Is it hard to learn how to operate a motorcycle?

Question

Is the operating permit/license hard?

Answer 1

No, it is as easy as falling off.
Be wise, take a basic training course in your area.
Don't be an organ donor.

Answer 2

It's not difficult if you take the time to learn before rushing into riding. Attend a basic motorcycle riders course (some states offer them through their Highway Patrol) as this will allow you to become familiar with the mechanics of operating a motorcycle before being on an actual street. Most courses provide small, easy to handle bikes for the course. Additionally, some states will waive the driving portion of the license test if your course was state sponsored, so all you have to complete is the written portion. If possible, ride on the rear seat of an experienced rider to learn how it feels to accelerate, brake, corner, etc. at real speeds, that way it won't be a shocking experience for you. Most motorcycles are impressively fast, and probably much faster than your car. It takes a little while to become accustomed to the speed and the way you must drive more defensively because of that. Lastly, do some research in your local area and see if there is a respectable motorcycle group that meets up every once in a while. Don't bother with irresponsible riders that care more about doing a wheelie at 120mph than clean, fast riding. If you're a newbie, someone will take you under their wing and help you become a better rider. Be safe and enjoy!

Answer 3

It's not difficult, it's just that there are a LOT of new things for you to internalize while dealing with traffic and more speed than you're used to all at once.

So even though it's true that a very disciplined new rider could ride any motorcycle after taking an MSF course, faster bikes are much less forgiving when a newbie makes a simple mistake. And a mistake at 30mph can be recovered from far easier than the same mistake at 100mph.

So it is recommended that new riders get a slower, used motorcycle that they can take the time to learn a bunch of new things without getting in over their head. For example:

New rider on a 600cc sportbike finds out that they can easily go over 100mph in third gear and goes into a corner too fast. They panic, forget how to lean and countersteer, and the car driving instinct kicks in as they jam their right foot onto the brake lever. The rear wheel locks up just long enough to send the bike sideways before the tires grip suddenly, catapulting the rider 10 feet into the air before impacting the pavement and sliding (sure hope they have full gear!) as the 400+lb motorcycle slides right after them.

OR...

Experienced rider knows how to handle a sportbike and heads for the same corner at 100mph, but knows to sit up, use the brakes properly, and downshift without upsetting the bike. The rider knows this corner and lets the suspension settle before leaning hard into the turn at 80mph, aiming for the apex and allowing the physics of riding carry him smoothly through the corner. Looking through the turn and staying relaxed as the pavement zips past just inches below his knee, the bike leaning nearly sideways, a smooth application of the throttle finishes the turn going just as fast as it was entered.

It takes TIME and EXPERIENCE to go from scenario #1 to #2, but it's worth the effort!

Answer 4

no, not really, but the hardest thing to master is the panic stop. this is 1 manuver u had best perfect before u ride in congested cage infested areas, u will never win an argument with a cage.

to do the panic stop, squeeze on the front brake, and add rear brake when the forks start to compress. add more and more front brake almost but not at the point of lockup. the same goes for the back brake. its possible to ride a rear brake lockup, but u will wind up getting pitched over the bars within a second of a front brake lockup. never lock the front up...get off the brake immediately if it does.

it's much easier using the msf bikes. they're usually 250cc's. getting the permit is basically common sense questions that mostly applies to bikes.

Answer 5

not really if your familiar with bicycles then thats about half the learning curve. "Ridley" makes an "Automatic" bike so you could avoid the shift clutch issue. The minimum requirments vary widely by state so youd have to check with your DMV. Those standards arnt usually high enough to consider your self profiicient though. More training and practice on the bike you actually end up with would be in order.

Answer 6

ok, but do not think that it is like a bicycle. I made that mistake once, a bicycle can be steered, a motorcycle is controled by leaning and a little pressure on the handlebars, one way or the other.

Answer 7

If you can't drive a stick, it can be. It's basically the same concept of clutch/gas/brake. If you can do that the rest is easy with a little practice.

Answer 8

No not hard at all, heavier bikes are a bit tricky at slow speeds though, and in heavy traffic, a lot more work

Answer 9

if you know how to ride a bicycle, it should be rather easy. If you also know how to drive a car with stick shift, it's a piece of cake. Just be sure you can pick up the bike you use off the ground. That's an instant failure.

Answer 10

Took me a month to get the hang of coordinating clutch, shift lever, and throttle.