What type of motorcycle should I get?

That is a very common question I used to get when I was working at a motorcycle shop. Some people would actually come into the shop just to ask general questions about motorcycles. They would ask questions about the different types of motorcycles there are. Some would want to know about reliability issues. No matter what questions I would hear, the most common would be about the different types of bikes.

There are really two main factors to consider when deciding the type of bike to buy. Comfort and style. Each bike has it's own unique blend of both. It's up to you, whether you want to lean more towards style, or comfort. 

What I mean by all of this is quite simple. Would you sacrifice style to have a little more comfort? Would you sacrifice comfort to have a little more style? See, there are thousands of bikes that lean towards one or the other. There are fewer more that have the right blend of both. Let's see what types go from one end, to the other, and back in between.

Cruisers:
The cruiser is one of my favorites. Although there are countless other bikes out there that I like, cruisers kind of fit in the middle for me. Cruisers are basically a stylish bike that has some comfortableness to it. They don't usually look sporty, and they're comfortable enough for the rider to go medium or long distances. Cruisers have high bottom-end, which means they have more torque.

Sport bikes:
Sport bikes look cool. They're very modern looking and easy to customize. In addition, they're much lighter than cruisers, and that

is mainly because they're really designed for track use. Although they look cool, they are very uncomfortable. For this reason, it's best to use for short distances. That's not to say that you can't go long distances with them. Sport bikes have higher top-end, which means they're quick off the line.

Touring:
These bikes are not for the little guy. They are very big and that

means they are heavy. Touring bikes are also the most comfortable bikes around. They do have some style hues, but you don't buy them for it's looks. Since they are very comfortable, a rider can go very long distances with it and be totally fine. They have high bottom-end, producing more torque. With the size and weight of these things, bottom-end is what it needs. They're also great for having a very cozy passenger.

Cafe racer:
The cafe racer is my personal favorite. It is really a hybrid between a cruiser, drag bike, and sports bike. They are really cool looking

bikes. Cafe racers are usually custom built out of vintage cruisers. They're usually for sale online by their owners, but dealers have been selling them as well due to their growing popularity. They are somewhat comfortable like a cruiser, but are light weight like a sports bike. Although the engine is usually from a cruiser, the fact that these bikes are bare bone, they have a power band around the middle. It's a balanced-end bike. 

I actually plan on building a cafe racer for myself. I don't know when, but I will be making a video on it and posting it to my YouTube Channel as well as this blog.

Now I just described, in partial, the four main types of bikes that you will see on the road. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages, which I have described here. This article alone should not be the only consideration in deciding on what type of bike to get. In fact, this should be a mere stepping stool as to which direction to start looking.

One thing to do is go to a dealer. Check out the various different types of bikes they have. Some dealers have several hundreds, to thousands of bikes in stock. Sit on some of them for a few minutes to get a feel of how comfortable they are. Shop around and don't buy the first thing you see. Look online as well to find good deals. Don't be afraid to buy on craigslist.

However, if you do buy from a private owner, make sure you do your research. It might also help to have someone with you who knows what to look for. As part of my business, I offer my skills to people who are looking to buy cars, motorcycles, and ATVs. I charge a flat rate to go with them and inspect the vehicle they're interested in buying. That way they can buy with a little more confidence.

Thank you for reading, be safe, and ride on...,

        Cesar