Things to know before buying your first motorbike

Motorbike numbers have risen by 10.51% in the UK since 2015 – and, according to research, there’s now more than 1.4 million bikes licensed. Thinking of getting your own? Just be sure you’ve got everything covered before buying; from the best riding equipment, rules of the road and more.

Getting a license

The first thing to consider when getting a motorbike is to make sure you’ve got the right license. Unlike driving a car, there are various classifications, and each type comes with restrictions and requirements. For a start, you must have a provisional licence in place – as you cannot begin learning to ride a motorbike without one. Then there’s Compulsory Basic Training: without completing it you can’t legally ride a bike on the road. From there it goes on to a direct access route, progressive route, engine size, age, and plenty more – see the RAC handy guide here.

Buying insurance

Just as you can’t ride a motorbike legally without the right license, you’ll need the right insurance, too, with it being a legal requirement to obtain a minimum of third-party-only insurance. This provides cover for any damage you could cause to a third party’s person or property, but has no cover for your own. Then there’s third party, fire and theft: including everything under third party but also allowing you to claim off your own policy if your bike’s stolen or damaged as a result of fire. We say go fully comprehensive, meaning you can claim for accidental and malicious damage, including vandalism, a single-vehicle incident, or flood damage. Want more info? Click here.

Motorcycle gear

Now you’ve sorted your license and motorbike, it’s time to choose your riding gear. First up is a helmet, legally required on the road. A full-face helmet is considered safest, and you can also choose half and three-quarter face-covering options. And while helmets are the only equipment riders are legally required to wear, consider other protective gear such as boots, gloves, and leathers. We’re not talking a full MotoGP-style bodysuit, but leathers, suitable footwear and durable gloves are must-buys for protection when you’re out on the road.

The best bike for you

Bikes are typically divided into standard, cruiser, sport, touring, dual-purpose and off-road categories. Motoress advises you consider the roads and time you’ll be spending on the bike, as well as speed, handling, budget, storage, and fuel economy. The most common is standard, great for getting about opposed to style. Cruisers are American-style choppers – think Harley-Davidson rider along Route 66 – while sport focus on speed and handling. Tourers are larger and designed for comfort; off roaders mainly used for motorsports; while dual-purpose bikes are a hybrid of off-road and sports bikes.

Safety on the road

First up, never exceed the speed limit, especially when you realise there were 343 motorcycle fatalities in 2024. Keeping safe on the road is critical, with many campaigns warning motorcyclists of the dangers that occur from not staying safe. What are the dos and don’ts? Asides sticking to the speed limit, these top 10 motorcycle safety tips include car drivers looking twice before changing lanes. For motorcyclists, watch the weather, avoiding driving in the rain whenever’s possible; and ride within your skills. Sure, you might want to keep up with who you’re heading out with – but is it really worth it when they been driving a motorbike for much longer than you?