I don’t own a motorcycle, and am not especially fond of them, but I still wonder…
How does one learn to operate a motorcycle? I know nothing about them. I don’t know anyone on a personal level who drives a motorcycle. As far as I know, there is no such thing as “motorcycle driving school” as there is for automobiles. I assume that most people learn through someone they are close to, sort of like an apprenticeship/hands-on thing.
Where and how would someone such as myself with no “connections” go to learn to operate a motorcycle?
Don’t say Hell’s Angels or the local biker bar please, I’m serious.
Try the Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider classes. They are offered in most states and have the benefit of waiving part or all of the state licensing requirements, dependent on state. They usually involve about twelve hours of class and twelve hours of riding. The cost is usually about $100; motorcycles are usually available from the MSF at no additional cost. Check out the web page for details.
Operating the controls are a fairly easy thing to learn, you can get the idea in an afternoon.
Getting accustomed to the speed at which things happen and developing the motorcyclists road-sense is very differant.
I know folk who have been riding for years but they still end up in dodgy situations simply because they have not learned to read the conditions and I don’t mean at high speed either, some tend to expect collisions especially in town as a matter of fact.
Avoiding trouble does not mean going slowly and staying behind the car in front, there are times when that is not the safest option.
Basic riding skills to pass your test are one thing but I’d strongly recommend doing further training too,- or you could get a Harley, you’ve no chance of stopping if someone pulls out in front of you but you will certainly repay them with maximum damage to their car
I learned by taking the thing into the parking lot and riding it around. I had about 30 seconds of instruction from the dealer I bought it from and that was about it. I also bought the Idiot’s Guide to MC riding. I wanted to take a course right off but they fill up so fast and I couldn’t get in. I did however take the MSF course last year and recomend it to anyone trying to learn. but yes there are schools around, not a lot, and none around me, hmmm… maybe I should start a school?
People do say though that it’s not a good idea to learn from a buddy as they might have bad riding skills that you will learn so I will not teach any of my friends how. I might give pointers etc, but would strongly suggest the class.
I learned how to ride and got my license from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider classes that Nen mentioned. There were two intensive classroom days of training followed by several days on a course. We learned safety (lots of safety), shifting, braking, how to move the bike when you aren’t on it (back it up, etc). At the end of the course there was a pretty difficult “road test”, and if you passed it you earned your NYS Motorcycle license. I strongly recommend this route. I know two instructors who are veteran riders and they both said they have learned a lot from teaching this class. They really prepare you for road riding.
In my state, the drivers license exam (both for cars and for the bike endorsement) is a twenty question multiple guess quiz and a ten minute ride around the neighborhood. It doesn’t really prove anything. If you want to be safe, it’s your responsibility.
Casdave, I liked you up to now…
Of course, you’re right (for pre-Evo bikes at least; I don’t know about the new ones.)
I’ve been wanting to ask you for some time now and this is as good a hijack as any (sorryMSK) what do you reckon to the Polaris V92. Does it cut it with the Harley crowd ? The sport version looks pretty good to me, in fact it looks cooler than the all chrome Harleys IMHO especially in black.
Have you seen stealth pics of the new Triumph bonny yet ?
That new Indian just is not where it is at, sorry.
I pretty much taught myself. I bought an old 67 BSA spitfire, and a friend showed me how to shift. I rode it around the parking lot of my apartment complex for a bit, then got out in the street. Been riding ever since. The mechanics of it arent that hard, the main thing you need to keep in mind is to assume that nobody can see you, so don’t ever expect them to respect your right of way. Some people never get it. I know a guy who bought a brand new harley, and never could get the hang of riding it. he took and failed the safety course twice, borrowed a little honda rebel to ride around town on to learn, and kept dropping it. Some people just dont belong on two wheels.
I took a beginner’s motorcycling class offered through ABATE of Colorado. Despite my then-husband telling me that I’d invariably dump many bikes before really learning how to ride, it taught me enough that I’ve been riding for 3 years now and have had exactly one close call. It was the other person’s fault (truck pulled out in front of me.) I was able to stop on time and avoided the accident just fine.
It was easier than I thought to pick it up. One long weekend at “school” and some common sense. You oughta do it!
My dad bought me a Taco 44 mini-bike when I was 6. It had a 4-hp. Briggs & Stratton engine. The first time I tried to ride it, I went down the sidewalk and into a low brick retaining wall. I already knew how to ride a bicycle, and I think that’s an important first step.
Eventually I outgrew the mini-bikes and started riding a real motorcycle (a well-used 1964 Yamaha 80) in about 1971 at the age of 10. I got my own bike, a Yamaha LT2 Enduro (100cc) for my 12th birthday. Next was a '76 Yamaha 250 Enduro, a '79 Honda CX-500, and finally, a '94 Yamaha Seca II (bought new, now with 66,000 miles on it!).
I taught my ex-g/f how to ride. A friend gave her a '76 Honda CB-360T. She knew how to ride a bicycle, and I told her it was the same. You just don’t have to peddle. She took it slow and I ran along-side of her. She took the bike to a nearby parking lot to practice until she was ready for her license.
So. I learned by doing a lot of riding out in the high desert. I think this did wonders to develop reflexes that have served me well on the street. The ex-SO learned by practicing in a parking lot. Get yourself a cheap used bike. Realize you’re going to fall down. Practice.
