Learning to ride a motorcycle

[returnofthdragon]

How hard is it? I want to get a motorcycle....I plan on getting one. I've never ridden one. I rode a moped once while at a party where everyones keys were taken and we took off in the moped for fun. I rode it around for about an hour. As a kid I rode a bicycle everywhere clear into college. My parents never wanted to drive me anywhere, so i had to take a bike, but I've never driven a motorcycle.

There are classes I can take, but it would be at least 6 weeks before I could get into one more likely 8-10 weeks. I really don't want to wait most of the summer.

I really want to just buy one and practice on it in the neighborhood until I think I can pass the test. Is that crazy?

 

[BillHicksFan]

IMO you're better off getting a dirt bike if possible and learn to ride that before taking it to the roads. I'd start off with a small bike and increase the size when you have the skill to justify a larger bike.
You've got to have your wits about you when riding a motorbike and once you've aquired a certain amount of experience, riding the bike starts to become second nature and then you can focus on reading the traffic around you and choosing your line of course.
It's usually when something unexpected happens that will distinguish an experienced rider from somebody who lacks experience.

I've riden my entire life and it makes me cringe when my friends decide they are going to start riding at age 25+ and they usually want to buy a huge bike and "just ride it slow."

 

[Curt James]

^^^^ Seconding all of BHF's recommendations and would encourage you to take the course.

SIPDE is an acronym to live and ride by.

• S—Sweep, Search, and Scan (keep your eyes moving at all times to effectively see imminent danger)
• I—Identify hazards, Identify what's happening (road-way features) (take notice of things that could cause trouble)
• P—Predict which hazards could potentially come into conflict with you; predict 2 things 1-worst case scenario and 2-actions
• D—Decide on a safe action (decide on something to do should the dog run across the road)
• E—Execute that safe action; use communication

And, when riding, assume two things. One, you're invisible to 99% of the other motorists and two, that one percent who actually see you? They want to kill you!

Ride safe!

I started off with a 500cc bike and graduated to a small Harley after 3,000 miles on the Honda.

 

[MDR]

^^^^ Seconding all of BHF's recommendations and would encourage you to take the course.

SIPDE is an acronym to live and ride by.

• S???Sweep, Search, and Scan (keep your eyes moving at all times to effectively see imminent danger)
• I???Identify hazards, Identify what's happening (road-way features) (take notice of things that could cause trouble)
• P???Predict which hazards could potentially come into conflict with you; predict 2 things 1-worst case scenario and 2-actions
• D???Decide on a safe action (decide on something to do should the dog run across the road)
• E???Execute that safe action; use communication

And, when riding, assume two things. One, you're invisible to 99% of the other motorists and two, that one percent who actually see you? They want to kill you!

Ride safe!

I started off with a 500cc bike and graduated to a small Harley after 3,000 miles on the Honda.

Excellent advice all the way around. Best to take some time and learn how to ride well. Defensive riding will serve you well. Whatever you do, don't buy a big bike if you have no experience. Buy something you can handle. It's not about passing the test, it's about saving your own life.

 

[blazeftp]

I had little to no experience with bikes.
did a Day learning course for $200.
Can ride a bike now.

Of course Practice makes perfect.

 

[ovr40]

dont know where you live but iv've got 2 of my 4 for sale right now, 74 harley xl,2002 suzuki enduro, and performance enginered kawasaki 250 dirt.awesome advise sofar. its definetely worth the patience, u have to risk ur life to feel that freedom.depending how deep ur pockets are you can get a used sporty for $2500 and if u drop it at a stop you can pick it up yourself.
ps no passengers 4 a year is always good advice too

 

[Kirk B]

iv'e road dirt bikes since i was 6yrs old and i ride crazy the crass is forgiving, concrete is not!! Street bikes scare me still too many others cars on the road for me but i still love dirt bikes!!

like Dude said start on a dirt bike, then take the lessons too then go to a street bike imho thats the best way to go about this

 

[returnofthdragon]

I've grown out of crazy daredevil stuff. I'm getting one mainly to eventually use on my non-highway drive to work. Traffic is there but not too bad. I thought I would start small and was looking at rebels. Then I looked at one in person and they just look silly to me. I'm now thinking about 750 shadow or boulevard. I like the idea of a class but $250 and 20 hours is a little rough. The cost isn't as bad as the time. I have a very busy schedule and it will be hard to work in. The job is want to drive to doesn't start for a couple months and I wish I could start now not when the class finally has openings. I know the safest plan is to take, but I don't want too!

 

[Zaphod]

Here's a question you have to ask yourself: Which is cheaper? The $250 and 20 hour class or the money you'll have to pay out to repair whatever damages occur when you make a mistake on the road?

