Tips for New Riders: Choosing a New Motorcycle

Get a new bike after you learn how to ride. Photo Credit: Cheryl Bowman

One of the best things to do is to ride on curvy, mountain roads such as the roads in Eastern Tennessee. Before you take your endorsement test, you should have some practice riding. But that’s a catch-22, isn’t it? You can’t legally ride without the endorsement, so it’s hard to get road practice.

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.

Overton County: Peaceful Streams and Muddy Pond

Waterfall - Large stream in Overton County

While riding anywhere in the Smokey Mountains, you will come across many streams, creeks and rivers that make the perfect photo opportunity. This location is actually on private property in Overton County, but it is the same stream that comes out under the bridge on Union B Road.

When biking through the mountains, bring a picnic lunch, because you'll never know when you'll come upon something this beautiful and serene. The waterfall here, though it doesn't look it from where this picture was taken, is 10 to 12 feet.

Same waterfall as above, just standing higher on the mountain, looking down.

In the first picture, I was standing at the edge of the bank, which you can see in the photo. This picture was taken from the old logging road, looking down.

Just above the waterfall.

This was taken just above the waterfall. It's a great wading pool. About 75 feet below the fall, there is a great swimming hole.

This stream also comes out and goes under the road closer to Muddy Pond -- there is another swimming hole under the bridge at that location. If you didn't bring a lunch with you, you can visit the deli at the Muddy Pond General Store. They have great sandwiches and cold soda. Pack up a lunch from there and bring it back down to the creek to enjoy.

If you really enjoy the area, you can check out the cabin rentals at Muddy Pond. They book up rather quickly, so call ahead. Also, stop and visit the Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill if you are in the area in September and October.