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| Get a new bike after you learn how to ride. Photo Credit: Cheryl Bowman |
If you don’t know how to ride at all, practice in a large field or on smooth, packed gravel roads. Be careful of the gravel — it shouldn’t be the large 2-inch or larger gravel — even a seasoned rider has a hard time riding on that. Pick a road that doesn’t have much rock left and the sand is packed where the car tires ride.
New Bike or Used Bike?
For your first bike, buy used. Make sure it runs properly. This way, if you dump it while learning, you don’t have quite as much money into the bike, and you won’t freak out quite as much if it gets scratched. Additional things to consider while choosing your first bike include:
- Size: Be sure to get a bike that you can pick up yourself. A 300- or 400-pound bike is easier for one person to life than a 900-pound bike.
- Type: A crotch rocket is probably not a good bike to start out on. The turning radius is very small and may cause a new rider to dump the bike, and at the very least, feel uncomfortable with riding it. Also, with a crotch rocket, you won’t be able to easily maneuver the course for the test.
Checking a Used Bike:
When checking a bike, it is difficult to test drive it if you don’t know how to ride. The best way to circumvent this is to bring an experienced rider with you to test drive the bike. If you can’t find an experienced rider to test drive the bike, start the bike. It should run and idle smoothly. Some Harleys have a rough idle, but chances are, you won’t be looking at a Harley for a first bike, as in most cases, they are more expensive than other bikes. Have the owner run it through a short run so you can see whether he or she has problems keeping it running or shifting it.
Check the tires — they probably won’t be brand new, but there should be enough tread on them to go at least a few hundred miles. Motorcycle tires generally last only 7,000 to 10,000 miles.
Practicing on a large lawn or a mowed field gives you a softer place to land, and you won’t suffer nasty road rash if you fall. Tennessee also has a helmet law, so be sure to wear the helmet — not only because the law says to do it, but for your safety.
For me, riding motorcycles has a much steeper learning curve than riding a car. This is why it’s good to start small. To do that, you should choose a motorcycle that doesn’t have too much engine power for your first bike.
ReplyDeleteClare Westby
Some people may feel more comfortable with a smaller engine, but most bikes will easily go 50-60 mph, so engine size doesn't really matter, other than weight. Smaller motors make the bike lighter. A bike that weighs in under a few hundred pounds is probably going to have a 650 cc or less engine.
DeleteAlso, these bikes tend to have 65 horsepower or less. Just remember, until you get comfortable... little throttle!
For those who are really uncomfortable riding because of balance issues, a moped might be an option to start out with, but honestly, if you can ride a bicycle, you can ride a motorcycle. It also helps to know how to drive a stick shift. When I first started riding, I didn't have a car license, I didn't know how to drive a stick, but I knew how to ride a bicycle! :)