You’ve always been a thrill-seeker, an adrenaline junkie, a free spirit, or however else your mother describes you to her friends as she shakes her head at your latest adventures. To her, it might seem unnecessary, but to you, purchasing a motorcycle is the right move to up your fun. On gorgeous, sunny days, you can enjoy the weather by hitting the road on your bike. Cruising down the highway, blasting some good tunes with the wind blowing through your hair is a feeling that can’t be beaten. Of course, purchasing and owning a bike isn’t just about fun. There’s plenty of planning that comes along with it and plenty of things to consider before pulling the trigger and purchasing your very own motorcycle.

Necessary Pre-Purchase Prep

Before you buy a motorcycle, you must complete the necessary training to be qualified to use it, just as you would with any other vehicle. For licensure, most states require you to take a motorcycle safety course before you can test for your license, to help familiarize you with the differences in driving on two wheels instead of four.

Before buying, it’s also important that you create a budget to determine what kind of bike you can afford. In your budget, you should be sure to factor in the cost of your motorcycle gear. At the very least, you’ll need a helmet since they’re required in all but three states–Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire. Though they are not required in every state, they are still strongly encouraged since they could help to save your life in a serious accident. In addition to your gear, you will also need to invest in a motorcycle insurance plan–just like the kind you would get for your car–to keep both you and your property financially protected from the other drivers on the road. Another way to protect yourself financially is to look for an injury lawyer who will have your back if the insurance company doesn’t give you a big enough payout.

Motorcycle Safety

Before buying, it’s also essential to familiarize yourself with the facts. There are at least 5,000 fatal motorcycle accidents each year–with nearly 100 of these occurring in the state of Illinois. To help ensure your safety, you must follow the rules of the road. Don’t take unnecessary risks by speeding or weaving through traffic. The less notice you give a passenger car or a truck that you’re approaching, the more likely they are to merge into you, not realizing that you’re nearby. Another way you can be proactive in ensuring your safety is to wear the proper protective gear while riding. Hop over to The Toy Shop and Motolounge in Waukegan, IL, where they have motorcycle experts who can help you find the right gear to fit your needs. When buying, it’s essential to make sure that you have gear that fits you snugly. If your helmet is too loose on your head, then it won’t be able to properly absorb impact, and if your jacket is too baggy, it could end up chafing your skin or riding up to expose your skin in the event of a crash. The chafing could create an effect almost similar to a road burn, though nowhere near as serious as it would be if you chose not to wear a jacket at all.

Finding the Right Bike

Once you’ve figured out your budget and have done all you can to ensure your safety, it’s time to find the right bike for you. When making this decision, it’s important to consider the type of experience you want to get out of being a motorcycle owner. For some people, the most enjoyable part of being a motorcycle owner is getting to tinker with your bike. If this is something you think you’d enjoy, then you should consider getting a used bike that you can fix up and make your own. Not only will doing so cause you to feel immense pride in a job well done, but it will give your bike another, more sentimental meaning than if you just bought it new off of the lot.

Almost as important as the condition of your bike is the style. Different styles of bikes are made for different types of riders. If you’re someone who values speed and a thrilling experience, then your best option would likely be a sports bike. Of course, because of the position that these bikes force you to sit in, they are not ideal for long rides. If long rides are something you want to prioritize in your motorcycle experience, then you might want to consider a cruiser. These bikes are much easier on your spine since they allow you to sit back comfortably. If you still have yet to decide on your biker persona, then standard motorcycles–often called naked motorcycles–are a great starter option for those who are new to the world of motorcycles.