First time learning how to ride motorcycle

[MetalSlug]

Good afternoon

Lately I been thinking get into motorcycle. Every one I talk to, they don’t own a motorcycle but only thing in their mind is accident, give me a bad vibe about riding. But those that own motorcycle they love it.

I was thinking take a motorcycle class at Harley Davison . And properly get something under 500cc or 600cc . And just driving around street for a while until I can get on the highway one early Sunday morning. I am very respect the law of the road and very responsibility person when it come to other safety or myself .

 

[wavinwayne]

Definitely take the class and always dress for the crash, not the ride.

 

[Brian123]

Good afternoon

Lately I been thinking get into motorcycle. Every one I talk to, they don’t own a motorcycle but only thing in their mind is accident, give me a bad vibe about riding. But those that own motorcycle they love it.

I was thinking take a motorcycle class at Harley Davison . And properly get something under 500cc or 600cc . And just driving around street for a while until I can get on the highway one early Sunday morning. I am very respect the law of the road and very responsibility person when it come to other safety or myself .

Drive a Moped 1st and see how you like it and can handle it!

 

[JohnnyG]

It's not too hard. Yes, there are 3 times as many dangers, mostly from other drivers, but it's OBVIOUSLY doable.
Watch for sand, leaves, oil and excess water on the road. Watch out for those that don't see you, watch out for those that see you but ignore you, and the worst ones are the ones that think they can turn in front of you with impunity!

If you need to navigate cones or other obstacles, like a slalom in the driving test, keep the machine close to the obstacle, easier to maneuver to the next one.

That was your short course.

 

[Ursatdx]

I've had and ridden a bunch of different bikes in the past.
They are a blast to ride but very unforgiving in the event of an accident.
It's very easy to become overconfident as they are very nimble, fast and brake well.
Distracted drivers are the reason I only ride off-road today.
I have friends who have ridden for years and had friends who never made it that far.

 

[Chris142]

I have ridden off road my entire life. I got a dual sport bike and my M1 endorsement about 15 years ago.

I rode on the streets about 6 weeks.

I had way too many close calls in those 6 weeks due to other defective drivers. I parked the bike then sold it soon after. It's not the bikes fault.Its other drivers and I don't like pain or death.

The hwy wasn't too bad. In town is much worse. Cars almost pass their turn and turn in front of you. Or change lanes and force you to crash into a curb,bus bench etc. others tailgate you 4 ft off your rear tire @30- 50 mph


Your thinking riding in town for practice is easier is flawed.At least on the hwy there's no side streets and fewer off ramps.

Imo off road is much safer than streets

 

[Chris142]

It's not too hard. Yes, there are 3 times as many dangers, mostly from other drivers, but it's OBVIOUSLY doable.
Watch for sand, leaves, oil and excess water on the road. Watch out for those that don't see you, watch out for those that see you but ignore you, and the worst ones are the ones that think they can turn in front of you with impunity!

If you need to navigate cones or other obstacles, like a slalom in the driving test, keep the machine close to the obstacle, easier to maneuver to the next one.

That was your short course.

The Ca test at the DMV consisted of riding about 60 ft, shifting up then down 1 gear.1/2 circle and back to the DMV employee lol

 

[barryh]

I've been riding for over 50 years including a daily commute to work summer and winter for 18 years. The single biggest improvement I made to safety on that commute was to adopt a Hi visibility jacket and a white helmet. It's not what I would choose to wear since I have a nice black leather jacket but after adopting the Hi Vis jacket the near misses and turns in front of me simply stopped.

Do the training, make yourself visible and work on reading the road and other road users and there is no reason it shouldn't be reasonably safe. It will also make you a better car driver.

 

[Astro14]

Does the class provide a motorcycle? Or do you have to bring your own?

I would start with getting a properly fitting helmet, jacket, boots and gloves.

For a first bike, I would get something in the 250cc range, used, and inexpensive, because you will likely drop it a couple of times.

Small, light, and inexpensive means that you will be able to pick it back up and you won’t cry over the scratches and dents.

Ride when traffic is light - weekend mornings, that sort of thing - to build experience.

 

[rstcso]

My suggestion is to learn to ride on a dirt bike, off-road. You will learn to feel when the back or front is losing grip and it will become muscle-memory on how to recover. Should you not recover correctly, the stakes are much lower,

I concur on taking classes. Not just one, but start with a beginner's course, get out and play in the dirt for a while, then take an intermidiate class. For your first street bike, I'd get one with enough power to get you out of trouble, but not so much you're likely to get yourself into trouble. Someone suggested 500cc to 600cc, which should be good.

 

[barbersurgeon]

I ride in a mostly rural county. If I lived in a heavy traffic area, I would have never started riding a motorcycle.

Even here I only ride when I feel it's safe and fair weather. I took the course, which gets the endorsement here. You will absolutely become a better/safer driver in a car after riding a motorcycle in traffic.

