they do a car. After all, you have two wheels instead of four, so it makes sense to take care of it.
You also need to buy a helmet, and safety gear. This means high quality leather jacket, boots, pants, and boots. Yes, we do see people ride motorcycles in high heels, flip flops, and sandals. These are all bad ideas because if you have an accident, inferior clothing will peel off and your skin will be exposed to hot asphalt.
Taking the motorcycle safety course offered in your area is equally important. We know that we’re treating you like a beginner, but there are most likely plenty of beginners that are reading this article. We want to make sure that we’re giving you a balanced view of things as much as possible. Some people skip over this, thinking that they can just read up on how to control a motorcycle and be fine. How can you buy something that you really don’t know how to use? Riding instruction is the best way to really learn. The motorcycle is provided, as well as a helmet, if you don’t want to buy your own.
Ready for those beginning features? Let’s start with power. 250cc bikes are a great idea, because you can learn on them slowly and build your way up. Yet the 250cc size really isn’t going to last you very long. Why not go with a 600-800cc bike? The higher end may be challenging at first, but it gives you something to grow into. You need to look at how easy to handle each bike will be, as well as plenty of reviews. This is not the time to just buy a motorbike on a whim.
It may be tempting to get the big bike with all of the power, sound, and fury. But this is a bad idea because there’s a big learning curve, as well as it being much harder to control. If you get something you can’t control, the risk of getting hurt skyrockets dramatically.
Buying your first motorcycle is a matter of looking at a lot of them, deciding which features you want and don’t want, and making sure that it stays within your price range. Like buying an RV, we do not encourage taking out a loan to get a motorcycle. You need to go with a cash motorcycle that you can ride safely. More loans usually don’t make sense, especially when this is supposed to be a hobby rather than something you have to depend on.