Choosing your second bike
Choosing a new bike is not always easy and can be anxiety inducing because you don’t want to make the wrong decision. The first thing you should ask yourself is, will this be replacing my current bike? Or is it something to add to the collection?
This really helps the decision making by making you think about how it’s going to be used and if your WANTS are outweighed by your NEEDS, if you’re financially able to run multiple bikes, it is a good idea to have one for commuting on and one for going out and having fun on. Heck, what do I know? If you can afford it why stop there?
What have you owned and what type of riding do you do?
You could then start to look at what your first bike was. What type of riding did you do? Did you like the riding position? Do you want something new? Do you just want a little crotch rocket to fulfill your bubby squid street Rossi dreams for a sunny Sunday? If you already have a sports bike, why not try something new?
Maybe something a bit more comfortable for longer journeys or maybe an adventure bike that allows you to have the option of going off road. Maybe, you’re bored of the upright life and decided you need to be a screaming missile. Well, the good news is that you’ll never lack choices because there are bikes for even the pickiest of riders.
What bikes I recommend as a second bike for newer riders?
If you’re new to riding and you’ve recently come from a 125 and are looking to replace your training wheels for that fancy big wheeler then I’d recommend looking into the 650cc – 700cc class bikes.
For example the MT-07/XSR700 by Yamaha, SV 650 from Suzuki, Z650/ninja 650 from Kawasaki or possibly even the trident 660 from Triumph. These are all excellent bikes that don’t have too much power but more than enough for everyday road use.
I’d also recommend this class of bike over the 300cc – 400cc range because it gives you something to grow into as your skills improve without being too much for you.
I personally find the 300cc – 400cc range a little too underwhelming.
They are cheap and appealing to new riders but unfortunately you as a learning rider are more likely than not to get bored relatively quickly. This can get annoying for you the rider because maybe upgrading just isn’t on the table yet for financial reasons, then you’re just stuck on a bike you don’t particularly want anymore which can take the enjoyment out of riding.
But that’s a personal thing, you’ll have your own experiences and opinions. I’m just here to give advice.
I've tried to give you some helpful, sensible advice, BUT, let's real talk...
You need an R1. It might be today, it might tomorrow. But at some point, you're going to have to give into temptation, bite the bullet, and buy that beautiful crossplane monster you've been eyeing. This may be a little tongue in cheek, but at the end of the day, your second bike is all about the freedom of choice and the joy of the ride. So go on, treat yourself (to an R1.)
