Make Your First Bike a Smart, Safe Bike

Deciding to ride, that's the easy part. Now comes the exciting part - buying your first motorcycle. When you're thinking through your options, remember to take safety and your riding skill level into account. That may mean buying a smaller, easier-to-ride bike instead of jumping at the biggest, baddest bike you can afford.

There's a good chance you'll drop your bike when you're starting out. Not necessarily wreck it, but literally drop it onto its side. Coming to terms with this possibility can make the decision process between a new or used bike a simple one. Since you'll probably add a few dings and dents of your own as you're getting up to speed, a used bike might be your best bet. We can help point you in the right direction - and even help you find a good deal - with these tips on buying a used bike.

Buying used may be smart for multiple reasons. You'll worry less about damage when you drop your bike and focus more on mastering your technique. Used bikes also tend to cost less to repair than newer models. It's also worth noting that depreciation rates vary, but the biggest drop in value usually comes in the first year. Down the road, that means you could end up selling your used bike for only a few hundred dollars less than you paid for it... instead of a few thousand.

Once you've honed your skills, Allstate can help move up to your dream bike - from tips and tricks that will help get the most for your used bike to our "What's My Bike Worth?" worksheet that helps you price your bike right.

When you're ready to buy, our New Bike Buyer Checklist can help you and your new bike stay safe and protected.

There are essentially 5 main styles of motorcycles: touring, standard, sport bike, cruiser, and dual-purpose. No matter which style you choose, one suggestion for your first bike is to "start light." The extreme weight and power of some bikes can be intimidating to inexperienced riders. Smaller, less powerful bikes make learning to ride easier. And a smaller bike will be easier to maneuver as you learn how to balance, steer, accelerate, and brake.

With that in mind, choosing between the 5 styles comes down to answering two essential questions: What type of rider are you and where will you ride?

Some bikes are built for longer rides (touring bikes and cruisers), some for on- and off-road riding (dual-sport), some for speed (sport bike), and still others do a little bit of everything (standard). Each bike has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to weigh the pros and cons of each before making a decision.

For new riders, it's probably a good idea to start on a bike where your feet can rest flat on the ground. Learning to ride is hard enough without constantly feeling like you're going to tip over. Also, take the bike for a spin before you buy to see how it feels with your feet up on the pegs and your hands on the handlebars. A comfortable ride makes it easy to concentrate on what matters most - staying safe on the road.

At Allstate, we're proud that a lot of our agents ride too. With their help, we've developed rider-specific safety tips, tools, and info to help you ride safe and smart.