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Don Corleo
I'm a new driver seriously considering buying a motorcycle. What model of motorcycle would you recommend? Would I also have to buy a car for when it rains and the winter season?
Answer
Since you're a new driver with little or no experience riding a motorcycle, the first thing you need to do is to take a Basic Rider Safety Course. These are offered in one form or another in all 50 states. They vary in cost, but you usually receive your motorcycle license when you pass the course. The safety skills you'll learn will be well worth the cost.
When considering what type of motorcycle to purchase, you need to think more about what you want from riding and less about what manufacturer's you're interested in. First, ask yourself a few basic questions about what you want from riding. What kind of riding do you want to do and what capabilities do you want your bike to have? Are you attracted to the idea of riding the winding, twisty roads? If your answer is yes to this question, you should look for something in a sport, standard or even a sport touring bike (more on this later).
Or, do you think you just want to cruise along at a modest pace so you can soak in the experience of having the wind in your face? If this is what you like, a cruiser or larger sport touring bike might be more to your liking. If you like all things chrome and you think a bike should be thunderously loud, then a cruiser is most definitely your thing (again, more on this later).
If you chose a sport bike, standard or sport touring bike, then you should consider machines in the 600cc-800cc range, and NO larger. As a novice, you simply do not have the skills and experience to ride anything above that class. Personally, I'd suggest you stay in the 600cc class if a true sport bike is what you choose to purchase. Something like the Honda CBR F4i (which you'll have to buy used since they are out of production) or the Honda CBR600RR are good machines, as are the Yamaha R6 and Suzuki GSX-R 600. All are very capable machines, with plenty of power for a novice to enjoy. Power delivery to the rear wheel is fairly smooth so with a reasonable degree of control you won't be likely to spin the rear wheel (though it is possible).
If you choose to go with a cruiser, go with something in the 650cc-750cc range. Again, Honda, Yamaha (Star motorcycles) and Suzuki all make decent models in that range that would suit a novice. All would serve you well until you've outgrown them through sheer riding experience. That should take a few years unless you ride everyday, everywhere you go for the first two years. At that point you might be ready to move on to something else.
If you live anywhere where it snows, a rust bucket car would be enough to get you through the winter until riding season starts again. Buy yourself some reasonably priced protective gear (Cortech makes some great stuff at affordable prices and it's pretty good in the rain, too), a full-face helmet, leather gloves and above ankle boots. Full protective gear will give you the best chance to survive a mistake (a crash of your own doing) or an accident cause by some @ss in a car or truck. Don't let anyone tell you you don't need that stuff. It saved my life and it saved the life of a professional instructor I know. Both of us survived head-on collisions with cars because we had full protective gear on.
And last, but most importantly ... never, EVER, ride over your head!!!
Never, EVER, let your friends goad you into riding at speeds you know you can't handle. That's a sure fire recipe for a funeral. Yours, and probably some innocent bystander's as well. Do yourself and everyone else a huge favor and just don't go there. And, always view your riding with a critical eye. That way you can review your riding with the intention of improving your skills. Do that and with any luck you'll survive 35 years on two wheels the way I have.
Good luck!
Since you're a new driver with little or no experience riding a motorcycle, the first thing you need to do is to take a Basic Rider Safety Course. These are offered in one form or another in all 50 states. They vary in cost, but you usually receive your motorcycle license when you pass the course. The safety skills you'll learn will be well worth the cost.
When considering what type of motorcycle to purchase, you need to think more about what you want from riding and less about what manufacturer's you're interested in. First, ask yourself a few basic questions about what you want from riding. What kind of riding do you want to do and what capabilities do you want your bike to have? Are you attracted to the idea of riding the winding, twisty roads? If your answer is yes to this question, you should look for something in a sport, standard or even a sport touring bike (more on this later).
Or, do you think you just want to cruise along at a modest pace so you can soak in the experience of having the wind in your face? If this is what you like, a cruiser or larger sport touring bike might be more to your liking. If you like all things chrome and you think a bike should be thunderously loud, then a cruiser is most definitely your thing (again, more on this later).
