How long does it take to learn to ride a motorcycle?

Question

I want to start riding but have never been on a motorcycle in my life. I am thinking about either a Ninja 250 or Ninja 500 as my first bike. How hard will it be for me to learn - I am 25 yrs old, 6'0, 180 lbs and fairly athletic (soccer, tennis, running)?

Answer 1

if u can ride a bicycle, ur halfway there on a motorcycle. only difference is, u have an engine, and it's alot bigger. 1st off, take the msf class. u will soon find out that there is a bit more to it than meets the eye, but its also easy to master if u build up to higher speeds in steps; like, dont try to blast into a 30 mph corner at 55 right off the bat.
the 250 would be more forgiving than the 500 for the 1st bike, but if ur willing to keep ur hand out of the carbs and take baby steps to get fully aquainted with it, then go for the 500.

there is 1 or 2 things u will need to master, and that takes time: situational awarness. u need to be able to keep track of any and all objects in a 360 degree arc that could wind up in ur airspace. it's the 1 u dont see is the 1 that bags u. aggressive riders in heavy traffic wind up dead. its total defense on a bike if u want to live.
next thing to master: being able to quickly and safely execute a full bore maximum effort panic stop; this is the 'stop or die' type. say u normally ride at 45....how fast can u stop the scoot at this speed? there's a right way and a wrong way, and if u do it right, u'll be able to break it down quick enough to stay up if a cager left turns u. the wrong way, u'll eat the asphalt.

Answer 2

You should seriously consider taking a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. They have 4 day classes and also I believe weekend ones.
You are also elligible for an insurance discount with this course. I took a much harder course to be a motorcycle officer, but the basic stuff was similiar to an MSF course.
I really urge you to take some kind of a riding course because the learning curve on riding on the street can be fatal... They teach you the most important skills of defensive riding as well as techniques of the actual operation.

Answer 3

Definately take the MSF course before you buy a bike. My gf took the class a year ago having never ridden a motorcycle before. She passed fine and is still riding. Use the course to decide whether you like it or not. It will also help you to decide on what bike to pick up. You seem to be on the right track as far as bike size. Both of those Ninja's are great beginner bikes. You might also look into the Suzuki GS500's. Get a used bike if you can and enjoy them.

In the end it comes down to someone teaching you how to ride, and you practicing it as much as you can.

Answer 4

I know people that have been riding for years and they still don't ride properly. Like anything, your riding skill will develop with time.
The best place to start, is by taking an MSF course to learn the basics. Take it slow and don't be influenced by other riders going faster than their limits. Practice, practice, practice until you feel comfortable with riding, and riding properly and safely. Sure sometimes we like to indulge, but make sure you do it safely and 'at the right time'.

The Ninja 500 is a good bike to learn. I've ridden one before and it's an excellent bike. Stay safe!

Answer 5

If you can ride a bicycle you can ride a motorcycle. Take an Motorcycle Safety Foundation safe riding class. You can find out where to take one at a motorcycle dealer or look for an MSF web site for your state.

Answer 6

I learned within a couple of hours. But I am still going to take the Motorcycle course. It never hurts to learn safety. I have a brother that almost was killed on his bike. A LARGE dog ran out and ended up going between his front tire and engine. I started out at slow speeds to adjust to the weight of the bike and turning. I learned on grass. That will come in handy if you lay the bike down. Best of luck to you. I am short but prefer low to the ground bikes. Not for speed but only for cruising. Nothing like being in the wind. I hope you don't want a ninja for just speed. As speed isn't smart on highways.

Answer 7

Athleticism has nothing to do with learning. It may help your endurance, but to ride effectively you need years of experience to teach your body how to react without thinking. Even the best riders in the world still crash, and many of them refuse to ride on the street because it's too dangerous. Get hooked up with an MSF course and get a small, used bike that you can (and will) drop a few times, and wear FULL gear.

In short, it will take you the rest of your life to learn how to ride.

Answer 8

I strongly suggest taking a motorcycle safety course. It's well worth the money. You learn to ride on their motorcycles and can even take the test with their bikes. I took it even though I rode dirt bikes for years, it really teaches you throttle control and lane position. It also helped me to decide what kind of bike I wanted after trying different kinds.

Answer 9

Last year I was in your situation. I was 45 yrs old and never rode a motorcycle in my life. I started by taking a MSF course just to see if I would like cycling. I loved it! One of the best weekends of my life. Cheap too. Anyway after tooling around in the parking lot on the MSF's 250cc, I went right out and bought a used Hyosung GV250 cruiser to learn on. Plenty of power (28 hp... small but robust), well instrumented and easy to handle. I spent the summer learning on it and never once regreted my decision. I'm 5'10" 175 lbs. The Gv250 was starting to feel a bit small and underpowered for my likes toward the end of the riding season. I just bought a 2006 Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic for the '07 riding season. Now I'm ready to sell my GV250. If you're interested, check out the site I created for the sale of my Hyosung: http://www.geocities.com/etokar/GV250_web_page.htm
Anyway I urge you to start out on the right foot my going through an MSF course first. Sign up now. Spring classes fill up quick. You won't regret it. Best $100 you'll ever spend in your life (outside of the Phillipines) ;)

Answer 10

3 days at the Motorcycle Safety Course to learn the basics and defensive riding, then you never stop learning as long as you are riding. If you do stop learning, you've got yourself some problems (ego being the first)