Getting started to ride bikes?

Question

My father used to ride bikes, my brother wants to get a bike(but never will, he is too broke), and now I want to be brought into the world.

I've read here several times of people saying that the best way to go is get a small, cheap bike to ride around with off the streets to get the basic feeling for balance, turning, passengers, braking and acceleration, high speeds, etc. And then from their going to a MSF course to get a lot of miles behind me and learn the etiquette of driving out on the streets. So my question is....

Lets say money is tight, is it unwise to not get the smaller (perhaps cheaper) bike to learn on and instead go straight for the courses? I hope to be riding a powerful "crotch rocket" in the end and would like to only have to buy one bike that will suit those needs, not work my way up.

its not that money is tight, im just very conservative with it. If i don't need to spend it, i'd rather not.

Also i don't want to rush into things so i can get to riding my bike. If i decided not to buy a "starter bike" i would take the courses several times over if needed until i was positive i was ready.

when i say my father "used" to ride bikes, he had a harley and was riding with his best friend behind him. He had some accident that ended up with my dad's crash killing his best friend, i want a bike for the enjoyment, not to be taken over with my testosterone and risk lives. I will just think of my dad's experience if i ever feel the need to take dumb risks.

Please, bikernoj, if you feel like needlessly ripping into me about becoming "a smoking hole in a concrete barrier", try reading all the information displayed in front of you first. I don't think it was too difficult to understand me when I said "...i DON'T want to rush into things so I can get to riding my bike." or "i would take the courses SEVERAL TIMES OVER if needed until i was POSITIVE i was ready." I don't recall saying that I was special in any way or making any excuses that make me eligible to be riding fast bikes early on. Also, maybe you should have read the part saying "its not that money is tight, I'm just very conservative with it." or "If i don't need to spend it, i'd rather not." Because I'm pretty sure that I NEED to take MSF courses if I even want to get my license in the first place, let alone learn to control a bike. I never considered the option of skipping courses.

~Thank you for being a complete prick to me for no good reason, I really enjoyed it…

Answer 1

Biker wisdom has been accumulated thru much pain and suffering of those who have gone before you so please don't think you are special enough to skip the starter bike.
Learning on a 200-250 lb bike has tremendous advantages. Trying to go slow on a bigger bike is not the same.

Thru e-Bay you can find good used bikes at good prices. I recently RE-joined the biking world after 20+ years off. My re-starter bike was a 650 Nighthawk. Now I'm back to an 1100cc. But I was able to buy the used nighthawk, ride it for a season then resell it at a profit. You could do the same with a 250cc.

A dual sport is a great way to learn. Drop your ego and go have fun in the grass. Develop your instincts on somebody's farm lane. Cruise some sand trails. Get comfortable on stone roads where your front tire seems to have a mind of it's own. Learn to bounce over things. Learn to ride standing up on the pegs. If you start to lose control the light bike is easier to muscle around. The skills you will learn are invaluable for street riding. Remember that in an emergency situation our brains revert to our instinctive skills not our drivers manuals. Those who don't have good basic skills end up in the emergency room.

Don't pass up slow riding and tight turns in parking lots after hours. That's where to really learn to handle a bike. Take the time to learn now. You'll be a much better rider forever after.

I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 2

The first thing you should do is take the MSF course. It's real cheap, and you use their motorcycles and helmets, just bring gloves and a good jacket. You'll be learning on small 150CC bikes, easy to ride, easy to learn on. Why not start out by learning the proper riding skills and technique before you head out on your adventures?

I strongly recommend a starter bike. That powerful crotch rocket you want is a ton of fun, but it can kill you, man, it's way too much power for a beginner. The good news is that a starter bike doesn't have to be a losing proposition. A decent running used bike that costs a thousand dollars or less is going to be worth the same exact amount in 6 months when you re-sell it, you won't lose a dime. And you'll be much better prepared for the high tech rocket that you are moving up to, and have a much greater chance of surviving your first few years on the road. This is experience that can not be gained by re-taking the courses, this is real-world riding experience on a bike that's easily manageable.

Don't forget - wear all the gear, all the time. Crashing on a motorcycle is not an if, it's a when. You are going to crash at some point, everyone does. Wearing proper gear, while not necessarily the coolest thing, will be the difference between walking away and being carried away. Full face helmet, a jacket and riding pants with body armor and a spine protector, gloves, and proper riding boots, every time you sit on the bike.

Answer 3

You don't have a bike yet, and don't know how to ride, but somehow you're going to find the PERFECT bike to ride forever the first time out?

If money is THAT tight, then a USED bike will be cheaper than a new one, and your insurance won't be as high. In fact, if money is SO tight that you can't take an MSF course, maybe you should consider your "me too" attitude about riding in the first place.

I could care less what your excuses are, NEW RIDERS DO NOT BELONG ON FAST BIKES, and there is NOTHING special about you that makes you so much more prepared to do so than anyone else.

Just remember that I Told You So in that split-second before you become a smoking hole in a concrete barrier somewhere, Junior.

Answer 4

Ok,

I have been riding for 25 years, and first I will tell you, crotch rockets plus inexperience equals death! I would start with a scooter, and then go to a good sized bike.

The change of handling between a small bike and a big bike is when the bike weighs more than you do. I recommend a small bike first, even a scooter with an automatic to reduce distraction while you learn how to ride well.

You will crash, accept it, and be ready for it to happen. This will reduce the chances of being seriously injured. Wear a helmet and other safety gear, no matter what!

Money means nothing to a dead man so "can" the cheapness right here! Keep the shiny side of your bike up, and enjoy the ride!

Answer 5

The reason for getting a cheap bike at first is, you may lose your balance while stopped and drop it.
Smashing a good bike will bring tears to your eyes.
Take the MSF course before buying any bike.
They supply the bikes and teach you everything you'll need to know, while you learn how to ride.
Then you can go out and buy your dream bike.

Answer 6

Just know this- that most deaths occur when the bike is new... Motorcyclists make great organ donors- so make sure to sign the release on your driver's license. It would be a shame to waste any of your salvagable parts.

You have to be completely familiar with your bike and aware of how other drivers act around motorcycles- make sure you can be seen, by keeping out of their blind spots, and riding on the left side of your lane.

And watch out for left turns- both while you are making them, and others are. All my accidents seem to involve left turns. People just don't expect to see you. So watch out!

While you learn to handle the bike you need to be especially cautious, and not let your testosterone get control of you. This is how young men get killed, and fools of all genders and ages.

Practice at low speeds first, on sandy pavement. Weave around cones, practice emergency skids and evasive actions. Wear protective gear. Try to beat the odds and survive.

In the end, you will dump your bike sooner or later. Probably sooner. Assuming that you survive your first accident, can you afford to get your bike fixed? Consider that the expense does not stop when you have made your purchase. Leave yourself a margin so that you can afford to keep it on the road.

Answer 7

Take the written test at the DMV, then take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course before buying any motorcycle.

I'm still advocating buying a small used motorcycle after that. If you buy used, you can sell it for nearly the same price you paid for it (you'll lose on taxes and registration fees, and some portion of insurance, of course).

Answer 8

just get the kinda bike u want to end up with and learn how to ride it well then u don't have to get allot of them. but if money is tight then don't get like the popular brands but don't get cheap ones either just not very very popular. or look for a sale, or u can look on line. =)

Answer 9

best advice ill give u ive been riding on road now 15 years donot worry about your mistakes its the other peoples mistakes that will kill u so watch out 4 them but enjoy its the best feeling not as good as sex but damn close