The moment where you decide to buy your first motorcycle is incredibly exciting. There will have been so much that has led up to this moment, and you need to make sure that you put the groundwork in to properly prepare. Here is what you need to know before buying your very first bike.
Make Sure You are Qualified
Hopefully, you will already be qualified or in the process of getting your license when you get your first motorcycle. We all have the temptation to hop on our brand-new bike to properly try it out when we get it. However, you cannot afford to do this if you are not properly qualified. It simply isn’t worth it to get caught without a license and have the bike taken off you straight away. Start getting some lessons and try to complete a few parts of your license before you commit to buying a bike.
Research the Specs
Every motorcycle manufacturer puts something different into their rides. A Suzuki motorcycle is going to be very different from a Harley Davidson and you need to make sure that you are buying the right bike for you.
Start by looking at the primary use of the bike. If you want a touring bike, this is going to have different specifications than others, and you need to make sure that you get a bike that suits your lifestyle. On top of that comes all the basic stuff you need to look at like tank size and fuel economy. If you have ever bought a car, think about some of the aspects you would look at here. They are going to be very similar to if you have ever bought a new car.
Find a Legitimate Seller
When you are ready to buy your first bike, you have two options. Firstly, you can buy new. You can head directly to one of the brands that makes motorcycles or to one of their official partners to get a brand-new bike fresh off the assembly line.
You can also decide to buy from one of these stores if they have a second-hand section. Many of the best dealers take in and refurbish motorcycles so you know that you will be getting a quality vehicle from a respected and reputable source.
The other option is being second-through a third party. While there is nothing wrong with this, you need to make sure that you are spending your hard-earned money on a decent piece of machinery. You should always be able to view the bike in person, and potentially even be able to give it a test ride. If a price looks too good to be true, it most likely will be. Try to find a legitimate seller through a reputable second-hand site instead of contacting them through any random means.
Look over the Terms of Sale
No matter whether you are buying from a dealer or a private individual, you need to agree on some terms of sale. If you are buying privately, it might be worth asking to draw up some sort of document. You will then have a concrete proof of transaction instead of just exchanging money and keys.
Terms of sale are incredibly important as they lay out literally everything that will be happening in the sale. You need to make sure that you read through them and fully understand what is going on so you don’t get caught out by some part of the deal you did not anticipate.
Take a look at the Raging Bull terms and conditions just as an example of what you could expect from any site. You can see everything that there is to know about this site, and they fully go over everything that a consumer should be aware of. It doesn’t matter where you look; the terms of service for any business are going to be incredibly important. Don’t skip over them. Even buying a second-hand bike could be a serious investment that you don’t want to miss.
Don’t Forget the Gear
Veteran riders can skip this one, but newbies need to make sure that they have the right gear. You should never get on a motorcycle without the right protective equipment. It might be hot and uncomfortable, but it could save your life.
Make sure you get fitted for a helmet that fits you properly and throw in the rest of the gear like a jacket, gloves, trousers, and boots. There is no excuse at all for not making sure you are protected to the best of your abilities when you get out on the road. It simply isn’t worth the risk.
Don’t Push Yourself
If you are a newly qualified rider who just wants to get on the road, you may make the mistake of thinking that you can just hop on and go wherever you please. However, this is often not the case. Your body may not be used to riding for long distances. Even a more experienced rider might run into difficulties if they have switched to a new machine. Staying within the same brand will afford some familiarity, but you could also end up using something completely unfamiliar to you.
No matter what, you need to make sure that you do not push yourself too much. Make sure that you get out and about for some quick rides in an area familiar to you. While some people prefer to break in a new bike with a long touring holiday, this isn’t always the best option overall. Take the time to learn how your bike works and get ready to enjoy the open road. Getting your hands on your first motorcycle is always an exciting time. Make sure you do your research to grab the right bike for you and make sure all the gear and equipment is in place so you can also use it. Before you know it, you will be on the motorbike and heading out for the first time.