What Type Of Motorcycle You Should Get, Based On Your Riding Style

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Let’s face it, not everyone needs a 200 horsepower death machine on two wheels, unless you’re trying to break world land-speed records.

Every person who loves motorcycles would be in love with the idea of owning and riding a certain type of bike, but would it be something they need, or even suit their style of riding?

It’s quite common for new riders to be infatuated by a certain category of motorcycle because of its looks, only for them to realise it’s not the type of bike they would enjoy riding after barely a year.

With a loan that’s only a year in, this becomes a major frustration as they get stuck with a bike they bought on impulse.

So, before you pull the trigger on your dream bike, try and give all other categories a test ride if possible. Better yet, try to visualise what kind of riding you would be doing on a near-daily basis.

Are you a commuter? An adventurer? Or maybe an adrenaline junkie? Perhaps you just want a cute little classic scooter as both a mode of transportation and fashion statement. These are all questions you need to ask yourself before you sign that loan agreement, or handing in that five figure cheque if you’re an unmarried T20 with no kids and other commitments.

So, how do you pick the perfect bike? Honestly, just go with your gut. It’s your cash and your passion, after all. But if you’re feeling a bit unsure, here’s a rundown of different biker types and the motorcycles we think would be a great fit for them.

Adventure bikes: The long-distance adventurer

If you’re the type who loves seeing Kuala Lumpur in your rear-view mirror every time you get the chance, an adventure bike is going to be your best friend.

We’re talking about those tall, mecha-looking bikes that look like it just came out of a Masked Rider episode.

This category of motorcycles is designed to be very capable and comfortable long-distance tourers, with the ability to carve into corners and even tackle off-road conditions (depending on the bike’s specs).

The main gripe that many riders have about this type of bike is that “it’s too tall”. Thankfully, there are actually many options these days with adjustable seats and suspensions for shorter riders.

Riders today are extremely lucky because adventure bikes are not as unattainable as they used to be. If a BMW R1300 GS is way out of your budget, there are plenty of affordable yet decent choices in the market now.

For example, Chinese motorcycle manufacturer CFMOTO has a lineup of adventure bikes ranging from 450cc to an all-new 1,000cc that just entered the Malaysian market, and get this — the CFMOTO 1000 MT-X is just shy of RM52,000.

So, if you’re the jalan-jalan cari makan or jom pergi Hat Yai this week kind of rider, look into adventure bikes as your main bike.

Vintage/Classic bikes: The cool cats

Perhaps you don’t see motorcycles as utilitarian machines as adventure bikers do. To you, a bike is part of your soul and personality, while a cold, sterile-looking machine like an adventure motorcycle simply does not speak to your inner James Dean.

A modern classic motorcycle might be the way to go if this is how you feel about beautiful two-wheelers.

There are so many types of classic bikes and brands in the market now, you’ll be spoilt for choice. From the premium Triumph Bonneville T120 to the ultra-affordable QJMOTOR SRV line of cruisers, there’s really a wide range for you hensem riders out there.

If you don’t care so much about speed as much as looking like the cool guy who rolls up on a head-turning classic machine, this is what you should go for.

On a side note, this is not to say classic bikes are not capable of speed or long-distance touring. Their designs are the foundation of many modern motorcycles after all, and with the right accessories, you can take them on a journey and still have a blast.

Scooters: The city-crawler that can park just about anywhere

Automatic scooters don’t get enough love they deserve. These lightweight “land jetskis” actually rule the roads in big dense cities and if you’re the type who needs to get around quick and easy, this is just what you need.

If some of you are thinking “that’s not a real motorcycle”, we beg to differ. Ask any big bike rider and most of them will tell you they have a scooter in their garage.

For those who value practical mobility over being a speed demon, a belt-driven automatic scooter should be your choice. Take for example the Honda Vario 125, which has plenty of punch for city-riding and ample storage space under the seat. If you want something that goes a little faster, the Vario 160 is even more popular. Other options include the Yamaha Nmax and Xmax, which are both lightweight scooters.

These days however, interest in scooters have been steadily rising as bike makers have been producing hybrid adventure-scooters such as the rich man’s Honda X-ADV to the more affordable Zontes 368G. These scooters are excellent commuters that can still take you from KL to Kuantan (or further) comfortably.

