Don't make your first bike your last one.

Lee-Ann loving her little Duke!

Falling in love with a bike is easy. That’s the fun part—and it’s totally fine if all you ever plan to do is admire it in your garage.

But if you actually want to ride, the most important thing isn’t falling in love with a bike—it’s falling in love with riding. And that’s a whole lot easier when your first bike helps you build skill, confidence, and enjoyment from day one.

We naturally enjoy things more when we’re good at them. The right bike makes learning feel smoother, progress come faster, and frustration fade away. That means more seat time, more smiles, and fewer setbacks. Eventually, you’ll be ready for the bike you’ve always dreamed of—and you’ll have the skills to enjoy it fully.

So what makes a great first bike?

• Light weight. A lighter bike helps you get used to balancing, pushing, and moving the bike around with confidence—especially at low speeds or in parking lots.

• Feet under hips. A more neutral foot position (instead of feet-forward or rearset) gives you a better feel for what the bike is doing and lets you grip the tank with your knees—one of the most important habits for bike control.

• Wider, upright handlebars. Clip-ons might look sporty, but they often reduce your turning radius and limit leverage. Upright bars make the bike more responsive, improve feedback, and put you in a more comfortable position—especially helpful for mastering low-speed maneuvers.

• No bodywork. Plastic fairings might look sleek, but they’re fragile, expensive to replace, and make basic maintenance harder. A naked bike is easier to live with and less stressful to drop or scuff while learning.

  
  

Starting out on your dream bike might feel like the right move—but it often leads to slower progress and more frustration. You ride tentatively, nervous about damaging it, and when that nervousness turns into a tip-over or costly repair, it can suck the joy out of riding altogether.

Don’t let the bike you love become the reason you stop riding. Pick a bike that helps you fall in love with the ride itself—because once you do, the dream bike won’t just be a prize—it’ll be a reward you’re actually ready for.