How to choose a motorcycle? Which motorcycle should a beginner choose?

The motorcycle gives a feeling of absolute freedom, becoming a passion and an integral part of life.
If you are wondering “should I buy a motorcycle,” then this article is for you. If you are an absolute beginner who has just received a category “A” license, then experienced experts advise limiting yourself to three types of bikes:

• cruisers;
• classics;
• road.

These are ideal options for those who want to learn how to accurately “place” a motorcycle into a turn, master control of the gas handles and brake levers.

Enduro, sportbikes and other classes should be included in a separate category. These two-wheeled monsters require some skill to control and pack a lot of power.

What to choose for a city newcomer

Yamaha YBR 125 - this model became the starting point for many who eventually switched to more powerful bikes. Popularly called an “ebrik”, it is a lightweight, low-power motorcycle (125 cm3 and just over 100 kg), friendly for beginners, and easy to learn to operate. This is a very affordable “iron” horse, which is also unpretentious in maintenance.

One of the disadvantages is that if your height is more than 180 cm, then after ten kilometers your legs will start to hurt due to the unnatural position of your body. It is also worth mentioning its unassuming appearance, which for some is also an important drawback. If we consider 125 cc units, then the Yamaha YBR 125 is the ideal choice for a first motorcycle. It is unrivaled both in terms of reliability/controllability and operating costs. All that is needed is periodic maintenance of the chain.

If the appearance of the bike is very important, then pay attention to the Honda CB 400 SF. It's also a lightweight, easy-to-handle bike. This is the main model in the fleet of Japanese driving schools.

The Kawasaki W650 is an excellent choice for a beginner who has mastered 125cc well.

Conclusion:

As a biker friend of mine used to say: it’s better to go slowly than to heal quickly. The first motorcycle is a proportion, where on the one hand there is power, ease of control and ergonomics, and on the other hand the price is an issue. There is no need to chase too expensive and wild motorcycles for the sake of the effect produced on others; without skills and experience you cannot become a good motorcyclist. It is the skillful handling of the equipment that makes the impression, because even with an old model you can show the true level of control over yourself and the motorcycle.

Travel models

Long trips involve transporting some luggage. For these purposes, use touring bikes that have a large luggage compartment and additional compartments for carrying things, increased suspension travel for a comfortable ride and increased ground clearance. Purchase options:

• Kawasaki VN 1700 Vulcan;

• Honda NT650V Deauville;

• Honda GOLD WING 1800;

• Yamaha XTZ 1200 SUPER TENERE.

Playing with cubes and horses

No one will argue that the character of the bike is influenced by power and cubic capacity, respectively. It is no longer practical to consider equipment up to 50 cc (I once already tested the new EXO Neutrino, which accelerated to only 45 km/h - the sensations were interesting, because the “scooter” was new and non-standard, but the speeds were really childish). Therefore, you choose the cubes yourself, and you need to listen less to advice from the outside, and more from the inside. I’ll just give you a few gradations of motorcycle engines, which will come in handy if you don’t have enough experience in your hands and if you haven’t yet decided on the choice of a specific model. But enough of the psychologist's work - let's return to the more interesting topic of cubes.

Choosing a motorcycle for those who are more experienced

Once you've mastered a road bike and gained the right level of confidence, you'll probably want something more powerful, sporty and solid.

Choppers are often confused with cruisers. But in reality, choppers have an extended fork and a rigid rear suspension. This “limousine” in the world of cars is designed for leisurely movement on high-quality road surfaces. The chopper is a heavy unit with limited maneuverability. But these “horses” are loved for their style and charisma. They are able to stand out in any traffic flow, attracting glances around.

Sports bike - the choice of this motorcycle is justified for riding on the track. Many people do not recommend using them in the urban jungle. Unlimited speed capabilities can play a bad joke on a “hot” driver. But if you are capable of self-control, you will become one of the most noticeable road users.

When purchasing a chopper or sportbike, you must initially add a separate budget for maintenance. Compared to cruisers or the same road bikes, maintenance costs will be many times higher. But for this you get a two-wheeled racing car.

If you want to become the owner of a real all-terrain vehicle without stopping at the end of the asphalt surface, then your choice is enduro. All-terrain models have increased suspension travel, low weight and maximum maneuverability. This allows you to overcome the most rocky slopes and muddy areas. On the highway, such a bike will be ineffective due to the small tank volume.

First motorcycle for a beginner

What motorcycle should I buy after graduating from motorcycle school?

I answer this question to students very often. Everyone wants to get an iron friend as soon as possible. But how to choose the right one? There are several criteria:

New or Used?

If you have the money, of course, get a new one. A small KTM or BMW is perfect. Europeans, in my opinion, are comfortable, ergonomic, and modern.

