I Finally Did It - Learning to Ride

Jeremy Ordan

Jeremy Ordan

Major Contributor
So after a year of seeing all these bikes out there I finally made the decision today to call the community college and register for the motorcycle training course so I can learn to ride.

It's weird, I have always wanted to learn how to ride a bike and yet I have never even gotten on one in my entire life.

I'm freaking stoked...now just need to wait two months for the class to get here.
 
I can relate. I'd never been on a bike until a couple months ago, two of my roommates ride so they talked me into it!

I got a CBR250 RR which is a cool little bike to learn on, supposed to be one of the better 250s. Just yesterday I picked up a GSXR 600 2001 model, real good condition and I hope to have it for a long while.

I'm going to keep doing drills on the 250 for a while though.

Good luck mate.
 
Very cool...

30 years of walking this earth and I have never even sat on a freaking bike (although I did walk into a dealership to look at them twice)... I'm just ready to see if this is something I want to persue, so the class seemed to make the most amount of sense.

My interests have never really been towards the crotch rockets, although those CBR250 are very slick looking... I have always had more interest towards the cruiser type bikes. I really would like to get a used Shadow or something if this ends up being something I want to follow through on.
 
Congrats. It's actually been over 20 years since I've BEEN ON a bike...How sad is that?

Most of the training courses use more traditional bikes (unless you bring your own). But you might want to try a crotch rocket. They aren't my style, but I know a lot of guys who swear by them for comfort.
 
Congrats on taking the safety course. I almost require it of all new riders I come in contact with. Its that good.

Make sure you get a good set of:

Boots: full leather
Helmet: Full face, don't get a skid lid.
Jacket and pants: Aerostich has the best armored gear, expensive, but cheaper than skin-grafts.
 
Jim Brennan said:
Congrats. It's actually been over 20 years since I've BEEN ON a bike...How sad is that?

Most of the training courses use more traditional bikes (unless you bring your own). But you might want to try a crotch rocket. They aren't my style, but I know a lot of guys who swear by them for comfort.
Click to expand...


Um, NO!

Reccomending a cafe racer to a new motorcyclist is like reccomending a Porche 911 to a driver who just got his auto liscence. DON'T DO THIS!

And as far as COMFORT, a traditional chopper-style bike, like the Honda Rebel 250, besides being a great bike to learn on, will be MUCH more comfortable.

I've been riding for 30 years. Longer than I've had a car liscence.
 
Funny addition to the story:

I tell the fiance (who will be my wife by the time I take the class) that I signed up after talking about doing it for a few months...

She is fine with it, as long as I know that I won't be getting a bike.

Either this is a weird welcome to married life or it is the first fight that I will need to win. I figure I will just let it be a quiet issue until after I take the class.



Jim Brennan said:
Most of the training courses use more traditional bikes (unless you bring your own). .
Click to expand...

The one here has cruiser style bikes and crotch rocket styled bikes. I think there is a possibility that if too many people go for one style you end up on the other, and that's fine, but most of the time I have driven by and seen people in the class they seem to be mostly the cruisers.

Jim Brennan said:
But you might want to try a crotch rocket. They aren't my style, but I know a lot of guys who swear by them for comfort.
Click to expand...

My brother had a Ducatti and still has a Triumph (my YOUNGER brother). He says that they are the only type worth riding. For me, it's something that I will try, because why not? I'm paying to learning how to ride, but I don't think that is something that I really want to invest in.

Then again, if she gets her way, I won't be investing in anything.
 
mcgeedigital said:
And as far as COMFORT, a traditional chopper-style bike, like the Honda Rebel 250, besides being a great bike to learn on, will be MUCH more comfortable.
Click to expand...

I mentioned the Rebel to one of my buddies, but I'm 6'2" 200lbs... I think it would be like me squeezing into a power wheels at this point.

A used Shadow sounds ideal because I know that:
1. I'm going to drop it
2. Highways are going to be a big no - no
3. I don't 'need' more than 750cc for city streets
4. I've read that Honda's are easy to service yourself (oil, fluids)
5. American bikes are crazy expensive and I already have a mortgage
 
Shadows are great bikes too. A 500 or 750 is still nimble enough to learn on, and there are a TON of them out there on the used market. I had a '87 750 for quite some and it fit me well, (I am 6'2", 220lbs).
 
At 6'2" your knees will hit the handlebars of a Rebel. No doubt about it.

mcgeedigital said:
Um, NO!

Reccomending a cafe racer to a new motorcyclist is like reccomending a Porche 911 to a driver who just got his auto liscence. DON'T DO THIS!
Click to expand...

I wasn't saying he should get some racing bike. My wife learned on a Ninja 250. Worked fine for her.
 
Congratulations, Jeremy! There seems to be a lot of motorcyclists on this board who can guide you through the process of becoming a full fledged biker.

Let me know if you need a helmet. :)
 
Jeremy Ordan said:
My interests have never really been towards the crotch rockets, although those CBR250 are very slick looking... I have always had more interest towards the cruiser type bikes. I really would like to get a used Shadow or something if this ends up being something I want to follow through on.
Click to expand...

Get a Harley...or don't get a bike at all! (one man's opinion)

Jeremy Ordan said:
Funny addition to the story:

She is fine with it, as long as I know that I won't be getting a bike.

