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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!
What would be a good bicycle for fast street riding or freeriding?
Jimi
Max price at around $600 please. Height 5'11" ish, 170 lbs skinny if those make any significant difference. Thanks :D
Answer
I am not up on free riding, so I may not be right on the mark. I am not to sure based on your question that you would ride on the street more than free riding. Which leads me to Specialized Crosstail consider the comments below on the type of riding, does this match what you are looking for in a bike?
This bike can do it all.
[4 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
âââââ 5.0
PROS
Durable
Multi-purpose
CONS
BEST USES
Off-road
Pavement
"I bought this bike after a trip to my local bike shop. I told them I was looking for something good for all around but nothing race oriented that would be good to get back into biking and get me out for some exercise.
So far this bike has made me want to get out and bike more. I've done anywhere from 5 to 45 miles per outing and have been on pavement, dirt and gravel, cinder paths and all out mud and muck. I'm just starting out but can easily spin the bike 15-18mph up moderate hills and it felt solid on a 38+ mph descent down the back half of a rather steep hill climb.
The last ride that sold me was a 40 mile trip around a lake in the thousand islands that was 30 miles on-road and then 10 miles of absolutely, what was I thinking off-roading. This thing pulled me through some good 8-10" of standing water and was still decent enough at pulling me up over some decent sized rock inclines with wet and muddy tires (semi-slick) tires.
The stock seat was good for me until about 20 miles round trips and then I swapped out for something a bit more comfortable.
As my legs feel stronger and my distances increase I am wondering if I could also use a road bike but I wouldn't get rid of this one either way."
Read more: http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/men-specialized-crosstrail-reviews#ixzz1KVEtfGZP
Best.
I am not up on free riding, so I may not be right on the mark. I am not to sure based on your question that you would ride on the street more than free riding. Which leads me to Specialized Crosstail consider the comments below on the type of riding, does this match what you are looking for in a bike?
This bike can do it all.
[4 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
âââââ 5.0
PROS
Durable
Multi-purpose
CONS
BEST USES
Off-road
Pavement
"I bought this bike after a trip to my local bike shop. I told them I was looking for something good for all around but nothing race oriented that would be good to get back into biking and get me out for some exercise.
So far this bike has made me want to get out and bike more. I've done anywhere from 5 to 45 miles per outing and have been on pavement, dirt and gravel, cinder paths and all out mud and muck. I'm just starting out but can easily spin the bike 15-18mph up moderate hills and it felt solid on a 38+ mph descent down the back half of a rather steep hill climb.
The last ride that sold me was a 40 mile trip around a lake in the thousand islands that was 30 miles on-road and then 10 miles of absolutely, what was I thinking off-roading. This thing pulled me through some good 8-10" of standing water and was still decent enough at pulling me up over some decent sized rock inclines with wet and muddy tires (semi-slick) tires.
The stock seat was good for me until about 20 miles round trips and then I swapped out for something a bit more comfortable.
As my legs feel stronger and my distances increase I am wondering if I could also use a road bike but I wouldn't get rid of this one either way."
Read more: http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/men-specialized-crosstrail-reviews#ixzz1KVEtfGZP
Best.
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