Is riding a motorcycle as easy as it looks?

Question

I can drive a standard transmission auto. Actually, I can drive a 10 speed semi-truck, I have my commercial drivers license.

I can ride a bicycle.

I'm buying a motorcycle, but I don't have a license yet. It doesn't look that hard to me. But I don't want to be dangerously over confident. I plan to take a group class.

What are the most important things needed to learn to ride a motorcycle?

Answer 1

OK I dont promote doing what I did. I'm 55 and went out and bought me an 1100 yamaha v-star. Took it to the parking lot next to the dealer, went around three times, then took off for a 150 mile trip up to cherokee in the mountains for a rally. I had no problems but I did have good riders with me in case I needed help. I've been riding three years now, no problems, lots of miles. Am thinking of taking the course this summer, lol. I'm a small woman but have lots of intestinal fortitude. Good luck, see you on the road.

Answer 2

All of the above. I agree that a speed triple might be too much of a bike, but the 620 Monsters are nice to ride. There is also the Multistrada 620, quite different to the Monster. In this class is the Suzuki V-strom, both are hybrid street-tourer styles. Even easier (and a lot less expensive) would be the Suzuki SV650. If you prefer a four cylinder rather than a V-twin, the Suzuki GS500 naked seems good value; even less expensive would be the Kawasaki ER6. There is also the Yamaha Fazer (FZ6), a de-tuned version of the R6. Honda doesn't make much in this size; but does have the 500fi, which is more sprotsbike style Rather than the Ducati, Cagiva make a very nice bike, which has the same engine as the SV650. I am assuming that you are looking at a medium size bike, and don't want to step down to a 250. If you were, however, the Honda 250 V-twin is agruably the best 250 around. As far as build quality is concerned, in my opinion the range (going down) would be Ducati-Honda-Yamaha-Suzuki-Kawasaki. Have a good look at them all.

Answer 3

No it is not easy. It takes a long time to internalize the controls well enough to not screw up. The first thing you figure out is that they go really fast, and there are plenty of morons out there who stop there and think they can ride.

Your bicycle experience is only similar for being on two wheels and going the same direction. You get nothing else from it.

Your driving experience gives you the understanding of how a manual transmission works, but that's all you get from that as well.

In fact, the amount of driving you have done will work against you, as your brain is already hardwired to clutch with your left foot instead of your left hand, gas with your right foot instead of twisting your wrist, and the most dangerous is that in a panic you will stomp on the brake with your right foot.

If you do that on a motorcycle, you will crash MOST painfully, and you need to understand exactly why.

Forget everything you think you know about driving before you take the MSF class. Concentrate on what they teach you, and resist the urge to think you're a good rider afterwards. If you can get 100% on your practical test, that's a good start. Have fun with The Box!

Answer 4

if you can drive a 10 speed semi - you can ride a motor cycle. things tough to learn initially are the feel for operating the clutch and feeding in the gas to get launched. once you are rolling it is easy. also learn to use the front brake as much as you can - it does most of the braking. another thing is that speed - any speed above about 20 mph you actually counter steer a motorcycle to make it turn. probably many riders don't even consciously know they do this. once you have progreesed to an intermediate level practice rapid lane changes by consciously countersteering the bike. practice in a mall parking lot early mornings before trying the streets. take the group class - you should learn a lot. other things - when coming to a stop watch for sand, gravel or leaked fluids. if you step down on them your foot may go right out from under you. don't ride in the center of the lane where all the spills are - ride on the car tire tracks. i like to vary to the left or right depending on oncoming traffic and/or poor visibility on the right side of the road - obstacles, parked cars etc.

Answer 5

When I took the safety course there were 5 people in the class that had never driven a motorcycle, one of which had never even ridden on one. All five passed the course and earned their motorcyle license in just 4 classes. They teach you everything from starting a bike to avoiding dangers. Here in PA they offer free motorcycle safety course and provide motorcycles for the course, They are 250's and most of them are Honda Shadows. These are good training cycles and are not very expensive. However, if this will be your first bike buy used and pay cash, get the experience of riding before moving up to bigger and more expensive bikes. I have had friends who bought big bikes like Goldwings and rode only a few times then selling them at a loss because they weren't ready for a big bike. Nothing wrong with starting small and working up to bigger later on. In fact the smaller bike will normally sell quicker when you are ready to move up, then use the money for your next bike. As with everything experience is the best teacher and the more you ride the more confident and the allert you will become in noticing potential dangerous situations. It is alot of fun but as my grandfather use to say, when you no longer ride like you fear possible dangers, it is time to quit riding. In otherwords don't become over confident.

