new to motorcycles

[BlakFate]

hey i was wondering whats a good way to start getting into riding motorbikes cause ive been contemplating starting for years and tyears andyears but i dont know how to get into it and help would be aprreictated

[WHEELAX2]

try taking a motorcycle course.. they will have motorcycles there for u to learn on.. they also teach safety, etc..

[twin58]

As WHEELAX2 said, take the course. But which course? The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (http://www.msf-usa.org/) course.

Here's how it works in Virginia. The introductory "never, ever" course, the Basic RiderCourse, is taught at the community colleges. I believe it is taught at community colleges in Maryland and Pennsylvania too. The cost varies from state to state; for 2006, it is $135 in Virginia. It is not a wise idea to try to save the $135 by having your friend teach you everything he knows. Further, you'll get a break on insurance by having taken the Basic RiderCourse.

You show up on a Friday evening to watch some videos and get some idea of what you'll be doing on the following Saturday and Sunday. The next morning, you show up ready to ride - long sleeve shirt, long pants, boots that cover the ankles, and gloves. The motorcycle, helmet, and closed course are provided for you. Bikes are 250s from Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki, provided via local dealers. Thus is answered the twin dilemmas of how to learn to ride a bike without owning one, and how to buy a bike without knowing how to drive one.

You learn how to start, stop, steer, and generally how to stay alive on a bike in traffic. The various maneuvers take two days to learn. It is immensely helpful if you already know how to drive a manual transmission. Trying to learn how to shift while trying to learn how to drive a bike is a recipe for disaster.

On the following Friday, you come back to the course, if you so choose, and take the practical portion of the driving test under the watchful eyes of DMV personnel. At that point, if you have passed the written test and the driving test, you pay your extra $1 per year for the motorcycle endorsement on your license and become a licensed motorcycle operator. Then it is up to you to buy a bike.

The courses fill up quickly, but you might be able to walk in at the last minute on a Friday evening and take the place of a no-show. I took the course in April 1987 at Northern Virginia Community College. In July of that year I bought my first bike. I was a total nervous wreck the first time I went out on a real public road on a motorcycle, but I got over it. A few weeks later, I thought I'd go down to the post office, on the bike of course. The next thing I knew I was in West Virginia. Bikes are like that.

It's one of these (http://images.google.com/images?q=yamaha+seca+400&ie=ISO-8859-1&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images), a 1982 candy apple red Yamaha 400 Seca, this exactly. (http://www.fraon.com/ca15/smallpics/ca15002.jpg) I still have it, but the bike that I have on the road currently is a 1987 Kawasaki EX500 that looks just like this (http://redlinecycle.com/MVC-022N.JPG), as long as you don't count all the dents and scratches in mine.

I have long contended that any guy who goes through life without ever having owned a motorcycle has made a big mistake. I'l like to extend that thought to women as well. There is no reason for them to miss out on all the fun.

I think it is a bad idea to buy a bike because you want to save money on gasoline. You should drive a bike because you want to drive a bike. The ones who get into it to save money will, I believe, give up quickly. Of course, then their low-mileage bikes will be available secondhand dirt cheap, so we do wish to encourage them to buy bikes. I believe your first bike should be secondhand. There is not now, nor will there be, a shortage of motorcycles. Prices will not soar in relation to the price of gasoline.

In the US, call the MSF at 800-446-9227.

Best wishes.

Edited to add the mandatory Canadian content:

Motorcycle training in Canada (http://wheels-in-motion.com/World.html#Canada)

Where You Can Learn in Alberta - Gearing Up: Canada's National Motorcycle Training Program (http://www.ridertraining.org/alberta.htm)

Calgary Safety Council (http://www.calgarysafetycouncil.com/), and click on "Motorcycle Program"

[BlakFate]

si there a specific age you have to be to take the test cause at this point i am 14
i was wondering how old you were when you first started riding bikes

[PompLax14]

Probably have to be atleast 16 and have your drivers license. But you live in Canada so it might be different.

