5 Tips for Choosing Your First Motorcycle

5 Tips for Choosing Your First Motorcycle

September 9, 2025

If you’re thinking about buying a motorcycle, you’re in good company. Millions of individuals own them and operate them daily. However, you need to consider a few different factors before you buy.

You’ll probably have no trouble finding Triumph motorcycles for sale, or perhaps something like a Harley is more to your liking. No matter what you have your eye on, though, you should think about the following before moving forward.

Understand There Are Many Kinds of Motorcycles

If you’ve never owned a motorcycle before, and you don’t know much about them, you might be under the mistaken impression that one is much like another. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Something like a Harley has a certain size, weight, and feel to it. It’s a classic, but it may not be the best choice for certain body types.

For instance, if you’re a smaller individual, or you want something lighter and quicker, looking into something like a Kawasaki might make more sense. Make sure to do some research into the different types and brands of motorcycle before heading to the dealership.   

Figure Out How Much You Can Spend

You will also need to figure out exactly how much money you have to spend on your new purchase. You might have a range, but presumably, you have a number on the higher end that you can’t comfortably go over.

Look at your finances before you start seriously considering what motorcycle you want. You don’t want to get something so expensive that buying it makes it difficult to pay your rent every month.

Decide Whether You Want Used or Brand-New

Buying a brand-new motorcycle certainly appeals. You will know that it comes to you straight from the manufacturer, and you should get a generous warranty because of that.

However, a used motorcycle will probably not cost as much, and maybe that’s what’s most crucial to you right now. Whether you buy new or used will likely depend on your finances, but you’ll also want to remember that buying new usually means fewer mechanical problems as time passes.

Don’t Buy Before Knowing How to Ride

This sounds obvious, but you shouldn’t buy a motorcycle till you know how to ride one. Some people don’t take any lessons before getting a motorcycle because they think they’re easy to ride.

While some individuals can learn how to operate a motorcycle very quickly and easily, others may struggle with it. You will certainly want to get some lessons from an experienced rider before you buy, or you make an accident likely.

Talk to Someone with Experience First

You might also want to talk to someone you know before you buy who already owns a motorcycle and who has had plenty of experience riding it. They will be able to tell you what kind it makes sense for you to get and which ones to avoid.

By going down this checklist before buying, you should put yourself in the best position to enjoy your purchase.

Elena has experience working as a seasoned property investor and real estate agent. She is now working as copywriter whilst pursuing her passion for journalism.