so, i want a motorcycle. I'm 19 years(will be 20 in July)...?

Question

...and also a african american, if you may, female. im a little...okay, allot nervous about scedualing a 15 hour course through CMSP. what kind of things can i expect? my knowledge of Motorcycles is very little. do i need to know the basics of how the engine works? i have also never ridden on one. ( when i was young i saw a female rider and ever since then, i wanted one) what do i need to know?! where do i start. is there a book or a person who is willing to chat w/ me to explain things. (im nervous so bear with me) how do i choose the weight of teh bike? Help!

Answer 1

First off, what kind of bike do you like the look of (cruiser, like harleys, or sportbikes, like crouch rockets)?

If you want a cruiser, I would HIGHLY recommend a Honda Rebel 250cc or Yamaha Virago 250cc (the Viragos are the better of the two, but harder to find). The 250cc cruiser is an awesome starter bike for a number of reasons - they are docile and easy to control, they retain their value tremendously (these days finding an early 80s Rebel 250cc for under $1k is a dream...consider that they sold for around that when they came out).

Sportbike chick? Check out the Kawasaki Ninja 250cc. Same as the above, but they look different, handle and brake better (and are, therefore, much safer for the beginner - you can get out of trouble easier). However, they aren't quite as comfortable (in my opinion) as the cruisers - course that doesn't matter much on the smaller bikes, because you won't be doing a lot of highway riding on them (you can, but it's hard considering how small the engines are).

If you can find them, bikes in the 500cc range are awesome for beginners, especially a bike like the Ninja 500 - they are a blast to ride for beginners and intermediates alike. They ride like their bigger sportbike brothers (namely the 600cc class), but have a little less power. Therefore, they actually handle a little better.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from the big cruisers (750cc+) and the big sportbikes (600cc+), as these are POWERFUL machines and not to be taken lightly by someone with absolutely no experience on bikes. If, for example, you used to ride dirt bikes as a kid, I'd be more likely to recommend a bigger bike from the start.

What the medic said was smart, if a little over the top. Riding is an inherently dangerous passion. You WILL crash your bike - make no mistake about it. It absolutely, positively WILL happen. The last bike I wrecked I was doing 25mph in the rain, low sided it on a turn, and was limping for a week. Thank God I had a helmet, but wasn't wearing any kind of protective gear (like a leather riding suit) and was hurting from my left foot to the base of my skull.

If you can accept the danger (which is real), you may just find riding to be the sport of all sports. I am in between bikes right now, and every sunny, clear day up here in Seattle makes me cringe because I'm stuck, yet again, in my damn car, watching all the other bikers roll by on the highway, a grin from ear to ear.

Seriously, though, please keep in mind, there are two kinds of riders - those who have wrecked, and those who will. When you take your course, ask the instructors how many times they've wrecked. You might just be surprised.

Answer 2

Welcome to our addiction. Once a rider..always a rider. I see many have talked about MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) but none have given you the link.
http://www.msf-usa.org/

They are the standard when it comes to safety training. They also have useful articles about buying safety clothing and bikes.
When buying a bike the weight is not so much an issue. I have met small framed ladies riding the biggest Harley's and Golding's. What is more important is if you can put your feet on the ground when standing the bike straight up, how the bike handles and performance.
You always want something you can straddle and still stand flatfooted. But as a beginner you don't want a bike that is not forgiving. Start small and used. That way you have better control and if (when) you drop it, it is not as financially painful as if you dropped a brand new bike.

Wish you the best and don't let the non-riders get you down with their horrific stories. They just don't have what it takes to be out there in the wind.

Answer 3

Tink, riding is wonderful! I've been riding a long time. You are smart to do the classes first, very smart! And the certificate you get after the classes will help on the insurance discounts for the bike you end up buying.

Look up and visit www.iridemyown.com
I'm on there under siamesekeepr
I'm always on the forum www.intruderalert.com as Keeper

I'm assuming the class you plan have bikes to ride on. These are good starter bikes for the class. They won't ask you about mechanical details and expect you to be able to work on the bikes. Learning can be frustrating, but hang in there.

I'm comfortable w you contacting me to talk about riding, what bikes to choose and such. More ladies are stepping out on their own and choosing their own rides. My husband is proud to have me beside him instead of just behind him.