I advise you to buy a BMW G 310 R KTM Duke 200 or 390

If you are ready to pay no more than 250 thousand for a bike, but still only want a new one, take a closer look at the Chinese, or better yet, the Indians (Bajaj). At our school we ride a budget Lifan 150, I regularly return home on it, in general, I’m satisfied with it. It’s a good, solid motorcycle, but on the Moscow Ring Road it’s really scary – it doesn’t have enough power.

If it’s still used, then here are a few simple rules for you:

• We don't go after cheap prices. I don’t recommend buying a motorbike that costs less than 200k if it’s not UBR.
• Don’t buy used Europeans for less than 250 kilo rubles. Look at the Japanese.
• Europeans should be no more than 7 years old, that is, 2011-2012 is your year. Servicing Europeans costs a little more.
• A Japanese BU should not be older than 2000, otherwise you will cry. You will cry enough, but if the motorcycle is 20 years old, it will not be good at all.
• The older you take a used motorcycle and the more used it is, the more relevant it becomes for you to take a Honda.
• Important! The main criterion for the first motorcycle is a popular model, so as not to look for spare parts and services with flashlights and shamanic tambourines. Alas, a minimum of plastic parts and decorative elements.

Now cubic capacity, weight and class:

• I don’t recommend taking 125-150cc mopeds as your first motorcycle. Take 300-400.
• The thing is that in traffic at 150cc it is hellishly uncomfortable, and you have less room for maneuver - often open gas saves the brakes. On small motorcycles there is simply no acceleration after 60 km/h.
• It is important that you can roll an unstarted motorcycle from place to place. If you can’t do this, then the bike is not in your “weight category”.
• We don’t take liter sports. A road worker with a calm character can be 600 cubic meters. You can take at least a liter of “Chopper” if you have the strength to roll it out of the garage yourself.
• Theoretically, the sport 600tku can also be considered. If you really want to, and if you have successful experience of accident-free driving and a brain in your head.
• Previously, it was impossible to choose a powerful motor first. But they didn’t teach me how to drive; now the situation is different. When completing a crash and track training course at a motorcycle school, with adequate training, 600cc, especially for a big guy, can be considered.
• It’s a good idea to try your hand after purchasing and ride the exam exercises on your motorcycle. If it doesn’t work out, we train. Motorcycle driving courses at any self-respecting motorcycle school are not limited to preparation for traffic police exams. You can always further improve your skills.
• This is an indicator that driving skills are not enough. If it doesn’t work out at all, at least cry, then we sell the naughty motorcycle and buy it a class lower.
• For anyone who doubts that the exercises can be done on any production motorcycle, type in the search engine the request “Motogymkhana on Harley video” and enjoy watching.
• Not great people go there. They just developed their skills and chose the motorcycle that suits them.

And the last thing:

Almost everyone who comes to a motorcycle school is usually already actively choosing their first motorcycle, although they have not even started riding yet. I recommend choosing a bike towards the end of learning how to ride a motorcycle. You will gain skills and ebrik will no longer be the only option available. Honestly!

Criteria for choosing your first motorcycle based on height, fit and other parameters

Our short guide will provide strategic assistance in choosing a motorcycle. Consider it before you make a purchase and register your motorcycle:

a convenient program for selecting a motorcycle based on many parameters: https://cycle-ergo.com

• height: sit on the bike, ensuring that you can stand firmly on your feet when standing;

• weight: try rolling the bike for a few meters using your legs. Also do this procedure while standing to the side. If both options are given with great difficulty, then the choice of motorcycle should be opted for a lighter model;

• landing: sit in the saddle of the “iron” horse for at least 5 minutes, taking the working position of your arms and legs. If during this time you become uncomfortable, you will have to consider another option;
• engine capacity: the maximum recommended cubic capacity for beginners is 650 cm3. If you feel like a more experienced driver, then you can consider more powerful models.

New and used motorcycles - pros and cons

When choosing your first motorcycle, the main question is often to buy a new or used machine?

New motorcycles, of course, at first glance, have advantages:

1. The owner of a new iron horse has the opportunity to control the initial maintenance and will know the history of the motorcycle from scratch.
2. New motorcycles break down less often and the cost of repairing them is, of course, minimal.

However, for a beginner, choosing a new motorcycle has a number of disadvantages:

• The cost of new equipment today is very high, and the chances of keeping a new bike safe and sound for a novice biker are close to zero. Falls, as well as improper handling of motorcycle components due to ignorance, are possible.
• The first motorcycle is the first impression, the first experience, based on which the biker will already have an idea of ​​what he wants from his iron horse. And if this choice is not entirely correct from the beginning, then it will be very disappointing to get rid of a brand new motorcycle in favor of a model that meets all the requirements of a motorcyclist

Therefore, many years of experience suggest that a used version is ideal for your first motorcycle - the main thing is to choose the right used motorcycle and not end up with expensive repairs.

