Stay Upright - Making the right bike choice
Some beginners don't get advice and simply plunge into the world of motorcycling with an image of themselves riding a bike just like one they saw on the road, on TV, or in a magazine. Dave Gibson from Stay Upright shares his tips for making a good first bike choice.
Like anything in which we have little or no practical experience, it's normal to be influenced by those around us who have some experience when it comes to choosing our first bike. Family and friends can have a significant bearing on first bike choice - for better and for worse.
An acquaintance recently became interested in surfing and after months of watching and speaking to a couple of experienced surfers, he bought a second-hand surfboard. It was in great condition and he got a great deal, but as a novice he quickly found that the characteristics of the board made it virtually impossible for him to learn to ride. He spent more time in the water than on the board, and it now sits in the shed as he seeks a board more suited to his skill level. The message here is when starting something new, ask lots of questions and get advice from a range or people.
It's the same with motorcycles. First bike choice will have a major bearing not only on your safety, but also how quickly and how well your riding skills will develop. Too many learners buy inappropriate first bikes - physically too big, too heavy or too powerful. Just like surfboards, bikes also have different handling characteristics and many are quite unsuited to inexperienced riders. Having bought the wrong bike, beginners struggle to develop basic riding skills like good clutch and throttle control, steering, braking and manoeuvring techniques. Not only do these riders often fail at licence test time, they may suffer long term skill deficits.
When deciding on what to buy, keep in mind that your first bike won't be your last. That means don't dive in and get your dream bike first up. It would be wiser to choose a 2nd hand bike that is cheap and reliable, that is easy to ride and that gives you confidence to try new things. There's plenty of these to choose from in JUST BIKES each issue, from dealers and private sellers. The other plus with buying second hand is that someone else has already paid the initial depreciation. Ideally, it will already have its first blemish, so the inevitable silly mistake that happens whenever we try to learn a new skill won't result in heartbreak.
After basic riding skills are mastered in around 6-12 months of regular riding, then consider your next bike. Be honest with yourself and get a bike that suits your needs. Whatever you buy, it will be a compromise, so you must decide its principal use. If you only plan to commute, anything bigger than a 250cc is a waste of money. If you plan to commute and do the occasional weekend run, check out the mid-sized 300 - 600cc range. Regular track day junkies might consider a sports bike, but these are often harder to ride well and they make awful commuters - you may look cool but it is no fun at all crawling along in traffic at 20kph. If your bike will mainly be used for touring, look for something bigger and set up for comfortable long distance riding. Finally, if you need a bike that will do a bit of everything including a bit of off-road work, consider a dual purpose machine, or even a motard that's road legal.
If you are like most riders, many motorcycles lie ahead of you. Choose your first couple carefully as they will have a significant bearing on the sort of rider you will become, the skills you will develop and the levels of safe riding you will achieve.
One last thing. Take lots of photos of each bike you own as they are great to look back on and provide memories of things you did together and places visited.
Until next month, stay upright. . . . no matter what you're riding!
Dave Gibson
ACT and Region Manager
Stay Upright Motorcycle Techniques
