How to Choose a Motorcycle For You (For Men and Women, New to Experienced Riders)
Hello, I’d like to speak to you about our love and passion, Motorcycles. 📞

Me, in a knee brace from a motorcycle accident, proposing to my new bike on Valentine's Day.

It’s always a great day to see new riders interested in exploring the amazing and highly diverse world of riding motorcycles. It can be difficult for a new rider to know where to start when choosing their first bike, and an unpleasant first experience could crush their spark of interest. The thought-provoking points listed in this article come from many experienced riders who only wish for you to choose the right bike so you’ll continue on to enjoy many miles throughout the years.

(Scroll down for other articles and videos for your educational enjoyment.)

Positive steps forward:

• Decide what kind of riding you want to do.
        Track riding, motocross, cross-country touring, adventure riding, racing, single-track riding, bar-hopping, commuting; just to list a few types of ways to ride two wheels. While a professional rider could take the wrong tool and still do amazing with it, most of us aren’t professionals. Choosing a bike designed for your intentions will ease your way into developing the skills that could one day make you the Swiss Army knife of riders. Until then, the right tool for the right job is a great first step.
  
  
• Take at least one on-road and/or off-road motorcycle riding course before buying.
        The most common issue with new riders comes from being scared of them. Whether that’s the fear of dropping it, leaning it, losing control, or the fear of it being too tall. Taking classes aimed towards your chosen riding style will help build confidence and show you the, often counterintuitive, mechanics behind enjoying your ride while not getting hurt. It simply doesn’t come naturally and no amount of years riding will beat taking a safety course. It’s even a common myth that you need to be able to put both feet on the ground, whereas instructors will always teach you to only put one down. Plus, you’ll get your motorcycle endorsement from the class so you can start test riding from dealerships.
  
  
• Sit on and test ride ALL of the bikes.
        No one can tell you what you’ll be comfortable on and the only way to find the best-fitted seat to your booty is by sitting on and sampling as many bikes as you can. Ask friends, go to dealerships, or even try going to motorcycle events and talking to people who own bikes you’re interested in. There’s many great sources for learning about ergonomics so you can be aware of what angle you prefer your hips, knees, feet, and arms to be while resting in the seat. (Sources listed at the bottom of the article.)
  
  
• You’re buying your first bike, not your last bike. 
        We all make learner’s mistakes so making those mistakes on a cheaper, used bike is a lot less painful than on your dream bike. It’s also not the best idea to get massively in debt for a new hobby that you may not stick with. Set a budget that you won’t regret then look for a bike in the 80% range while saving some money for modifications and riding gear. Every bike will require some mods for individual comforts so make sure to check prices for things such as new seats, bar risers, windshields, hand guards, bash plates, suspension, luggage, etc. As far as gear, trying on all the helmets, jackets, gloves, and pants you can get yours hands on is the best way to find the right fit for you. (Just like picking a motorcycle)
  
  
• Check the long-term affordability of your chosen bike.
        Every bike breaks. Period. Some break more than others, some have more/less maintenance than others. Of course, there’s many more-so reliable bikes to start with but if you’re aiming for performance > reliability (you don’t get both), be prepared. Call your local shops to ask what basic maintenance and repairs will cost, such as oil changes, fork seals, brake pads, valve clearances, brake fluid flush, new tires, new drive chain/belt. Remember that insurance is required for many countries so call your provider to see how much insurance will cost you over the years you own the bike. (You even get a discount if you take a safety course!)
  
  
• Your dream or perfect bike will change with time.
        Your perfect bike will change after each bike you own. You may get into a new style of riding or maybe you’ll get so sick of something about your old bike that you want anything BUT that. Change could even come from borrowing a friend’s bike and realizing how uncomfortable you actually were and didn’t know it.
  
  
• Be honest with yourself and choose a bike you love above all else.
        No motorcycle is perfect yet if you choose one that tugs your heart-striings, you’ll never ride a day in regret. If you don’t turn back when you’re walking away from your bike to give it a cheeky wink or smirk, it may not be the right bike for you. A comfortable bike that doesn't hurt after an hour of riding and that is the right kind of fun will inspire you to ride more.

Let’s cover some common mistakes:

• Asking strangers on the internet which bike is best for you.
        Every rider loves their bike, and rightly so, but it doesn’t mean it’ll be the right one for you. It’s like asking Facebook what your favorite color should be.
  
  
• Being bullied into a specific make/model by friends/family.
        The biggest regret you’ll ever make when buying a motorcycle is buying one that someone else told you to. Ignore that peer pressure and focus on finding the bike for you.
  
  
• Listening to the articles that say “top 8 motorcycles for ____”.
        Just because it’s popular, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Simple enough.
  
  
• Buy a bike because of its appearance or perceived “coolness” factor.
        For one, I think all motorcycles are cool. Focusing on paint jobs, LED lights, aftermarket parts, and other bling isn’t going to lead you to a bike you’d rather ride than stare at. Once you pick a bike, the great thing is that you can make all the superficial modifications you want to your style. Be wary of modifications that affect the performance of the motorcycle. Cheaply done large wheel or lowering jobs can severely impact the handling and operation of a bike.
  
  
• High mileage isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
        Bikes that sit will tend to have many more things wrong with them than bikes that were ridden regularly. Research will tell you at what mileage which maintenance should’ve been done, which can also lead to you buying from someone who was maintenance-responsible by asking questions. With proper care, many bikes, like the Honda Goldwing and the Victory Crosscountry, are 200,000 mile machines before needing major engine work. Of course, they also have their “sucky” points too.
  
  
• If you do performance modifications, consider also doing safety upgrades too.
        It’s really cool that you doubled your horsepower but did you double the braking power so you can stop it too? Food for thought.

From personal experience over 4.5 years of living on my motorcycle, I went from a Victory Crosscountry to a Honda CB500x to a Suzuki DR350, all bikes of vastly different categories. I always thought that the next one would be my forever bike but my wants and style of riding kept changing. I’m glad to say I’ve got the varied experience and I’m much better at knowing what I will and won't compromise with now. 

A good tool for looking at ergonomics is https://cycle-ergo.com/. Shown below are pictures of my ergonomics on each bike.

Don’t just listen to me, check out other sources!

A variety of “how to pick a bike that fits you” articles:
www.motorcyclelegalfoundation.com/how-to-choose-a-motorcycle-that-fits-your-height-and-size/
www.motorcycle.com/rider-safety/choose-a-motorcycle-that-fits-88226.html 
www.cycleworld.com/how-to-choose-right-type-motorcycle/ 

Cruiser to ADV for the older folks (like how to get on them):
https://youtu.be/CF1uP12BU5M

Jocelin Snow; the 5 foot, 1.5 inch tall woman who competes on the BMW GS:
https://youtu.be/zYp1zXyc0fA

New and old ways of lifting an adventure bike:
https://youtu.be/45iv6pdogLo

Tips on how to ride a tall motorcycle, only putting one foot down, etc: 
https://youtu.be/s07hML6bJOA


Hope you enjoyed reading and please share with everyone if you like it!