Finding the Right Motorcycle
    The first question to ask is what bike is right for me. You need to make sure that you get a motorcycle that suits your size, skill level, and type of riding that you will be doing. A first time rider should consider getting a smaller bike, learn the street survival skills, and then move on up. What kind of riding will you be doing? If you will be carving the mountain roads, a performance bike or sport bike may be just what you are looking for. However, if you are going to be stick to boulevard cruising, then a cruiser may be a better choice. There are some bikes, like the Honda NightHawk, that do a pretty good job at both types of riding with an inexpensive price tag.

Bike Knowledge
   Make sure you learn as much as you can about the motorcycle you intend to buy before making the big deal. There are many good magazines and web sites that can give you a wealth of insight into the bike you want. One big problem with most motorcycle dealers is that you can not test-drive the bike! So what do you do? Try to get a friend to let you test drive his! The best insight can be gained by reading about the motorcycle in different cycle magazines. Why different magazines? Because by reading more than one you won't be swayed by only one opinion but will probably end up with some type of consensus on what the bike feels like in a turn, how cushy is the seat, or do the mirrors buzz at highway speeds.