Source(s):

25 years motorcycling, owner of Goldwing and Harley Sportster, member of "HOG" and Christian Motorcyclist Association.

Answer 6

Some people here gave you some good advice, like taking a motorcycle riding course. These courses will give you all the info you need to ride a bike safely. But no matter how long someone has been riding or how much of an expert they think they are, all can learn more. Basically you will always be learning how to ride more safely for as long as you ride. So get a motorcycle that fits you, learn everything you can about that bike, and practice ,practice practice, develope your skills to your up most ability. If you get a bigger bike you should check out the ride like a pro DVD , the guy that puts this DVD out is a state motorcycle trooper and has very good info. I hope this helps and hope to see you ut there on the road someday . good luck in your endeavor.

Answer 7

At slow speeds it is very similar to a bicycle. At higher speeds it is quite different. A motorcycle also handles different than a bicycle over sand or other junk in the road.

The most important thing is to learn how to be in traffic. People WILL NOT see you and respect your vehicle like a car. Pretend that people are trying to kill you. They're not, but they drive so bad that they might as well be.

NEVER ride in a car's blind spot. Even an economy car will ride right over you if it changes lanes.

A good safety feature is a loud exhaust. It is the only way that car drivers will notice you. And if it's loud, you might get a tiny bit of respect (fear). But don't make it too loud or the cops will give you a ticket.

Answer 8

If you can ride a bicycle you can ride a motorcycle. The same rule applies. It's not if you will go down ....It's when. Everything on two wheels crashes. So wear a good helmet so you don't wind up a vegetable. Proper clothing like leathers and gloves will make the riding fun. I froze my a#& off on a ride from Anaheim to Berkley on the way to see a Dead concert. There is always a wind chill factor. If it is 80 degrees and you have a wind blowing at 30 to 70 miles an hour you will get cold. If it is already 60 degrees you will freeze. Shifting on motorcycles is easy because you can skip the clutch. Everything is a synchro. Other then that cars and trucks are the enemy. Oh yea never look where you do not want to go. Or you will go there. Mountain biking teaches you this. Dirt bikes teach it to. Crashes on the road are far worse even on a Bicycle. I ride rode Bicycles and you can really eat it out there. The bike is a Gyro and will stay up if it is going fast. It is the slow crashes that get you. Always check your tires. If you have a flat and don't check it will roll out off the rim and endo you into the pavement hard. It's not a car it's a fast bike.

Answer 9

Riding a motorcycle takes balance and coordination. Unlike a car most of what you need to do is with your hands and some foot action. The clutch is left hand front brake is right hand shift with left foot and brake with the right foot. Throttle(gas) is also right hand. In a car you slow down into a turn and accelerate out on a bike it is the opposite you accelerate into the turn and back off coming out. You lean into the turn, your balance mechanism in your ear want to tell you your falling you must learn to ignore that unless your eyes tell you you are dumping LOL. Not to get into all the physics involved but when you lean into a turn and accelerate you are actually being pushed onto the seat.
Take the MSF course before venturing out on the road you will learn on a small powered bike that will be easier to ride and control before doing like the woman said with the 1100 V Star by and ride it. Drive defensively at all times!!!!!!!! Have fun. I have been riding for 39 years and still love it. Only 2 accidents in all that time .

Answer 10

Here's just a few you may or may not learn in class. This just comes from my 20+ years of riding.

1.At intersections always ride in the center lane when possible, let cars go thru first. if they get hit, it will minimize the damage done to you.
2.If your bike weighs over 300 lbs. the best way to pick up a fallen motorcycle is to, turn around, put your butt on the seat and use your leg strength to pick up the bike. Don't forget to put the kickstand down first.
3.In the rain, always brake mostly with the rear brake, so not to cause slippage from the front tire.
4.Don't down shift in the rain, causes the back tire to fishtail sometimes.
5.Never ever stop on any painted surfaces, "White Lines" they are very slick and hard to balance on.
6.Either ride way in front of cars tobe seen or way behind them. Just stay clear of cars, when possible, they don't care about you.
7.For the first 2 months, just ride slow, you do less damage when careful.
8.Wear a helmet, don't give rides or let any....one, ride your bike. Ever, they always seem to wreck it, trying to show off.
9.Always ride "Left" of the center lane.
10.Ride with you high beam on during the day. It helps.

Answer 11

A good teacher is the most important thing you can find , Its a diffrent world on a Motorcycle you cant slam on brakes when some ones tailgating , if a cage pulls out in front of you you cant slam into them plus giving other people the finger just gets you cut off later down the road / Dam I love riding