If you chose a sport bike, standard or sport touring bike, then you should consider machines in the 600cc-800cc range, and NO larger. As a novice, you simply do not have the skills and experience to ride anything above that class. Personally, I'd suggest you stay in the 600cc class if a true sport bike is what you choose to purchase. Something like the Honda CBR F4i (which you'll have to buy used since they are out of production) or the Honda CBR600RR are good machines, as are the Yamaha R6 and Suzuki GSX-R 600. All are very capable machines, with plenty of power for a novice to enjoy. Power delivery to the rear wheel is fairly smooth so with a reasonable degree of control you won't be likely to spin the rear wheel (though it is possible).
If you choose to go with a cruiser, go with something in the 650cc-750cc range. Again, Honda, Yamaha (Star motorcycles) and Suzuki all make decent models in that range that would suit a novice. All would serve you well until you've outgrown them through sheer riding experience. That should take a few years unless you ride everyday, everywhere you go for the first two years. At that point you might be ready to move on to something else.
If you live anywhere where it snows, a rust bucket car would be enough to get you through the winter until riding season starts again. Buy yourself some reasonably priced protective gear (Cortech makes some great stuff at affordable prices and it's pretty good in the rain, too), a full-face helmet, leather gloves and above ankle boots. Full protective gear will give you the best chance to survive a mistake (a crash of your own doing) or an accident cause by some @ss in a car or truck. Don't let anyone tell you you don't need that stuff. It saved my life and it saved the life of a professional instructor I know. Both of us survived head-on collisions with cars because we had full protective gear on.
And last, but most importantly ... never, EVER, ride over your head!!!
Never, EVER, let your friends goad you into riding at speeds you know you can't handle. That's a sure fire recipe for a funeral. Yours, and probably some innocent bystander's as well. Do yourself and everyone else a huge favor and just don't go there. And, always view your riding with a critical eye. That way you can review your riding with the intention of improving your skills. Do that and with any luck you'll survive 35 years on two wheels the way I have.
Good luck!
Do you recommend any good brand for scooter other than the expensive Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki?
asmrani
I found a lot of cheap chinese mopeds but who wants to buy them anyway. I'm looking for good quality150cc moped for $2000 max.
Thanks in advance
Answer
The only reasonably well built and affordable bikes, other than the Japanese and European scooters, would be from KYMco and SYM. I have heard some very good things about these companies. Both are companies that have spun off from Honda and are based in Taiwan.
However, while a parts supply chain is in place, somewhat, there is a limited number of service centers for these brands at this time. As sales increase, KYMco and SYM will address these problems, but for the foreseeable future, the Japanese manufacturers have a lock on this market.
The other option is to go with the European scooters, which are in fact very well built, but have a rather high price tag on them. The parts supply chain for the European scooters is problematic at best, but workable.
If all you can afford, at this time, is a low buck Chinese scooter, than keep saving your money until you can afford a nice scooter. http://www.clevelandscooters.com/id60.html
There are some good used Japanese and European scooters out there as well. Just don't settle for something that there is no parts or service available for.
Ride Safe
The only reasonably well built and affordable bikes, other than the Japanese and European scooters, would be from KYMco and SYM. I have heard some very good things about these companies. Both are companies that have spun off from Honda and are based in Taiwan.
However, while a parts supply chain is in place, somewhat, there is a limited number of service centers for these brands at this time. As sales increase, KYMco and SYM will address these problems, but for the foreseeable future, the Japanese manufacturers have a lock on this market.
The other option is to go with the European scooters, which are in fact very well built, but have a rather high price tag on them. The parts supply chain for the European scooters is problematic at best, but workable.
If all you can afford, at this time, is a low buck Chinese scooter, than keep saving your money until you can afford a nice scooter. http://www.clevelandscooters.com/id60.html
There are some good used Japanese and European scooters out there as well. Just don't settle for something that there is no parts or service available for.
Ride Safe
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