[twin58]

Umm, older than 14. It's either a national or a provincial law that sets the minimum age to get an operator's permit for on-road use. You may be able to drive mopeds up there; I don't know. Off-road, there might be no minimum age at all. Motorcycle dealers in Calgary could tell you. They know a future customer when they see one, so they'll be eager to answer your questions.

That's what I'd like to have, a dirt bike, but there's no place around here to use it.

[GixxerMiddy]

i got mine right when i got my drivers license at 16 you just have to takes the MSF course if your under 18 and if u pass it waivers the written and the drive test.

[Jacket 21]

That quite possibly could be the most complete answer I have ever seen on a forum, any forum, on any subject!!!

I agree, also... MSF course is the way to go. LIke Twin said, it's not wise to have a friend just "show you everything he knows." I know a lot of riders who are great, smart, funny people with incredible (and incredibly expensive) motorcycles who have the worst riding habits. You don't want to inherit someone elses bad riding habits.

I started riding at age 16... took the MSF course, bought an old Honda Rebel 250cc, then soon after a slightly used 600cc Honda Shadow. Put 35,000 mi on that bike. Never had to do anything to it but change oil, plugs and tires. Great bike to learn on.
Now I ride a 1976 Harley Shovelhead and have a 1964 Harley Panhead project in pieces.

Riding is just like any other physical skill (like Lacrosse), you need to learn the fundamentals and then build your skills and ability and soon it becomes second nature.

[PuLsE_SpEeD]

I started riding at age 16 too, I took an MSF course given by the MRA, it was about $245 for me and it was a 3 day course which takes up your whole weekend (other schools do a 5 day program) where you learn all the saftey and proper biking techniques. If you're under 16 and do not have a permit or licensce you can always start by dirt biking where you don't need a licensce (in most states as far as I know).

Biking is pretty hard at first, so if you have a friend that could teach you, I'd still reccommend taking a safety course first.

Just like jacket 21 I also had a Honda Rebel as my first bike as I'm pretty short (5'4) and that was one of the few bikes that was low enough for me to ride. Hopefully you'll take a course and join the world of biking laxers, good luck.

[K Baz]

If your 14 get a "dirt bike" provided you can get to the open range with it. This will build confidence with the bike without the worries of traffic. Plus you can get one now and ride it vs. waiting for 2 years till you can get a street bike. Plus the added bonus of jumps and such.

[slinkyspine]

si there a specific age you have to be to take the test cause at this point i am 14
i was wondering how old you were when you first started riding bikes
16 to get a Motorcycle learners. 18 for a liscense

[tomahawks11]

what kind of bike??? harleys or dirt or speed bikes??

[SullyLax]

That's a great answer twins. What are good places to look for used bikes online? I've found cycletrader, but none other really good ones. I plan to take the MSF in April, and I hope BlakFlake you get into it too.

[Laxordie24]

I have long contended that any guy who goes through life without ever having owned a motorcycle has made a big mistake. I'l like to extend that thought to women as well. There is no reason for them to miss out on all the fun.



I thought I would bring this back up, just curious what happened with him and his motorcycle?

anddd also becuase I pick up my first motorcycle this week :) an H-D sportster 883L
As a 16 y/o female, I am sooooo excited!!!

[Cadets_LAX]

get a motorcycle saftey course. helmet and riding suit, the reinforcement and the protection will save you from road rash and other crap on the road. i have a honda CBR, ive been riding for 2 years. id save for a new bike, is your life and i dont trust other peoples used things especially for my first bike. something they can not tell you or hide can cost you your life. stay low cc, my first one was 550? the cbr and higher ones can throw you in the first couple gears if you dont know what your doing, its like learning how to ride a bike again. and also, it makes you a better driver, you notice or look for things most driver dont and its a fun thing to have and chics dig it. check ur dmv or local power sports center for liscence and class info its posted there usually.

[Laxordie24]

I've taken the rider safety course and recieved my motorcycle endorsement. I've got all my gear, helmet, leathers, boots, and all because I've ridden on the back of my parents bikes for..forever. I got an '07, and the sportster 883 is 883 cc's.

and you're right, considering the fact that I AM a chick, chicks do dig it 8)