Want advice on choosing your first motorcycle?
Few months ago, I e-mailed Yannick, asking for advice on choosing a first motorcycle. I had looked around a bit and found three affordable options. An 8 year old CBR, a 3 years old Bandit and a much older Magna. As I personally found the advice concise, informative and funny, I decided to take the time to translate his message from French and share it with all of you. If you want advice, given by an previous mechanic turned into an skilled programmer, then please read on.
…As you know the CBR is mainly made of plastic that could easily break if you drop it. As a first bike, the chances that you drop it are rather high. That said, it could be a great 2nd or third bike but not if you primarly use it for long commutes, as your weight is mostly on your hands. This makes longs rides quite tiring and uncomfortable.
The bandit could be a remarkably cool first bike and is perfect for longer rides since you are less inclined. It is however not the best choice to take the driving tests due to its straighter fork, which makes it less maneuverable under very low speeds. It would be safer to rent a smaller, lighter bike for the exam if you decide to buy this one.
The magna is a __very__ cool one, especially for a beginner. The fork is more inclined, which gives it more stability. The
750cc is much heavier that the 2 previous ones, which is an advantage in itself, expect during the driving test. In canada, you can get insurance for that magma around 150$, which is very reasonable. It would have been better if this one came with a driveshaft instead of a chain, it is however not a big deal.
When inspecting it, make sure you at least check the following:
- The tires: Make sure they have enough thread dept. To replace both, it could cost you between 300$ and 500$ so make sure to include that in the price of the bike when taking a decision.
- The chain and sprokets: you cannot really see if the chain is dead but the sprokets can give you a decent idea. To change both costs around 300$. Here is a good way to check if a sproket is dead.
http://sv650.org/SV_restore/hooked sprocket.jpg
The teeth should be straight with a round top…If the teeth are pointy, this could mean the owner has switched his sproket’s sides. I would recommend NOT to buy a bike from someone who is so careless about the condition of his bike. There must be other things ready to blow up in your face.
- To verify that the bike is not leaking oil, check under it for any dark spots. If you cannot test drive it, ask for a ride as a passenger. Watch the exhaust for any blueish smoke that smells like burned oil. Put your hands behind the pipes while the bike is in idle and make sure they both discharge at a similar flow. If one discharges less than the other, the cylinder might be cracked and the engine is only good for the trash.
- Listen carefully to the sound that the engine makes. You should in no circumstance hear a *click* *click* sound. The CBR should sound like *vroom* *vroom* whereas the Magma should sound like *ptof* *ptof* much like a Harley. The bandit should have a smoother sound. A *click* *click* is a sign for either maladjusted valves or a more serious engine problem. Since you cannot easily verify what is the cause of the clicking sound, check for other bikes instead.
- As the weather is warm in Honolulu, the motorcycle should start quickly and easily with a gentle touch of the starter (no more than 5 engine cycles *yin* *yin* *yin* *yin* *yin*). Taking longer to start means that either the carbs might need a tune-up or augur for a more serious problem. Once again, since this question is hard to troubleshoot on the spot, stay away from that bike.
IMPORTANT: Do not disclose your enthusiasm while inspecting the bike, even if you know that it is the deal of the century. Look skeptical when checking the above-mentioned items. Try ending your check-up whith something like: “Hum, I don’t know. The tires are not in perfect shape and the chain and sproket are looking the worse for wear. I have
a XXXX$ budget but with the actual needed repairs, I wont be able to ride the bike now. If you want YYYY$, then it is a deal otherwise, I will have to keep on looking for something else in a better shape that I can afford.” Tell him that you like his bike, after all the guy is a biker and bikers should respect each other.
MY OWN TIP:
Do not forget to bring your own dirty rag. It gives you credibility and buys you some respect.
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