If you are somebody who is lusting after hitting the road on a motorcycle trip to benefit the mind, body, and soul, one of the toughest questions to ask is what type of bike should you get? It can be a major task to go from zero to 50 on the back of a trusty steed, but let’s get the basics in place. Let’s show you what you need to consider to give you that overall basic understanding of how to hit the road.
At the Very Beginning…
You need to make sure that you are truly cognizant of your abilities on the road. One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking that they can just get on to a motorcycle and they’re good to go because they’ve already got a background in driving. In fact, one of the best things you can do here is to go on a motorcycle course so you can practice in a safe environment and make all of your mistakes at the very outset.
So many motorcyclists decide to weave in and out of traffic because they are small enough that they can do so, but this is a big mistake. With so many injuries down to motorcycle accidents on the road every single year, you have to be 110% sure of what you’re doing.
Picking the Right Motorcycle
We can all have grand ambitions and think that a Harley is the only way to go. The best approach is actually to go for a mid-size engine, for example, 500cc or 600cc. There’s no point in going for anything lower because your skills could easily outpace the engine, and you’ll want something with more power. You should also look at how you can operate safely based on the types of journeys you plan on making. If you plan on covering hundreds, if not thousands, of miles on an open road, you might want to consider a motorcycle with a motorcycle windshield to protect yourself from debris while you are on the road.
Another thing to consider is the seating position. When you are shopping around for a motorcycle, you need to get the right feel according to your own height and how you position yourself. Many people like that feeling of sitting further back and stretching their arms out to the handlebars, but this can become tiresome after a while. Comfort is critical because you don’t want to be wrangling with your physical weaknesses when you are trying to navigate certain turns of the road. The great thing about a motorcycle is that it can be sensitive to your motions and it can build up certain levels of strength over time, but if you are a newbie rider, you’ve got to go for comfort as a priority.
Choosing the Best Motorcycle Gear
Safety and comfort are essential, and when you are choosing the right motorcycle gear, you’ve got to consider some of the following:
- The quality of helmets, gloves, and boots. These three components will provide adequate protection and comfort. Gloves that provide a good grip on the handlebars and boots with ankle support will ensure you have complete control. Of course, the helmet is the most important bit here and should have good ventilation.
- Visibility. Choosing gear with reflective elements will enhance your visibility, especially if you plan on riding at night time.
- Protection from the elements. Because going on a motorcycle means having to put up with a variety of weather conditions, you will need to ensure you are properly waterproofed and comfortable. Ventilation is just as important as keeping yourself dry for this very reason.
- Meets safety standards. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has very strict safety standards, and you must find gear that at the very least meets these.
Your Overall Budget
We can easily invest in high-quality motorcycles and gear, but we’ve got to be comfortable with how much we are investing. Setting ourselves a budget is essential because if we spend too much at the outset, we might not get the most out of the motorcycle.
Spending too much on your helmets and safety equipment and not enough on the overall maintenance of the bike could hinder your enjoyment. It’s important to ensure that you get the balance right, especially if you are opting for a second-hand motorcycle or you are looking for the cheapest safety equipment out there.
When you are starting out with a motorcycle, there’s a big road ahead of you, so you need to ensure that you approach it from an amateur’s perspective so you don’t just get the right things for your skills but you are also prioritizing your safety.