You should not evaluate a motorcycle only by its appearance - often unscrupulous sellers do not take care of the equipment at all, and only tidy up the appearance before selling it. Therefore, you should not hope for luck and it is best to take the motorcycle to a specialized service for inspection before purchasing, so as not to buy a pig in a poke.

Buy a pit bike or a supermotard?

I have a special relationship with pit bikes and supermotards. In 2015, I ahead of schedule became the Russian Champion in Supermoto and the Russian Champion in the Minimotard Cup - you can read how it happened here. I like the fact that you can treat a pit bike as fun, or you can take it seriously. This is a small motorcycle with wheels from 12 to 17 inches and an engine from 50 to 250 cc. As a rule, pit bikes are equipped with a semi-automatic transmission, although this is not an axiom. Their small size and average weight of around 100 kg make them easy to operate even for a schoolchild, so this option is perfect for training both for sports and for general development. And, naturally, a pit bike can live in your garage, like your first motorcycle. That doesn't mean it won't come in handy when you feel ready for, say, a sport tourer. A pit bike will always allow you to keep yourself in shape, regardless of the time of year, which is what it does in the off-season between championships or in breaks between racing stages.

Supermotard, in principle, is not far behind them for the reason that they are structurally based on motocross designs, and the tires can be for both off-road and asphalt. When choosing a pit bike or supermotard, do not be afraid of the “Made in China” inscriptions. Even the most European Apollo or YCF pit bikes can be assembled from Chinese iron and this does not mean that you are buying disposable rubbish. At the same time, keep in mind that pit bikes, as a rule, are not intended for driving on public roads, they do not need to be registered, this miracle may not have a registration certificate, just in case, it is enough to have a paper that confirms ownership, and that’s all. But this does not mean that a motard or pit bike is an inferior motorcycle. What a complete one! It is compact, but the engines that are used on them are, as a rule, four-stroke and their power can reach a quite respectable 20-30 horses.

For the city, one of the most popular motards in Russia is Suzuki DRZ 400 . You can always find the right spare part for it (or remove it from your neighbor’s DRZ while he’s not looking)…

Should I buy a liter motorcycle or a 600?

At first, you shouldn’t even look in the direction of liter sports bikes, despite the fact that turns and shots in seconds up to a hundred look very impressive. You can’t even imagine how difficult such a device is to operate and what amazing potential it has. The best option at first is to look at a motorcycle from 125 to 250 cc. Stylistically, it can be anything. We won’t play the ABC book, since you most likely already know how to distinguish a chopper from a cafe racer and a cruiser from a sports tourer. But we will talk about this separately.

Motorcycle Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R .

Motorcycles like Honda CBR, Kawasaki Ninja, Suzuki-GSX-R, Yamaha R1 or even Yamaha R6 are too tough for you yet. They are cool killer bikes, but too powerful to be your first bike. Just believe me - I already know (the Yamaha R6, my dream motorcycle, became my first 600 - and its power turned out to be too much for me).

Choosing a two-wheeled vehicle

In fact, it is very difficult to choose one car or another. This is quite an important and responsible purchase for any car enthusiast or motorcyclist. The driver’s safety also depends on the choice of this or that technique.

Specifically, it is worth understanding exactly how to choose a motorcycle. The latter is considered a vehicle of increased danger both for the biker himself and for those around him. It is no secret that most accidents involving bikers entail dire consequences, including the death of the rider and other participants in the adventure.

It is important to think about how to choose a motorcycle in advance, before purchasing a two-wheeled car. You can purchase it in a wide variety of places: in a showroom, in a store, from the owner’s hands, and so on. Today there is a huge variety of motor vehicles.

Everything has its time

Many beginners pay attention to popular motorcycles before purchasing. This is not always good. For example, for some, the Cruiser is an attractive model. Is the Cruiser suitable for a beginner - definitely not. It is heavy, difficult to control without experience and not so mobile.

The cruiser is intended only for true fans of this destination.

For others, taking it is controversial.

We also do not recommend that a beginner take a Chopper larger than 400 cc . As a first means of transportation, it will be a bit difficult. It’s better to look at lighter Chopper models from 250 to 400 cc, for example, Honda Magna 250, Honda Steed 400.

If you continue to study the top motorcycles for beginners, you can find Enduro there. Well, this is a very good option. It is easy to control, easy to operate, lightweight and suitable for different road conditions. You can consider Japanese-made Enduro motorcycles: Suzuki Djebel 200, Yamaha XT225 Serow. We approve of this decision.

