| With such a massive range of motorcycle bikes and accessories to choose from it's easy to understand how the new bike shopper can get lost in all of the terms and options. When deciding on a motorcycle your first decision is whether you want an street or off road bike or a versatile bike that does both. Lets focus on the on road motorbike.
You still have one major decision to make. Do you want to go fast or do you want more comfort and long distance riding. For the speed demon (within the speed limits!) you are looking at a sports bike. They are designed for performance but have limitations when it comes to comfort and weight capacity. For long distance touring, Cruisers are designed for comfort but compromise speed and handling. Most people will know which one they want just by looking at a bike as they are completely different body shapes and riding positions, picture a Harley versus a typical Honda.
If you decide you want a cruiser then you have many additional parts and accessories you can buy to add to your touring experience. They are things you should consider before you buy your motorcycle as your bike will place some limitations. For any trips you can add a tow behind trailer called a motorcycle cargo trailer which allows for much greater luggage capacity. This attaches to you bike like a trailer to a car but is enclosed. They are made in all shapes and sizes which are obviously dependent on price. For the keen camping enthusiest you can also buy a camper trailer which has a built in tent which pops up, storage for camping gear and luggage and add ons like coolers, racks, awnings and more. Now the limitations are placed as the width cannot be wider than your handlebars and more importantly the weight of the trailer and cargo cannot be more than the weight capacity of your bike and the class trailer hitch. You also don't want to make to many bike modifications so knowing the end result will help you ask the right questions before purchasing you motorcycle.
Any bike though can be transported on a motorbike trailer and most on a motorcycle hauler or carrier. Again there are restrictions that come from your car size which will determine the maximum hitch class and towing weight capacity. If you have a large heavy bike and are limited by your car size then an aluminum motorcycle trailer will be lighter than a steel trailer and allow you more weight allowance on your bike. It you are looking at a hauler or carrier then you need to have an SUV or larger or be able to use a Class 3 Hitch.
Whatever bike you are looking at consider what you are planning on doing in the future even if you can't afford it all now as you don't want bike restrictions to limit your purchases down the line. |