The following lines are not meant to be taken as some sort of bike-choosing bible, but are rather intended to help the future riders get a better picture of what the two-wheeled fun is about. There is no way one should ever be able to categorize bikes and riders well enough and thus create some sort of matching chart; as people are different and bikes also come in innumerable sizes, shapes, purposes and whatnot, choosing is just a matter of choice, if you allow me such a redundancy.
There are a lot of experienced riders out there who agree that bikes are meant to be driven with the mind, and not with the hands, if you get the subtlety. Nevertheless, choosing a bike that doesn't fit the rider's skills or style overwhelms the simple pleasure of owning such a machine; even more, failing to master the beast can end bad, for both bike and pilot... and that's not what biking is about.
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How to Choose Your First Bike: Episode 1
30 June 2012, 11:58 UTC · By Florin Tibu
The idea of this article came after two friends of mine have repeatedly asked me to help them decide on what motorcycle they should buy first.
The following lines are not meant to be taken as some sort of bike-choosing bible, but are rather intended to help the future riders get a better picture of what the two-wheeled fun is about. There is no way one should ever be able to categorize bikes and riders well enough and thus create some sort of matching chart; as people are different and bikes also come in innumerable sizes, shapes, purposes and whatnot, choosing is just a matter of choice, if you allow me such a redundancy.
There are a lot of experienced riders out there who agree that bikes are meant to be driven with the mind, and not with the hands, if you get the subtlety. Nevertheless, choosing a bike that doesn't fit the rider's skills or style overwhelms the simple pleasure of owning such a machine; even more, failing to master the beast can end bad, for both bike and pilot... and that's not what biking is abou
I guess this is the first and most important question to be answered. It's not about deciding which bike you're going to buy, but do you really need it? Most people don't buy motorcycles out of pure need − it's more often a matter of strong passion. Of course, there are those who buy a bike because they feel it's a status booster, but for these people the matter of choice is of lesser importance.
I happen to know people who are crazy about how the bikes look and the sounds they make, but would rather die than get on a motorcycle and ride it, even as a pillion passenger. In their case, it's also about passion, but with a different twist; and one would possibly even meet a bike collector who does not ride; that would be little wonder, though.
Either because you feel like you must have a bike or believe it will make your everyday life easier (easy commuting and stuff), you should thoroughly consider your needs. Knowing at least a bit what you really want will make choosing a bike a lot easier; and this is because there is an enormous difference between the busy traffic downtown and riding to Alaska or Nordkapp, let alone the sunny track days or striving to get across a 1 meter-deep pond full of mud.