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To Buy or Not to Buy?Oct 21 '00 Write an essay on this topic.Buying a motorcycle is one of the greatest joys in the world, for those who like to ride, of course. The wind at your face while riding through the woods is also a great feeling. A motorcycle can take you places a car can not, like through winding trails in the forest or desert. It's gives one a sence of freedom. I've owned both road bikes and off-road bikes. I like them both, but find the off-road cycles the optimum experience. Road bikes are great for just that, going on the road, mainly hardtop. Off-Road bikes are for everything else, not hardtop. This should be your first consideration when choosing the type of bike to purchase. Next you must determine whether or not you want a 4 stroke or a 2 stroke. 4 strokes are primarily used in road bikes and some dirt bikes. They are quieter and more dependable, great for the beginner rider. 2 strokes provide more power and are great for racing. The only hang-up is they need the oil mixed with the gas, a minor pain in the neck. But definately worth the trouble. Now that you've determined the type of riding you'll be doing, you must find that perfect bike, if there is such a thing. Your size and weight have a lot to do with what kind of bike you buy. When seated on the bike, your feet must touch the ground for good control. If your bike is too heavy you will have problems controling it as well. All the major motorcycle manufacturers crank out good bikes; Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Harley Davidson and a few others. Harley only produces road bikes. And in my opionion the best road bike. The other makers offer both road and off-road. No one is really better than the other, all are exeptional values. One exception is Honda, they have a history of quality dependable 4 strokes. There is also a dual-sport model offered by almost all the above makers except Harley. These bikes are made to run off-road as well as on-road. They are fitted with headlight, blinkers, tail light and mirrors so that they are street legal. They are usually heavier than the off-road bike but more managable than the street bike, therefore makeing them the ideal bike for the trail rider. These bikes are great if all you want to do is ride them around town and ride them through the trails. I have had two and liked them just fine exept for the lack of power and weight. Your average dual-sport can weigh up to 100 pounds more than the comperable sized off-road bike. For instance a Suzuki DR200 weighs in at 249 lbs while the Kawasaki KX100 comes in at 149 lbs. Now your thinking, well the DR200 is a bigger, faster bike, but for a fact the KX100 is faster and more powerful due to the fact it's a 2 stroke and the DR200 is a 4 stroke. You see a 2 stroke 100cc is really the same as a 200cc 4 stroke when it comes right down to it. Of course there are differences but basically thats the skinny on it. I personally know a guy who has never really ridden motorcyles before who bought a dual sport. He rode it around town, on sight seeing trips and the like. We took him on a ride one day on some dirt trails we take our 2 stroke off-road bikes. The terrain was dirt with some ruts and occasional loose rock. He couldn't keep up and wreaked a few times. He wasn't used to that type of riding and ended up selling it for a Harley road bike. You see the tires and power-ban of a dual sport is not that great for serious trail riding, unless of course you are an accomplished rider. This just goes to show you must first determine the type of riding you'll be doing and the skill level you have acquired. I on the other hand am a fairly skilled rider, but I kept crashing my dual sport as well due to the fact it was not capable of my riding needs. It was too heavy and gutless for climbing steep hills. Heck, I'd tip the stupid thing over for the smallest obsticals. I got rid of it and traded it in for a race bike that was 100 pounds lighter and more powerful. I'm now a happy camper with a lot less bruises and scrapes. Finally I'm on the bike more that it's on me! Now I am not going to go into the fact you need to learn how to ride a bike before getting on one and all that but one thing I highly reccomend, you always wear a helmet if you want to save your skull. I am opposed to laws requireing one wear a helmet, just because I think the government should stay out of our lives, but it is your head and life and I'd like to see you live another day for riding. It's up to you. I wear one and have gotten kind of fond of it. The mx helmets are must cooler looking than the road helmets, maybe that's why I like it. Who knows. Who cares, just ride and let the wind caress your soul!  |
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