When we consider purchasing a motorcycle, for the first time, or for the “thousandth time”, the question of which one to buy is inevitable.
Whenever a new model comes out, there is always an initial astonishment. Sooner or later, it could be confirmed as the right choice, or as a huge mistake, carried away by the emotion of the moment.
There are countless reasons for us to make a certain choice, some based on reason and others on the heart.
In those based on the heart, it is out of passion for the brand, style and design, in short words, just because you love a certain motorcycle.
In those based on reason, which I include myself (mostly), there is a fundamental question to ask to begin the choice:
– What do I want the motorcycle for, what type of use will I give it and how experienced am I?
– To go to work?
– To travel?
– Do I usually travel as a couple or alone?
– Will I drive on tarmac?
– Will I make some off-road forays?
– Do I drive a lot at night?
After answering some of these questions, we can then see in the market and in the brands that we like the most (the heart always has a say, even if it is not the main reason for choosing), which type of motorcycle will best suits us.
Taking my personal case as an example, I have had mostly grand tourism motorcycles, as they were not only used daily for work, but also for traveling. Then I had 2 Maxi-Trails, because in addition to work, when traveling, I also did some dirt roads and a trip to Morocco. Currently, since the planned trips are on tarmac and we usually travel many kilometers a day until we reach the place we really want to visit, I bought a Grand Tourism bike again.
But in this choice, in addition to the type of motorcycle, the investment to be made is also important. Depending on the response to the use we are going to give, we will have several options, sometimes with completely different prices, and which can completely satisfy our needs.
In meeting needs, passive safety electronic components should not be negotiable, as in an emergency they can make a difference (for those who have driven more kilometers, who never experienced a situation like this). ABS, which is still the most important safety device, is currently ubiquitous in almost all segments, as are suspension adjustments, even being some manual and others electronic.
Traction control, cornering ABS or Cruise Control (adaptive or not) are more important for those traveling long distances.
For someone like me who likes to travel at night, lighting is of great importance, which is why I opted for a motorcycle with Full LED lights and that, even when cornering, the low beam lighting always remains horizontal, not causing that sinking inside the curve, leaving nothing visible there.
In the end, obviously all the reasons that lead us to our choice are valid, considering our criteria.
These were just a few tips, mainly to try to help those who are just starting out and have more doubts than certainties.
Enjoy your ride!
