Your first bike - make the right choice!
Nov 24 '00
So you've decided to buy (or are considering buying) your first motorcycle. Great! You won't regret it for a moment! There are several things to consider in how you approach motorcycling and what type of bike you select for your first ride. Here are some tips from someone (me) who has recently been in your shoes.
Mental Preparation -
Motorcycling is a sport, and it's very important to keep this in mind. What that means is that there are a set of rules that you need to know before playing, and that your success will depend upon your ability to execute the basic techniques. Keep in mind also that the consequences of poor execution can be very serious! DO NOT just grab a bike and start riding, thinking that you'll get "on the job training". This works for most 4-year olds learning to ride a bicycle, but it's not wise in this case.
Take your duties as a rider very seriously, both for yourself and for everyone else on the road. Use introspection to determine what your motivations for riding are. If you go into it wanting to be "cool" or "fast" or anything of the sort, you're in for a rude awakening. You'll scare the bejesus out of yourself in no time with that attitude, and possibly end up in dire straits.
Learn the Skills -
Take the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course nearest you if you've never ridden, or have limited riding experience BEFORE buying your bike. They have bikes available for use in the Beginner course, and you'll benefit tremendously from that experience. If you don't have access to (or don't wish to take) the MSF course, at the very least buy a copy of the MSF manual and study it's techniques. You need to know the basics of motorcycle handling and things like countersteering before you start to ride. (quick tip - if you don't know what countersteering is, you're definitely NOT ready to get on the street on a motorcycle!). Read. Use the web as a tool. Learn all that you can about how to ride before you even get on a bike. Your experience will be so much richer for having adequately prepared yourself.
Get the Proper Gear -
Invest in top-quality riding gear BEFORE or DURING your bike purchase. Buy a full-face helmet that meets DOT and SNELL specs, and wear it EVERY TIME you ride. Buy a riding jacket made of leather or cordura fabric. Buy riding pants and boots and a good set of gloves. Having the proper gear can make a HUGE difference in the amount of injury that you sustain in an "average" motorcycle crash. Keep in mind that most crashes are due to rider error, and most do not involve another vehicle. If you get t-boned at an intersection by an 18-wheeler, no amount of protective gear will help. But if you low-side your bike in a wet corner, proper gear can mean the difference between a hospital stay and simply picking up your bike and riding on. Don't underestimate the importance of gear, and don't make any excuses to yourself for not wearing it (too hot, uncomfortable, etc.). Prepare yourself mentally and financially for how much you're going to spend on a good set of gear. Plan to spend $500 - $1000 on good quality gear. Yes, I meant to put that many zeros. :)
Choose the Right Bike -
Most people seem to recommend getting a small displacement(400 - 600 cc) bike, used, as your first ride. I take a certain level of exception to that, in the sense that I believe that it's the type of motorcycle that matters a lot more than the displacement of the engine. My first bike was a brand new 750cc Kawasaki ZR-7, which is considered a "standard" motorcycle (i.e. - no fairing, not a cruiser). I believe that this type of motorcycle is the best choice for a beginning rider, for several reasons. For those of you who fancy the boy(or girl)-racer side of the sport, you're probably thinking "sportbike". For those of you who fancy being a part of the cruiser crowd, you're probably looking at customs of some sort, with a low-slung ride. And for those who yearn for the open road, you've probably browsed through the latest "2 wheel Buicks", i.e. touring bikes. To all of you, I say buy a "standard" motorcycle. The best reason for doing so is that this type of bike can fulfill the needs of any rider, to at least an 80% level. These bikes are designed to be an "all around" competent machine, and what better way to experience all that motorcycling has to offer than riding a bike that can do it all. Try cruising in town, riding the open road, and exploring the twisty backroads, all on the same bike. If you learn to ride a "standard", you've prepared yourself to ride any other type of bike. These bikes display a level of control that you need to experience BEFORE you ever ride a cruiser with pulled-back handlebars and dulled handling. They also offer a controlled, even distribution of power that will give you confidence BEFORE you hop on a blazing-fast sportbike. With the addition of a windshield and bags, you can also tackle distance riding in comfort.
There are some practical and ergonomic considerations to make also, depending upon your size and physical abilities. You should choose a bike that fits your dimensions, or you're asking for trouble. If you're small, don't pick a large standard bike, or you won't be able to pick it up when it falls over (and it WILL fall over). If you're large, don't pick a small displacement bike or it will feel lethargic after a couple of weeks of riding. My opinion is that you should choose the bike that seems to be just at the upper end of your comfort range, which will allow you some "headroom" to grow into the capabilities of the motorcycle, but not put you into the danger zone on a bike that's beyond your capabilities.
For me, the 750cc ZR-7 has been the perfect choice. I can pick it up when it falls over (and it HAS fallen over). It has enough power that I'm careful about how hard I twist my right hand, but not so powerful that I'm constantly scaring myself. I added a small fairing to make highway cruising more comfortable and also several other cosmetic enhancements to make it "mine". I've learned to lean the bike deeply into corners, as well as how to handle stop-and-go traffic on a hot summer day. I feel like I could move on to any other bike now, and be perfectly competent at riding. It even spawned a new hobby for me in building a web site dedicated to it (www.zr-7.com)!
Other benefits of Standard motorcycles are: 1) CHEAP insurance rates (no plastic fairings to break when it falls over - and it WILL fall over). 2) Easy maintenance with easy access to all vital parts (engine, chain, suspension, etc.). 3) Lots of aftermarket accessories to personalize your ride (bags, windshields, performance parts, etc.)
There are several choices on the market for Standard motorcycles, and it seems that this class is growing in popularity again after a hiatus for several years. Check out the Kawasaki ZR-7, Honda Nighthawk, Suzuki Bandit or SV650, or Yamaha Fazer, just to name a few. These are all fine machines, and will serve you well during your learning curve and beyond.
Above all, enjoy the ride!
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jarelj
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Location: Omaha, Nebraska
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Enthusiast, information junkie, like to know things
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