Questions about Motorcycles

aniceh

1. Take the MSF basic ridercourse before you purchase a bike. You should be able to get your license through the course, and you will get the benefit of being instructed on all the license exercises before having to test on them. You will get a feel for the bike and a better idea of what kind of setup would best suit your abilities and needs. You will also get the benefit of spending your first few hours of riding on a bike you didn't have to pay for.

2. Start small, and start used. A 250cc cruiser is perfect to learn on. If you're absolutely certain you'll outgrow it (and there's a very good chance you will) you can buy something used for a very reasonable price, and probably sell it for little or no loss in a couple of years. And when you drop it, it will be a lot less painful than dropping your brand spankin' new, fully faired sportbike. An added bonus to a small displacement bike that at least one other person has pointed out: you can wring its neck and still keep to a reasonable speed, which is pretty fun.

3. Get yourself some gear, and wear it every time you ride. What you wear when you get on the bike is what you wear when you come off the bike. Those abrasion-resistant materials and impact-absorbing armor make a big difference. It doesn't have to be an Alpinestars race suit - you can get a textile jacket and some Kevlar-reinforced jeans for a very reasonable price. Don't forget the gloves, and make sure they're intended for riding - inside seams on gloves not meant for riding will give you blisters in a hurry.

4. Make sure your helmet fits properly, and is comfortable for you. The distraction of the pain from an improperly fitted helmet is not something you want to have to deal with while riding. Allow yourself a good chunk of time to go helmet shopping, and try on several different styles. In my experience, salespeople are very understanding of the selection process, and are happy to let you wear a helmet around the store for 10 minutes or so to see if it really is comfortable.

Be safe, be smart, and have fun!