Women now make over 12% of all motorcycle riders who purchase new bikes, more and more dealers are catering to the fairer sex.  However, if you are a woman and considering a purchase of your first bike, then one of the first questions that you must ask yourself is which bike is the best for you.

Because this is your first bike, I believe that it is important to start small and then work your way up from there.  I also think that it is best to learn on the same bike that you are going to be riding when you first get your license.  While this is not always the case for everyone, it can be much easier to learn on a smaller bike.  In addition, a smaller bike can cost less money which is important if you decide that you don’t like riding after all.  Some of the best smaller bikes that are currently on the market for women learning to ride are the Honda Rebel and the Yamaha Virago in both the 125 and 250cc models.

However, you may have some previous experience riding and feel as though you can handle a slightly more advanced and heavier machine as your first bike.  If this is the case, then I would recommend going with either the 600 Honda VLX or the Yamaha 650 V-Star.  In addition to being able to handle higher speeds and being more powerful, you may also feel as though you can keep them a little longer than you would a true beginner bike.

Once you get to the stage where you feel as though it is work to ride at highway speeds, then it is time to upgrade to an even bigger bike.  This graduated method has many advantages including getting used to each stage of motorcycle riding, when you drop a bike it is easier to pick it up if it is smaller, it is also easier to past the driving test with a smaller bike and if you decide that riding is not for you then having a smaller bike is easier to get out from under of financially.

When buying a bike for the first time, it is important to remember that you are the one who is going to be riding it.  Therefore, do not be pressured by the salesperson or that you think the bike looks pretty.  In addition, be sure to use common sense when purchasing a new bike.  Don’t buy the first bike that you see in the first place you shop.  Rather look around and get the right bike for you at the right price.

In addition, be sure to get on the bike when you are shopping around.  Don’t just stand there and admire it, but get on and make sure that you can comfortably reach the handle bars, that your feet rest flat on the ground and that you can reach the foot controls.  And of course, consider where you are going to be riding.  If you are going on long trips, then consider a cruiser.  If you want speed, then think about a sports bike, but also know that they can be hard to control and learn on.