Your First Motorcycle: 7 Things to Check Before You Buy

Buying your first motorcycle is one of the best days you will have on two wheels, and one of the easiest to get wrong. A bike that looked perfect in the photos can turn out to be too tall, too heavy or too fast for where you are as a rider. Here are the seven things we walk every first-time buyer through before they sign anything.

1. Seat height and weight

Sit on the bike and put both feet down. You should be able to touch the ground comfortably, ideally with a slight bend in the knee. Then pick it up off the side stand and walk it back a few steps. A machine you cannot confidently move around the driveway is a machine you will drop. Many popular first bikes are under 200 kg for exactly this reason.

2. Engine size and power delivery

More horsepower is not more fun when you are still learning the clutch. A 300 to 700 cc bike with smooth, predictable power teaches you good habits and still keeps up on the highway. Ask about a bike’s throttle response, not just its peak numbers.

3. Your licence class

Make sure your licence class and any restrictions match the bike you are looking at before you fall in love with it. Our sales team can tell you in two minutes whether a given model works for you.

4. Insurance cost

Get an insurance quote before you buy. Sport bikes can cost several times more to insure than a standard or cruiser with the same engine size, especially for new riders. It is a fixed cost that comes every month of the season.

5. Gear is part of the price

Budget for a certified helmet, armoured jacket, gloves, riding pants and boots. A good starter set is a real expense, and it is the one place we never suggest cutting corners. Ask us about gear bundles when you buy the bike.

6. New or used

A new bike comes with a full warranty and no history to worry about. A used bike costs less and loses less value, but you need its service records, a clean title and a pre-delivery inspection. Every pre-owned bike on our floor is inspected by our technicians and comes with a vehicle history report.

7. Take a test ride

No spec sheet replaces ten minutes in the saddle. Check that the controls fall naturally to hand, that the mirrors show you something useful, and that the riding position is comfortable after the first fifteen minutes, not just the first two. Book a test ride online and we will have the bike warmed up and ready.

Not sure where to start? Drop by or send us a message. We would rather help you pick the right first bike than sell you the wrong one.