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| Answers to common questions, as well as tips on maintenance can be found right here! Check back frequently for more guides, briefs, maintenance tips and tricks of the trade. | Thinking of Buying a motorcycle? This expert brief may help you find the right bike for your needs.
A FEW QUESTIONS YOU'LL WANT TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE MAKING YOUR DECISION:
1) Am I an experienced rider?
Riding a motorcycle is undeniably fun and a real fuel saver for regular riders. But before you consider buying any kind of motorcycle, assess your skills and abilities. If you're a rank novice, you need to learn how to ride first. If you've been away from motorcycling for a while, you should take a refresher course. And if you don't already have a motorcycle license, you're going to need one to ride legally. The best course of action is to go to a riding school. The State of MN offers rider training courses that will train riders and get them endorsed to ride. Hitching Post Motorsports proudly offers the same MSF endorsed program in a smaller class setting. Call 763-502-9400 x111 for motorcycle certification & safety class schedules.
How do I intend to ride?
The kind of riding you're interested in fairly well dictates the type of bike you should shop for. Conversely, the kind of bike you ride largely defines your motorcycling world and lifestyle. So, besides selecting the motorcycle based on its mechanical and performance attributes, consider what circles you'll likely be riding in--so to speak. If you don't think of yourself as a racer or a biker in the "Wild One" vein, and you would be comfortable at, say, an Eagles reunion concert, consider a traditional bike. People attracted to sportbikes, on the other hand, tend to indulge in extreme activities--think "The Fast and the Furious," only on two wheels. If you want to hang with the fast thrill-seaker, crowd, maybe you're a sportbike candidate. Folks who enjoy the touring lifestyle tend to be a little older than the typical sportbike crowd--often they're retirees, but they don't have to be,--mostly, these riders are in no kind of hurry when they watch the scenery go by on all sides. If an RV lifestyle or dinner theater appeals to you, so might a touring bike. But if you want to put some adventure into a long daily commute, you may be cruiser-bike material. Better descriptions of all bikes just mentioned will come a little later in this brief.
2) How much should I spend?
It's a discretionary purchase--the mortgage comes first, okay? Depending on the type of motorcycle you choose, you can expect to pay anywhere from under $5000 to $25,000 for a new bike. As a motorcycle dealer, like auto dealers, Hitching Post will do what we can to help you with financing options. We offer used bikes as well.
Do I need a new bike, or will pre-owned do?
For many riders, a used motorcycle is a better option. Besides often being more affordable than a new bike, a used one is a sensible transitional machine. You may find that the bike you bought to get you back in the game is somehow lacking after you've spent some serious time on it. Or, you may just want to start out with something to give yourself a few months to get comfortable--then you'll be more than ready for a brand new set of wheels. Hitching Post has a great buy-back program for those interested in upgrading after a season on a "starter bike." Call any HP location for more information.
Is this the bike for me?
As you shop, consider your physical body type: If you can't put both feet comfortably on the ground when the bike is upright, it's too tall for you, period. Also, if this is your first bike, or you've never ridden anything very fast, you may not want to look at a high-performance bike just yet.
That said, if you see yourself using the bike primarily as daily transportation, consider a standard, or traditional, bike. If you used to ride years ago, these will look familiar, but feel better thanks to electric starters, fuel injection and disc brakes. Some are even shaft-driven instead of chain-driven for greater comfort. If your commute is a long one, you typically do it with a passenger and you want a bit more style, the next logical choice is a cruiser. If you intend to spend many hours and miles in the saddle with a passenger sitting behind you, you'll need a touring bike. For a little more performance in a touring bike, there's a subset called sport/touring. If you primarily want to straighten curvy roads, your needs will be best met with a sportbike. If you want a basic commuter that can keep going after the the pavement ends, look at a dual-purpose bike: a standard bike with extra ground clearance and knobby tires. Here are some types of motorcycles and their basic descriptions to prepare you for your visit to the dealership.
TRADITIONAL
Also called standard, these are updated versions of what most bikes used to be. They have a classically shaped gas tank, individual fenders, low handlebars and an engine you can see.
Price: $4000 to $10,000
CRUISER
Heavy and stable at low speeds, these bikes usually have large, torquey V-twin engines, a low center of gravity and generously sized, low saddles to accommodate riders of all sizes.
Price: $10,000 to $25,000
TOURING
Touring bikes have huge, cushy saddles with an equally huge passenger seat and lots of storage necessary for days on the road. These bikes offer accessories like power outlets and heated seats.
Price: $15,000 to $22,000
SPORT
Light and powerful, these bikes have a race-bred chassis and triple disc brakes (two front, one rear). The forward-leaning riding position is not comfortable for long-distance riding.
Price: $7000 to $15,000
Hitching Post Motorsports also offers a great selection of rental bikes for riders who really want to test out certain types of bikes before hitting the highway on their own machine. You can ask your sales team member for more information, or call 952-697-0185.
HAPPY RIDING!
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Dead Battery?
Before replacing your battery or any related parts, you should do some research on your riding patterns, habits and frequency.
Below are some of the basic questions you should ask yourself.
1. How long has the unit been sitting? Alarms, as well as OEM clocks, radios, and CB's with memory, all place a slight current draw on the battery. This draw, accompanied by a battery’s normal self-discharge rate, will discharge a battery over an extended time period. If you use your vehicle less than once a week you will benefit from the use of a Battery Tender and a multiple battery connector lead.
2. How do you ride the unit? Short trips may not replenish the charge taken from the battery during normal engine starting. Frequent short distance riding may eventually discharge the battery. Short distance riders will also benefit from a battery trickle charger.
3. Do you mostly engage in prolonged in-town, low-speed operation? If so, this type of operation, (consisting of low engine RPM, frequent brake light use, and frequent cooling fan cycles,) can also discharge the battery. Alternating gears (to raise engine RPM) will help. Remember to always turn the engine off using the ignition key – leaving the lights on with the engine off is also a big "no-no."
4. Do you ride with the high beam headlights on? Though it is recommended during the day for safety, high beam usage accompanied with the in-town riding mode described above, will change the discharge rate of your battery. Don't discontinue usage of your high beam, just be prepared for possible accelerated battery discharge by keeping the right tools around to serve your needs.
5. Do you start the bike and let it idle to “keep the battery charged”? If so, you may actually be accelerating battery drain by allowing it to run for an extended period under the “break even” RPM of the charging system.
Once you understand how you are riding and storing your motorcycles, it will be much easier for you to troubleshoot the cause of dead batteries and offer reasonable – and sometimes little or no-cost solutions for maintenance.
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