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Buying your first motorcycle is a special moment. Whether you have tried riding one or not, browsing through the options, and comparing motorcycles is as exciting as going on your first long trip on a bike.

When done correctly, the whole buying process will lead you to the perfect first motorcycle – one that you will remember for years to come.

However, if you don’t take the time to find the perfect vehicle, then you won’t be able to enjoy the riding experience, and might even be put off riding bikes forever.

That’s why it’s vital that you check out the market and work out what you’re looking for from your new bike before you commit to buying one.

There are a few things to understand when buying your first motorcycle. To help you cover the basics, here are some tips and tricks that you can use to help you find the perfect motorcycle.

Find A Comfortable Bike That Suits Your Body

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Comfort should be your priority if you are looking for your first bike. You want the motorcycle to be comfortable and fun to ride so that you can go on long trips or use the motorcycle more often. There are a few things you want to consider in order to find a motorcycle that suits you perfectly.

First, you need to know your height and find a motorcycle height that suits you. Measure the seat height that you are comfortable with the most. The motorcycle needs to be high enough for your legs to be comfortable, but not too high that you cannot firmly support the motorcycle with both legs.

Next, consider the riding position. This is where you compare motorcycle styles. While you are at it, don’t forget to consider the weight of the motorcycles you are looking into. Motorcycles with a bigger displacement tend to weigh more.

Speed and Safety

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Speaking of displacement, bigger engine capacity doesn’t always translate to a better riding experience. In fact, you should not immediately go for bigger engines if you are buying your first motorcycle. Anywhere in the region of 400cc to 600cc is more than enough.

You can also go for smaller motorcycles such as the Kawasaki Ninja 250. A 250cc engine is big enough for everyday use, and motorcycles with this relative engine displacement are fun to ride. Once you are better at riding, you can invest in a bigger motorcycle.

Safety is the next aspect to consider. Safety features like ABS and stability control are becoming more common in modern motorcycles. These features are essential if you are planning on having road trips or you want to really push a bigger motorcycle to the limit.

The size of your motorbike, and the engine it has, will also affect the type of licence you need. Some smaller bikes and scooters can be ridden with just a provisional license, while larger bikes require more tests and training. Learn about what kind of licence you need before you start checking out the range of bikes on offer, so you don’t waste your time coveting one that you’re not able to ride.

Reliability

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Like any other type of vehicle, your bike will need fixing and servicing. However, some bikes are more reliable than others, so you need to read reviews before you start checking out a specific make and model.

The availability of parts is also a factor; if the bike you like is vintage, then parts will be rare and might be very expensive. You might also find it hard to get the bike mended, particularly if you break down far from home.

Read the reviews of the bikes you’re interested in, and look out for consistency, as this could be a sign that riders have noticed the same issues. You also need to research the cost of new parts, ranging from basic pieces like spare tyres and new spark plugs through to replacements for more costly items, such as the brakes or exhaust pipe.

When working out how reliable you need your bike to be, you also need to consider how far you want to ride the bike, and how important reliability is to you. Then you need to try and find a bike that meets your needs and will get your where you want to go without breaking down in an awkward place.

Cost of Ownership

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Last but certainly not least, consider the cost of ownership for the motorcycle. That cost goes beyond the price of the motorcycle itself; you have to consider the cost of safe riding gear, motorcycle insurance, and fees associated with financing.

You can save on your motorcycle insurance by comparing quotes. Quotezone.co.uk makes comparing motorcycle insurance easy with its online tool. You only need to do a quick search and you will get quotes from the best insurance providers within seconds.

Once you have found the policy that works best for you, get an estimate on all the other costs involved in owning and riding the motorcycle you like. Then you can work out if it is cost-effective, or if there is a better option out there. If you already have a car, and want a bike as an alternative form of transport and a way to get out and have fun, then you might even think that a bike is an extra expense you can’t afford right now. Make sure that you consider all the costs before you spend your hard-earned money on a bike so that you can ensure you always enjoy a great riding experience and don’t come to resent your new machine for costing so much money.

f you decide to buy a used motorcycle, make sure that it’s 100% legal. Sites like happywrench.com come in handy for such actions. You gotta check all owners before you and the legal part of the motorcycle itself. There’s a lot of frauds out there so be careful!

Once you have taken these aspects into consideration, you should have a handful of options to choose from. At this point, you can pick a motorcycle that you like the most, knowing that you will be comfortable, you can have a lot of fun, and that you will not break the bank by buying it.