Specials

Type of Bike to Buy?

Factors Considered When Purchasing A New Motorcycle

Purchasing your first motorcycle can be a marvelous experience if you know what you are looking for and have your list of possible bikes narrowed down to just a couple different models. If you have no clue what you are looking for, your task can be overwhelming due to the fact there are a number of factors that you need to take into consideration.

Engine Size -  One of the most important factors that you should pay attention to is the size of the motorcycle that your are looking for with respect to the engine size. Many riders prefer a bigger engine because of the ability to handle the road better, meaning that there is more power to get up hills, pass other vehicles, and accelerate out of stops and other areas where you were forced to slow down. It is the higher amount of power that often times will sway a person’s decision to buy one bike over the other. For a person who is just getting into the recreation of motorcycling, buying a motorcycle with a smaller engine may be more desirable because of the fact that riders who don’t have a lot of experience tend to be a little intimidated by bigger engines. Therefore, until they are able to overcome that intimidation, settle for smaller engine sizes.

Size of Motorcycle - Another important factor that comes to mind with dealing with the decision of which motorcycle to buy is the size of the body. The shape and size of the rider is going to determine the body style of motorcycle that is most suitable. A rider who is only 5 feet tall is going to have trouble finding a motorcycle that is the right size because of the small leg height. Most motorcycles have a seat height of 26 to 28 inches or higher so anyone with legs shorter than that are going to have a hard time finding a bike that they will fit on. Generally, riders are looking for a low enough seat that will allow them to have their feet flat on the ground. This allows for the most control over the motorcycle. There are many different body styles made for motorcycles today. There are chopper style bikes, traditional style, and sporty style motorcycles. They all have their own unique features and are all geared to one type of riding or another. Some riders may like a longer wheel base, and some may like a shorter wheel base which will allow for a shorter turning radius and quicker cornering. Again, beginners may want to consider a motorcycle with a shorter wheelbase. This will allow them to execute the cornering more precisely and with greater ease than longer wheelbase motorcycles.

Price - Among the many factors of purchasing a motorcycle is of course the price of the motorcycle. With the market conditions, many are more hesitant to spend their money so if they’re on the market for a new motorcycle, they may opt for a cheaper make and model of motorcycle in order to save some of their hard earned money. So a motorcycle that was purchased because of the popularity of the make and model, but with the higher price tag, might not be chosen in times like these. Riders might chose to purchase the cheaper model instead.

Brand loyalty -  The brand name may also be a factor in what type of motorcycle is purchased by a new rider. If they have been around one type of motorcycle their whole life, they may choose to purchase that brand when the opportunity comes for them to buy their own.

These are just a few factors that may influence a first time rider to purchase one bike or another. If you’re in the market for a new motorcycle, make sure you review these few points to help get you on your way to deciding which bike is right for you.