As you know, at BODA HQ, we’re all huge fans of bike life. So much so, the majority of our style collection is based around life on the wheels. But, there’s something you need to know… When first entering the bike world, it’s not all plain sailing. There’s a batch of things that you need to know when it comes to getting your first road partner. Yeah, it looks cool seeing your idols on their Harley Davidson’s but more often than not, these men and women have gone through all the relevant procedures to ensure that their time with their bike is the most fun, thrilling and stylish experience possible.
Below, we have listed our top 5 tips when it comes to purchasing your first motorbike. Take notes, enjoy and we’ll see you on the road.
Tip 1 - Motorcycle Safety
This one seems pretty obvious, but there’s more to it than what you might think. Just like any other mode of transport with an engine, there’s always the chance of it breaking down, or coming into some sort of trouble that will cost money, waste time, and be an overall inconvenience when all you wanted to do was ride.
So before making your first purchase, you need to make sure that you complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course. This is very similar to a regular driving course, they have been put in place to ensure that your safety, as well as everyone else’s on the road is completely covered.
It’s important to remember, that if this is your first bike, you won’t be the most experienced out there. It’s important to have the foundations in place to make sure you can have fun on your bike, with no worries of endangering yourself or other people.
But then again, even if you are experienced with motorbikes, it’s always good to sharpen your skills with a little refresher course before hopping back on the wheels.
Tip 2 - Don’t Jump Onto Too Much Power Right Away
Listen, we all know how cool it seems when you see an experienced rider blasting down the open road. Although the adrenaline is unmatched on some of the beasts that are available on the market. A 600cc bike is more than likely going to be too much power for your first bike - in fact a bike with this much power would be too much for an experienced rider.
We would recommend jumping onto a 500cc or under for your first one. Small-to-medium displacement bikes are your best bet for your introduction. Also, the beauty of it is that many manufacturers are even designing bikes in this class for new and inexperienced riders.
But in a nutshell - we would say start with something small, and then gradually work up to something bigger later on.
Tip 3 - Watch The Height Of Your Seat
As basic as this tip may sound to a lot of you out there, this is one of the most important things to look out for when purchasing your first bike. Being able to plant both feet flat on the floor when you’re stationary is a huge confidence booster for riders who fear dropping to the floor when they stop at traffic lights.
For safety purposes too, it’s important that you can feel sturdy with your own foundations on the floor when you feel that it’s needed. You feel more comfortable and relaxed. This is something that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Tip 4 - Be Sure To Write Up A Bill Of The Sale
When dealing with the most important (and boring) stages of getting your bike, this is one process that you have to pay extra close attention to. When it comes to purchasing your bike, you need to make sure that you include the seller/buyer information. This includes the miles, VIN, model, and price.
Both parties must sign the document and note down the date. You should also make sure that the seller signs the back of the title. There’s a way to make this easier too: you can have a formal Bill of Sale digitally prepared using LegalZoom. To use this, you literally enter in all your information online and print out your professional Bill of Sale.
Tip 5 - Last But Not Least… Do Your Research
Of course, like any great investment, it’s always vital to make sure that you do your research. Ideally, you should do your research before you buy your bike, so ensure that you learn everything you can about the brand, the model, and where you can service it and source parts in the future.
As a whole, be sure to make sure that you know everything about your bike -- inside and out -- after all, you’re the one who will be the owner. The best thing to do would be to Google the bike brand, its reliability, issues, and reviews. There are also forums online where fellow bike lovers can give you added context and reviews.
