Beginning Motorcycle questions? Parking? The stuff you don't read about...?

Question

I have some 'practical' question about buying a first motorcycle. Not which bike I should buy etc.. but practical things. The first thing is: Where do I park it at night? On the street? I live in a decent area but live in an apartment. No garage.. I dont see any other motorcycles on the street.. do they get stolen? Do you park it with a chain on it?

Is insurance expensive on them? (just weekend riding)

How much is registration?

Answer 1

About 3 years ago I bought a custom pro street chopper while living in an upscale apartment complex in a good area, I covered the bike at night and chained it to a concrete pillar in the parking garage and pulled my car up against it at night to make it difficult to get it out of the space without having to move the car first. Well that lasted all of 7 days before someone cut through my expensive Kryptonite cable and managed to get the bike out past my car, they also got my neighbors crotch rocket that night (that was the 2nd time they hit him!) having to actually lift his bike over his car to get it out. Insurance is relative to what kind of bike you get, my custom chopper that I ride now is about $900 a year which is cheap compared to the $2400 i used to pay (it pays to shop around) most insurance companies require your bike to be garaged in order to get insurance, but you can tell them you have a garage and they won't know the difference. And yes, my bike that got stolen was insured but it took almost 2 months to settle the claim and get another bike, in the meantime we moved into a nicer place with a garage.

Answer 2

You can do a few things to keep your bike from wandering off. Most have the ability to turn the ignition key the opposite direction while the handlebars are turned, and it will lock them so that if someone tried to roll away with it, it would just go in circles.

Unfortunately most bikes are also very light, and two guys can usually pick one up and put it in the back of a truck, so getting a thick cable lock or heavy duty chain with a lock is probably a good idea. I was fortunate when I lived in an apartment - the stairwells were recessed into the building, and I could roll right up next to the stairs and lock it to the railing if I wanted to.

You should also get a decent cover for it if it will be out in the elements. Don't just use a tarp or something - spend a few bucks and get one that has heat shielding on the inside, so that if you put it on while the bike is still hot, the pipe won't just melt it (hard to clean tarp off your pipe too).

Insurance is ridiculously cheap - even full coverage, compared to a car - because most bikes are fairly inexpensive. If you pay cash for one, you only have to have liability which is even cheaper. Registration depends on what state you are in, and how much you paid for the bike - similiar to a car.

Good luck - and be careful. Remember, you might as well be invisible to other drivers - I have taken to pretending like they are actually TRYING to hit me, and half the time it isn't far from the truth.

Also remember, you can stop a lot faster than a car because you don't have the weight and the mass. Try to avoid slamming on your brakes in front of cars - instead, you should try to maneuver around whatever you are trying to keep from hitting. This will keep you from getting creamed.

Answer 3

You can keep it on the street. If you're going to keep it outside, get a cover so it doesn't get wet or damaged by the sun, and at the very least get a lock for the brake disc so no one can ride it away. If you can, lock it up with a good cable lock. It's pretty easy for a couple of guys to toss a bike into a truck and get away. I see my neighbor's bike parked on the street all the time. He doesn't have a problem. Insurance varies by bike and coverage, but I got mine for about $100 for the entire year. I have a 150cc scooter. Liability only. I also keep mine in the garage. You might want to get a battery tender (smart charger) to keep the battery charged. Motorcycle batteries aren't cheap, and if they sit for even a few days without being charged they start to die. If they stay dead too long they can't be recharged. I learmed this the hard way.

Answer 4

As to parking: If you have some type of enclosed area or yard which is not visible from the road, see if you can't park it there. I even know of one kid who takes his bike into his apartment at night.

If you must park on the street, get a loud alarm. Make sure it's the touch-the-bike-and-it-goes-off kind because often bike thieves simply lift the bike into a panel truck. Chaining it to an immovable object will help too. Covering the bike if it's especially attractive might be a good idea also.

Go here for an idea of how much insurance will be: http://motorcycle.progressive.com/

Answer 5

Do you have the ability to put a storage shed on your lawn or in your assigned parking spot? I'd check with the landlord to the property, and see if you could put one in or if they have them for rent. If you have to leave it on the street, get a chain long enough to be able to chain it first to your bike and then to some other permanent fixture, such as a street light.
I have a Harley Street Glide, with full coverage and it's around $325 a year. I live in PA, and with all insurance companies, the rate is based on the cc's. My bike, an 07 model has 1585 cc.
Registration depends on the state that you live in as well. In PA it is $30 a year. Check with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles for the exact amount.

Answer 6

A few of my friends who live in non-garage apartments usually truck their bikes inside their apartments.... this is hard if you live on second floor/up, but that's the best bet for theft deterrent.
Usually registration is based on value of bike... new bike about 100-130 dollars first time and renewal is about 35-50 every year after. It cost me 100 bucks for my vt1100 and it costs 40 every year after that.
My best advise as a new rider is take a motorcycle safety course... in my area(Houston) the BEST one is awesome cycles. Very informative and fun. You learn alot and it means not having to lug an extra car/driver to a license test.