What is the best place for a new rider to find information about motorcycles?
Posted by admin | Under Motorcycles Tuesday Jun 30, 2009I’ve never driven a motorcycle, but I’d really like to start. I would like to know what is the best place to find information about motorcycles and riding.
Go to AMA website or go to any MC dealer and ask for information for a beginners rider safety course.
Do not spend big bucks on your first bike for 2 reasons. First , you might decide that riding is not for you. Second, everyone drops their first bike at least once.
I suggest before you get a bike that you are totally comfortable driving a car with a standard transmission.
Sign up for the beginning riders class at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They will give you a bike and teach you to ride it. If you like it, you can get your license, buy a bike, and continue riding.
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You should ask your local dmv or police station where a licensed motorcycle training school is in your area. Some even have bikes that you can use to take the class.
Learning to ride a motorcycle is pretty easy, but there are a lot of things you have to be aware of to keep from getting killed when you ride them in traffic.
First, and foremost – is that people in cars DO NOT see you. Most courses recommend riding as if you are invisible (this helps keep you from being surprised when someone starts getting over into your lane). I take it a step further and pretend like people are actively trying to kill me (not far from the truth actually) – that way I’m not surprised when someone whips across three lanes of traffic and slams on their brakes directly in front of me (had it happen!)
Learning to maneuver your bike – how to brake properly (always avoid hard braking at lights, or following other cars too close – you might be able to stop, but the car behind you won’t). At higher speeds you have to learn how to counter-steer – pushing the handlebars the opposite direction that you want to turn, and then leaning into the turn (it’s an incredible rush once you get it figured out).
Motorcycling can be an incredible experience – or it can be extremely dangerous (sometimes both). If you are careful, take precautions – choose your bike carefully (don’t just buy a crotch rocket and go plow it into the nearest immovable object). Wear proper riding gear – in the summer months I see a lot of people riding with nothing but a t-shirt and one of those biker style skid lid helmets.
Those people are most likely going to sustain serious injuries, or die, if they end up in a wreck. I almost always wear a jacket, gloves, a full faced helmet, jeans – and boots. Even in hot weather (which can suck if you get stuck at a light for a long time – but which you don’t even notice when you are moving at highway/freeway speeds).
Good luck – and be careful!!
References :
Go to AMA website or go to any MC dealer and ask for information for a beginners rider safety course.
Do not spend big bucks on your first bike for 2 reasons. First , you might decide that riding is not for you. Second, everyone drops their first bike at least once.
I suggest before you get a bike that you are totally comfortable driving a car with a standard transmission.
References :
ii just got my 1st bike today!!!! b4 i bought it,i went to my local dmv and ask questions bout licences,insurances,laws etc and grabbed a study book n took my written test to see if i really wanted 1. it took me 4 times to get my endorse ment cause i did it out of the blue randomly,then after i got my endorsement i went and asked the local dealership about laws,licences,insurances,etc and compared it all,helpful tips would b best to get from all types of riders
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newby rider myself
The msf course will give you all the info to get you started, even a test run on a bike. After that you will be on your own but you would have a hard time finding that info anywhere other than the seat of your bike. Hope you like it and have fun.
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Subscribe to a couple of motorcycle magazine subscriptions.
Read everything you can find. Find a few motorcycle blogs, read those too.
Buy an old Honda, fix it to be like new.
You gotta do your own wrenching to be a "way in" motorcycle dude.
Working on motorcycles will make you popular quickly.
Network with other Motorcyclers!
Make up your mind whether you want to be a 1%er, or a 99%er. Harley owners often come off as hard@sses, with a Take NO Prisoners, attitude, and if you are a Harley wanna be, you may have to get in a couple of actual fights. Real harley riders can’t be bothered. Harley riderd NEVER wave at some weasel riding on a scooter. You could lose your patch for that!
Metric bikers or HispanoNipItaloGermano-Bikers are lot more laid back. All right we’re just lazy, okay? As long as you ride, its good with us. Of course you have to make nice with the scooter bums, thats a downer.
Motorcycle Classics – Good magazine, as well as a website.
Web Bike World, published only on the web, great content. These guys test clothing , bikes, and helmets regularly, a good source for real world accessories.
Rider magazine, at one time, they tested all the very expensive bikes. Best ads, ever.
These are about equal parts good advice and tongue in cheek, poking fun at all things Motorcyclist. You decide which is which.
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