Hello. New, and terrified

[Belly Dancer]

I agree, taking the safety couse is highly suggested. You will learn things about riding that you never knew before and if you drop their bike, that's OK (just don't hurt yourself).

I understand you husband's zeal for wanting you to ride, but you have to want it too, have confidence in the bike, your abilities and keep a clear head.

Best of luck!

[kvrider]

I agree you should find a school in your area. Simon Pavey has an off road school in the UK. I would contact the school through his website and see if he can recommed something for you. His link can be found in the links section of Cruiseified.com under training schools. http://cruiseified.com Good luck

[QuietMonkey]

But hubby and friends say if I want to learn to ride a bike, I should learn on a bike, and that persevering with the scooter will not ultimately be much good to me.

What do you think - should I stick with the scooter for a while, or use the bike? It's really comfortable, and lightweight, and even at 5'2" I can get my feet on the floor. I'm just terrified of it!

Thanks in advance, and also for the great info I've found on here so far.

I find it funny how people can miss such an obvious GOOD THING. It should be clear to people close to you that you're not comfortable yet with the heavier, larger 125cc motorcycle, and clutch, transmission, etc. ... they just arent listening to you.

Riding the scooter is a GREAT IDEA FOR YOU. TRUST YOUR INTUITION. There's obviously enough for you to learn on the scooter, and once you're happy with that, move on.

Use a brick if you have to get it through your husband's head. Gawd knows he should be used to this technic by now

note: Personally, I am not fond of scooters -- so it's not like your husband is completely unjustified, because many of them have crappy brakes and suspension, tiny wheels, very little power, automatic transmission, poor build quality, less controllable riding position, and they LOOK UUUGLY etc... they lack many of the advantages of a motorcycle, BUT..... knowing those limitations you can actually ride the thing around the neighborhood, to the store and back, or dance around the parking lot with one.

We've had real fun in the pits at racetracks on scooters for years, but then some of us need to have fun on scooters just to prove they are not a complete waste to us -- however, it seems to be of use to you as a good learning tool for basic transport and a step in motorcycling. Any basic motorcycle is a nice step up from a scooter in all the areas that make scooters "bad", so there is a nice gradual learning curve for you.

With the scooter, you'll have time to learn about being more proficient with your balancing at low speeds, taking tight turns, working all the new controls (like using front and back brakes together and separately), even the different switch gear. Then when you're comfy move up to the 125, part-time and scooter part-time for a bit and you can learn the clutch and transmission thing (or even practice in a car with manual trans first). Then just keep moving.

Take a course, and stay away from people who push you into doing what they want you to do rather guide you into what you want to do, and are ready for. Little pushes, rather than big pushes. Some husbands are brutal for this, like the classic soccer dad or hockey dad, who wants you to learn, but doesnt want to have to tell his friends that you have to learn. They want to brag before they have anything to brag about... it's sort of a selfish thing i've seen in these "helpful" people. They want it for them more than they want it for you. "MY WIFE RIDES!" is more acceptable among some men than the humility/reasonable situation of "My wife is learning to ride."

I've been riding for 20 years now, have taught advance riding courses, have friends who currently teach street riding courses, etc. and it's always been clear to me that any of the classic two wheeled vehicles (bicycle, scooter, motorcycle) will share certain characteristics with ALL OTHER classic two wheeled vehicles. So if you're riding a mountain bike around town, you learn about the frailty of the bike in traffic, you also learn that it has unique positive characteristics, like weaving into tight spots, etc... some of which help you to see what advantages a motorcycle may have over the other, and what advantages a bicycle has over a motorcycle (or car).

//monkey

[QuietMonkey]

We've talked about it again, taking into account what you all said, we're going to stick with the scooter until I at least feel comfortable on two wheels. Hubby says to regard it as my substitute for riding a push bike as a kid (which I never did).

I didnt read the replies --- good luck!

[TylerR]

Great advice and the key piece being trust YOUR intuition and do what is best for YOU, not what your hubby and his friends think.

