What should be looking into when buying a motorcycle?

Looking forward to buying a motorcycle but I'm a first time buyer what are something i should know?

• i live in Arizona do i need a motorcycle license can i finance it and if so how difficult is it? please give me some insider help please and thank you? :)

• Answer:

  I don't live in AZ but I'm sure you need a motorcycle license. In some states it's just an endorsement in your regular license, so you have to have a regular driver's license first. In other states you can get just a motorcycle license. Look at your state's DMV page, which in AZ is MVD. (Oh, those Arizonans!) http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/ It's not hard to ride a motorcycle. Thousands of people ride them who shouldn't. 8^) If you can drive a manual shift car, that will help because you already understand clutching and shifting. But you can learn that. If you can't ride a bicycle, you should start with one of those, at least to learn how to balance and steer. The MVD can hook you up with the MSF, Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They have a weekend beginner's course, they even supply the bike. This will give you a good idea what riding is like and show you you can do it. Plus they teach you some very important safety habits. They don't teach you to ride,they teach you how to learn to ride. 8^) You learn on your own, by doing. The kind of bike you want depends on what kind of riding you plan to do. If you plan to do any cruising on the freeway you need at least 500cc, 650cc would be better. That's maybe 50 hp. which is 'medium sized'. Stay away from the hot single-purpose sportbikes, all the Japanese mfgrs make one and they are very popular but not for beginners. These are Honda CBR, Suzuki GSX-R, Yamaha R6 and R1 and Kawasaki ZX. They are super machines, for what they are, but they're not easy to ride. If you just have to have one of these (and I don't blame you) see it as something to work up to. You want a 'standard', a general purpose motorcycle, at least to start. Examples of good models are Suzuki GS500, Suzuki SV 650, Honda 599, Kawasaki Ninja 500 or 650 (NOT Ninja ZX), etc. There are a lot of models in this category, but you could start by looking up these models on Wikipedia or googling them to learn about them. There's also a category called 'cruisers'. Harley Davidson is the prototypical cruiser, and they're pretty nice but way expensive. Japanese cruisers are a better deal for the money. That's Honda Shadow, Suzuki Boulevard, Yamaha Star (and V-Star etc.), and Kawasaki Vulcan. On a cruiser you could go up to 750cc because they are lower to the ground and so easier to handle. They are great for freeway cruising. They are not as 'sporty' as the standards, they support a relaxed, laid-back style of riding. All the Japanese mfgrs are very good--well-engineered, reliable, long-lived, economical, the best deal for the money. My advice is to start with a used bike. You're likely to be hard on your first bike, and it would be a shame to screw up a shiny new motorcycle by learning to ride on it. Look at 'mesh jackets'. These are jackets that have the same abrasion resistance as leather but they're made of a 'mesh' material that the air just goes right through, so you stay comfortable. But remember, on a hot day you're leaving a trail of water vapor, and that keeps you cool, but you can very easily get dehydrated. Carry lots of water and stop to drink every so often. Some bikers in AZ carry a 'camelback', a water bladder that goes on your back with a tube that comes through your helmet into your mouth. (I mention this because I'm at the age where when I get dehydrated I get kidney stones and they are not pleasant at all. But living in AZ you probably know all about dehydration. 8^< ). Also, not to discourage you, but statistics show that 1/2 of all motorcycle accidents happen to riders with less than a year's experience. So be careful that first year! 8^)