When you go shopping for a bike, sit on all the various makes and models to find what is comfortable for you. Ignore any pressure to get a specific bike because it's popular, or it looks great, it makes you look "cool" or your partner (guy or gal) thinks they like it also. This is going to be YOUR ride, and you need to be absolutely at ease on it. Make sure you can put both feet flat on the ground when you sit on the seat. Tiptoe means not full control of the bike-you need to have full control at all times.
There's alot of different types of bikes on the market, cruisers, sport (crotch rocket), touring, dirt bike, dual purpose (can go dirtbike and street legal on the same bike). Think about if the bike you want is for short puts around town or if you are going to be doing longer rides of an hour or more duration. Those choppers look great, but not comfy for longer highway rides.
feel free to email or pm me through yahoo messenger.

I see some folks telling you to only go for the 250 sized bikes.. not really, you are not limited to that once you have the skills. Talk to other riders, and especially other lady riders. Check the forums I listed!
I have an 1100cc Honda Shadow and ride without any problems. I ride locally to places in town and take long rides/trips across the entire state of Texas.I'm 5' 7. Weight of bike and sizing is going to be something you need to explore.

Answer 4

I'm glad to see your interested in riding, I myself am going to be getting back into it after a brief 4 year interlude (lost interest in the sport after my father passed away). Don't let that fireman bone-head worry you about crashing, mainly because it's the same with a car in the aspect that if you treat your bike with respect and are responsible and alert you'll never lay er' down. I noticed there's alot of great info. in the other anweres but I also have a few opinion's. Don't worry about the bike course, when you go you'll be put into a group with other novice riders, and they take their time in explaning things to you and teach you tricks other rider's have taken years to master! You don't really learn anything passed pre-ride inspections to ensure your own safety. Now when it comes to bikes I agree with many of the other's that a Honda Rebel is a great bike to learn on, but a Yamescrap Virago may make take offs a little un-nerving, their lopy idle can give you shots of power when dis-engaging the clutch. It's smart to stick with a bike that has a small twin engine, not a V-twin mainly because of a smooth idle and ease of availibility. One very imporsant thing to remember is make sure you get a bike you can pick up if it falls over! I had an 83' Honda Silverwing touring bike that tipped over when I was working on it, and when I tried to stop it it threw me head first into a rack of shelves in my garage and took myself and a friend to put it back on it's wheels. When you go for a bike ask yourself wether you'll be primarily commuting or are you going to see some highway action. It's smart to get around a 400-500cc bike if your on the highway, because you wont have to fight crosswinds or transport drafts as much. When you go to check the weight, have someone with you when you go to look at a bike, and when you find the one you like try leaning it towards you at about a 45 degree angle, if youcan hold it and push it back upright go for it! if you need assistance from your friend it's to darn heavy! Once you get accustomed to ridding you can always upgrade later! Hope this wasn't to long and you fell asleep, but if you have any questions don't be affraid to ask! You can get ahold of me at [e-mail], and above all, don't worry it's lots of fun! GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 5

First, congradulations I love riding motorcycles, I've been riding since 1965. Ok, get a bike you can touch flat footed on the ground with. Second, There is a web page for the motorcycle safety foundation that will walk you thru everything. Check it out the page is interactive.

Answer 6

Listen to 808gsx-r, and not to morris. Morris is the kind of guy who has let his work cloud his judgement, and probably eats McDonald's or other food that will kill you slowly.

Be nervous, be excited, but be ready to learn. You WILL make mistakes, but learn from them and get all you can out of the class before buying a bike. Ask questions, and don't be afraid to lean the bike a little!

Most of all, have fun!

Answer 7

CMSP uses MSF materials so I wouldn't worry about anything. Just go to the class, and they will explain everything. Don't buy a bike until you have finished the class.

Answer 8

Babes, you made the right choice bikes are awesome, once you start riding and feeling the wind all around you. BUT FIRST, go to that class and they will answer all your questions and do not be afraid they will even suggest which bike you can handle. PEACE.

Answer 9

Great fun....love my bike...& most of the advice is good...if you want to read a bit try down loading these...
good selection of articles on bikes & learning to ride
http://www.chuckhawks.com/index5.motorcycles.htm

Answer 10

a good starter bike would be the Honda shadow 250 and as for rid ind can you drive a stick and ride a bicycle well put them both together. take your time don't be to eager,practice in parking lot, not hard but take your time and don't jump right out on rode to soon.