| (continued from previous page)
The ride of your life -- Page 2
By
Jim Middlemiss• Bankrate.com
Sportbikes
If you want to go fast, this is the category for you -- some sportbikes
can hit speeds of 200 km/h or better. They combine performance and
handling with racing looks. They're designed for active people and
can be hard on the body to drive, since the sitting position has
you lying out over the tank, compared to the upright position of
cruisers and touring bikes.
As such, they're good for short-haul trips and aren't
something you'd want to drive around the continent. Sportbike engine
sizes range from 600cc to 1200cc. Prices start at less than $10,000
and can reach $30,000 for high-end European bikes. Some examples
include the Suzuki Bandit, the Honda Interceptor and the Kawasaki
Ninja.
Research is important since test drives are rare
Adam Szczepanik, a 40-year-old network consultant in Toronto who used to race a Yamaha RZ350 in Montreal during the 1980s, says riders need to consider their road experience when selecting an appropriate bike.
Some sportbikes, for example, have a lot of power
and aren't advisable for novice riders. "Ask yourself how much power
you can handle," he says.
As well, you want to sit on the bike and test its
comfort. Can you reach the ground? Can you balance it easily?
You'll also want to do as much research as you can. Unlike cars, you normally can't test-drive a bike before buying it, though sometimes dealers have a day when they'll let customers try different bikes. So, it's in your best interest to read up on the bike you want as much as you can and search out other owners for their impressions of it.
Of course, price is also a consideration. But it's not just sticker price you need to think about. Insurance costs can be staggering depending on the size of the bike, your driving record, your age and riding experience. So check out quotes before buying the bike, or you could be in for a rude awakening.
The bike is only part of the equation. Be prepared to spring for leathers, a helmet, riding boots and apparel, which Mackovski says set him back another $2,000.
You might also want to spring for riding courses to
improve your skills and help cut your insurance costs. A motorcycle
safety course at a local college can set you back a few hundred
dollars.
Part of the fun of owning a bike is customizing it over time to suite your taste. That can mean adding high-performance engine parts or accessories such as fancy mirrors, handle grips and exhaust systems to give it an added roar. Customizing can add hundreds of dollars to the tab.
Szczepanik has big plans for his Yamaha YZF-R1, expecting to drop another $25,000 to $30,000 customizing it on top of the $15,000 retail price tag. "It will be my last bike. I don't think I'll buy another one," he says.
As for Mackovski, he, too, has high hopes for his
bike and plans to chrome his forks, the portion that connects the
front wheel to the bike. He says it's the ability to customize his
bike that is most appealing.
"You actually have control of making the bike look a certain way. You can make your bike unique compared to other bikes."
Jim Middlemiss is a freelance writer and lawyer based in Toronto. He's a frequent contributor to the National Post, Investment Executive and Wall Street & Technology.
|
