Current Events > Any bikers here?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm finally serious about learning to ride. Been researching a bunch of things. What do you guys ride? What are your tips to a beginner?

Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, there is no reason not to and passing means you just go to the DMV and get your motorcycle endorsement instead of having the DMV themselves test you which they're far more likely to fail you on

I wouldn't suggest ever cheaping out on gear but the worst is a cheap helmet, buying a $50 helmet from a place like CycleGear gets you something that's obnoxiously heavy with poor wind noise reduction and you want something that comfortably fits your head shape

wear earplugs for highway riding because there's no getting rid of tinnitus

subjective but I would get something on the cheaper end without fairings as your first bike because dropping it because you're still working on foot placement will absolutely suck

wet leaves, grass and roadside gravel are the most terrifying things in the universe

Get a leather jacket that says, "If you're reading this, the bitch fell off." on the back. It seems the most important.

Dress for the slide not the ride.

It's a common saying but for good reason. It is pretty impactful. Admittedly in my youth there were times where on a gorgeous day I might jump on the bike and go for a short ride somewhere and be in shorts, sandals, and no helmet (in my state there is no helmet law) But over the years I have just seen too many friends in accidents, lost some people I know, and one of the best riders and most experienced people I have ever known had his life saved because he was always dressed in full proper gear and was in a really bad accident on the highway and came out of it largely unscathed because of proper riding gear head to toe. So yeah looking bad I was just foolish in the way I dressed for riding.

OmegaShinkai posted...

Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, there is no reason not to and passing means you just go to the DMV and get your motorcycle endorsement instead of having the DMV themselves test you which they're far more likely to fail you on

I wouldn't suggest ever cheaping out on gear but the worst is a cheap helmet, buying a $50 helmet from a place like CycleGear gets you something that's obnoxiously heavy with poor wind noise reduction and you want something that comfortably fits your head shape

wear earplugs for highway riding because there's no getting rid of tinnitus

subjective but I would get something on the cheaper end without fairings as your first bike because dropping it because you're still working on foot placement will absolutely suck

wet leaves, grass and roadside gravel are the most terrifying things in the universe

Yeah I'm trying to get into a course. Been trying to get an appointment at the DMV to get my permit but the slots fill quickly - hopefully tomorrow is the day. There's so much junk on the roads here

archizzy posted...

Dress for the slide not the ride.

It's a common saying but for good reason. It is pretty impactful. Admittedly in my youth there were times where on a gorgeous day I might jump on the bike and go for a short ride somewhere and be in shorts, sandals, and no helmet (in my state there is no helmet law) But over the years I have just seen too many friends in accidents, lost some people I know, and one of the best riders and most experienced people I have ever known had his life saved because he was always dressed in full proper gear and was in a really bad accident on the highway and came out of it largely unscathed because of proper riding gear head to toe. So yeah looking bad I was just foolish in the way I dressed for riding.

These seem to be common advice. Take a class and get good gear. Noted.

Maybe look into Hondas mini motos. They mini bikes with the smallest capacity engines that are street legal, theyre slower than most normal motorcycles but theyre pretty beginner friendly since they have ABS. The Honda Navi in particular is basically a scooter with a motorcycle frame on it, its also has automatic transmission.

no butt no putt