So you've decided to buy a motorcycle and hit the open road. Before you do, you should consider the number of different bike options out there.
Motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes and offer different advantages or disadvantages based on things like how, when, and why you want to ride and your level of experience.
Your experience level is one of the biggest factors to have in mind when determining which type of bike you should purchase. More experienced riders may feel comfortable on a broader range of motorcycles or have developed a particular preference over time.
It's also a good idea to always ride within your skill level, rather than trying to compete with more experienced motorcyclists. Pick a bike that will allow you to best do that.
While there is no universal agreement on how many types of motorcycles there are—or which factors should be used to differentiate the bikes, some more than others feature a vast spread of engine capacities within some of these categories, choosing to exclude trikes for now:
Finding the “right" motorcycle means finding the right motorcycle for you, so make sure to consider the unique features of each option before deciding which bike to buy.
When it comes to “street" bikes, it's all in the name. These motorcycles were designed specifically to be ridden on a street; more specifically, a paved road.
Once you've made the decision to purchase a motorcycle, you can apply the above criteria to make sure you walk away with the bike of your dreams.