Info for New Riders
Lawson’s Advice on Gear: lawsonwhite.com/motorcycle-gear
RevZilla’s New Rider Resources: https://www.revzilla.com/new-rider
T-CLOCs Checklist: MSF T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist
Technique
See the other page on my site called Motorcycle Technique
Motorcycle Buying Advice
General
You should be able to find a great first bike for $3k - $4k. When I was looking in 2020, I was looking for a bike between $3k-$4k that's 12-years old or younger and has 30k miles or less. I got a 2008 Yamaha R6 for $3,500 that had 28k miles. I can resell it in a year for probably close too the same price, or just ride it until it dies. It's in great shape and doesn't need a lot of work.
I bought 2 bikes when I was in NYC that needed tons of work because I was trying to be cheap. I really recommend that you don’t do that. Especially for a first bike, you want something that is predictable, reliable, and works the way it’s supposed. BUT, you don't need to spend more than $3-4k to get a great bike that will be low-maintenance and great to ride.
European bikes like BMW, Ducati, and Triumph sometimes have better-than-average brakes and shocks (especially BMW and Ducati) on their entry-level bikes and they look great, but they will need more maintenance than Japanese bikes or Harleys, and that maintenance will be more expensive. Remember you can always upgrade parts like brakes and shocks.
Harleys are kind of their own thing - often mechanics that work on Harleys only work on Harleys, and mechanics that work on Japanese and European bikes don’t work on Harleys. I am not a Harley expert, and have never owned one. I have asked my Harley friends about what would be a good first bike for someone who wants a Harley. They explained that Sportsters are cool bikes and folks always flock to them because they look small / manageable, and are cheaper, but they are top-heavy and not the smoothest ride, so they really are better for a more experienced rider. On the other hand, they say that a Heritage Softtail or something in the Softtail family would be a better first bike. They are cost a little more and are heavier, but they sit lower and are more well-balanced bikes for a newer riders. Again, I’m no Harley expert, but this is my understanding based on conversations with those that are.
Great Bikes for New Riders
Here are some bikes that would be great first bikes. These are great bikes - they're not ones you'll be embarrassed about or want to get rid of soon, and they’ll hold good resale value. They're the real deal, they just have characteristics that would make them a great choice as a first bike.
Unless you’re a mechanic I would recommend getting a fuel-injected bike rather than a carbureted bike. Yearly maintenance on carbureted bike can be around $1k a year, and if you let it sit more than a month without riding it the carbs have to be cleaned.
*denotes best of the best, in my opinion, for new riders
Standard:
*Yamaha MT03
KTM 390 Duke
Kawasaki Z400
Suzuki SV650
BMW 310r
Honda 500F
Suzuki TU250X (these are the bikes we use in the MSF BasicRider course class)
Honda CB250, 350, 450, or 750. These are classics! Vintage years could be good, if you find a good one that’s been well-maintained. Fun to ride. Easy and affordable to maintain.
Dual Sport:
*Yamaha TW200 or the older TW250 (low seat height - very easy to ride. The con is that it’s the only bike on this list that is carbureted.)
Yamaha XT250
Kawasaki KLX230
Honda CRF250L or CRF300L
Kawasaki KLX300 or KLX300SM
Mini:
(Super fun, affordable, and great to learn on.)
*Honda Grom
Kawasaki Z125
Sport:
(Generally I wouldn’t recommend a sport bike for a new rider.)
Yamaha RZF-R3
CBR 300R
Kawasaki Ninja 400
Dirt:
Yamaha TT-R125LE
Cruiser:
*Honda Rebel 300. The new ones are awesome and affordable.
Harley Heritage Soft Tail (Harley Sportsters aren’t recommended. They’re top heavy and rougher to ride.)
Put crash bars on whatever you get so you won't be scared to drop it. They're only $100 or so, and you can always take them off. Slap em on there and go practice!! Don't let your bike choice hold you back. Make it about you, not the bike.
Buying Used vs Dealership
Buying from a dealer has it's upsides, which are that it's easy, they make sure the bikes are in good shape before they sell them, and they often offer financing and maintenance plans. Downsides are that there are additional fees that you pay even if the bike is used and you have to deal with salesmen who are really just in the business of selling motorcycles. I've never bought a bike from a dealership, but if I did, I would try to get them to discount the price and / or throw in things like a maintenance package, dealer warranty, etc.
I've never used CycleTrader or any of those sites / services, but imagine they are worth checking too. I've found that most of the time the listings are either from dealerships, out of my area (even when I carefully specify), or they also show up on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
Regardless of where you’re buying it from, know the value of the bike. Look up value in the NADA Guide: https://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/Motorcycles
Don't get burned: Tips for buying a used motorcycle: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/dont-get-burned-used-bike-buying-tips
Things to Ask When Buying a Used Bike
The best place to buy right now is probably Facebook Marketplace. Next best is Craigslist. Try to get answers to as many of these questions as you can, unless they’re already answered in the post:
What type of title does it have? Is the title clean, in your name, and do you have it in-hand?
What state is it registered in?
Has it ever been wrecked or dropped?
Are the brakes stock? Can you send pics of the brake pads? What condition are the rotors in?
Are the shocks stock? Are the fork seals leaking?
How old are the tires? Can you send pics of each tire that show the depth of the tread?
Can you send a video of it starting from a cold start? If you don’t mind, put your hand on the pipes to show it’s cold, then start it, rev it a few times, and then let it idle.
Are there any other mechanical or cosmetic issues you can send pics of?
Tennessee-specific Rules and Info
• Motorcycle Insurance Minimum Requirements in Tennessee (scroll down to select another state)
• Required documents at TN DMV to get your motorcycle license after completing a Basic Rider Course
(If you have a current TN Driver License you only need to bring your license and the certificate you get after successfully completing the BRC. Sign that certificate in blue ink. The DMV will keep the certificate, so make a photo before you go if you want to keep a copy for your records or scrapbook. You will also have to pay a small fee, which varies by county.)
• How get your motorcycle license in TN & Info on types of licenses
• TN Motorcycle Rider Education Program
• TN Motorcycle Operators Manual
• Resources from Mid Tenn Motorcycle Education Center
Includes the following and more:
• BRC Rider Handbook (at the bottom of the page)
• Resources for Group Riding, Passengers, MSF Motorcycle Operators Manual, etc
How to Load a Motorcycle into a Truck
Here are a couple of good sources for info on how to load your bike into a truck!
• RevZilla: How to load a motorcycle into a truck: Tips and tricks
• MotoJitsu: How to load a motorcycle into a truck and make it look easy