Either this is a weird welcome to married life or it is the first fight that I will need to win. I figure I will just let it be a quiet issue until after I take the class.
Click to expand...

...Tell her you changed your mind and want to get into a classic car & it costs a ton of money to buy, restore and fill with gas...she'll LOVE the idea of you getting a bike!


Either way, please be careful and always drive defensively...no one looks for bikes these days.
Best of luck!
 
gs500 or sv650 are great starter bikes.

you can get into the class sooner - bring an "add" form, show up a few hours early to one of the weekend classes. People always drop, and then it is first come, first serve for people who came with an add slip. Sometimes a line starts as early as noon, but if you want to get in, it is worth it to get stuff rolling 2 months sooner. Just bring a book or laptop or something while you wait!

Have fun! I rode for 5 years and just sold my bike last spring. Good times.
 
Hey Jeremy, that's awesome man. And I agree, you'll have to make sure you win this battle. :)

I just bought a bike after riding off and on with my parents for about 20 years or so. I'm surprised I waited so long, but I got it.

And as everyone mentioned, be very very careful on them and you'll be good.
 
Great to hear! I just got my first bike 2 weeks ago and can't believe i waited so long. Of course, the gas crisis was my excuse :)

I got a Honda VTX 1300 Retro (black with tons of chrome).. LOVE THE THING! Here's a pic of the exact model as mine (but I have bigger pipes and no windshield):

S3500018.JPG
 
Here's my story.

Around a year ago I was in the same situation as you. Always lusted after a bike but never even sat on one. So one day I walk into the Harley dealer and basically buy a brand new '07 Fat Boy on the spot. He asks if I want to test it out, I'm like - no way man, I don't even know how to ride.

I had them deliver the bike - that afternoon, it shows up at my house - It's a spectacle outside - the neighbors all coming out and looking at it being offloaded in my driveway.

They were saying things like "I didn't know you rode" - and of course I didn't!

So I run to the DMV, read the book, and take the learners permit test. One month later was my road test appointment. I passed the learners test, and got home.

My friends and family were wondering when I was going to take a course. Honestly, I tried calling but couldn't wait the two months. So two days after I bought the Hog, I opened up the garage door and said to it "I'm going to figure out how to ride you, and that's it".

I already read about the gears and brakes, and already drove a stick - what the hell - how hard can it be.

So I started by driving down the driveway, only practicing letting out the clutch smoothly and getting the bike rolling. Then I ventured onto the street. I would ride down my street (a quiet one) in first gear only, and soon graduated to going around the block like that.

By day 3 or 4 I could ride around the block and get up to 2nd or 3rd....

By day 5-6 I was easily a pro at going up and down my block (which is pretty hilly and littered with stop signs...about a 1 mile trip).

After the first week I had convinced myself I was ready for the open road!

The cars where scary as hell. It was difficult to maintain a proper speed, but just practice, practice practice and I kept at it.

During my first month on the road, I stalled out the bike a half dozen times at various intersections. I never spilled it - although I came close once. it's easy to lay it down when you are stationary or almost so.

But I practiced and persisted so long - rode the bike everywhere for a month, and would go to the DMV after hours and practice in their lot for the test.

The California test is kinda tough, you must weave the bike through some cones, go twice around a tight radius circle (must be like 12-15' around) and weave back. You must do this twice each way. Put your foot down and you fail. Very tough.

And made tougher by a 1750CC 700# harley. My friends wanted to lend me their little 250s to go do the test, but I wasn't hearing it. I said the Harley was my bike and that's what I was damned well going to test on.

And I did.

I was told by the test guy that I was one of the few he had ever seen pass the test in such a big bike. I passed it the first time flawlessly and drew applause from spectators even. I got my license on the spot. Prouder than hell!

I've ridden over a year now, and have thousands of miles on my bike. I may not have done it conventionally, but I'm not really one to listen to advice.

Hope that helps!
 
I recommend everyone take the MSF class if they are wanting to ride. Its a great, cheap (free in this state) way to pass the test and learn safety (face it, its a risky recreation). If you can't wait for a state class, a paid class is worth it instead. You get to use their bikes and its not your loss if you drop it. What is even better is that you get to use their small engine bikes for the test which is MUCH easier than on any big engine bike or a crotch rocket since it is all slow speed maneuvers. If I were to do it on my current bike, I would have to have the clutch pulled the entire time.

Crotch rocket vs cruiser is personal preference. It usually simply comes down to if you like to cruise or go fast (although any decent bike has plenty of acceleration). I like to get places fast, so the choice was obvious despite all the stop and go traffic I go through now. The "crotch rockets" at 500cc or lower (plus some of the non aggressive larger bikes and sport tourers) actually ride a lot more like cruisers but have the fairings that really help in the wind and high speeds. Get a Harley if you want to spend the most money possible, haha (also goes for European sport bikes).

I must say, I didn't think I needed ANOTHER expensive hobby, but once you get out on the road (and start to feel safe), its like nothing else. I had always wanted a fast sports car, but this was WAY cheaper and faster than almost any car under 6 figures. Now I only take the car to work if there is a storm, snow on the ground or a high below 40.

Be safe!
 
Jeremy Ordan said:
He says that they are the only type worth riding.
Click to expand...

Any time somebody claims their particular flavor is the only type worth riding stop listening immediately.

Choice of a ride is very individual. There's a variety of types, makes and models for a reason.
 
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