Time to pick out your bike
by Motorcycle Mama

Mission: To unite Salem County women who ride or want to ride motorcycles for recreation, education, mutual support, reconition, and to promote a positive image of motorcyclers.

On our last trip we discussed how to get your motorcycle license. Now that you had a little practice and training, lets go pick out your bike! Go get your boots on girls, we’re going for another ride! Before you buy your first bike you are going to have to ask yourself a few questions...

USE:

How are you going to use your bike? Will you use it to commute to work? Go on long rides or on short weekend or day trips?

FEATURES:

Does your bike need to have alot of storage capacity? (You know... for your shopping bags!)
Are you going to want an audio system? (For blasting "Born To Be Wild" at the red lights!) What kind of performance or speed are you looking for?

COMFORT:

• Is the seat the right height?
• Are you comfortable with the bikes center of gravity?
• Can you straddle it comfortably?
• Do your feet touch the ground easily?

The correct riding position can help build confidence when you put your feet down at a stoplight. It can also make you feel more in control on a winding road. The bottom line is to pick a bike that feels the best when you sit on it, and also serves your needs.

STYLE:

What type of style are you looking for?

TOURING - big bike with lots of cargo space for long distance riding (ex: Streetglide)
CRUISER - long and low bike with an upright seating position for typically shorter rides (ex: HD 883 Sportster)
SPORTBIKE - a racing style bike with low weight and high performance (ex: Kawasaki Ninja 250 R)
ADVENTURE TOURING - large street legal off road bike with luggage that can venture on gravel roads and rough terrain
DUAL SPORT - smaller bike than the adventure, this bike does not have luggage, therefore making it easier to ride and more versatile (ex: Yamaha XT 250)

Everyone has to start on something. When considering the power, start with a smaller or middleweight bike. Ask yourself if you like any of the bikes that your friends have. Do your friends like their bikes?

Other important factors when looking for a bike are:

SEAT - The seat offers comfort and should help to reduce pressure points during long trips. A stepped seat helps you from sliding back during acceleration. A narrow seat (for shorter riders), puts you closer to the controls.
FOOT POSITION - Again, being able to put your feet on the ground or at a stop or while parking helps you feel more in control. There are many options to help you position your feet, such as mid controls, forward controls, and adjustable highway pegs. You can adjust the bike height by lowering the suspension.
HANDLEBARS - The handlebars should match your arm length. The shape of the bar determines your ability to reach the hand controls. You should feel like you are in a relaxed position and not stretched out or uncomfortable.

Important bike accessories:

WINDSHIELD - This is necessary to provide protection from the wind, weather, and foreign objects. Choose one that tops out just below your line of sight.
HANDGRIPS- Handgrips reduce tension in your hands over long trips, especially for riders with smaller hands. 
LUGGAGE- Saddlebags and touring bags offer more options for you while traveling.

Customizing your bike is about YOU and your personality, and you should choose options that will
make YOU most comfortable. We will discuss other options to customize your bike at a later time. Now, let’s go shopping!

I do not reccomend buying a Harley for your first bike unless you can handle 700 pounds safely on your first time out. You may even find that you do not even like riding at all after you make your purchase and get out on the road. Sometimes close-calls could change your mind fast! I suggest you  try local classifieds or even Craigslist for a used bike such as a Honda, Yamaha, or Kawasaki in the price range under $1000.00 and not bigger than a 750cc.

You may not look as cool as you like, but by the time you are ready to buy a bigger bike you will be a better rider who can handle the bike with more ease. However, please remember that older bikes can sometimes be more trouble.

When buying used make sure that the bike is inspected by a professional mechanic. You don’t want a bike that will be unreliable. One loose wire or bad connection can leave you stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Most dealers will not work on a bike more than 10 years old, and the parts could be more difficult to obtain. It may be hard for you to sell your bike when you are finished with it because of the age.

Tips for your toy:

• Make sure the VIN# matches with number on the title. If not there will be problems getting it titled
   and registered.
• Ask prior owner how often the oil and brake fluid was changed to determine if proper upkeep of
   the bike was kept.
• Ask if the bike was ever in an accident or dropped to make sure the frame in not bent.
• Make sure that all electrical components such as head, tailights and turn signals are working, and check the throttle.
• Check for leaks from the cylinder head or the forktubes, and open gas cap to check for rust with  a flashlight.

Be sure to ask for a test ride. You may have to leave a deposit. They may even look at you as if you are crazy! While on test ride, make sure there is no smoke coming out from the exhaust pipes. Also ask yourself:

• Is it easy to shift gears?
• Are the handlebars bent?
• Is the suspension too soft?
• Are there any unusual noises coming from the engine?

Make sure that the bike feels planted and solid. If it shakes when you turn it, the wheel bearings could be shot! Ask the previous owners if they have a manual to the bike. If you are uncomfortable riding your new bike home, make sure you have an experienced rider there to do it for you. You will need to practice on your bike to get the feel of it. You can also simply get it home by trailer or truck.

Because women riders are generally shorter than men, you may need to either buy smaller bikes or lower your bike so that you can plant your feet as firmly on the ground as possible. Nothing is more embarrassing than pulling up to a stoplight and having the bike tip over because your legs aren’t long enough to reach the ground! You can have the brake, clutch, and shift levers adjusted to make your bike more comfortable and easier to manipulate. When you take your bike to a shop they will not only lower your bike, but also tune your suspension to your riding style. This is not a cheap job, so call around! Changing the suspension will also change the handling of the bike, so keep this in mind and take it easy until you get used to the adjustments.

So, you still want to get that Harley anyway? Many H-D dealerships provide everything from oil changes to complete overhauls and offer financing on your bike purchase. They even have bike rentals so that you can test ride different models before you buy. Sportsters are great beginner bikes for women because they offer a sporty ride, but they are not as smooth or stable on the highways as the bigger Harleys. The initials H-D stand for "hundred dollars" because that is what you will spend everytime you buy something new for your bike!

Well, congratulations on your new purchase! Don’t forget to get out there and practice. Find other women riders or groups to learn from or network with until you are comfortable enough to venture out on your own. The more that you hang out with bikers, the more you will learn, and the more you ride, the more confidence you will have. Just think, now you can experience the open road with the wind blowing through your hair and the warmth of the sun on your skin. Best of all, YOU are in complete control...pure freedom!

What’s around the next bend (upcoming issue)?
Let’s get that new bike insured and come hit the highway with Motorcycle Mama!

Be sure to stop by the Facebook site and join my motorcycle mama discussions for some cool topics! Also, grab a cup of coffee and join me to live chat right here the 2nd monday evening of every month at 8 pm. We had a ball last chat session!

Ride hard-or ride home..........Motorcycle MaMa

Upcoming Events:
Daytona Bike Week ongoing until March 7th
Ladies only garage party at Mikes Famous Harley Davidson in Delaware Sat March 13th 6-8pm
Ladies only garage party at Salem County Harley Davidson Sat March 20th 3-5:30pm
free admission for both call or email them to register....benefits breast cancer awareness!!!