[How-To] Beginners Guide to Safely Riding a Motorcycle in the Rain
Can You Safely Ride a Motorcycle in the Rain? Let’s call a spade a spade: when the rain hits, the riding gets a bit more complicated. The thing is, despite the risks that rain represents, there are many riders that enjoy riding through light rain. I’ll never forget the first time I hit the rockies on …
Honda CBR300R Beginner Bike Profile + Owner Reviews
A Sub-$5,000 Thrill Ride Purpose-Built for Beginner Riders Ahh yes, the CBR300R – a lightweight, easy to maneuver, easy to maintain, fuel-sipping, beginner bike prodigy. That may sound like a lofty description, but the CBR300R has been that since its introduction in 2013 (on sale since in 2015). The CBR300R has successfully cemented itself in …
How to Properly Secure & Transport a Motorcycle on a Flatbed
Every Motorcycle Rider Experiences the Roadside Pickup + Tow at Some Point in Their Riding Career At some point in your riding career, your bike is going to leave you stranded. I was reminded of this fact in June, when a Saturday morning ride with my wife on the back got sidetracked when I lost …
Suzuki GS500F: Beginner Bike Profile + Owner Reviews
Too Many New Riders Overlook the GS500 & I Can’t Figure Out Why My first motorcycle was a ’99 Kawasaki Ninja 500R, a 500cc sportbike that came with around 45 horsepower, timeless good looks, and fuel-sipping fuel economy. It was an excellent first bike and one that I flicked from corner to corner with glee. …
Kawasaki Ninja 650R: Beginner Bike Profile + Owner Reviews
Kawasaki’s Ninja 650R Has Been an Entry-Level Staple Since 2006 Bikes like the Ninja 650R, FZ6R, and SV650 are ideal for new riders that either needs something larger due to their height, or are confident in their ability to manage a bit more power than what the typical “beginner bike” ships with. With an estimated …
Suzuki SV650: Beginner Bike Profile + Owner Reviews
The Suzuki SV650 is Not Your Typical Beginner Motorcycle The SV650 defies the common convention that a beginner rider piloting a bike with 600cc’s or more is setting themselves up for failure. In most cases, the reality is that 600cc’s is simply too much for a new rider. The Suzuki SV650 respectfully disagrees with that …
Should Your First Helmet Be Snell Certified?
New riders have a lot to take in, and one of the most complex (and divisive) topics is helmets. Spend a few minutes diving into new rider helmet recommendation forums, subreddits, and blog posts, and you’ll see what I mean. When talking helmets anywhere, Snell inevitably comes up. Opinions from riders vary, but there is …
Yamaha FZ6 Fazer: Beginner Bike Profile + Owner Reviews
Naked or Faired, the FZ6 is a Great Platform that New Riders Won’t Quickly Outgrow I might be biased, given that I’m currently rocking the 2007 Fazer in Yamaha 50th Anniversary Colors you see above, but the FZ6 is probably the perfect bike for the confident beginner rider that wants a bit of power without …
How To Push Start (Bump Start / Pop Start) A Motorcycle
Quick Navigation Motorcycle Won’t Start? Check these First! How to Push Start a Motorcycle How-to Video Helpful Tips in Push Starting your Bike Conclusion It was 25°c outside (about 77°F for my American friends), the sun was shining, and my wife and I were ready to ride. I’m riding MOTGATT today (I know, I know, …
Bell RS-2 Full-Face Helmet: A Great Mid-Range Helmet for New Riders
The RS-2 is Bell’s evolution of their wildly popular RS-1, and features numerous improvements compared to the outgoing model. It’s sleeker, better vented, and incorporates a new face shield and sun visor. It’s also claimed to be lighter, quieter, and easier to live with. On paper, the RS-2 is not so much an evolution of …
A Brief Guide to Motorcycle Coolant: Operating Temperatures, Change Frequency, & More
Liquid-cooled motorcycles use coolant (also referred to as antifreeze) to keep their engines within safe operating temperatures. This system requires periodic maintenance, especially as your bike accumulates mileage. If your bike is older, or if you recently purchased a higher-mileage used bike, there’s also a good chance that the coolant/cooling system would benefit from a …
Why The Yamaha 2007+ FZ6 Fazer is a Great First Bike for Most Riders
From 2004 to 2010, Yamaha sold the FZ6 Fazer, a sport-touring motorcycle that featured a detuned R6 engine (circa 2003) and sporty styling, but with a more comfortable and ergonomically-friendly riding position. As the owner of a 2007 FZ6 in Yamaha 50th Anniversary colors, I’m happy to write an article extolling its virtues. If you’re reading this …
2018 Kawasaki Z650: First Ride/Review
Summary Introduced for the 2017 model year, the 2018 Z650 offers thrilling performance, easy handling, and lightweight maneuverability. New riders won’t have to worry about outgrowing the power too soon, but they should be careful: this “small” Z has more than enough power to be daring… and dangerous. Highly recommended for fans of naked bikes …
Kawasaki Z125 Pro: a Lightweight Streetfighter for New Riders
The media hub at AIMExpo 2018 – America’s largest and most significant motorcycle show – is electric. Media, vendors, and major brands from all over North America – and the world – have come in droves to showcase what’s new for 2018. Among them, perfect for new riders (and BestBeginnerMotorcycles.com), is the 2018 Kawasaki Z125 …
The Best (& Cheapest) Motorcycles to Buy [Updated for 2020 / New & Used]
Updated March 1, 2020 New or Used, There Has Never Been a Better Time to Shop for an Affordable Motorcycle My first motorcycle – a 1999 Kawasaki Ninja 500R – was already 10 years old by the time I owned it. It had lived a fairly substantial life before it met me, racking up nearly …
