Buying Your First new Motorcycle

Take the Time to Do it Right

Buying your first new motorcycle is a personal, emotional, and exhilarating experience. For many people, simply looking at the shiny, new bikes on the dealership’s floor is enough to get their hearts pumping. If you’re reading this article, you must be one of those people, but unlike most people, you’re thinking about taking one of those shiny bikes home with you. If that’s the case, then I’d like to congratulate you on two counts. First, congratulations on deciding to buy a motorcycle (and on convincing your significant other to let you buy one). Second, congratulations on going about this purchase the right way. What do I mean by the right way? I mean that you’re doing your homework, which is one of the most important steps in the whole process. Simply reading this article is a great way to get a grasp of the many different factors involved in the purchase you’re about to make.

Learn to Ride

If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, then the obvious first step is to learn how. Riding is a skill that you’ll be developing for as long as you own a bike, and it’s important to get a good, solid grasp of the basic skills involved. To do that, take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider Course. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, or MSF, offers a renowned training program that will get you well on your way towards becoming a mature rider. It will teach you skills and techniques that could very well save your life, and if that’s not worth the time, then what is?

The landmark Hurt Report on Motorcycle Accidents says the following about motorcycle rider training: “The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduce injuries in the event of accidents.”

MSF Rider Courses usually cost around $100-$150, and have loaner bikes and helmets available on the spot. Not only does the course give you a chance to try riding without having to make any significant investments, but if you do decide to keep riding, its successful completion could even qualify you for a motorcycle license; some states waive the motorcycle license riding test for people who have successfully finished an MSF course. Not only that, but having taken the course can even save you a percentage on your insurance premiums (which, as you’ll soon see, is a big deal).

Convinced you need to take this course? If not, I’d suggest finding a different hobby. If so, check with your local motorcycle dealer for information regarding local MSF programs, or visit the MSF web site at www.msf-usa.org.