How long does it take to learn/become comfortable with a motorcycle?
I’ve never been on a motorcycle.
A little background: I can ride a bicycle. I can drive both shift/automatic cars perfectly comfortably. I’m taking the 2 days motorcycle safetey course in a few weeks. I’m an extremely careful/defensive driver.
How long did it take you to learn/become comfortable with riding a motorcycle? What’s the hardest part? I already bought all the gear. I’m pretty excited about it. Just hoping I can start riding on main roads soon.
July 12th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Riding a motorcycle is a whole new ball game, you can go at the same speed as a car. Unlike a car you don’t have the protection and as a safe assumption you can assume that 99% of people car drivers, pedestrians etc. do not look out for a motorcycle since they’re the hardest thing to spot. Therefore you have to be seriously alert, so if you’re feeling ill forget riding a motorcycle take a car, if you’re feeling sleepy, take the car.
The amount of time you take to learn is different for all people, depends how comfortable you are in riding a motorcycle and leaning into the corners. Apart from the downsides riding a motorcycle is an adrenaline rush.
July 12th, 2010 at 6:15 am
Time, Ive been riding for nearly 2 1/2 years and not fully comfortable with all things. I’m a very competent rider, but still perfecting things, cornering for example.
I passed my test (UK) with a year riding a 50cc and 6 hours from the instructor. But many are different. I know someone who was on their 6th test.
It depends on you, until you get out on it and see how you cope. Sorry, there’s is no simple answer.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Just practice on whatever bike u get it all depends on how comfortable u get with the bike its on ur hand. and like carter k said no one looks out for motorcycles so its ur risk. take non busy roads till u get the hang of it then work ur way up. goo idea taking the motorcycle safety course
July 12th, 2010 at 7:17 am
If you can ride a bicycle and operate a manual-shift car, you are more than halfway there. Smaller motorcycles are really only bicycles that you don’t pedal. Bigger motorcycles are heavier, so it takes some time to get the feel of them, to learn to manage them.
When I bought my first motorcycle, decades ago, I just jumped on it and rode it home! At night! Nobody would do that today but that’s how we did it back then. I bought it just to go to school, but I found I loved riding it so much that I would do long day-rides out in the country.
The important thing is to realize that it’s just a matter of making the right habits. You want to ride around on quiet residential streets, slow and easy, until you memorize all the controls. So you don’t have to think to yourself “Hmmm, now which of these doodads is the brakes?” The slower you go, the more time you have to make decisions. But when the controls are ‘automatic’, when you are clutching and shifting and braking smoothly without having to think about it, you can venture out into traffic.
Traffic is dangerous not just because there are cars to stay away from but because the most dangerous think about motorcycling, without a doubt, is drivers of cars. They don’t see you. You can be riding beside a car on the freeway and he will look over to change lanes. He will look RIGHT AT YOU and then pull into your lane like you weren’t there. I think this is because car divers are looking for another car and a motorcycle doesn’t register on their brains. So you have to be pro-active and keep out of their way. You have to be paranoid and act as if you were invisible. Any car coming the other way with his left turn-signal on is a threat. Anyone backing out of a driveway could back right into your path. Don’t assume he sees you. You also want to follow cars at a respectiful distance–a two-second distance. Because bikes don’t always stop as fast as cars. If it’s wet, three seconds.
In fact the most enjoyable riding (for me) is out in the country on back roads where there isn’t much traffic. If you have friends who ride, ask them to come with you for a day-ride. It safer and more fun to ride with someone else, you keep an eye on one another, and you stop for coffee or lunch and have someone to talk to. Plus for a beginner it’s good practice to be able to ride, turn, brake, shift, etc. without being pre-occupied with scanning for threats. If by some chance you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I can show you some wonderfully enjoyable roads.
The safety course is very worthwhile, but understand that they don’t teach you to ride–you learn that on your own, by riding. They teach you some very valuable safety habits. Half of all motorcycle accidents happen to riders with less than a year’s experience, so in starting out safety is your main concern. It’s all about making the right habits.
Motorcycling really is as fun as it looks! You’re going to have a great Summer! Good luck.
July 12th, 2010 at 7:22 am
>> I’ve Never Been On A Motorcycle << Please, read my "best answer" (see: "source" link) to a similar/relative question previously answered. YOUR QUESTIONS 1. How long did it take you to learn? 2. What's the hardest part? MY ANSWERS 1. That is irrelevant in regard to HOW QUICKLY WILL "YOU" LEARN THE BASICS? That depend on YOU - (mostly, how determined you are and what degree of preparedness you've established to this regard). 2. You've already ELIMINATED your toughest obstacle (by, DECIDING TO DO IT): a. You've already bought all of the pertinent gear. b. You're EXCITED about LEARNING. A little anticipation with some VISUALIZATION (seeing yourself succeeding your goals) will take you far. c. You can ride a bicycle (This skill may seem trivial but, it can serve to guide/build on your anticipation). d. You've established a 2 day rider safety course attendance (There's no looking back now, EXCEPT FOR SAFE LANE CHANGING :o). JUST HOPING TO RIDE ON MAIN ROADS - DON'T be too excited about "TRUSTING OTHER DRIVERS" to SHARE the road in a completely safe manner with you. (There, exist on today's roads, such creatures as the TEXT MESSENGER/DRIVER, CELL PHONE TALKER/DRIVER, MAKE-UP ARTIST/DRIVER, NEWS PAPER or BOOK READER/DRIVER, BABY SITTER/DRIVER, DRESSING-ROOM CLOTHING CHANGER/DRIVER, etc.) I have yet to mention dogs & other animals which may present a driving hazard for riders. Be PATIENT. Learn all you can to better PREPARE FOR YOUR SURVIVAL in the midst of today's CONCRETE JUNGLE. "FAILURE can be your reward, if you so, CHOOSE it." Best wishes, to you.