I wish I knew that before I got on my first motorcycle…

Are you thinking about buying your first motorcycle? Perhaps you have already purchased your motorcycle, and you are getting ready to enjoy the thrill and freedom that comes with this? No matter what applies, the post will definitely come in useful. Read on to discover the things that most people wish they knew before they got their first motorcycle.

You will want to upgrade your motorcycle within a few months

Once you have hit the road and got used to your new motorcycle, you will probably find that you want to upgrade to a ‘better’ model pretty quickly. You can find used motorcycles at www.cleanharleys.com/. After all, is there any motorcycle better than a Harley? Probably not!

You WILL end up joining a club

A lot of people say that they are never going to be one of those people that join a motorcycle club. Sound familiar? Well, you will. You can find motorcycle clubs near you here: http://www.bmf.co.uk/motorcycle-clubs/local-clubs/. Even if you do not officially join a club, the mere fact that you own a motorcycle means you get entry to an exclusive, unspoken club, so to speak. Whenever you see someone else on a motorcycle, don’t be surprised if they wave at you.

You will become filthy

Let’s get this straight… riding a motorcycle is dirty business. It does not matter how many precautions you put in place, once you get off your motorcycle, you will be covered in filth. Don’t make the rookie error of using your motorcycle to get to work, and then having to spend the rest of the day in a suit that was once blue, but is now more of a charcoal grey colour! Instead, make sure you wear protective clothing so that you can remove this once you get to work and your suit will be in perfect condition. You should also carry some aftershave with you too; not everyone appreciates eau de motorcycle.

Hello spiders

If you don’t like bugs, you are going to have to get used to them. You will be surprised by how many spiders and other insects get into the nooks and crannies of your motorbike while you have parked it up for the day.

You will care about your appearance

No, owning a motorcycle does not mean that you are suddenly going to spend hours on end fake tanning and perfecting your hairstyle. However, you will want to have all of the latest clobber. A cool motorcycle jacket is a must, and you will find that you end up hunting for gear that makes you look the part.

You will become a bit more reckless

Don’t be surprised if people start commenting on how you’ve been a bit more crazy and reckless lately. If you are in your 40’s, expect the comments about having a midlife crisis to start coming through. Motorbikes make people more reckless in life in general, which can be a good or bad thing!

So, from joining clubs to becoming filthy, there are a lot of surprises along the way when it comes to owning a motorcycle. But, most of all, you will have a great deal of fun. Enjoy it, be safe, and have fun!

** This is a collaborative post