More expensive enduro options are also popular - Honda XR250R, Suzuki Djebel 250, Yamaha TT250R, Kawasaki KLX250. These are high-torque, mobile and well-handling motorcycles. This choice will suit you too.

Does it make sense to take dockless?

We strongly advise you not to choose a motorcycle without documents. This choice brings with it many inconveniences:

• There is a risk that the bike is stolen - you will be considered an accomplice;
• The vehicle can always be “squeezed out”, stolen, you will never be able to contact law enforcement agencies, put on the wanted list and generally prove that this is your equipment;
• The traffic police will always be interested in people without docks. You will not be able to calmly go to a rally, or go on a motorcycle trip, or ride in a convoy to the opening or closing of the season. The fear of the law will always be present;
• If you get into an accident, you will always be at fault, no matter how fast you were driving or who should have passed whom. You simply did not have the right to be at additional traffic police stations in an unregistered vehicle.

Registering a motorcycle is a simple procedure and will not take much of your time. The main thing is to initially buy a “clean” bike, check it by frame number, get a certificate-invoice or draw up a sales contract. But after this you can be confident and calm. Which also increases reaction and safety on the road.

The choice of motorcycle is very important. Take this seriously, and then you will only enjoy driving!

About special purpose motorcycles

Sports

As a rule, this is a technique that is characterized by high speed, power, maneuverability, maneuverability, and more. These bikes include super-sport models, nikes (street fighters), cross bikes, enduro bikes and others. The last two types are often used off-road.

It will be very interesting for beginners to know which motocross motorcycle to choose. The choice of such a sportbike depends on the place of its use. In places where high cross-country ability is important, you should choose a motocross motorcycle. Where speed is a little more important than the ability to “knead mud,” enduro is chosen. A dirt bike is an excellent choice for off-road riding.

Racing and record bikes

They are used by experienced riders on special tracks, in the necessary equipment, having previously conducted training sessions in such conditions in order to show the best result during the demonstration performance.

The bottom line is that racing and record-breaking bikes are not suitable for those who do not have experience riding in high speeds and tight maneuvers. It is very dangerous for a beginner to buy such bikes.

There are protective headgear

• Open – have a relatively large overview. You can drink, eat, smoke, and so on in them.
• Closed to three quarters, they also give its owner a large overview and allow him to ride with glasses. Convenient for those who are prescribed glasses to improve vision. As a rule, they are equipped with a visor.
• Fully closed ones are the safest of the helmets reviewed. They protect not only from mechanical damage, but also from wind, rain, dirt, dust and so on.

Based on the above material, it becomes clear which motorcycle to choose for a beginner. Inexperienced bikers will be able to give their preference to one or another unit, taking into account the following main factors:

• price of a two-wheeled car;
• power, weight, maximum speed;
• purpose of the device (for driving in a particular area);
• there may be preferences regarding how to choose a motorcycle based on the popularity of a particular manufacturer;
• If the choice is between two-stroke and four-stroke, you should definitely choose the latter.

The best motorcycle manufacturers - which company to choose

If you are too lazy or don’t have time to delve into the details, then turn to the world’s best motorcycle manufacturers, which are:

• Honda;
• Kawasaki;
• Yamaha;
• Viper;
• Suzuki.

But these companies have so many models that it is better to consider them more specifically in the ranking of the best motorcycles. Here we will continue to delve into the details and characteristics in order to choose a motorcycle solely based on its parameters.

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15 best scooters

19 best motorcycles

More details about the classification of motorcycles according to their purpose

It should be noted that motorcycles from well-known brands, such as Yamaha or Suzuki, will cost a lot of money. The high cost of the device is due to many years of experience in the production of such equipment by a specific manufacturer, guaranteed quality and high indicators of the modernity of the machine.

In other words, the high cost of original motorcycles from well-known manufacturers is a guarantee of product quality. This is not to say that bikes that are sold at more reasonable prices will be of poor quality or outdated. Such characteristics strongly depend first on the manufacturer, and after some time of operation - on the owner of the vehicle.

New or old, the bulk of motorcycles on the roads are made up of road bikes - simple motorcycles for daily driving in the city, highway and countryside. Essentially, this is a universal two-wheeled vehicle. Such motorcycles include modern Chinese: Alpha, Deltha or Soviet “Izhaks”, “Voskhods”, “Heavy” and so on. By the way, about Soviet and used two-wheeled cars - they are perfect for future bikers with a very limited supply of money. The big disadvantage of old technology is the two-stroke engine, which is less economical, not as efficient and quite loud compared to modern four-stroke engines.