Advice for New Motorcycle Riders

Taking the handlebars and riding a motorcycle is one of the most exciting and scariest things you will ever decide to do. Ask me how I know. Most riders will share their “I wish I knew ______ before I started riding” stories, the experience or advice they wish they had received before straddling their first bikes. Here are some nuggets of wisdom that have been shared over the years with me.

Taking and passing a rider’s safety course is #1 because it teaches you the basic skills needed to ride safely. Whether you have never thrown your leg over a bike before or have been riding for 50 years, there is always something to learn in these courses. If you are like me, had only ridden passenger and did not have access to a motorcycle prior to taking the course, it is intimidating to hit the starter for the first time. I could not practice on a motorcycle to prepare for the class, yet I did have access to a bicycle. For a few weeks prior to taking the course I spent time practicing tight U-turns, weaves, and quick stops. When it came time to straddle the bike on the training course, I was more prepared to take on the challenge.

 If you are thinking about starting your own journey as a rider and are looking to register for a basic riders safety course, check out the Canada Safety Council in Canada, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in the U.S.A. to find a course near you.

Riding is like any other skill – the more you practice, the better you become. Once you have the required documents to legally ride, it is critical that you get out and ride as often as possible. Daily if time and weather permit.

Learning is a process and it takes time, so be patient with yourself as you are growing and developing your skills. Remember that you are going to make mistakes and that it is okay.

The more time you spend in the seat, on the road riding, the stronger and more experienced you will become.  A grizzled ol’ Harley dude once shared with me that he practices U-turns on the way home every time he rides.

We have passed the course, the motorcycle license is obtained, and we have ridden for a while. It is about this time that we are feeling positive about how we have mastered the skills we have been taught to this point. That is awesome! So, what now? Now it is time to take an Advanced Rider’s course. Taking an advanced rider’s course will further develop the skills we have and help correct bad habits we might have developed along the way.

As amazing as the courses we take are, there are some things that can only be learned hands on. Riding and working with a more experienced rider is an invaluable resource. Experience has already taught them many lessons. Having the opportunity to learn from their experience will make us stronger riders faster than we would be on our own. Consider finding a riding group or strike up a conversation at the shop.  Everyone loves to talk about their bike and you never know who you will meet!

The excitement of getting our car license and the freedom of having our own wheels, those memories can still bring joy. Finding that first bike after passing the training course is just as exciting, maybe more so. Just like learning to drive a car, when we first start riding a motorcycle we are not experienced and make inexperienced choices as we learn. As much as we want to buy that ‘dream bike’ right away, consider starting on a used bike. This allows us to settle into the learning curve, to make the mistakes, and majority of drops, without the fear of damaging a bike we have invested a lot of money in.

One of the biggest regrets I have heard repeatedly from experienced riders is that they bought what they thought their dream bike was right after getting their license. We walk into a dealership and it is as if we can hear the bike calling to us, I know I did. What experience teaches is that what we think we want before we start riding, and what we learn that we want once we have a little experience, is often different. It is time in the seat of a bike that teaches us what we really enjoy and need to ride the way we want to. Take some time learning, then go buy that beautiful bike of your dreams with confidence!

Some of this may seem as if it is so basic that there was no reason to state it. Yet the fact that so many experienced riders repeated the same advice again and again shows just how needed it really is. If you are looking at becoming a rider or are new to riding, welcome to the community! Becoming a rider and riding the way you want to does not have to cause fear. Let’s save the fear for the horror movies and learn to ride with confidence. Take the advice to heart, find a mentor if you can, and then… get out and ride.