I will remember thank you sir !!
First time learning how to ride motorcycle
- Thread starter MetalSlug
- Start date
I think I will keep around 400-500CC. I don’t want no fast bike, it was never in my mind. If I want feel fast , I take my cobra out and doing couple hard pull on the highway when no one around and I know it safe. I feel more protect that way lol .
Riding motorcycle for me is just for enjoyment on a none busy day where I can take to some back road with less or no traffic and just cruise. I don’t take it out during traffic hours or raining day.
agree w/ starting w/ a dirt bike. literally taught myself by watching some youtube videos LOL
i came from the mtb, e-mtb, e-moto (surron type stuff) world so this clutch bike is complicated AF haha
Take a course. Most courses will get you certified for a m/c endorsement depending on the state your in.
My wife got her m/c endorsement at 50. She's on a Spyder now 20 yrs. later after being on 2 wheels for a while and feels more comfortable. 3 wheels is an option to be in the ''wind''.
I've never did any dirt riding my self. Started riding street at 30, no access to dirt being urban at the time and now 40 years later I still enjoy it.
Main mindset when road riding is that everyone out there is out to kill you. Wildlife included.
IMO bike riding makes you a better 4 wheel driver also as the defensive driving / alertness mindset is firmly rooted in your brain.
My wife got her m/c endorsement at 50. She's on a Spyder now 20 yrs. later after being on 2 wheels for a while and feels more comfortable. 3 wheels is an option to be in the ''wind''.
I've never did any dirt riding my self. Started riding street at 30, no access to dirt being urban at the time and now 40 years later I still enjoy it.
Main mindset when road riding is that everyone out there is out to kill you. Wildlife included.
IMO bike riding makes you a better 4 wheel driver also as the defensive driving / alertness mindset is firmly rooted in your brain.
Oh hell no.
Bikes are so much lighter than they used to be. I started on a CL360 Honda, and stayed with 400's for many years. My son's MT07 was more or less the same weight. Way more power, but for a mature person, extra power doesn't really cause problems. And FWIW, dirt riding is so fun! If that can scratch your itch, go that way. Much safer!
Take a class and build on your experience. It's NOT you but other road users that are the hazard, along with bad road surfaces and potholes. Been riding all my life and had many close calls. With time you develop a sixth sense that has saved me. Always reluctant to encourage others to ride, but yes, it is a lot of fun that I will not give up.
Good luck. Ride safe my friend.
Good luck. Ride safe my friend.
This is certainly true some of the time, but it absolutely CAN be the riders fault too. I can't tell you how many people I've seen/know of, who get on a bike with little to no prior or simply inadequate experience, and crash because they didn't know how to operate a motorcycle.
It is incumbent on the rider to familiarize themselves with the various controls, before attempting to ride. Then it's critical to learn how to control the bike while moving. Particularly how to negotiate curves in the road. Starting out in a parking lot on low-powered bikes, with knowledgeable instructors, is a great place to learn the basics. Which is where most rider instruction courses start.
This summer there has been a rash of mostly young new riders on bikes, crashing and dying while trying to negotiate bends in the road, with no interaction from other traffic. It was obvious what happened just from the pictures of the crash scenes. They apparently didn't learn how to control the bike adequately, and to look through the turn, without panicking and target fixating on the outside of the turn. Where you look is where you go.
Most of the roads the wife and I prefer to ride, are twisty mountain roads. The single rear tire skid marks heading off the road are evident on most of the turns. Occasionally we'll come across these riders attempting to get themselves and the bike back up onto the road. A few times it required calling 911 to get help for the injured rider.
I am always leery of blind left-hand bends on those roads, as I've had close calls with cars and riders who failed to negotiate the turn while staying in their lane, and here they come across the double-yellow because they lack the ability to maintain their lane. I know a few people who have been on bikes or in cars and hit these double-yellow crossers head-on. Some of those with fatal results.
Bottom line: It absolutely can be solely the riders fault for crashes. So take responsibility to learn how a motorcycle operates, and how to ride it.
I would not take up riding again these days. Too many insane and or distracted drivers.
Anywho, I feel a medium displacement twin would be easier to learn on than a little buzz bomb. Also prefer STD bike not low-slung cruisers. But can prescribe not knowing or ever wanting to know your inseam .... lol.
Anywho, I feel a medium displacement twin would be easier to learn on than a little buzz bomb. Also prefer STD bike not low-slung cruisers. But can prescribe not knowing or ever wanting to know your inseam .... lol.
Just sign up for the riding course . Will start soon. They required to bring a helmet and a glove.
Any brand recommend for helmet .
Any brand recommend for helmet .
I've been an Arai helmet user for the last 25 years. More important than brand, is getting a quality helmet that fits you. Helmets come in different sizes AND shapes. Go to a motorcycle shop and try some on. Hopefully you'll get a knowledgeable salesman that can help you.
