Jan 20 2011
Finding the Right Motorcycle to Suit You
If you’re looking to buy a new motorcycle, it can at first appear to be a risky task to get right. There is relatively little information available for motorbike buyers and lack of experience can lead to the wrong buying decisions being made. Therefore it’s worth taking the time to put some initial research together, particularly for first time buyers.
When seeking out your perfect motorcycle, you will want to find something that matches your personal attributes like your size and riding experience. To help you make that choice, motorbikes are usually split into 6 distinct types: cruiser, touring, sports, standard, dirt and dual-purpose. Some will argue you can split motorbikes into even more subcategories, but we will be discussing just these six.
An often made mistake amongst first time buyers is to opt straight away for a low cost street bike with little thought to the comfort of the ride or the power available. This can quickly dissuade new riders from carrying on with motorcycles, so research into the various types of bikes available is a must.
The most popular style of motorcycle is the cruiser, a classic looking street bike with comfort and style at the forefront of its development. Large and low-profile seating easily supplies the comfort, while lots of chrome plating and a roaring exhaust will provide the desired style in most cases. The price of a cruising bike varies greatly, with the cheapest motorbikes available to buy new for around 3 or 4 thousand pounds, increasing all the way up to around the 15 thousand pound mark.
Touring bikes are built for long distance riding, with comfort the primary focus of these ‘Cadillacs’ of the biking world. They are typically large heavy motorbikes with a high-powered engine and wide chassis. This can make handling them more difficult than other motorcycles – particularly at high speeds – meaning it is mostly experienced riders who opt for this type of bike. Touring bikes are not that suitable for town and city riding, as their build is primarily for open and wide roads. The cost is also a consideration when looking at touring bikes, with prices typically starting at the higher end of 7 or 8 thousand pounds.
Sports bikes are another popular style of motorcycle, particularly with younger bikers. Characterised by increased speed and handling, sports bikes are built mainly with performance in mind. Unfortunately this focus on higher performance means insurance premiums are usually higher for sports bikes than they are for most other types of motorcycle.
Standard type motorcycles were once one of the more popular types of bike available but have unfortunately been replaced by advances in other types of motorcycle. Often described as an ‘all round’ motorbike, standard bikes are ideal for people who just want something that will enable them get from A to B. It can also be seen as an ideal first bike, with its ease of handling and balance perfect for a learner.
Dirt bikes and dual-purpose motorbikes are quite similar in type, the former being solely an off road bike while the latter is modified to be suitable for road use, with legal requirements such as headlights and indicators added. Dirt bikes are certainly growing in popularity, particularly in competitive riding, with dirt bike competitions emerging all around the world.
As can be seen, there are a variety of types of motorcycle available, each with their own stand out features suited to different riders. Take the time to work out what kind of rider you are or want to be and it should help you narrow down your search for the perfect motorcycle for you.
Ryan Welsby writes more about the used motorbike market in the UK at Motorbikes 4 Sale, which provides an easy breakdown of bikes for sale from Honda bikes to used Ducatis for sale.