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You
want...
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You
should get a...
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| Power,
power and more power. Speed and performance
are your main desires. Comfort is not a factor.
Fully dressed and physically compact. Highly
flickable in the twisties. |
Sportbike
Light and compact, designed primarily for
speed with a forward, aerodynamic riding position.
Engine sizes usually range from 600cc to over
1000cc. |
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| Long distance
amenities and a comfortable riding position
for those long hours in the saddle are paramount.
Passenger comfort is also a factor. There
should be room for luggage and protection
from the elements. Creature comforts. |
Tourer
Big and heavy with larger engines starting
in the 1000cc range, these bikes are designed
to hold two up for long distances with ease
and comfort. Many tourers are luxurious in
their appointments, sporting stereos, heated
seats and grips - everything to make your
long distance trek a pleasurable one. |
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| The best
of both worlds; sporty and nimble handling
with long distance comfort. Protection from
wind and rain is important as well as passenger
comfort. Luggage capabilities are a necessity. |
Sport
Tourer
Not as large and heavy as its big brother,
it can handle the twisties with ease. Generally
upright seating position. Engine displacement
runs 1000cc or more. Comfortable and versatile,
sport tourers can do it all. Luggage accommodations
and creature comforts may not be on par with
the tourer.
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| High style
for cruising up and down the boulevards. Coolness
factor a must. Touring may be a consideration.
Personalization is important: There is a huge
selection of OEM and aftermarket accessories
available for cruisers. |
Cruiser
A term originating from the late 1980's that
refers to laid back styled street bikes. Big,
heavy, low and long, cruisers have a relaxed
seating position. Generally lower in performance
with more emphasis on looks. Larger displacement
engines are the norm, sporting loud pipes
and gobs of chrome. Cruisers can also make
excellent touring machines. |
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| A general
purpose all-rounder. Traditional in styling.
Very versatile so your money goes a long way.
You opt more for the tried and proven rather
than the latest and greatest technology. |
Standard
(Naked)
Exposed engine (sans fairing) in the 600cc
to 1200cc range. Traditional or retro styling
is common. Generally highly maneuverable.
An excellent starter bike, especially in the
lower cc range. |
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| A multi-purpose
bike with capabilities to explore both paved
and dirt roads. Don't want limits on where
you can go. Comfort and space for overnight
gear important. |
Dual
Purpose
Designed for on and off-road travel, these
bikes can handle most any riding surface.
Equipped with semi-knobby tires, sturdy frames
and robust shocks, it can travel to areas
where street bikes can't. |
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| Get down
and dirty on the local trails. Comfort not
a huge factor. Ability to explore rough, untamed
terrain or participate in competitions. Dropping
won't break pieces off. Street ridability
not important. |
Trail,
Off-Road, Enduro and Motocross (MX)
These have big knobby tires and can handle
trails with ease. Upright seating. Headlights,
tail lights and turn signals may be missing
so check to see if they're street legal in
your area. |
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| A trendy
and stylish ride. You like the idea of an
automatic transmission - just hop on and go.
Storage space abounds for those trips to the
store. Faired and protected from the elements
but used primarily for in-town riding. |
Scooter/Maxiscoot
Ranging anywhere from 200cc to over 600cc
(maxiscoot), scooters make terrific commuters.
They're easy to maneuver, economical and wonderful
for running errands. The learning curve to
ride one is short and simple. |
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