Is it safe to ride a motorcycle?

Question

I'm 26 and i've been wanting to ride a sports bike ever since i rode on the back of one (which was years ago). Just recently i rode on the back of my friends bike and i had forgotten how much fun it was....and now i have the opportunity to learn how to ride one but i'm getting the jitters. I see so many females riding and they look so powerful....but my confidence on riding has dropped some.

Should i think twice about learning how to ride...or should i just let loose and do what i've always wanted to do?

Answer 1

Take it slow. If you are afraid to ride a motorcycle, you should not ride one. If you are afraid or nervous, you will make mistakes, and there is little protection for you when you do on a bike.

So, you should find out if you simply lack confidence because you lack experience, or if you truly are afraid to ride one.

If you can, have a friend teach you and borrow a bike to learn. If that's not possible, start with a smaller/less expensive bike. Try it out, and see how you feel.

I felt the same as you and was unsure. I did what I outlined above and found out that I truly was nervous on a bike on the street. I'd lost several friends to bike accidents (some them being stupid, some being in the wrong place at the wrong time). I didn't have the confidence to safely ride, so I chose to go with something that had 4 wheels, a roll cage, and 5-point harnesses for my power and fun.

Bottom line is, if you FEAR riding a bike on the street, don't. If it's just lack of confidence, take it slow, learn to ride correctly, and go for it!

Answer 2

Go ahead and do it, BUT...

The penalties for a mistake on a motorcycle are FAR higher than in a car. Broken bones, skin grafts, concussions, and death! But it's not the motorcycle that's dangerous, it's a rider going beyond their abilities that causes problems.

To avoid a potentially fatal mistake, DO NOT get a super wonder sportbike your first time out. Good motorcycles for beginners are the Ninja 250 and 500 and the Suzuki GS500.

How do you avoid mistakes? Learn to ride safely and master your bike! Take an MSF course to get you started; most newbie mistakes happen because people try to ride a bike as if it was a car. This can lead to BIG mistakes that end wit the rider either catapulting themselves into the air because they mashed their foot onto the brake lever (like they do in a car) or failing to countersteer at a critical moment and running straight into what they're looking at.

It takes TIME to learn, and even longer to internalize the actions so that they become instinct. In the meantime, you need to buy a book titled Proficient Motorcycling and read it till you puke. Motorcycles are more than just shiny toys, snd this book will teach you MANY things that will save your life.

But even the best rider can't anticipate everything, and you will crash at some point. Then the question is this: what do you want to be wearing when that happens? Leather is best for abrasion, but textiles are less expensive and often very practical. A good jacket and overpants are a must, as well as good lether gloves, riding boots and a full-face helmet. Plan to budget $1000 just for gear, and if you come in under that then it's a bonus.

Bottom line is that you can take it seriously and ride for many years, or you can be a squid and crash within your first month wearing only a T-shirt and a helmet. The importance of your life over popularity will decide which path you choose.

Answer 3

I've been riding for over 40 years. Some things I can tell you. If you're too afraid, don't start riding. If you have no fear, don't start riding. You need to have confidence and not be too afraid, but if you have no fear at all then that's not good either. Ride as though you are invisible and no one can see you! Don't assume folks will see you and give you the right of way when you should have it. Take the safety courses and start out on a bike that is small enough for you to handle easily and then if you feel up to it later, move to a bigger bike after you're more experienced. Too many people start by buying too much bike for their first bike and can't handle the power in a tense situation...

I think riding is the most fun thing I can do on wheels but I've known a lot of riders who have gone down - most of the time it could have been avoided.

Answer 4

I'll side with OC Harley, You shouldn't do anything if you have 'overwhelming' fear, not even bath (a surprising number of accidents involve naked bodies in slippery bathtubs).

However, change fear to respect. Know your limitations and the bikes limitations and don't trust any other driver (bike or cage) to be smart.

You have to drive for everybody else on the road.

That being said, like OC, I've been riding for over 40 years and it is the most fun (that's not the right word, but it's close) that I ever had, period. I call my ride my 'Sanity Saver'.

On a side note, my youngest brother was killed on a motorcycle when a motorist ran over him from the back. Nothing my brother did wrong, the idiot driver wasn't paying attention and probably would have rear-ended another car.

Answer 5

You should take a course and learn how to ride. Just get out there and do it. Everyone I know who rides, including me, have the jitters when they are first stating out. But I'm glad I just decided to do it, or else I would be missing out on this great sport. Don't live your life being afraid to do things. Before you know it you'll be 80 years old and looking back on your life thinking of all the things you should have done. Do it.

Answer 6

No. It s not. Safety is of course relative, and everything carries a risk.The federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2013, the number of deaths on motorcycles was over 26 times the number in cars. America has 2.4 million miles of roads, the same as we had when I started in 1971. There are 4 times the number of cars on those roads, now. And now there s cell phones, GPSs, etc etc. The critical skill set isn t your ability to ride, but your ability to mitigate a thousand kinds of driver errors around you. I ve got half a million miles on two wheels, over most of 5 decades. A few years ago I took a hit, retro-amnesia-don t-expect-him-to-make-it kind of hit. My dying would have been easier on my wife, I think. I haven t ridden since, because I can t walk by her with a helmet. I can t do it to her, again. So, when making this decision don t just make it based on what you are risking. Look around yourself, your life. I m not saying don t do it because I know what it is and it was a beautiful part of my life for a very long time. I loved it, I miss it horribly and would probably still be riding if promised the next one would kill me, or I didn t have people who love me. Know what you re doing, and what the consequences can be.

Answer 7

Go for it. It's a great feeling of freedom. Once you've tasted it, it's hard to not ride.

I won't kid you - it IS more hazardous than riding in a car. But it's not like bikers are dying left and right in traffic every day. You need to learn to ride safely, and you need to take certain precautions when you ride. Gloves, boots, a leather jacket, and a great helmet are all part of the gear you'll need. Don't skimp on them - this is the gear that will save you when you put the bike down. Remember this rule - put a $10 head in a $10 helmet. What does that tell you about the people who want to ban helmet laws?

And you will put the bike down - it happens to everyone. But that doesn't mean that every time that happens, someone dies. It might just be in your own driveway, or on a slow turn. It might mean nothing more than a bruise and some scraped paint. I put my bike down in traffic, and had even less than that, although I WAS lucky. E-mail me offline if you want the details.

One other piece of advice - start with a smaller bike, and trade up in a year or two. Unless you're a large person, something about 400CC or less will be plenty to learn on. After that, you can sell it and trade up to a bigger bike if you want. If not, keep this one, and have a ball with it.

And you will.

Answer 8

It's safe if you keep your wits about you. Wanna ride? go find some twisty roads. Got an itch for speed? Join a riders group and go to track meets. I know plenty of women who ride , some it's their only transportation. Hey try it. Get a used bike that's mechanically sound and try it. If you don't like it. Sell it and enjoy sitting on the back. I know people who only want to be on the back. They can relax and look around. The rider is the one that's concentrating.

Answer 9

Take the MSF class to learn how to ride correctly it's a very good confidence builder as well. In the end you can get your license to. Don't ride over your ability.

Be safe and Good luck, it's a great time out there.

Answer 10

Learn to ride. Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. After that, you'll know better how you feel about being in control of a motorcycle.

When you do buy your motorcycle, be sure to get protective gear - full face helmet, armored jacket, boots, pants, gloves.