Have you thought about upgrading from your trusty mountain bike or penny farthing? Have you pimped out your car too much?  Of course you have! Who doesn’t like the idea of riding through Route 66 on their mighty hog like Easy Rider or (if you have lame taste in films) Wild Hogs? But what do you need to look out for when buying a motorcycle? The following guide will give you an idea on how to burn that rubber faster than a kid with a load of rubber bands and a lighter.

Getting Started – You might want to just jump on and speed off into the sunset right? Wrong. Think about your safety and the safety of everyone else on the road. Getting onto a motorcycle course will give you the background to operating your hog with safety, and you get to practise in a safe environment before jetting off, so you can make your mistakes there. Making a mistake on the road can kill, with thousands of injuries and deaths because of motorcycle accidents, you will wanna be sure of what you’re doing.

The motorcycle – Tempting as it may be, you don’t want to start out with a Harley Davidson. The best way would be to get one with an engine size that’s around the middle of the range. Getting a motorcycle that’s a 500 cc to 600 cc engine size is a great place to start, as something lower you can grow out of easily.

The other factor to look at is the seating position. Based on your own height, you may want to pick a standard seating position, or one that rides further back. Try and get a feel for a few motorcycles as you shop around and you’ll get the one that feels right.

The Gear – They say the clothes maketh the man, but the motorcycle gear maketh it cool. But there are essentials when it comes to motorcycle gear. The helmet is the most obvious one, but if you think you’ll just need a helmet, think on! You will need a motor jacket, preferably high-abrasion grade leather, gloves, and boots which you will wear at all times. For more info, check out Bikers’ Basics for reviews on the latest motorcycle helmets and other gear.

The Cost – For the bike, the insurance for the motorcycle, and the gear, it will start at $175, and that’s just the helmet! Having a good quality motorcycle and getting the right parts when it needs fixing will cost you that bit more, but it’ll be worth it!

The Wild One – Now that you’re up and running, you can now realise your dreams of being a Rebel Without A Cause or a Wild One. Or if you are a nice person, just being a Road Hog, but a polite one. So get out there with your knowledge, and be safe! So there is nothing left to say but, “get on your bikes and ride!”