There are a lot of factors to consider when looking for your first motorcycle. The first step is narrowing down your options and selecting a model that fits your riding style. You also need to be aware of your legal obligations and what requirements you will need to meet in order to ride on the road.
There is a lot of debate around whether or not motorcycles are considered automobiles, and this can have implications in terms of insurance and other legal matters. While it may seem obvious that a motorcycle is a motor vehicle, many people still get confused by this definition and what it means to be a “motorcycle.”
The basic principles of motorcycles are not too different from bicycles. Both have two wheels and require momentum to keep them upright and moving forward. Motorcycles can go much faster than bicycles, however, and the way they turn is a bit different – you need to countersteer in order to make them go the direction that you want them to. The principle of this is to look at the place that you want to go, push on the handgrip in that direction and lean into it – otherwise you will just end up going the opposite way (i.e. into whatever you were trying to steer around – a common rookie mistake).
Off-road motorcycles are built for riding where no man has gone before. They tend to be pretty lightweight and feature knobbly tyres, high suspension and sportbike-type handling. They are often trailered to your weekend riding spot and used to race in motocross racing (short laps with challenging, often manmade obstacles), enduro racing or trials (get over obstacles without putting your feet down).