Moto Mavericks: Grant Schwingle Covers Bike Basics

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Moto Mavericks is a new social-first video initiative where Cycle Trader features a team of emerging young riders. This segment educates prospective riders with details on how to get started within unique riding categories while highlighting the capabilities of various motorcycles. To get things started off, we’d like to introduce you to Grant Schwingle who talks about some riding tips.

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If you have ever been interested in learning how to put together motorcycle meetups with other like-minded people, Grant is your guy. Grant is known for building strong, inclusive motorcycle communities, leading local motorcycle meetups, is an avid motorcycle enthusiast helping emerging riders, and uses all of these things to bring together those who share the passion for riding.

Check out the episode!

Episode Overview

In his Moto Mavericks video, Grant introduces some of the top motorcycles that are best for street riding. He also talks about essential gear, provides safety tips, and some bike maintenance guidelines. He also presents some beginner rider considerations for both on- and off-road riding.

As Grant provides reviews in his video, young riders looking to buy a bike should search for a motorcycle that is light-weight, affordable, and easy to handle. You want a bike that is literally going to be a good fit for you, with a seat height that’s comfortable to provide you with the control and confidence you need when getting started.

Size also matters when it comes to the engine. Beginners are encouraged to start off with a bike that has a smaller engine size so you can focus on comfort and ease of handling rather than excessive speed or power. As you build and hone your riding skills, you can always trade up to a bigger bike. The great thing about a starter motorcycle is that there are lots of people regularly joining the riding movement who are looking for their first bike in the near future.  

Grant also goes into tips for staying safe while out on the road, and includes some great training resources, basic riding techniques, and how to stay confident while learning.

Why This Topic Is Important

Getting the right bike when starting off is important for a number of reasons. The most important of which is, if you get a motorcycle that doesn’t suit you or is difficult to handle, it could potentially make the riding experience less than enjoyable. 

And since there is no “one-size-fits-all” motorcycle for this scenario, you can find all kinds of beginner-friendly bike recommendations, comparison guides, and detailed reviews available online by doing a few easy searches and reading up on what others are saying about good starter bikes. If you have friends who ride, you can also ask them what bike they started out with or what they have heard from others who have just started riding to get some great first-hand information. Just keep in mind that what worked for them may not be the ideal option for you. That’s okay.

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As you start to gather your information, Cycle Trader is another great source for advice on choosing a bike within your price range, with budgeting tips—especially since safety gear (helmet, riding gloves, boots, jacket or suit, rain wear, etc.) is both an imperative and a pretty decent expense by itself. This is important when you’re just getting started and need to buy everything at once.

When you have a few makes and models of bikes in mind and are ready to start looking at what’s out there, we can help you search based on several different filter options to highlight what’s best for your skill level, budget, preferences, and even location. If you have already taken a safety riding course so you know the basics of motorcycle ownership and operation, you can get in touch with sellers near you to potentially set up a test ride. We have the largest online inventory of new and used bike listings to look through, so you’re bound to find something that fits your needs.

Bikes Highlighted

In the video, Grant specifically mentions two motorcycles that you will want to know more about:

• The 2008 Ducati 1098 R is a high-performance, track-focused motorcycle that’s used for racing. Its 1,098cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled, V-twin engine produces 180 horsepower and 99.1 lb.-ft. of torque and is built for power, agility, and precision, providing balanced handling and a smooth riding experience. It was the first production motorcycle to offer traction control as a standard feature.
• The Yamaha TW200 is considered to be one of the best motorcycles for beginning riders. Its 196cc, single-cylinder engine may not be big on power, but it’s great on fuel consumption, offering an estimated 78 miles per gallon. And while it may not be a rocket, per se, it tops out at more than 70 mph, which means it will get you where you want to go. The 278-pound curb weight also means it is easy to handle and maneuver. 

Barrett Baker

Barrett Baker is a freelance writer with more than 40 years of writing experience. He has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and a variety of advertising and marketing firms throughout his career. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, cooking, and working with animal rescues.

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