Buying a new motorcycle for a newbie is an important step in life. Whether you have been waiting for this purchase for several years or just come up with a thought of buying a motorcycle in two days, you still need to pay close attention to too many intricacies in order to avoid disappointments and deceit.
If this is the first time you are buying a motorcycle, then the most essential step is to study all necessary materials that can be found on the world wide web. In this case, you will be able to distinguish the key factors that will influence your decision.
Below experts from Papercheap.co.uk shed light on the details to which you should pay attention while choosing your helpmate. (I am talking about a motorcycle, of course.)
Motorcycle’s Details Check-Up
Engine. You should start choosing a motorcycle from its heart – the engine. It is the place where all points cross each other. All key characteristics depend on this element of the motorcycle. In this regard, you should keep an eye on the state of the engine, especially if you are buying a second-hand motorcycle.
For instance, if there is a sealant on the joints of the crankcase, such engine was probably under repair. The liked bolt heads also testify the fact that a motorcycle has been under repair.
There should be no places for welding and streaks of coolant on the crankcase. As a result, it is not worth buying a motorcycle if its engine has been repaired.
After you check the vehicle, you should start the engine and check if it works properly. Attach a wet rag to each manifold nozzle – evaporation of moisture should be uniform on each of them.
Steering control. Turn-to-turn action should be smooth and there should be no dents, corrosion or scratches which can be the first sign of a strong fall. Also, make sure there is no backlash in the steering.
Frame. It should be checked for dents and cracks. The brackets of all parts must be intact. And moving a few metres back from the motorcycle, you can see whether it is distorted or not. Check the frame number with the number specified in the documents.
Cubic capacity. If you have never driven a motorcycle (except for those few classes at a driving school), I recommend you opting for models with the volume of 125-300 cubes. It will be quite enough for now.
Running such motorcycle is comfortable, and the gasoline consumption is quite within reasonable limits.
However, if you are an experienced rider, the most appropriate number for you is 600. The 600-cubed motorcycle is a fairly serious beast. It reaches the speed of 100 km/h in two seconds, its thrust is powerful, and the brake is very sensitive.
And you should use not only brains but also correct reflexes to drive it. Otherwise, you will get lifted. And don’t expect a soft landing.
What About a Brand?
Several American experts conducted a survey that showed that motorcycles of Japanese brands are much more reliable than most representatives of other regions. In this case, the best reviews deserve Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki.
The American brands Victory and Harley-Davidson took the middle positions on the list. Among the most problematic motorcycles Triumph, Ducati, BMW, and Can-Am were named.
It is noteworthy that the degree of customer satisfaction with this or that brand does not always coincide with the assessment of its reliability. So, about 80% of Victory owners stated that they would buy a motorcycle of this brand next time.
By the way, the owners of Harley-Davidson motorcycles were also quite happy too: 72% are ready to remain adherents of this brand, and Honda was close to the competitors with the result of 70%.
All other brands demonstrated satisfaction levels below 70%.
To motorcyclists, comfort was the most important factor in the assessment.
Based on this characteristic, the brand Victory was chosen the best. It also beat rivals with the other parameters.
Ducati, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Triumph appeared the least comfortable to American riders. Regarding such parameters as acceleration, joy from the trip, and appearance, the rivals were almost at the same level. Only Can-Am’s models received the lowest rating.
So, in order to choose the most appropriate motorcycle, you should take into considerations all these aspects. And do not limit yourself to one source of information. Do not be lazy and study all possible materials.
After that, your purchase will bring you satisfaction and a huge abundance of positive emotions.
(Contributed post)