How to Pick the Right Size Motorcycle for Me

08 Yamaha Midnight Warrior

Riding motorcycles can be a great source of fun and relaxation. The best way to experience this thrill is by riding the right bike for you. Here's the how to on selecting that perfect bike for you.

Things You'll Need

• Visit the local Motorcycle dealers.

Instructions

1. There's a few things you need to keep in mind when shopping for a motorcycle. Some times size is not always the deciding factor. A large size but no extra features may not be what you want.
   Fist thing you need to do is set a budget, how much can you or do you want to spend. Price range can play a big factor in your selection. Deciding that $10,000 is your max will rule out that $15,000 bike.

2. Now that you know what you want to spend you need to determine what type of riding you want to do. This will affect what style bike you will want to look at. Sport, cruiser, and touring are the more popular riding bikes. Longer rides on open roads are more like a cruiser or a touring bike. Shorter rides, rougher terrain, the need for handling sound more like a cruiser or street. Looking at these bikes will give you a idea wether you are more comfortable with.

3. Experience also comes into play. If you are just leaning to ride, you might want to consider a smaller cruiser. Smaller engine size will prevent you from being overpowered by the bike. Also a smaller bike weighs less and will be more maneuverable. Starting off on 1800cc motorcycle with no real riding experience is leaning more towards overkill. A good starting range that is average is around 500cc to 800cc. Unless your a big person this should suffice. A taller or more heavy person may need a little bigger a motorcycle.

4. Once you figure out what style motorcycle fits your style or your riding you can begin to look at bikes. You will want to sit on them and see how your body feels. If your knees are touching the handle bars, it might be a little small. If you sit on the bike and you can barely hold it up you might need a lighter motorcycle. A typically comfortable bike would leave your arms feeling good about were they sit, not out stretched. Your legs might form more of a 90 degree angle while your feet are on the pedals. Sitting on different bikes will let you feel the bike, and in turn you will find one that feels good.

Tips & Warnings

• The right size varies from rider to rider. Start smaller then work your way up. 500cc is good to start, if your bigger start with a 700 or 800cc.

• Shopping at a dealer can also help you in determining the bike to, some models are very streamline and light. This might make a world of difference.

• Picking a motorcycle that is way to big could lead to having to struggle to ride the bike and even accidents.