I got my first bike at age 18, a Honda 360. Then a Kawasaki 750 and finally a Harley Sportster. I never rode off-road, streets only. A smaller bike is a great way to start but I guarantee, it will feel too small in a very short period of time. Be prepared for that day and be ready to sell and move up to a bigger bike. Yes, buy the best helmet you can. There are plenty to choose from; Bell, Simpson, etc. I always preferred a white helmet or even hy-vis yellow. Riding jacket and leather gloves are a must as well. Remember, cars will not see you or won't care so always be aware! These days, it's the deer population that keeps me off the M/C. Even riding a bicycle, at much lower speeds, you constantly need to be on the lookout for deer or someone on a cellphone.
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I 1000% suggest the Harley class sooner than later, Call, pay the $300+/- fee and get on the list TODAY! . My wife did it last year and she would tell you its a must and please do it!
Her Harley class was done on a weekend and she made some great friends that helped boost her confidence!
As far as you buying your first bike. I suggest take your time, Do the class FIRST and start talking to people about whats the best bike to buy. That weekend doing the Harley class will put you in-touch with experienced riders that can help educate you and advise on a good bike for you and you will be in a much better place to test ride new bikes after that Harley class!
I suggest do not go into your bike purchase with any limitations as far as limiting your bike to 500 or 600 CC's or whatever as that may end up being a very expensive mistake made buy inexperienced new riders ( I did it myself some 30 years ago ).
Take the class, join some Harley ( or other brand ) motorcycle forums and start reading and learning!
Her Harley class was done on a weekend and she made some great friends that helped boost her confidence!
As far as you buying your first bike. I suggest take your time, Do the class FIRST and start talking to people about whats the best bike to buy. That weekend doing the Harley class will put you in-touch with experienced riders that can help educate you and advise on a good bike for you and you will be in a much better place to test ride new bikes after that Harley class!
I suggest do not go into your bike purchase with any limitations as far as limiting your bike to 500 or 600 CC's or whatever as that may end up being a very expensive mistake made buy inexperienced new riders ( I did it myself some 30 years ago ).
Take the class, join some Harley ( or other brand ) motorcycle forums and start reading and learning!
I rode 200,000 miles before hanging up my helmet. If I were giving advice to a new rider, it would be as follows:
Everyone falls off sooner or later, Its your head, and road abrasions are nasty and painful. YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR. Wear necessary protective clothing.
New riders have a tendency to tailgate in traffic. Don't do it.
Always be aware of your road surface. Loose gravel and oil/grease causes slides and spills.
Always look at where you want to go, not at what you want to avoid. If you stare at a pothole or road kill, you are likely to hit it.
Assume every other driver on the road does not see you, or is out to get you.
BEST WISHES FOR SAFE RIDES
Everyone falls off sooner or later, Its your head, and road abrasions are nasty and painful. YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR. Wear necessary protective clothing.
New riders have a tendency to tailgate in traffic. Don't do it.
Always be aware of your road surface. Loose gravel and oil/grease causes slides and spills.
Always look at where you want to go, not at what you want to avoid. If you stare at a pothole or road kill, you are likely to hit it.
Assume every other driver on the road does not see you, or is out to get you.
BEST WISHES FOR SAFE RIDES
Yes, good point. I would absolutely try to find soft(ish) dirt to learn to ride . That's how I did it. Didn't fall, but was happy to relize that there wasn't hard pavement under me if I did. Not only that, but if you do it into something soft, you learn quickly to slow down and correct.
My first was a 350 Honda, about 1972 vintage.
I had a 150cc scooter that would run close to 60mph. I rode a lot on that. Then i bought a suzuki used. I understood clutch and gear changes. So i rode it home after i bought it. Practiced a lot in a large empty parking lot, many many times.
I still would take a class if i were you , its a better way to learn.
A really good read is Proficient Motorcycling , by David Hough. You may can find it for less on ebay. A lot of good experienced advice in that book.
https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536
I still would take a class if i were you , its a better way to learn.
A really good read is Proficient Motorcycling , by David Hough. You may can find it for less on ebay. A lot of good experienced advice in that book.
https://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536
Sure, you say that now....
The sensation of speed is different on a motorcycle, and you might find it just as satisfying, if not more so, to do a hard pull on a bike to blast out the carbon than in a car (when safe of course).
Anyway, lots of great advice on this thread and I don't really have much more to add, but if you actually want to see all the bad things that can happen when you're on a bike rather than just read about them, go on Youtube and watch some motorcycle crash compilation videos. Not to gross you out, but to use as a learning tool.
HJC makes nice helmets that are affordable.
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- May 16, 2022
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I recently purchased a clearance ( Great Price ) Harley Helmet that had nice Harley graphics but it was actually made by HJC!
You can buy the HJC even on Amazon and low prices and I think thats a great brand to start with.
I do suggest drop by a motorcycle shop and try a few on and get some help from a helmet sales person to explain how it needs to fit ( and or search that topic online ) If you are new to helmets... I found I needed help and advice as me knowing nothing buying a helmet was harder than deciding on what motorcycle to buy.
I never tried one but keep in mind even Walmart sells inexpensive lids that would allow you to pass a riding class...
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