 

[maniclion]

Can you drive a stick shift? I highly recommend anyone who doesn't know how to drive stick to learn that first before getting on a motorcycle. You gotta learn the respect for clutch and gas and a motorcycle is not the best way to learn it.

I was lucky my dad started me at 8 years old with a 90cc Honda trail bike with automatic centrifugal clutch. By 12 I was riding a 125cc dirt bike with reckless abandon making 20' jumps, and roostertailing hairpin turns and taking muddy berms with powerslides. At 16 I got a vintage Honda 250cc Elsinore, we restored it and I was tearing up backwoods fireroads like a maniac. At 17 I was driving my dads 1975 CB750 to school occasionally, he had a thing for old bikes and this one was fun. He bought a 1200cc the 1986 Yamaha FJ1200, first year of production. It was in horrible shape and didn't run but we spent a few hours on weekends working on it and finally got it to run right before I left for the Navy. I drove it a couple times, then had to leave. He let it sit and not run, so when I came back home to visit it wouldn't start, but the 750 he kept running and would take it out every now and then.....

 

[maniclion]

I've grown out of crazy daredevil stuff. I'm getting one mainly to eventually use on my non-highway drive to work. Traffic is there but not too bad. I thought I would start small and was looking at rebels. Then I looked at one in person and they just look silly to me. I'm now thinking about 750 shadow or boulevard. I like the idea of a class but $250 and 20 hours is a little rough. The cost isn't as bad as the time. I have a very busy schedule and it will be hard to work in. The job is want to drive to doesn't start for a couple months and I wish I could start now not when the class finally has openings. I know the safest plan is to take, but I don't want too!

In Hawaii you can't get a license without taking the class....

 

[independent]

I wanna learn too. This is the bike Im getting to learn on.

 

[Curt James]

^ Good. A nice beginner's bike. lulz

YouTube Video

 

[returnofthdragon]

I had a stick shift For 10 years.

 

[Big Pimpin]

I wanna learn too. This is the bike Im getting to learn on.

Thanks! I because of you I bought one of these to learn on today!

 

[Acee]

Take the training, not just to learn how to ride but about awareness

 

[ALBOB]

There are two types of motorcycle riders; those that HAVE fallen and those that WILL fall. You REALLY need to accept that fact before making the decision to buy a bike and learn to ride.

 

[Acee]

It's not if you fall off it's when and how much will it hurt, 12 bones for me 'sorry mate did not see you'

Get training and never ever go out without full protection, I mean full trousers jacket and gloves, a 15-20 mph spill can strip a lot of skin and hitting something hard really hurts

 

[Ballgame23]

IMO you're better off getting a dirt bike if possible and learn to ride that before taking it to the roads. I'd start off with a small bike and increase the size when you have the skill to justify a larger bike.
You've got to have your wits about you when riding a motorbike and once you've aquired a certain amount of experience, riding the bike starts to become second nature and then you can focus on reading the traffic around you and choosing your line of course.
It's usually when something unexpected happens that will distinguish an experienced rider from somebody who lacks experience.

I've riden my entire life and it makes me cringe when my friends decide they are going to start riding at age 25+ and they usually want to buy a huge bike and "just ride it slow."

The only true thing in this statement is that you shouldn't by too big of a bike for you to handle. Don't go out and buy an R1 or a Hayabusa and you've never ridden.

As far as learning to ride it's easy and fun. If you know how to drive a stick than it'll make it much easier. A motorcycle is no different than a bicycle when keeping it up on two wheels. The gyroscopic effect keeps the bike up once you start moving. So the the hard thing is getting used to using your hands to let out the clutch and pour on the right amount of gas ie; the friction point.

Also learning on a dirt bike may be the worst advice I've heard. Yes it's less powerful, but riding on dirt is a far different experience than riding on the road. I rode dirt bikes growing up and had a difficult time not putting my foot down when I turned and also the ability to kick out the back tire. The seating stance is totally different as well.

I've been riding motorcycles for the last 15 years and my advice is to take lessons. They'll have bikes that are small and easy to handle. They'll work with you on turning and all the appropriate safety tips.

Also, riding a bike is way different than driving a car when it comes to the people around you. Always keep your head on a swivel and drive defensively!!

Be safe man!!

 

[Big Pimpin]

This Busa is a little tricky to learn how to ride a crotch rocket on.

 

[SloppyJ]

Riding a bike is not to be taken lightly. Every day you jump on it could be your last, and your chances are higher because you're riding a bike. I raced quads and dirtbikes for years before getting a street bike. I would say that is the single most contributing factor to my safety on a bike. When the shit hits the fan and you have to lock it up, if you've never felt a bike slide, then you do not know how to react. To me it's second nature.

If you want a bike, start off on a ninja 250. That's my advice.