You’re fresh out of the motorcycle safety class and itching to get out there and ride. You’ve selected the gear you liked the most. A new helmet, gloves, a good jacket, and everything else to follow ATGATT. The one place you’re stuck is on the first motorcycle.
Which to buy? What type to consider? Which one is the safest? There are a lot of options out there, and here are a few simple questions to ponder as you enter the motorcycle buying process.
What is the Purpose of the Motorcycle?
Before thinking of what brand you want, the color options, or anything too in-depth, decide on the purpose of your starter motorcycle. Is it for commuting? Pleasure riding after work or on weekends? A mix of on and off-road riding?
How you use the motorcycle may dictate which you should consider and which you should avoid.
How Much Power Do You Need?
Once you have the type decided, then you will need to further refine your choices. Most manufacturers have multiple sizes of every type of motorcycle. While you’re still learning to ride a motorcycle well, you will want a motorcycle that can meet your needs without being too powerful to handle.
You don’t want something too heavy, too tall, or with more power than you’re capable of handling well as a beginner, but something to accommodate your size.
How Much Are You Willing to Spend on a Motorcycle?
One other factor to consider is how much you want to spend on your first motorcycle. Do you have an option to buy a lightly used motorcycle that can ride for a year or two and then upgrade to something larger or more in line with your long-term selection?
If there isn’t a good, used motorcycle market where you live, should you buy a lower-priced new motorcycle or go straight to your long-term vision of what you want? The reality is that you will most likely drop your motorcycle, gently fall over, or sometimes have an accident.
How much can you afford to replace in bodywork or parts, even if you have good insurance with a deductible?
Features to Look for in a Good Beginner Motorcycle
Each motorcycle has a long list of features to consider, but we have narrowed it down to a handful that will help you choose the best beginner motorcycle. These are basic common criteria to look for in each motorcycle that should help you when you’re shopping for your new adventure. If you’d like to get a better understanding of the particular types of motorcycles, please visit our blog - 15 Best Motorcycles for Beginner Riders.
Below are the 14 best motorcycles for beginners
1. Honda Monkey
Motorcycle Type: Standard (Mini)
Displacement: 125cc
Engine: Fuel-injected single cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed
Price: $3,999 – $4,199 (depending on trim)
The Honda Monkey was a rage in Asia in the 1960s and has kept a cult following over the last 50 years that continues to see growth. The US market is finally getting their own version that now comes in a base trim level available in red or yellow and an upgraded trim level with ABS brakes.
The Monkey is considered a mini, which has a low seat height and may be too small for some of the larger enthusiasts out there. It makes a great weekend adventure ride that allows riders to experience both on and off-road sightseeing. It’s also a fun commuter at lower speeds but does not have enough power to keep up in heavy, high-speed traffic.
2. KTM Corner Rocket (390 Duke)
Motorcycle Type: Standard (Naked)
Displacement: 373cc
Engine: Fuel-injected single-cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed
Price: $5,299
The KTM Corner Rocket is a Standard type motorcycle that contains a naked frame and minimal fairing but is capable of riding like a Sports motorcycle. The suspension is a bit more on the firm side, as it’s meant to handle heavy cornering duties of the weekend touring and sport riding. With a simple single-cylinder engine, the power is manageable for beginners and capable of reaching highway speeds.
The Corner Rocket has a mid-range seat height due to the firmer suspension and it won’t give under the rider’s weight too much. It has an array of accessories for purchase for extra storage space and added customization.
3. Harley-Davidson Street 500
Motorcycle Type: Standard / Cruiser
Displacement: 494cc
Engine: Fuel-injected v-twin (two-cylinder)
Transmission: 6-speed
Price: $6,899
The Harley-Davidson Street 500 is the first step to your American motorcycle experience. The Street 500 is low-slung with a 25” seat height. At a svelte 500 pounds, it can be handled easily by most beginners after they have graduated from their first safety course.
The Street 500 is capable of daily commuting and weekend touring. With options to customize it with a large front fairing and saddlebags for extra storage, it can be an ideal long-distance touring motorcycle. It also has an anti-lock brake option, which we recommend purchasing along with the security system option. Motorcycle theft is a constant threat, especially for Harleys, so having a little extra security won’t hurt.
4. Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE
Motorcycle Type: Sport (Mini Naked)
Displacement: 125cc
Engine: Fuel-injected one cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed
Price: $3,399
The Kawasaki Z125 Pro SE I is a recent addition to the Kawasaki New Rider Endorsed lineup. The Z125 is a good motorcycle for weekend riding or daily commuting. It’s not too heavy to handle and the 125cc engine doesn’t have too much power to accommodate a beginner. One thing it doesn’t have is a front fairing, so you will feel a little more wind as you ride on your daily commute or have weekend fun.
The Z125 is listed as new rider-friendly. It has a medium seat height of 31.7-inches tall but has adjustable components to adjust the ride taller or shorter to accommodate almost every rider well for comfort. Unfortunately, the Z125 does not have an anti-lock braking system available.
5. Harley-Davidson Superlow
Motorcycle Type: Cruiser
Displacement: 373cc
Engine: Fuel-injected single cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed
Price: $8,699
The Harley-Davidson Superlow is the essence of a low-slung cruiser motorcycle. You don’t ride on a cruiser, you really ride in one. The Superlow shares a complete line of accessories with the H-D model line-up. It features a low 25.5” seat height that can fit most riders. With easy ergonomics, you can ride for a few hundred miles a day without getting a cramp.
The Superlow features a low 25.5” seat height that fits most riders easily. You can adjust the footpegs and seats to accommodate larger riders, and it’s not a heavy motorcycle that you’ll have to worry about being too much to maneuver. The power isn’t excessive but offers enough to handle a long ride on an interstate or just a quick trip to the store.
There you have it: 5 good beginner motorcycles to consider. You can see how many are out there in various types, options, and configurations. It’s a tough choice when you start riding. Just picking one type or one brand offers you more than you probably thought was out there.
Each model selected has something different to offer from accessories, upgradable features, and a little extra once you know what you’re looking for. Give each a quick review, head to your local dealer, and start sitting on a few motorcycles. You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in a first motorcycle.
It’s just going to take some research and a few seat checks to ensure you’re buying exactly what you want. Ride safe and educated!
Best Motorcycle For Beginners providing a list of 15 beginner motorcycles that could be good starter motorcycles for certain riders in certain situations.
Visit our blog to get detailed information about beginner motorcycles - https://bestmotorcycleforbeginners.com/blog/15-best-motorcycles-beginner-riders-2020/
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This year is a big one though as it’s the end of a decade!What were you doing this time 10 years ago?
A lot has changed since then and we have really jumped at the chance to chase our dreams over the past decade which has taken us in and out of professions, starting businesses, meeting new people and travelling the world (oh, and we got that house).I don’t know about you but for me in December, I think about the year but really leave my new year resolution thinking until December 31.
Yoga also talks about observances – things for a healthier more wholesome life.One of these observances is Tapas which translates literally “to burn”.
The discipline we practice in yoga can help us in life’s challenges.
We learn that persistence really can help us achieve those tougher poses that sometimes we fall and are unbalanced but we can get back up – the same with our big dreams!Think for moment about your dreams, the picture of life that never seems to go away – the changes in your personal life, the changes in your job, the changes in exercise, the changes in diet, the changes with friends, the changes with getting out and meeting people, the changes to try that way out idea you have, the changes to challenge yourself physically, the changes with where you live – the list is endless……….How many times have you heard no no no no no no no no for your big dreams?
Take the same persistent discipline you learn through yoga and keep banging down the doors until we find the YES!!
