Choosing the right motorcycle
Before you make a decision, follow these tips on how to choose the right motorcycle for you.
- Talk to experienced riders, chat to knowledgeable staff in showrooms and refer to motorcycle websites.
- Think about what sort of motorcycle will suit your needs, whether it’s for touring at weekends, everyday commuting, trips to the beach or a sports model.
- Be realistic about your size, weight, and strength, as you will need to be able to manoeuvre quickly, efficiently, and confidently.
- If upgrading to a more powerful bike after upgrading your licence, take time to practise or take a refresher course, as the handling is very different from smaller motorcycles.
Motorcycle safety technology:
Safety technology to look out for when choosing a motorcycle include:
- Combined braking systems, where the front and back brakes work together,
- Amplified braking systems (ABS)– comparable to braking assistance in cars,
- Rear wheel lift off protection – detects when the rear wheel has lifted off the surface of the road and removes the front brake temporarily,
- Brake by wire – improves ABS results,
- Electronic traction control – prevents rear wheel skids,
- Motorcycle stability control – electronically combines braking while cornering in emergencies,
- Anti-hop clutch system for smoother and more consistent acceleration.
Other simple measures can also be utilised, such as a system where the head and tail lights are hard wired to be on continuously, even during the day. A New Zealand study concluded that motorcycles with lights on during the day are easier to see than those without and are 27% less likely to be involved in a crash.