When buying your first motorcycle it is easy to focus only on the model. This list helps make sure nothing is missed.
Before you start: licence and budget
- Licence category: how powerful a motorcycle can you ride? (See our A2 article.)
- Budget: besides the price of the bike, count the protective gear (helmet, gloves, jacket, trousers, boots), insurance, registration and the first service.
Choosing the bike
- Seat height: sit on it and see how well you reach the ground. As a beginner, a secure stance matters a lot.
- Weight: a lighter bike is easier to manoeuvre, park and hold up.
- Brakes: in the EU, ABS is mandatory on newly registered motorcycles above 125 cm³. Up to 125 cm³, ABS or a combined braking system (CBS) is required. ABS helps in an emergency stop.
- Use: city commuting, touring or weekend fun? Choose a category to match.
Paperwork and insurance
- Compulsory third-party liability insurance is required for registration.
- For a new bike, the shop helps with registration and the necessary documents.
- Ask about the warranty and the service intervals.
Viewing and handover
- Look at the bike in person in the shop: sit on it and check that your feet reach the ground and that the handlebars feel comfortable.
- At handover, inspect the bike, read the owner's manual and ask when the first service is due.
- Go easy for the first kilometres: most manufacturers specify a running-in period.
Tip: set money aside for gear too. Good protective gear is not a luxury, it is the basis of your safety.
For information only. Always check the exact legal and official requirements against the current rules.