For beginners
Your first motorcycle, without the guesswork
Everyone will tell you what to buy. Most of them are telling you what they wanted at your age. Here's a way to work it out for yourself — including what to check on a used bike.
- 94%
Ducati Streetfighter V2
from $13,400
EmotionalSharp handlingSound - 91%
Triumph Street Triple RS
from $11,200
Sharp handlingEveryday usableHolds value - 86%
Yamaha MT-09 SP
from $9,800
Holds valueEveryday usableEmotional
The things nobody explains to you
The bike is only part of the decision. These are the questions that actually decide whether the first season is a good one.
Which bikes may I ride?
License class comes first: it decides your options long before your taste does. Bike Match only shows you bikes you may actually ride.
What will it really cost?
The purchase price is the small part. Insurance for a new rider, tires, service and the first repairs are estimated up front.
Is this used bike any good?
A guided inspection tells you what to look at, in which order, and what a worrying answer sounds like.
Am I being ripped off?
Fair value from comparable listings, and a suggested offer — so your first negotiation isn't your first negotiation.
Will I outgrow it in a year?
A good first bike is fun in month one and still fun in month twelve. That's part of the match.
What if I don't know any of the words?
Nothing here assumes you do. Fork seals, DOT codes and chain wear are explained where they come up.
At the viewing
Take an expert to the bike with you
The first time you look at a used motorcycle, you don't know what you're looking at. The inspection walks you through it on your phone, in the right order, with the reason each check matters.
- Start with the engine cold — the single most important thing, and the easiest to get wrong
- Tire age, chain wear, fork seals, brake discs: what "bad" actually looks like
- Questions to ask on the spot, based on what the seller already claimed
- When something looks risky, it tells you to get a professional inspection
Engine still cold on arrival
Every motorcycle
VIN matches the documents
Every motorcycle
- Check
Tire DOT code: 2023
Every motorcycle
Chain tension and wear
Sport bikes
Fork seals dry
Sport bikes
- Check
Belt condition through the inspection covers
Known for this model
Ask to see the 2024 service invoice
Based on what the seller said
Two findings are worth a second opinion — a professional inspection is recommended before you buy.
Questions
For new riders
Should my first bike be new or used?
Most first bikes are used, and that's usually the right call — a first season leaves marks. What matters is buying a used bike with a documented history, which is exactly what the analysis and the inspection are for.
How much should I spend on my first motorcycle?
Less than you can afford, because gear, insurance and the first service are real costs too. The cost estimator shows the full first year before you commit.
Do I need to know anything about mechanics?
No. You need to know what to look at and when to walk away — and when to pay a mechanic for an hour of their time. That's what the inspection is for.
Early Access
Become a Founding Rider
Join during Early Access and secure a permanent Founding Rider badge, early access to new features, and exclusive benefits when we launch.
- A permanent Founding Rider badge on your rider profile
- New features before everyone else
- Exclusive benefits for early users at launch
- Direct influence: what you tell us shapes what we build next
No waitlist. No credit card.
The badge is dated and permanent — once Early Access closes, it can't be earned anymore.