just wondering if anyone has any advice/input for a first motorbike.
ive only ever ridden dirtbikes when I was younger and I had a scooter/vespa for a few years.
i currently have the license A1 so I believe I could get the A2 license and get a bike which is <35kw. would be looking for a secondhand bike which ideally would be reliable, able to commute on autobahn in decent weather and good for learning.
The "A2" license does "not exists" in Switzerland. It is officially "A restricted to 35 kW" or A (35 kW) or A- . But in the end it is (nearly) the same as the EU A2.
A good bike? Two wheels with brakes, a handlebar, a motor, and may be a fuel tank.
Other than that (and the <= 35 kW) restriction you can choose what you like and what fits you. Specially the latter point is relevant. No need to get a bike which is cool or highly recommended when it does not fit you.
For this go to different dealers look at the bikes and sit on them. Sit on as many as you like. And even sit on those which you do not like.
Be aware if you buy a new bike and it is power restricted, the original base version might not have more than 70 kW (double of the restricted power).
This is important for such bikes as the Kawasaki Z900. There exists a 70 kW model which can be restricted to 35 kW. And there is a 92 kW model which cannot be restricted. For certain bikes no power restriction is available, like the Yamaha R1 or the BMW R1250GS.
This - best is to test ride a few and pick what feels comfortable. Also depends on how you plan on using the bike, as an everyday commute, just for fun / roundtrips, off-road, etc.
I have a naked bike which fits (or fitted) my needs perfectly, but as I want to try out off-road / ADV next year, I’m looking into selling mine and getting an Africa Twin (if I fit on it ), an F850GS, or the likes.
Go with a bike that is “forgiving” and no larger than 600cc The classic “beginners” bike is Honda CBF600 (or 500). It is a bit “boring” but also cheap and reliable, and a good starter bike.
just buy what you like and what you can afford, everything else, you get used to or you sell the bike and buy a new one. Biking is for fun, not for comfort (use a car for that) or rationality (use a public transport). Go to few shops, check the bikes, google a little bit, sit on them, imagine where you would like to go with them, and than check again. And than buy something stupid, but you realy like All bikes from last 15 years are good, and all big fast bikes are full of electronics that tames them so even a beginner can use them.
This was the advice when I learned to ride, and most riding schools use CBF600s as their training bikes. I was young and broke, so my starter bike was a Suzuki GS500.
The other piece of advice was to buy a naked bike as your first bike, because there's an excellent chance you're going to drop it at some point.