When I first started riding, I wanted to get a Suzuki GZ250. All the gents I rode with hemmed and hawed and said it was too small, I'd outgrow it quickly, not enough power, blah, blah, blah. But I wanted something that I could learn on and grow my confidence. That was the bike that would do it for me and that's the one I got. I rode it for about a year and had a blast on it (sometimes wish I hadn't sold it!) and then upgraded to a bigger bike when I was ready for it.

Hey, maybe the "Little Scooter That Could" will be just fine for your needs and if you enjoy and it gets you where you want to go, who's to argue?

Riding the scooter is a GREAT IDEA FOR YOU. TRUST YOUR INTUITION. There's obviously enough for you to learn on the scooter, and once you're happy with that, move on.

Use a brick if you have to get it through your husband's head. Gawd knows he should be used to this technic by now

Take a course, and stay away from people who push you into doing what they want you to do rather guide you into what you want to do, and are ready for.

[$hadow]

first of all, i can completely sympathize with your passion for bikes and wanting to ride, but also being afraid of it at the same time. what i would suggest is really getting to know the bike and how your motorcycle works before even thinking of riding it. get comfortable sitting on it, and leaning it back and forth too feel the weight of it.

when i first got my bike, i would sit in the garage with it and turn it on (with the garage doors open of course ) just to become familiar with how it all sounds/feels.

and i would totally suggest the MSF course. i had absolutely no idea how to ride a motorcycle but i wanted it so badly - and taking this course teaches you all the beginner things to get you started! it certainly helped me, i dont even know how to drive a stick shift in a car! lol

my last little nugget of wisdom would be dont let anyone rush you. if you dont feel comfortable moving to the next step then dont! there is a difference between a healthy fear and something just being a bad idea!

good luck, i wish you all the best!

[Nalian]

I know you've already come to your conclusion (sticking with the scooter) - but just to give you more perspective/encouragement as well..

My girlfriend learned to ride on a scooter, then took the MSF and then traded the scooter for a bike.

Riding a scooter allowed her to get comfortable with being on two wheels and outside of a cage, as well as get confidence with things like counter-steering, leaning with your vehicle, and all the other unique joys that come with riding something on two wheels. That all allowed her to build her confidence up enough to tackle something with gears - she had never quite gotten around to being comfortable driving a manual car prior.

I think the scooter gave her the confidence she needed to pass the MSF on her first go-around and deal with the shifting. I'm not sure she'd be on a motorcycle had she been pushed onto the bike outright.

Good luck, and definitely look into the classes! It will be money very well spent.

[LadyBird]

Welcome to the world of riding on 2 wheels, I'm a newbie also. I agree with the advice on Motorcycle Safety Course, it's extremely valuable in building confidence, learning basic skills and also the added benefit of being able to learn on their bike on the chance you do drop it.

I took the course and managed to get through it with the best score, and without dropping the bike once. I had all kinds of confidence from thee class.... then made the mistake of following my boyfriends advice of buying a bike that was way too big and heavy for me, because even after the course, I still had a lot to learn about balance and turning, especially since the weight difference, center of gravity and the maneuverability between what I learned on: a Honda Rebel 250 and what I bought: A Suzuki VGL800 was massive.

To make a long story short, after dropping my own bike many times even after the MSF course, I fixed up the damaged parts, sold it and then bought a Nighthawk 250 and it's been AMAZINGLY great for me to learn on, super light, easy to manage and even better, to build my confidence back up. After dropping my old bike so many times, I was super scared of even doing turns in my culdesac when I got my new bike, I am now managing twisties and the circle on/off ramps with relative ease.

So bottom line is this: Don't let the hubby push you into doing something you don't want to do, or riding something you don't feel confident in riding. I have never ridden a scooter, so I can't comment on if that would help you before moving on to a bike, but I'll tell you this, the 250 is an AWESOME bike to learn on, even for a scared kitty like me!

[sannyc]

I thought riding a motorcycle was supposed to be fun. Terror is not a word that should discribe your participating in any activity that is supposed to be pleasurable.