How to Become a Motorcycle Rider Part II
Posted: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
by Diana Walrath
http://www.mcrideronline.com
This is the conclusion on "How to Become a Motorcycle Rider Part I". It gives suggestions on finding a motorcycle to fit you and to give you the best possible ride.
1. Choosing a Motorcycle
Now that you have gathered all the information you possibly can, have your gear with you, and are ready to start riding you need the most important ingredient of all; your very own motorcycle.
Whether you choose to buy a new or used bike, you need to check around for a motorcycle that will fit you. There are a lot of different styles, shapes, and sizes available. Just to mention a few of the different types there are BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory, and Yamaha. These are just a few of the many motorcycles out there and each one has several different sizes, styles, and colors. If you are a woman, I would suggest choosing a smaller, lighter bike to start with. Some women are intimidated by the weight of a bike and this can cause you to become discouraged. If you can not afford a new bike, check around for a good used one. If you have a friend that knows motorcycles or is a good mechanic, ask that person to come with you when checking out a used bike. Do not choose the first bike you see. Set on the bike, set it up straight, see if the handle bars are a comfortable reach for you. Can you stand flat footed and have clearance between you and the seat of the bike. If you have short legs, you may have to look for a motorcycle that has been lowered or already sets close to the ground. They are available, it just takes a little looking around to find something. If you have long legs, you will need a motorcycle that sets a little higher or has footpegs to stretch your legs out onto. It is very important to be able to stand astride the bike and have a little room between your butt and the seat. Do not get discouraged if you cannot find a comfortable bike right away. You will find one eventually and if it fits you right you will enjoy it immensely. To find out what seat height you need you might go to a local motorcycle dealer and get some information on the different bikes they have. Usually they have pamphlets they give out on each motorcycle that gives seat height and curb weight (the weight of a motorcycle full on oil, fuel, and if it is liquid cooled, anti-freeze.
After you have acquired a motorcycle, start riding. Make up excuses to ride. If you have an errand to run take your bike instead of the car. Ride your bike to and from work instead of taking your car. When you leave work to go home, take a round about way, don't go directly home. I used to take a 30 to 60 mile detour when I left work. It was great. If you need a few groceries, take your bike. Be careful not to carry too much on your bike until you get used to the feel of it and how it handles. If you know someone that rides, ask them to ride with you, but not to close. The more you practice the more confident you will become in your ability to ride.
3. Practice - Practice - Practice
If you can find an empty parking lot, practice the maneuvers that are required in order to pass your riding test. It is much more difficult to maneuver a motorcycle at slow speeds, therefore, I suggest practicing starting off and stopping, making turns from a stop, riding slowly between cones that are spaced about 20 feet apart, riding in tight figure 8's, and any other types of slow maneuvers you can think of. Make sure you do all of these maneuvers on pavement; gravel and sand can be very, very, difficult. (I know because I dumped my bike in gravel and sand parking lots several times.
Riding a motorcycle is a great pastime. When you learn to ride, the more you ride the more comfortable you will become with your bike. It takes practice and a little time, but eventually you will get to a point where getting on you bike is no different than getting into your car. It is a mind set. If you know, from the beginning that you are going to have fun, you will. Ride to live, live to ride and put a little more sunshine into each and every day.
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