QuestionI am 5'8" and 50 years old. I weight 200 pounds. I have some experience riding, but it dates back to the 70s. I plan to purchase a bike, but I need some advice: My concern is that a 750 cc might look "small" for my size and I am leaning towards the 1100 cc's. Also, I will be mostly touring- very little city/street riding.
What do you think?
D.
AnswerDan,
You are in the demographic group that is most at risk of a fatal crash: 35-54 years old, returning to riding, rode when you were young, riding a big bike (1000+cc), and riding in rural areas for recreation. Add alcohol to all that and we could put you on a poster!
If you want to be smart about it, you still need to consider yourself a beginner, even though you have ridden a motorcycle before. Bikes--and roads--are very different now. The first order of business is to take the MSF basic class to relearn the basics--the class could save your life. Call 800-446-9227 to find a course near you.
You should NOT be concerned about how something "looks." Your appearance has nothing to do with safe riding. In fact, if you're more concerned with looking good that riding smart, you should skip buying the bike altogether.
Plan on buying a smaller bike to get reacquainted with riding, then buying your dream bike in a couple years after you've worked out all the kinks. My rule of thumb for beginner bikes is no more than 500cc if it has four cyclinders, and no more than 700cc if it has two cyclinders. Of course, it's most important that a bike fit you comfortably, so you may have to go larger, but do NOT make the mistake of jumping onto an 1100 right away. Start small so you'll learn quicker.
Below is an excerpt from my new book, "How to Ride a Motorcycle; A Rider's Guide to Strategy, Safety, and Skill Development." I recommend you read it before you even buy a bike.
What People Say and What People Mean #2: “Start Small”
If you’re going approach motorcycling from a holistic perspective, your first real act of intelligence will be what you choose for your first bike.
When experienced riders tell you to start small, they don’t exactly mean that you should start on a little bike, (though as a rule of thumb, it’s not bad advice.) What they mean is that you should start on a bike that you’ll be able to handle physically, financially, and psychologically. The bike you’re lusting after is almost always NOT the right bike to learn on.
This means start on a bike that’s size and power won’t immediately overwhelm you while you’re still learning to keep it balanced and work the controls. It’s hard enough to get basic motorcycle handling mastered without trying to rein in a bike that wants to continually leap from your grasp or crush you in your garage when you forget to put the sidestand down. Buying an older used bike means when you tip it over or crash it (and you will), the repair bills won’t cost you more than your first car did. Most importantly, starting small means your focus is still on you—your priority is not what bike you own, but learning how to ride. A state-of-the-art machine will whisper to you to do things you’re not ready to do yet. A big, expensive bike will make you look and feel like a better rider than you are, and you absolutely do not need that sort of distraction this early in the ballgame.
Too many riders make the mistake of buying the bike they’re in love with for their first bike. These bikes will typically answer the question, “What is the best bike?” when what a beginner really wants to know is, “What is the best bike for me?” It is only with heroic self-restraint that most new riders can commit to buying a bike they know they’ll outgrow in a year or two. But the riders who do are rewarded with a quicker learning curve and low cost, which leaves lots of room to practice, experiment, and have fun.
Good luck!
Pat