If you can ride a bicycle, learning to ride a motorcycle is easy. I learned on my own ('55 Matchless banger). However, there are two extremely important points: (1) The first thing to learn is how to do a panic stop. Don’t think about riding in traffic until you are proficient in panic stops. (2) Most people learn their limits by dropping their bikes. Until you have had an accident, you will almost certainly be too cocky. A MC riding school sounds like a very good idea although not a substitute for reflexes, judgement, and experience.
Man, I’m sorry to say it, but you’re asking the wrong guy. I drifted out of motorcycles years back, and never was one for the newest models of anything. Hopefully, someone else can answer your question.
FWIW, the Indian is an S&S engine. A friend has one in his Harley.
Call you local Dept. of Public Safety, or whatever they call it in your state. The dept. that handles drivers licesning. Ask them about courses in motorbike riding, that’s your first step.
Next step, if you don’t already have 'em, get yourself 1) a pair of boots, at least something above the ankle. 2) a good jacket of leather or thick demin 3) full length gloves 4) long pants, jeans work fine 5) a helmet, either full or 3/4 style is best. Go to your local bike shop and they can help you out.
You’ll need all of these in your riding career. Even here in Texas, with the daily temps shooting up to +100F, I still wear my demin jacket and gloves when riding. Austin drivers are jerks! I don’t want to tell you the number of times Mrs. Soccer Mom in her SUV didn’t want to stop at the stopsign and check on-coming traffic and just pulls out in front of me. sigh
Another thing, this is REALLY enjoyable! Riding a bike is NOTHING like driving a car. Be prepared for some fun!
This brings up an interesting point. Something I’ve noticed is that everyone I know who taught themselves, or learned from a friend, told me that I need to expect to drop the bike at some point. Usually when turning corners, backing out of the driveway, etc. My ex husband was very much against me buying a brand new bike because he was sure I’d dump it and dent it all up.
On the other hand, nobody I know who has gone through a beginner’s class ever mentioned anything like this. When I ask about it, they say “well, sure, if you’re not careful when you’re parking, or doing a slow turn, it’s a possibility, but I’ve never done it.” I decided on the class, and have had exactly one close call where I almost dropped the bike in the 3+ years I’ve been riding. That’s why I recommend the class.
Here in Missouri you have to take a written test in order to get a permit. The permit allows you to legally ride on streets with no passengers and only in daylight. Then you take the riding test and if you pass that you are legal for the rest of your life as long as you don’t let your license expire.
I taught myself by spending the first few months on quiet neighborhood roads and gradually moving up to busier roads. I have been riding now for about five years and have so far not laid it down or had any other incidents. So now Athena you have met one self-taught guy who hasn’t kissed the pavement. I have had a couple of close calls. BDGR is right on the money with the assume no one sees you comment. Don’t use eye contact as a guide. They can look right at your eyes as they pull out in front of you. Always assume everyone is going to pull out in front of you and be ready for it.
One statistic that the Missouri motorcycle license booklet presents is that half of all motorcycle accidents occur in the first year of the motorcyclist getting his/her license. Of course that leaves the other half for experienced riders.
I’ll have to really agree on the boots, gloves, and leather jacket. however, in all reality jeans do NOT cut it, they may work for some things, not for long distance slides. Currently I wear a one piece Aerostitch riding suit, costs about 700 bucks but well worth it as people have crashed in them above 100mph with no road rash, plus they are pretty waterproof and even though everyone thinks they are hot they aren’t.
as for dropping the bike, I did a couple of times when I was first learning to ride myself, I think it comes from not understanding how the bike works where as in class they show you more so are less apt to dropping them. I think though that most people say “there are two types of riders, those that have gone down and those that will”. I know a guy with 25 years of riding experience who was hit by a car a few months ago. it was his first accident. I’ve had two real ones, I hit a deer in the first couple of months of riding, that’s how I know jeans don’t do much, and my second I was stupid and locked up the rear wheel.
yep, just over two years riding, 35000+ miles and every state on the east side of the Mississippi except Arkanas and Michigan, and a few on the west side of the Mississippi
And here’s another. And I ride sport bikes, not Harley-types. But my bike has been knocked over, and I have no idea who\what\when\where. I just noticed the fairing, handlebar, and oil pan scratched up one day when coming out from work. I was pissed! And it’s not a heavy bike, but still 450 lbs, so I wonder how they got it back up without someone noticing and telling me.
Seriously considering taking the racing school at Summit Point next year and start racing. Damn, that’d be fun.
One very common way to drop a bike is to apply the front brake when you are doing a slow U-urn, which you might well do if you have slightly misjudged your turning circle and think you might just clip say the kerb or a fence.
The brakes are designed to pull the machine up safely from some speed but at very low speeds they can be quite grabby.
The front wheel suddenly twitches off to one side and can have you off.
Another classic is doing a U-turn uphill.When you get to the middle of your turn the road is sloped against you and you fall uphill, do U-turns downhill.
Once a bike starts leaning at low speed, like when you are pushing it to turn in a small space, the weight can take over very quickly and it just keeps leaning till it meets tarmac.Trying to stop it might well give you a back injury so it might be better to just control the speed at which it falls to limit damage.
Picking it up on your own can be fun, unless you do it the easy way, and most people are so embarassed they struggle to get out of there soonest and forget their brains.
If your bike goes down then squat with your back to the saddle, hook your hands under any convenient part and push backwards with you legs. You would be surprised at how much easier this is, just don’t push too far or it will go over the other way, now that would be embarassing!
