When you're just starting your motorcycling journey, it's important to choose the right bike for you. It can be a tough decision, especially if you're new to riding. Let’s break down the important factors that you should keep in mind when making your decision.
First and most importantly, what is your price range? Once you know how much you are willing to spend, you will be able to narrow down your search much easier. We commonly see riders spending between $2000 and $4000 on a used bike and $5000-$8000 on a new one. Don’t let these numbers scare you, once you establish your budget you’ll be able to find a motorcycle in your price range, it just might not be the exact bike you were thinking of, so it’s important to be flexible and look at all types of brands and models.
Do you want a new or used motorcycle? Brand new bikes might be the more appealing option initially due to their advanced technology and modern looks. But don’t disregard purchasing a pre-owned bike when you’re just getting started and here’s why. You can usually get more bang for your buck if you’re buying a used motorcycle, but more importantly, when you’re first learning to ride you’ll probably find yourself accidentally dropping your bike and roughing it up. It’ll be less heartbreaking if you’re scratching up a bike that’s already been through it, then a brand new motorcycle, and hey, you can always upgrade once you’ve gotten the hang of riding.
What are your riding plans? This is another important question to ask yourself when purchasing a new bike. There are so many different types of bikes all with different purposes, so you want to make sure that you are getting a bike that fits your needs. Will you be going on long-distance road trips? Using it as a commuter? Or do you just want to hit the trails? Whatever your goals, there is a motorcycle segment for you.
Once you’ve answered those three primary questions, you’ll have a good foundation for your starter motorcycle search. There are so many starter motorcycles on the market that could satisfy your requirements. The Honda CBR500R, the Yamaha YZF-R3, and the Suzuki GSX-R750 are all reliable and affordable options just to name a few. But to help you even more we’ve compiled a general guide of the best starter motorcycles to help get you started, take a look.
