My Motorcycle Journey, Part 1: Bike Research

    Remember how I mentioned "a new season of my life" in my previous post? Well, the title should tell you everything about that new season. No, I don't own a motorcycle as of writing this. But I'm currently saving up and looking into bikes, so I thought I would share the process with you, and if you own bikes, give me some advice. For Part 1, I'll be discussing why I want a bike and my initial research.

    As for why I want a motorcycle, it's simple: my Dad had one. He used to have an old 1972 Triumph Daytona 500, and while I don't really remember it too well, I do know that it is the reason why I want a bike now. Another, less impactful reason is that I used to ride dirt bikes, and I want to get back on a bike and ride. And with college coming up, having a bike can be a great way to make friends and connections, especially as I figure out more of what I enjoy and want to do with my life.

    When I started looking into bikes, all the way back in May of 2025, I knew I wanted a classic cruiser-style bike. No frills, not sports bike lean, just a good old-fashioned cruiser. I looked into Harley-Davidsons, but I quickly realized they were not the bikes for me. My love for Triumphs was too deep, and I realized that I wanted something that was an ode to the first bike I ever saw, my Dad's '72. So, I began looking into Triumph cruisers. I looked at Bonnevilles, Thruxtons, Speed Twins, and Scramblers, and at the time, I was more concerned about cost than what I truly liked. So, I settled for the Speed Twin 400. A small sports bike meets cruiser, and while I liked it, it never felt right. And the love began to fade. I forgot about getting a bike, since the Speed Twin 400 didn't truly fit. Then, about a year later, the love for bikes reignited, and I began looking into them more earnestly. I realized that I had settled and began looking not at cost, but for features I knew I would like and enjoy. I also began looking for used bikes, as I figured they would be cheaper and I could still get a good bike without compromising on quality, if I knew where to look. After a few hopes dashed on cheap bikes with glaring red flags, I found what looks like the perfect bike. A 2017 Street Twin with a flat brown bench seat in a gunmetal gray. Listed at $6,000 with no problems, it was the perfect bike. 900cc engine, great for cruising. However, nothing gold can stay. Either the listing expired or the bike was sold, as I can't find it anymore. Alas, the search continues.

    As I researched bikes, I knew I needed to figure out what I was going to go riding on. Was I going for more trails and offroading, or was it more street riding? After some thought, I decided I wanted to ride more county and backroads, and fewer highways. I wanted this bike to be what it's classified as: a cruiser. I want to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. So, I knew I wanted something capable of unpaved roads, but nothing super serious. This, however, created a dilemma: do I get a Street Twin/Bonneville-style bike, which is designed for the road, or a Scrambler, which is more of an off-road bike? After some research, I decided on a bike built for the road, and got some more knobbier tires that are able to do both paved and unpaved roads.

    So, this is where my motorcycle journey has taken me thus far. However, more decisions are still to be made, as well as more to be discussed. So, stay with me as I discuss Motorcycle Safety Classes, insurance, as well as timing in the next part of my Motorcycle Journey. And for those who've ridden bikes in the past or currently ride, what advice do you have for me? Share it down in the comments.