Typical stand-out features on cruisers include lots of chrome, a large, comfortable seat, a low profile, and a loud exhaust. Any Harley Davidson motorcycle is a good example of a cruiser. These bikes typically weigh anywhere from 450-1000 pounds, and can cost $5,000 to $20,000 on up.

Standard Bikes

Standard bikes are just as the name implies. They’re light-weight motorcycles with decent power (600 to 700ccs), and they handle well as a result. They’re comfortable both in the city and on the highway, and can cost as little as $4,000 to $6,000. Though they’re not as comfortable as touring bikes or cruisers, especially when riding for long distances, they do feature seats that keep your back upright and relaxed.

Since standard bikes are such well-balanced motorcycles all around, and usually run cheaper than most other types of bikes, they bikes make excellent entry level bikes.

Motocross & Enduro Bikes

These bikes are strictly made to ride off-road. In fact, most of them aren’t street legal at all. While motocross bikes are made for riding on dirt roads and trails, enduro bikes are made for off-road competitions. These bikes feature a high center of gravity so that they can easily clear obstacles, as well as knobby tires for better traction on dirt and other types of rough terrain. They usually run quite light, weighing in at only 150-300 pounds, and have small engines, anywhere from 50-500ccs.

Consider purchasing these types of bikes if your only interested in riding off road.

Dual Purpose Bikes

Dual purpose bikes could be considered a cross between the standard and motocross styles. They feature the same knobby tires and high center of gravity that make the motocross bikes great for riding on off-road trails, but at the same time have all of the fixings that a street legal bike requires – turn signals, headlights, etc.. Dual purpose bikes are heavier than the motocross and enduro styles, usually weighing 300 pounds or more, and are equipped with larger engines as a result, with the size usually running about 400-600ccs. These bikes also cost a bit more than those found in the parent styles, running from $3000 up to $10,000.

Though this type of bike won’t be as comfortable on the street as a standard bike, and can’t handle rough terrain like a motocross bike can, it’s a great option if you plan to ride lots of dirt roads and packed trails.

With a general idea of what each different style has to offer, you can start to think about what kind of bike you’d like to own. In addition to choosing a style that fits your preferences, your budget, and your lifestyle, you’ll need to be aware of what kinds of bikes fit your body.

Your body weight should be taken into account when you’re choosing a bike. A rider that weighs about 200 pounds or more should look into bikes with at least 600ccs, anything less could leave you feeling like the engine is a little sluggish and slow. If you weigh in at about 150 pounds or less, even 600cc’s could be dangerously fast for a beginner.

You’ll also need to take your height into account, but that’s almost impossible to do until you’re in the dealer’s showroom, where you can actually sit on the bike.

As a beginning rider, most people would suggest that you start out with a standard or dual-purpose bike. Remember, you’re still learning to ride, and you can always upgrade later. As I mentioned earlier, if you don’t enjoy riding your new bike, you may be tempted to give up on the hobby altogether. Starting out with a bike that’s too fast, too heavy, or too hard to handle could not only deter you from wanting to ride it, but it could also be dangerous.