Factor in cost of gear, insurance, maintenance, taxes, and the initial bike purchase up front. Then you can decide if it makes sense for you.

 

[AZjeff]

You could learn the way most of us on here did, on the way home from buying the bike. Not recommended.

If you go forward with a bike don't stop with a basic motorcycle course, find and take a more advanced course. (rstcso beat me to it)

I owned a bunch of dirt bikes and only one street bike that I was commuting to work on. On the way home one day I came upon a cycle fatality that was 100% not the rider's fault that happened 10 minutes before I came along. I rode home parked it and sold it. I decided that something may happen that would take me away from my young family but dying on a motorcycle wasn't going to be it. Reportedly the fatality rate for motorcycles is 28 times higher than motor vehicles.

A friend who still rides told me he has the attitude everything else on the road is out to kill him. I've always loved motorcycles still do but can't justify the risk.

 

[BobsArmory]

First thing to do is make sure your organ donor status is updated on your drivers license. Lost a cousin and a couple years later an Uncle when they got hit by cars on the road.

 

[opus1]

Another resource is the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Check and see if there are classes close to you. I got the bug to ride about 25 years ago and took a class. At the time it was $20 to hold your spot in the course, refundable if you made it through the course. Not sure if all states do that, but Illinois does, or at least did at the time. I let them keep it since I got to play with someone else's bike all weekend. All I needed to bring was a pair of gloves, sturdy shoes or boots, and a long-sleeved jacket. IIRC, it was 4 hours of class work and the rest of the weekend was spent on a bike.

A coworker experienced in riding took the beginner class with a friend who wanted to go, but didn't want to go alone. The coworker said that the class taught her a few things that years of riding didn't so I take that as a good endorsement.

I decided that riding was not for me. Half the time I was enjoying myself and the other half I was telling myself that I didn't see me riding in the crazy traffic I had to deal with.

 

[The_Jeff]

The class was a blast. Here it was 16 hours, a two day weekend. They brought bikes. All the students were happy to be there.

I had a 250 cc Nighthawk for a school bike. It was heavy, maybe 560 lbs? I later bought a 750cc Virago, which was like 650 lbs. Not much more to handle. Old Japanese bikes are generic enough if you get a cruiser you won't have enough power to wheelie yourself to death even as a beginner. If you wind up buying a harley imagine getting drafted into that lifestyle, if that's your thing.

It looks awesome but is more awesome to do. Few things in life have I underestimated like I did riding.

I broke my ankle at work and decided broken bones suck as I was dependent on my family and others for a lot. Gave up riding due to that.

 

[FowVay]

If you've never ridden motorcycles before then it's a good idea to get a dirt bike and ride some trails and backwoods for a while. You learn how handle slides and loose surfaces and the trees don't tend to pull out in front of you when you least expect them. The dirt is usually a bit softer than asphalt too.

I've ridden motorcycle for nearly my entire life and I can honestly say that the skills I learned as a dirt biker rider and a motorcross racer make me a better and more attentive street bike rider exponentially.

Riding motorcycles isn't like cruising around in your car. You can't just relax and steer with your knee while you wave to the ladies. Motorcycles take concentration... constantly.

Sign up for the safety courses. It might help you get your motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license. Heed the instructors advice and never stop learning.

 

[The_Sheriff]

The class was a blast. Here it was 16 hours, a two day weekend. They brought bikes. All the students were happy to be there.

I had a 250 cc Nighthawk for a school bike. It was heavy, maybe 560 lbs? I later bought a 750cc Virago, which was like 650 lbs. Not much more to handle. Old Japanese bikes are generic enough if you get a cruiser you won't have enough power to wheelie yourself to death even as a beginner. If you wind up buying a harley imagine getting drafted into that lifestyle, if that's your thing.

It looks awesome but is more awesome to do. Few things in life have I underestimated like I did riding.

I broke my ankle at work and decided broken bones suck as I was dependent on my family and others for a lot. Gave up riding due to that.

.
A Nighthawk 250 is a tad under 300 lb not 560 lb. The Virago is under 500 lb.

 

[dubber09]

I'd strongly suggest a motorcycle riding school that teaches theory and practice and allows to try several bike types, as well as provides a bike for road test to get MC license endorsement if required.
You will learn clutch and throttle controls as well as proper braking, leaning the bike according to speed and road conditions, how to make yourself safe on the road (car drivers often don't see/notice bikes). They normally teach emergency braking and maneuvering as well.
If you are serious about and will be buying a bike, you will need a helmet, bike gloves, abrasive resistant pants and jacket and shoes covering ankles. Get best helmet you can get for both protection and style/color etc as they last very long time unless damaged. Many helmets allow changing visors and they come in different tints too.

 

[MetalSlug]

Definitely take the class and always dress for the crash, not the ride.

I will.

 

[KGMtech]

Take the classes, and accept that you might love it, or not. You have to try it, you'll never regret trying.