How to Become a Motorcycle Rider.

A guide for those even considering becoming a motorcycle rider. Save money on gas, help the environment and have fun!!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. I’d like to give you some hopefully helpful information on buying your first motorcycle. Before you dismiss this information offhand, perhaps you may want to read a little further and consider the following.
   With the price of gas ever increasing and global warming in the news constantly, perhaps it’s time to kill two birds with one stone. In order to save money on gas and to help our planets ecology at the same time, we turn to an invention that’s been around even longer than the automobile. That of course is the motorcycle.
   Why can’t saving money and helping the environment be fun at the same time? For most of my life I swore I would never ride a motorcycle. It was just too dangerous I thought. With the price of gas going up and the trend looking unlikely to reverse itself, I decided to do a little research. After going online and learning more about motorcycle safety courses, I decided to take a field trip down to my local motorcycle dealership and learn more.
   Many dealerships offer motorcycle training courses. They are also offered by the DMV in many states. Most of the courses offered by dealerships don’t even require you to own a motorcycle. They will lend you one to train on. It’s all included in the price of the course. I would suggest that you first take the motorcycle safety course first to see if motorcycle riding is something for you. You really shouldn’t worry about time constraints either. The course I took required three hours of classroom work on Thursday and Friday evening, then two 8 hour riding days on Saturday and Sunday. There are of course breaks during these days and a lunch break is included. The course that I took in Maryland even offered a license exam at the end of the course on Sunday evening. I recommend the course to all motorcycle riders. I feel it is a must for the new rider.

2. After completion of the riding course the real fun begins. It’s time to figure out which bike to purchase. That in itself can be an extremely fun and educational experience. There are many things to consider when picking out your first bike. Should you go for a new bike or a used one? How much money do you want to spend? What size bike will you be comfortable with? How much storage space will you need in terms of saddle bags or a travel bag? Let’s examine these questions one at a time.
   Even though you’ve completed the motorcycle safety course, you still need to consider your first motorcycle as one you’re still going to train on. There are many motorcycle clubs that ride as a group. It’s still extremely helpful to have a group of experienced riders with you while you’re still getting your feet wet. Many dealerships have clubs that ride together as a group. Not only will you get riding experience, you’ll also have a lot of fun. My own experience in riding with one of these groups has been outstanding. Not only are these people always helpful to new riders, they’re also some of the nicest people I’ve ever encountered. Remember the three advantages of learning to ride. Save on gas, help the environment and have fun!

3. I would recommend a used bike for your first one. It also relates to the question of how much to spend. A used motorcycle is obviously less expensive than a new one. Not being an experienced rider, your first motorcycle may get dropped. Part of the motorcycle safety course teaches you how to set the bike upright again if it gets dropped. This may happen to you as a new rider. The little dings and scratches that might happen won’t bother you nearly as much on a used bike as it will a brand new one.
   Many experienced riders prefer to buy used over new for many reasons. First of all, a new bike will have an initial break-in period of 1000 miles. During that time you’ll need to keep your speed down and ride the bike gingerly. After the first 1000 miles the manufacturer recommends the bike be serviced and all of the fluids replaced such as oil and transmission. That’s because there will be tiny slivers of metal floating in the oil and transmission fluid after the first 1000 miles of break in. You’ll need to get these changed in order to avoid any damage being done to the motor or the transmission. With a used bike you don’t have this initial break in period. If you buy this bike at a dealership the bike will be freshly and professionally serviced before your purchase. Then your motorcycle will only need servicing every 5000 miles or a year if you’re not that frequent of a rider. Some people prefer to get their bikes serviced before the start of riding season, particularly if you live in a place that prevents winter riding. If you buy this bike from a private seller you’ll probably get a better price. Be sure to ask for the service records from the seller to be sure that this bike has been properly maintained. Another way you’ll save money is on freight charges. If the dealer takes this bike in on trade, there won’t be shipping charges added to the price of the motorcycle.

4. When shopping for a motorcycle, first decide on what size bike you’ll be comfortable with. I would recommend a smaller size motorcycle for your first bike. Remember I mentioned before about setting the bike upright after it’s been dropped? Well, it’s a lot easier to do this with a smaller bike than it is to do with a larger bike. Remember, this is your first bike. It’s not your last bike or your eventual dream bike. It’s a bike to keep only for a year or so or until you’ve ridden about 5000 miles. After that you shouldn’t be afraid of dropping a bike and you’ll feel more comfortable riding a larger motorcycle. You’re also going to outgrow your smaller bike. You’re going to want to sell it or trade it in. After some experience, you’ll also have a better idea of which bike is the right fit for the type of riding you do and what you really want out of a motorcycle.
   The next thing I want to talk about is storage space. Remember, just because you pick out a smaller bike for your first one, doesn’t mean that you’ll need to limit your storage space. Saddle bags can be put on just about any motorcycle. If you get one with a sissy bar and luggage rack you can also add an additional travel bag behind the seat. If the bike you purchase doesn’t have the sissy bar and luggage rack, you can always have these added on for a nominal charge on some models.
   You need to study and do some research before making your purchase. I’m the kind of guy who hates to shop. However, when it comes to shopping for motorcycles it’s a different story. It’s very hard for me to drive by certain motorcycle dealerships and not go in. Even if I’m not in the market for another bike at the time.

