People often buy a motorcycle as a fun vehicle. During the week, they might use their car to get around, especially if they have a family. However, motorbikes don’t only have to be for fun and adventure. They can make excellent everyday vehicles too, making your commute fast and more pleasant. Of course, they’re not ideal if you need to drive your whole family around but they can be great for everyday errands, from picking up groceries to visiting friends and family. Plenty of motorbikes also have room for a passenger too, so a friend, partner, or even an older child could join you. And when you’re not using your bike to get around, you can still take it on adventures and fun trips.
The Benefits of Using Your Motorcycle More Often
Your motorcycle doesn’t have to be kept for going on adventures. There are some amazing benefits to using it more often, instead of keeping it in the garage until the weekend. When you take your bike to work with you or use it to go shopping, you ensure it’s not just gathering dust. You’ll keep it maintained because you’re using it more often, and you’ll be more likely to spot if there are any problems. Riding your bike can allow you to weave between traffic and get places faster than if you were in a car. Plus, you also get to have a lot more fun instead of being stuck in your car all the time.
Choosing the Right All-Rounder Motorcycle
If you want a motorcycle that’s as good for your commute as it is for an adventure through the countryside or a long road trip, you have to know what you should be looking for. So do you get a good commuter bike that can also go on adventures or do you buy an adventure or touring motorcycle that can also tackle the urban jungle? If you’re planning on taking lots of more adventurous trips, it might be best to focus on looking for bikes that are primarily suited to this. You can then find options that are also designed with commuting and city riding in mind.
You’ll find that plenty of manufacturers have options that fit these requirements. Honda and Kawasaki have multiple options that fit the bill, giving you a streamlined bike that can weave through heavy traffic but can also be adapted for taking on the open road. You might be looking for something with enough speed and maneuverability to manage your daily commute but with the sturdiness of a bike that can carry your stuff on any adventure that you want to take.
Consider Space for Luggage
When you go to work on your bike or take other short journeys, you might not need to take a lot with you. Perhaps you’ll wear a small backpack or you’ll have one bag or box on the back of your bike to put things in. But if you want to go on longer journeys and trips, you’ll probably need to pack appropriately. You’ll need supplies for the road, as well as clothes to change into, and perhaps even camping gear, depending on your plans. So, not only do you need to have a bike capable of carrying your things, but you also need to have the right storage.
You have several options that you can use for luggage and storage when riding your motorbike. Backpacks are great for your daily commute because they can be pretty compact and light, but they often have enough space for your laptop or whatever else you might need to take with you. When you need some more space, you might consider a tail bag in the back or a tank bag in the front, both of which are fairly lightweight options. Panniers or side cases give you even more capacity for when you want to pack for a longer trip or you’re planning on going camping.
Keeping Your Bike Maintained
If you’re using your motorcycle more often, you obviously need to keep it in good condition. It’s going to experience more wear and tear, and you don’t want to end up breaking down unexpectedly. As well as checking your bike before going on a long trip, you’ll want to keep it maintained from day-to-day so it stands up to your more regular journeys too.
There are a few things worth doing if you want to keep your bike in good condition. Regular servicing for maintenance will prevent bigger problems from developing, catching things earlier so they’re quicker, easier and cheaper to fix. It’s also worth knowing how to do some maintenance yourself, especially if you’re going to be out on the road. When you know where to source spare parts, getting your Honda CB500x back on the road when you’re having problems will be much easier. It can be useful if you know how to replace some basic parts on your own. However, even if you don’t, buying parts yourself and getting someone else to do the work can be more affordable.
Remember to check your motorcycle before going on a long trip too. It’s important to check that it’s up to the journey before you set off. It’s a good idea to have an emergency kit ready to use, just in case you do find that something goes wrong or you have to pull over to fix something.
Get the Gear
It’s also important to be wearing the right gear on your bike, and this might be different depending on where you’re going. Of course, you always want to stay safe and make sure you’re protected from head to toe. But arriving at a hotel after a long day of riding is different from arriving at work after your commute. You might want to consider what to wear and what you’re wearing underneath. If you’re commuting to work, there’s always the option of changing when you arrive so you don’t have to wear a suit under your leathers.
If you have a motorcycle, don’t just let it sit there during the week. Make use of it as much as you can and have more fun.