If you love road tripping around traveling around a new area in a slow and methodical way, you might be thinking that it’s time you really get in touch with the world around you by road tripping on a motorcycle. On a bike like this, you’ll really be able to feel the wind all around you and experience so much more during your travels. But if you’ve never bought or rode a motorcycle before, you might be unsure where you should start. So to help make this a little easier on you, here are three tips for buying a motorcycle for the first time for the purpose of taking it on road trips.
Get Licensed First
Before you can legally drive a motorcycle on the road, you first have to be licensed. According to Rider.com, this means that you have to have a motorcycle endorsement attached to your regular driver’s license. To get this, you’ll need to take a test at your local DMV. While you can take just this step, you might also want to consider taking a motorcycle safety course before you get yourself licensed. Driving a motorcycle is likely going to be unlike any other type of driving that you’ve done. By taking a safety course, you’ll be much more prepared for being a safe and protected motorcyclist on the road.
Be Smart When Buying Used
If you’re considering buying a used motorcycle for your road trip, it’s important that you know how to tell if a motorcycle is going to be safe for you and a smart financial choice for you. One way you can tell a lot about a motorcycle, according to Jesse Kiser, a contributor to RideApart.com, is to start it up from being cold. To do this, make sure you talk to the seller before you see the motorcycle and ask that it be cold when you get there. By seeing how the bike does when trying to start it up, you’ll be able to tell much easier if there are parts of the bike that aren’t running well or if there are things that you’re going to need to fix or address.
A Word About Touring Bikes
When going on a long road trip, you’re going to want to find a bike that will be comfortable. With this in mind, you might be considering getting a touring bike. These motorcycles often have more comfortable features that make being on the road for a while more enjoyable. But according to Bill Roberson, a contributor to Digital Trends, these bikes are also bigger and more powerful than many other bikes, making them potentially a dangerous choice for an inexperienced rider. So before you jump right to this type of bike, make sure you’ll be able to handle it and that it’s what you really want to be spending your money on.
If you’re thinking about buying a motorcycle for a road trip, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make the right choices.