5. Besides dealerships you can also shop online. Many dealerships also advertise their motorcycles online. You can comparison shop for motorcycles all over the country. There is even a place to get shipping costs if you need to have your bike delivered. Be sure to read the information carefully. Note the year of the motorcycle as well as how many miles are on it. Check to see if this bike is being sold by a dealer or a private seller. Make sure the bike has a clear title and not a salvage title.
   Salvaged bikes are those that have had significant damage done to them and are in need of repair before they can have a rebuilt salvage title issued. Only after the rebuilt salvage title is issued, can it be registered by your local DMV and have tags put on it. Read the description of the motorcycle. Many times it will tell you how the bike has been cared for. Also notice what accessories or options this motorcycle has.
   You may or may not want a motorcycle with an after market exhaust system. Many of these after market pipes are extremely loud, while others will just give that bike a nice rumble to it. Stock pipes or the original exhaust system are generally quieter than the after market exhaust systems. If you really don’t trust your ability to determine if the bike is right for you, it’s best that you narrow your search to a certain distance from your zip code. That way you’ll be able to actually see and hear the bike in person as well as meet the seller.

6. Now let me tell you a couple of helpful tools in order to see if the price that is being charged for the bike is commiserate with the value of the motorcycle. Type in the words “motorcycle values” into your search engine. This will take you to several sites that are designed to give you information on just what the motorcycle you’re considering is worth. Some sites will give low, average and high retail values. Others will give you retail values and trade in values. If you use more than one source you’ll will get a general idea on what the motorcycle you’re considering is actually worth. Be sure to remember that values can change based on the options the motorcycle has on it as well as the amount of miles the bike has on it.

7. Now that I’ve given you all of the reasons on why you should consider buying your first motorcycle, I’ll play devil’s advocate and go over some of the arguments I sometimes hear on why they shouldn’t be a motorcycle rider. The first is of course the risk. Yes, there is a risk in riding a motorcycle. There is a risk in everything you do in life. There’s a risk driving a car or riding a bike. There’s a risk in being a pedestrian. There’s a risk climbing up on a ladder. There’s a risk when a child climbs on a piece of playground equipment. Can you still hear your mother’s voice saying “Get down from there before you break your neck”? My mother even used to tell me not to cross my eyes because they might get stuck that way. I later found out that this is an old wife’s tale, not to insinuate anything negative on my mother. The point is that there are risks to everything you do in life. The trick is to minimize the risks. That’s why I recommend taking the rider’s safety course before purchasing a motorcycle. The only requirements there are to taking this course is that you are able to ride a bicycle. I also recommend to always wear a D.O.T. approved helmet even if the state you’re in doesn’t require it. Minimize the risks and everything you do in life will be safer.
   I also hear the argument a lot that they’re afraid of certain weather elements. There are of course rain suits that you can buy to go over your clothes. They also cover different weather situations in the motorcycle safety course. The fact of the matter is, you don’t have to ride in the rain. It just seems to take some of the fun out of it. So I don’t ride when it’s raining. If the weatherman is calling for a chance of rain when I know I’ll be out, I take my truck. I don’t have as much fun and I use a lot more gas but I’m dry and comfortable. I’m not saying that a motorcycle should be your only means of transportation. The motorcycle will still pay for itself if you ride it enough to save on gas prices.

8. “I’m just not the motorcycle type.” I hear that a lot. It seems that somewhere along the line motorcycle riders have been stereotyped as big burly dudes with lots of tattoos. Believe me, nothing could be further from the truth. Motorcycle riders come in all shapes, sizes and ages. In fact if you go down to your local motorcycle dealer or attend a meeting of a motorcycle club, you might be surprised what you see. If you didn’t already know where you were, you might think that you were at any other local meeting. The men and women you meet will make you realize that motorcycle enthusiasts are just regular people who happen to enjoy riding motorcycles. You’ll find that they smile and laugh a lot too.
   I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you do decide to save money on gas, help the ecology of our planet and have a lot of fun, I want to be the first to welcome you and wish miles and miles of safe happy riding.
   By the way, in case you were wondering, I don’t have any tattoos.

[alessandromack]

on 9/2/2009 1. If you can read this article you are too old to start riding a motorcycle 2. All motorcyclists think they discovered motorcycling and everyone else is a poser.

[pastre]

on 5/12/2009 I am a passionate motorbike rider for over 30 years. I enjoy the freedom and the adventure. But, never make people believe that riding a motorbike is a green thing. None of the vehicles is equipped with a catalytic converter (yes, I know a special model of a BMW is the only exception). Hence, a motorbike is emitting way more toxic gases than any car. Driving a motorbike for a mile is worse than driving an SUV for ten! So, don;t lure people into motorbike riding for the wrong reasons!

[pastre]

on 5/12/2009 I am a passionate motorbike rider for over 30 years. I enjoy the freedom and the adventure. But, never make people believe that riding a motorbike is a green thing. None of the vehicles is equipped with a catalytic converter (yes, I know a special model of a BMW is the only exception). Hence, a motorbike is emitting way more toxic gases than any car. Driving a motorbike for a mile is worse than driving an SUV for ten! So, don;t lure people into motorbike riding for the wrong reasons!

[pastre]

on 5/12/2009 I am a passionate motorbike rider for over 30 years. I enjoy the freedom and the adventure. But, never make people believe that riding a motorbike is a green thing. None of the vehicles is equipped with a catalytic converter (yes, I know a special model of a BMW is the only exception). Hence, a motorbike is emitting way more toxic gases than any car. Driving a motorbike for a mile is worse than driving an SUV for ten! So, don;t lure people into motorbike riding for the wrong reasons!

[nuttyisms]

on 12/20/2008 i can't believe you began this article about the price of gas...

you are so boring! do everyone a favour and spend a year living in italy.

you are to motorcycles what beige is to colour.

i ride a ducati, and wouldn't want to spend a second with you discussing motorcycles, let alone why we ride them.

skill and judgement are not even mentioned...