Tips For New Riders

[Jim]

Welcome to motorcycling!

Many new riders will be starting off on smaller bikes, older bikes, or bikes considered to be beginner bikes. These are prime bikes for discussion here on thrifty riders, so it is very possible we may also have some new riders. First of all, welcome to the forum, and welcome to motorcycling.

Here we can discuss some tips and suggestions that would be ideal for a beginner rider to take in.

I will start off with my number one tip. Take a riding course, it can keep you alive, so you can become an old rider. After that, Gear Gear Gear... Be sure to check out the Riding Gear & Safety section of the forum too.

[katoranger]

Here is a link to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation who offers great courses all over the United States. Typically after passing the course you get a certificate which you can turn in for your motorcycle endorsement. Using taking the course qualifies you for an insurance discount also.

http://www.msf-usa.org/

Second tip. Get all the right gear. Most important. Helmet, Jacket, Gloves, and boots. Usually you can find good deals at denniskirk.com ebay motorcycle-superstore.com and many other places. Look in the closeouts for bargains and nice gear.

Third. Don't take any passengers until you are comfortable on the bike. Most passengers are inexperienced passengers also.

[Frostbite]

My advice to new riders (I've only been riding motorcycles for ~3 years so take it with a grain of salt):

- If anybody points you to a 600cc sportbike as a 'good starter bike' is an idiot. Any bike that can do 200kph+ is _not_ a starter bike. You will drop it. You will make mistakes. Mistakes at 150kph = death. If you find in a couple of years that a small displacement bike isn't satisfying anymore then by all means upgrade but at least you'll have some experience under your belt.

- Gear. Helmet, jacket, and gloves. Whenever I see a rider in a helmet and flip-flops I cringe. I won't relate my father's stories from bike scenes when he worked on an ambulance.

[Jim]

I wold strongly advise against buying a used helmet as well. It could have been crashed or abused, without visible damage, seriously reducing it's ability to properly absorb impact energy...

[az200cc]

RIght, Buying a used helmet is like turning a condom inside out to save money...You're pressing Your luck....
My advice is simple, If You're riding dirt rear brake, Street front brake mostly...Kinda a 50 50 think as You get better.
Street You should pretty much forget You have feet, Again dirt is the opposite, Street learn to balance the bike at very low speeds....You should almost never have to put a foot down unless You're stopped. Find an old parking lot and practice circles and stops and slow speed balance.

[SpudRider]

Here is a link to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation who offers great courses all over the United States. Typically after passing the course you get a certificate which you can turn in for your motorcycle endorsement. Using taking the course qualifies you for an insurance discount also.

http://www.msf-usa.org/

Second tip. Get all the right gear. Most important. Helmet, Jacket, Gloves, and boots. Usually you can find good deals at denniskirk.com ebay motorcycle-superstore.com and many other places. Look in the closeouts for bargains and nice gear.

Third. Don't take any passengers until you are comfortable on the bike. Most passengers are inexperienced passengers also.

Definitely take a motorcycle rider safety course! Even experienced riders will learn a lot from these courses. If you are near the state of Idaho, I strongly recommend the Idaho STAR rider safety course. The knowledge you gain could very likely save you from serious injury of death.

http://www.idahostar.org

Spud

[katoranger]

These are all great tips. I have 26 years on bikes. I have violated almost all of these tips over the years. 600cc rockets are just not for the beginner. They go faster in first gear than alot of small displacement bikes.

After all those years on bikes I am now on a 200cc and still have fun.

[az200cc]

I forgot this, If You enjoy You skin do not wear any of the stuff below while riding.




I figured nobody would want to see some hairy dude in this stuff , So I found this much more eye pleasing pic to use .

[elroyjetsn]

Saw a guy at an intersection riding a Suzuki DS with Crocs on. Not Cool!!!

BTW..
At first my wife was unhappy that i chose a DS instead of a street bike (big displacement).

Then she got her MC learner's permit and today she rode around on my Chinese 200cc DS while i rode the DR250. She was delighted and now sees my reasons for liking DS'ing. (Back in the 70's she used a Suzuki 185 to get around everywhere)

This afternoon she was telling everyone, "That bike(DR250) is pefect for Wayne (me)." A couple times she told me, "i'm glad you got THAT bike!"

[az200cc]

How tall is the dr250??????? My 200 is only 32