How to Buy a Two-Wheeler

Off road or road ready?

Any of the Big name bikes are reliable. Pick what you like and what's in your budget.

At that cc you can get ones that are both on and off road. Figure how far you are going to travel and the type of roads. Street bikes will have better gearing for highway and regular roads. Dirt bikes give you an extra ability on the weekends to have fun. Off road make sure you wear protective gear. Even the best riders have falls. Don't know if helmets are mandatory where you live, but wear one even if they are not until you become a good rider. Consider taking a riding course. They teach you a lot and help get your license. They also lower your insurance rates.

Hi ananch05,

I think seat height would be a good starting point. Go around to the bike dealers and sit on some to sample the feel, you should be able to sit relaxed and have both feet flat on the ground while also having hold of the handle bars with both hands (one hand on each handle grip).

Bewire wrote: "while also having hold of the handle bars with both hands (one hand on each handle grip)"

Really?

As opposed to what?

As opposed to sitting there and not getting a feel for the back and shoulder position. Some handle bars do not come back very far and put you in an awkward position for riding. I have had some that make you feel like you are going to fall over the front of the bike during hard braking. I prefer cruiser type bikes over mopeds and crotch rockets. But, I also drive mine to work 20 miles each way in the summer and winter.

100cc will get you around town but not worth a darn on the highway. I had a 250 Honda Rebel that would only run about 60 mph with a single rider. Put your girlfriend on the back and your lucky to hit 55 mph. No fat jokes. The seat was not big enough for a chunky butt on the front or back.

Things to consider. Rider comfort (seat, seat height, handlebars and grips), type of terrain (city, country) accessories (is this going to the store for bread and milk or just to putt around on), electric start (kick starts usually give sore shins till you quit hitting the foot peg on the down stroke)

Not knowing your age or size it is hard to recommend a size. I have found most people, even 16 year olds will quickly out grow anything smaller than 250 cc unless it is to be used around a camp ground.

One hand on the throttle, bike on stand sitting cool in the show room

It would help if we knew where you live and what you want this bike for. Here in the US, 150cc bikes are primarily sold for off road use, called, a "dirt bike". In other parts of the world, bikes this small are used for transportation.

The OP sounds like he's not in the US, so where he lives is a big factor. Local laws dictate if he'll need a licence, registration, and insurance.

In light of all that, look around and see what other people are using for your intended purpose. Talk to them, ask question about their bike. The answer to your question will become apparent.

I'm pretty much in agreement with the responses thus far so I'll address your question from the economics of a purchase.

Because of your lack the experience, you have little way of knowing what direction your interests will take you. You may even decide that you don't like two wheelers altogether. It's happened.

Starting with a 150cc bike is prudent. They are lighter, more economical, less costly to buy and maintain and easier to handle and, if you should drop the bike some day, which is likely, there is less chance of serious injury.

Buy a used bike, not a new one. Buy a popular one for which dealer support and parts are easily available.

The worst depreciation occurs to the first buyer. Since the likelihood is high that you will outgrow that size motorcycle, it makes no sense to suffer that initial loss of value, especially when it's possible that you will want something substantially different in the next machine, a likely occurrence. A well maintained bike that is two years old will have little mileage and anything prone to failure will already have been addressed by the dealer under warranty.

Make sure it's equipped with side bars (crash bars) so that if you do fall over, the weight of the bike will not be on your limbs. Fiberglass saddlebags on the back of the bike also help prevent the weight of the bike from falling on you.

Everything else being equal, a wide seat is more comfortable than a narrow one.

Windscreens are a plus however do not buy a full screen. A well designed narrow one will be just as effective in deflecting rain, bugs and stones and the reduced frontal area will not put a burden on that small engine. A big screen will create more drag than a small bike can handle.

Lastly, wear a helmet all the time, regardless of how much experience you gain. While you may not cause an accident, others can and do and if you are the one they hit, you want an approved helmet to insulate your head from injury should it strikes the pavement. After over 45 years of riding most every type of two wheeler, I am still convinced that a good helmet is a must!

Lastly, learn to drive defensively. . . . as if the other guy is out to get you.

A little paranoia when riding a bike is good for you!

L.J.

The above posts contain many good bits of advice. I recently completed a motorcycle safety course. You'll find that many of the government funded ones are fairly practical and are designed to give a new rider the basic skills and habits required to ride safely. You'll also find that the instructors tend to have a lot of experience and are willing to give advice to first time riders on many subjects. You may also want to check out the Kelly Blue Book Motorcycle site. This site has some very useful information.

Lots of good advice here. Follow it.

One thing I might add. If you live in a climate where it gets cold, do not scrimp on riding clothes. There is nothing more miserable than being committed to a ride and find yourself shivering almost uncontrollably two minutes into it.

Here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia we've been running 15-20 degrees F. below normal for about 10 days now and it takes me longer to get ready to ride than it does to drive 9.5 miles to work.

Get leather or armored riding clothes, hopefully lined for the winter. And, remember, on a two wheeler of any stripe, you're a TARGET. That clothing can do a lot more than keep you warm.

Good luck,

Hooker

In addition to Hooker's comment I would add that heated gear is available. While I haven't personally used any, yet, I have been told that a heated vest is well worth the investment if you plan on riding early/late in the season.

Note to self:

Investigate heated gloves...

I keep forgetting. Until I'm 5 minutes down the road on a sub-freezing day.

Hooker

Already looked into them. They seem to be going for $150+. My course instructor said he uses the vest but really doesn't think the gloves are that much of an issue if your core remains warm. I'm definately gonna get a vest though...the winds along the lake are as bad as the winds in your area...wind protection just isnt enough, I'll see about the gloves once I've tried riding with the vest.

Lake Erie???? <shudder/shiver> I used to live in Mentor and still have family in Euclid. I don't think I'd have a bike if I was back up there.

Heated gloves interest me because my fingers get cold long before anything else. I'm a smoker so I guess artery constriction in the fingers gets them cold and also because my right hand is always in the windstream. I have a windshield but no fairing and no friction lock/cruise control.

My leather jacket (with liner for winter) works just fine for me down into the 20's (F). Chaps can be a problem at that temperature, though. I'm probably going to get lined leather pants (not heated).

Hooker

Yeah it does get cold up here, but im to the west of Sandusky, so it's pretty rural out here. and since i've got almost a 9 mile straight shot on the hwy for a commute I thought it would be beneficial to use the bike most of the year. Mar/Apr-Oct that is. I did think about lined chaps, course I have a set of leather chaps and may just buy a liner for them, or have one made. I'll figure it out this coming season.

When at Whidbey Island I used products like over the handlebar mitts that allow your ungloved hand to grip the throttle, but I wore light gloves anyway in case I dropped it

www.hippohands.com/Hippo%20Hands.htm

www.cabelas.com

www.icebike.org/Clothing/handprotection.htm

Depending on your location there are also choices in either 2 or 4 stroke engines; simplicity with the 2 stroke versus the reliability of a 4 stroke. Base your choice on what dealers are handy and what you hear about the dealers and mechanics you might be dealing with. I agree with always wearing safety gear, if in doubt try doing a full body dive onto the ground from the standing position.