So, there I was, staring out the window, thinking life needed a bit more… something. My old sedan was feeling more like a cage, and then my buddy, Mark, he shows up one Saturday on this slick-looking machine. Not a giant Harley, nothing crazy, just… cool. And it got me thinking. “Maybe a motorcycle?” The idea burrowed into my brain like a tick.
The Great Wall of Confusion
First thing I did, naturally, was hit the internet. Oh boy. That was a mistake. Cruisers, sportbikes, dual-sports, adventure bikes, nakeds, cafe racers, scramblers, tourers… My head was spinning. What in the world was the difference? It felt like trying to choose a new career path when all I knew was how to make toast. Every forum had a dozen guys screaming about why their type of bike was the ONLY type to own. It was overwhelming, to say the least. I spent a good week just clicking, getting more confused, and frankly, a bit intimidated.
Initially, I had these grand visions, you know? Like, I’d get some super sleek sportbike and look like a pro, zipping around. Or maybe a big, rumbling cruiser, all chrome and attitude. Seemed like the ‘obvious’ choices from movies and stuff. But then I started to dig a little deeper, past the shiny pictures.
Getting Real (Sort Of)
I started thinking, okay, what am I actually going to do with this thing? That was a big question.
- Commute to work sometimes? Yeah, probably.
- Weekend rides in the hills? Sounds nice.
- Cross-country adventures? Hold on, let’s not get carried away.
- Track days and knee-dragging? Definitely not me.
That helped narrow things down a bit. Suddenly, a 1000cc fire-breathing race replica seemed a bit much for picking up milk. And those giant touring bikes? Felt like I’d need a crew to park one. I also learned about things like seat height. Turns out, being able to touch the ground is kinda important. Who knew? I’m not exactly a giant, so that crossed a few more off the list.
Then came the “advice.” Everyone’s got an opinion. My cousin swore by his massive tourer, said anything smaller was a toy. Another friend said, “Get a 250cc, learn on it, sell it in a year.” Sensible, but also kinda boring, I thought at the time. I even went to a dealership, just to look. Sat on a few. Some felt okay, others felt like I was trying to hug a refrigerator. The salesman was nice enough, but he was, well, a salesman. Everything was “perfect for me.”
The Turning Point (aka The Wallet Talks)
I was leaning towards a cool retro-looking standard bike. Something with a bit of style but not too aggressive. Found a couple of used ones online, prices seemed alright. Then, just for kicks, I got an insurance quote. Wow. For some of those sportier models I’d briefly considered? The insurance was going to be more than my car payment! That was a splash of cold water to the face. Suddenly, “sensible” didn’t sound so boring anymore.
The biggest thing, though, was deciding to take a basic rider course. Best decision ever. They put us on these little 200-250cc bikes. Light, easy to handle. And you know what? It was still challenging! I didn’t drop it, thankfully, but I saw a few people struggle. It really drove home the point that starting small and manageable is key. My grand visions of effortlessly carving canyons on a beast of a machine? Yeah, those got a reality check. Walking before you run, right?
So, Where Am I Now?
Well, I haven’t bought one yet. But my search is way more focused. I’m looking at used, smaller displacement bikes. Things like:
- A good, solid standard or “naked” bike in the 300-500cc range.
- Maybe even a small dual-sport, because the idea of exploring some gravel roads is kinda appealing.
The flash and the image? That’s way down the list now. I want something I can actually learn on, build confidence with, and not be terrified of dropping (because let’s be real, it might happen). Something that won’t break the bank with insurance or repairs. It’s funny, I started this journey thinking about what kind of biker I wanted to look like. Now I’m thinking about what kind of riding I actually want to do, and what bike will help me get there safely and enjoyably.
It’s been a process, man. More involved than picking out a new toaster, that’s for sure. But it’s also been pretty interesting. You learn a lot, not just about motorcycles, but about what you actually want and need. So, if you’re asking “what motorcycle should I get?”, my only real advice is to figure out yourself first. The right bike will follow.
