 
| Excerpt from: Motorcycle Addict
|  | | June 10, 2008 | | How to Choose a New or Replacement Motorcycle | There are so many choices for motorcycle riders that you really could spend your entire life deciding what to ride. Let's see if I can help make the decision easier.
First, let me say truthfully that I have never had a motorcycle that I was able to use every last amount of. From the first little engine to my latest ample motors, there has always been more there than I needed or could use. That doesn't mean that more isn't fun, but it does mean that you can choose more comfort, or more storage, and still have enough power for any reasonable need. (Note that I said need, not "want"). The sole exception, of course, being a track bike, where power and handling are paramount.
I thought about this on my morning ride. A good rider I see around town let me pass him on my Triumph Speed Triple. He was on a BMW RT, which is a very respectable motorcycle. The Triumph, of course, is significantly faster. But both of these motorcycles are faster than at least 90% of the cars on the road.
On the other side of the equation, I can make pretty good time on my Victory Vision, and my Harley Davidson friends certainly make good time when travelling or in traffic.
The key is to consider how you actually ride. Do you need a sportbike to go to the grocery store? Is your usual use of the motorcycle a Sunday morning ride? A good starting place is your most common use of the motorcycle.
Of course, you can choose to get it all with an all rounder. Honda's VFR, Suzuki's Katana, and Yamaha's FJR 1300 will all do a great many things very well.
Once you think about how you normally will actually use the motorcycle, it is time to think about what use is really important to you. I don't ride motorcycles just to commute. I like to ride twisties for fun, usually a couple of hours at a crack. Because this is important to me, I want a bike that makes this the most fun.
Next, think about the outer reaches of your riding. A couple of times a year, I like to tour. Obviously, this is best done on a touring bike, but it isn't the only way. If you are willing to break up the ride as necessary for comfort, it is possible to go a long distance with only a bag across the back of the seat.
Freedom for you may be freedom from a lot of weight, or it could be freedom from discomfort, or freedom from hassle. Whatever your personal preferences, almost any current motorcycle is very, very capable of providing a great riding experience, with reasonable cost (and great mileage).
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