Learning how to Ride a Motorcycle
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Owning and riding a motorcyle comes with a lot of responsibilities. Make sure you find the right bike for your needs above everything. Here are some other tips to get you started, should you decide to ever buy one of your own.
- Read. Read a lot. Read forums, magazines and books. The more you read about motorcycles, the better prepared you will be to start riding, and to figure out what kind of motorcycle you would want to get. There are a lot of great rider forums out there that are filled with people who will be more than happy to help you figure out what kind of motorcycle would fit you best, and share tips on how to become a better rider. I also strongly recommend picking up “Proficient Motorcycling” by David Hough. This is a great book that really makes a lot of the theory and skills easy to understand.
- Take a motorcycle safe rider class. I know that a lot of state DMVs offer these classes. Even if your state doesn’t offer this class through the DMV, you should still be able to find one of these classes offered in your area through another agency such as the local or state police. The basic MSR classes are taught using small-engined motorcycles that are owned by the agency giving the class, so you don’t have to worry about either trying to learn on a bike that has way too much power for you or about dropping your own bike the first time you try to ride it. These classes teach you the basics of riding in a safe controlled environment, and are by far the best way to learn how to ride a motorcycle. As an added bonus, in many states you automatically get your motorcycle license when you successfully complete the class.
- Don’t skimp on riding gear! Quality riding gear can be expensive, but when you get into an accident it can make the difference between getting up with a few bumps and bruises or never getting up again. Leather is the best protection you can get, but there are also plenty of other options out there if you either don’t like leather or can’t afford it. Several companies make jeans for motorcycles that have a protective layer of either textile or kevlar sewn in, and many of those jeans include protective padding in the hips and knees. There are also textile jackets with elbow shoulder, and back armor sewn in, as well as at least one company that makes protective armor designed to be worn under your regular clothes.
- Find a bike that fits your body and your skill level. Sit on several different bikes to figure out what kind physically fits you. If the bike is either so big you have trouble reaching the hand and foot controls or so small you feel cramped on it, then it’s not the bike for you. You won’t be able to enjoy riding it, and you will have a lot of trouble controlling it. If the bike you really like “almost” fits you, ask the dealer about what kind of adjustments can be made to either the stock parts or with aftermarket parts. If you are just learning how to ride, don’t go for the biggest, fastest bike you can find. Remember, even the “small” 600cc race bikes can easily reach 150 miles per hour and are capable of doing things far beyond the capabilities of the average street rider.
- Find a shop you can trust. Go online and check rider forums to find out what people think of the shops in your area. Where you buy your first bike can have a big impact on what kind of riding experience you have. If you tell the sales person that you are new to motorcycles and looking to buy your first bike, and they seem to be pushing you towards the fastest/most expensive bike in the shop, turn around and walk out the door. That’s a dealer that cares more about making the sale than about your enjoyment or safety. A good dealership will want to help you find the right bike and gear for you. For example, last year at the dealer I purchased my current bike from the salesperson. He asked me a lot of questions about my riding experience and comfort level with getting back on a bike after having not ridden for several years. He told me that while the bike I was looking at would be good for getting back into riding, he thought I would end up wanting to move up to something larger and faster within a year. He showed me a different version of the same bike with a larger frame and engine, even though it was the previous year’s model and was discounted to about the same price as the smaller current year model. He also told me that while there was a 3rd version of the bike with an even more powerful engine, he didn’t think it would be the right bike for me because it had been several years since I had ridden and he thought I might find the larger engine to be more on the intimidating side than on the fun side. After helping me decide which bike I wanted, he took me to the parts department to help me pick out my riding gear. He had me try on almost a dozen helmets to find the perfect fit, and had me sit on the bike wearing each jacket and set of gloves I was considering so I could get an idea of how they would feel while riding.
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