Even the “classic cool cats” have choices in the scooter category from manufacturers like Italy’s Vespa or even Malaysia’s own MODA.

So, don’t snub the scooters. They’ll take you to more places than you expect.

Sportbikes: The track-day speedster

Nobody is going to tell you a supersport bike or sportbike is the most practical mode of two-wheeled transportation.

You’re going to be hunched over like a shrimp from point A to point B and trust us, even a 20 minute ride in slow traffic will make you wish for a scooter or adventure bike. However, if you regularly commute to work by car or train and live for track days, go ahead and spoil yourself with a sportbike.

These bikes are made for speed and more importantly, the kind of speed that’s made for race tracks. Sure, you can take it out for a spin on city roads and highways, but give yourself a few months commuting back and forth to work on it and there will be days you’ll wish you had something that keeps you sitting upright.

So, if you think you’re just going to ocassionally go on short highway jaunts to experience curvy backroads and dose yourself with adrenaline, or push your bike and your own limits on a race track, a sportbike or supersport bike will be the one for you.

Sportbike enthusiasts also have a wide range of options to choose from these days, from light pocket rockets like the CFMOTO 250SR to the T20-income level Ducati Panigale V4S.

Cruisers: The santai 40-somethings who like to chill

For some, a motorcycle is not just about the looks, but also the feel that it gives you. Imagine just gliding along a highway while enjoying the sights all around you, leaving your worries in the dust.

If this sounds like a good time to you, you’re most likely someone who’s had their fill of speed in their younger days and want to start taking things slow on the road.

Enter the cruiser motorcycle, an evergreen category of bike loved by both young and old riders.

You could say cruisers are a sub-category of classic bikes, but it deserves its own section because of the way they’re built: forward foot pegs, upright sitting position, and one hundred percent laid back.

Cruiser bikes are also typically hobbyist bikes, favoured by those who like to go wild with customisation — changing the seats, adding tall sissy bars, swapping out the handlebars, and tuning the bike up with a rumbly exhaust.

For many, owning a cruiser or a chopper is a way of life, and with it comes a tight-knit community who go out riding and exploring together.

The first brand that comes to mind is always a Harley-Davidson, but you don’t have to own a wallet-incinerating bike to be part of a cruiser community. There are plenty of groups out there that beautifully customise their Thailand or China-made choppers, and bike commununities like these are generally very welcoming.

If a Harley is too much for you, consider Asian cruisers like CFMOTO’s 450CL-c or the Benda Darkflag 500. In another corner of Asia, there’s also India’s Royal Enfield, which makes the Super Meteor 350 and Super Meteor 650 at easy-to-afford price points.

Naked bikes: The all-rounder hooligan

This category of motorcycle offers no-frills fun with some versatility in purpose. Its form factor is compact enough to take around the city with no issues, they have little to no fairings, can be modified to carry luggage, has a more upright sitting position and are generally easy to handle.

A naked bike is for those who want a machine that has both the fun factor of riding, as well as the practicality of commuting. Think of it as a sports bike without its clothes, because naked bikes are no slouch when it comes to agility and speed.

Whether you’re riding a modern classic roadster like the Triumph Speed 400 or an adrenaline-spiking Suzuki GSX 8S, a naked bike guarantees fun on two-wheels.

If continental or Japanese naked bikes are a bit over your budget, China’s options such as the CFMOTO 675NK or KOVE 540R offer competitive performance at an affordable price.

Pick the bike that suits your needs and riding style, you’ll hold on to it much longer

When picking a motorcycle, it’s going to be a balance between “I want this” and “I need this”.

Test ride a few types of bikes and find one that suits the way you like to ride (slow and chill or fast and aggressive) while at the same time considering what you’re going to be using it for (daily commute in the city or weekend fun?).

Getting one that closely fills your needs and desires out of a two-wheeler will definitely make a difference on how much value you get from it.

Of course, if you can afford to change your bike five times a year or keep adding new bikes to your fleet, by all means get one bike from each category and have fun!

But more importantly, remember ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) and ride safe.

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