If you think buying your first motorcycle is a decision for life, you are wrong. One of my students spent last year on a city bike, worked out that it was not really his thing, and swapped it for an adventure bike before the summer was over. (Hello, Anton!)
A first bike is a piece of training equipment — do not treat it as the Holy Grail or as a life partner. Your first will not be your last.
When students ask me which motorcycle to buy first, I always answer: buy the one your heart is set on, the one you actually like. But! There is one “but”.
You see, for me a motorcycle means road dust, fifty shades of mosquito along Lake Peipus and thousands of kilometres a week. So an adventure bike suits me. I cannot recommend it to everyone, though. An adventure is superb, but if your feet do not reach the ground properly, there is a real risk of dropping it on its side at the traffic lights. I did exactly that early in my own riding career — I simply stopped badly at a junction (and yes, teaching people how to stop properly is now exactly what I do).
So do not be afraid to buy a bike that does not make you look like the toughest rider in town from day one. For me a motorcycle is not for Instagram pictures, it is for the soul. First we learn the basics at school, then you ride for a year or two, and only then do you trade up.
Do not be afraid to buy a bike for a single season, get to know yourself on it, and then pass the baton to the next beginner. That is not a marriage of convenience, it is an interesting introduction.
What I recommend when choosing your first bike
- Stay close to the ground. You need to stand firmly with both feet down. Balancing on tiptoe in a Liivalaia traffic jam is a lottery.
- Weight matters. A heavy cruiser is beautiful right up until you have to turn it around in a narrow car park. Start with something light and manoeuvrable. And if you do choose a cruiser, do not hesitate to come to the practice ground afterwards — we will work out together how to handle it safely and comfortably.
- A litre is too much. Modern litre bikes are essentially sports equipment with lights bolted on. A beginner cannot enjoy riding them, because all the effort goes into not flying into the ditch after one accidental movement of the hand. Choose a mid-capacity bike for your first season. And if you still end up with something powerful, come to the practice ground and we will drill the skills you need on your own heavy machine.
My main advice: do not rush into buying a machine before you have started practical training at school. Only when you feel the clutch yourself, the weight of the bike and the way it responds to you on the practice ground will you understand what “character” you actually need. And then go for a test ride, because a motorcycle bought without trying it is foolish.
Remember, too, that buying a motorcycle with your last euro is the worst idea of your life.
Start with the gear
- Quality kit. A helmet that is comfortable, and protection you trust.
- Set money aside for servicing. There is nothing to add here. If you want to ride without brakes, it is better not to come to my school at all…
What next?
Choosing your first motorcycle is the beginning of a big adventure, and it is better to begin it in the right company. Once the plan is clear, have a look at how preparing for the category A riding test works.
At Motokool Kindel Lenks I do not sell pretty pictures. I teach the technique that keeps you in one piece. Tallinn has its own quirks: tram rails, sudden rain, milled-off asphalt and unpredictable drivers.
If you want to travel the road from a dream to riding with confidence, in a calm and professional atmosphere, let us start together.
Sign up and begin with the theory today, so you can enjoy the riding season in summer: category A training at Motokool Kindel Lenks.