beginning tips

[finn]

I'm just about as beginner as you can get. I just started looking into getting a motorcycle yesterday, and I've never really read anything or known anything about them. Could someone give me some tips on a good bike to get (i read the beginner post... ninja and buell and some other one), but I am 6'4". I don't know what the different seat hight means because I've never been on one before. I don't care much about power, I just want something cheap to get around (not too cheap 2-4k maybe). Anyways, I'd appreciate if someone would let me know what would be some good bikes for me, especially if you're tall and fit comfortably on your bike.

[VermilionX]

go to diff dealers and sit on bikes.

that's about the best thing your can do to find a good fit.

also, ask them to hold it upright for you and sit like how you're gonna ride.

[bok]

biggest tips for new riders:

- read a lot of available information like the beginner's guide on the main website
- take a Basic Rider's Course
- Sit on as many bikes as you can
- remember this is your first bike not your only bike you will ever buy
- don't listen to people that say "you are a big guy you will need an _____ bike to haul you around", a 250 ninja hauls me around just fine at 6 foot 240ish
- practice practice practice when you get your first bike so that you can shift, brake, countersteer well before taking it out onto the mean streets
- have fun
- take all advice with a grain of salt including thispost
- advice on this forum will tend toward the cautious since we do not know you

[Flting Duck]

It's better to take a turn too slowly than to take it too fast.

Also, a lot of people will (wisely) tell you to be wary of cars. Be wary of motorcycles too - idiots drive cars but they also ride motorcycles. Never assume that a motorcycle sees you just be cause he/she is on a bike too.

[Bubble Gum Jr.]

Take the MSF course before you buy a bike, it will save you some repair costs from the learning process. You also get to a feel of some the bikes and what you like/dislike.

Like someone else said. Just goto the shops and check out the various bikes they have. Sit on them, fiddle with controls, put your hands on handlebars and feet on the pegs. Get a feel for what they're like and what's comfortable. I'd reccommend trying out all of the brands you can before you settle down with a decision. Not all bikes are made the same or for the same size people.

Don't feel the pressure from the sales people that want to push you onto a large bike. Realize that a bigger, more powerful bike is the far less forgiving of mistakes and more costly in repairs. I'm not saying you can't ride a bigger bike, but for the most part an important aspect of motorcycles is having understanding what the bike can do and learning skills. It's hard to learn skills when you can barely control your bike or fear your bike. Realize that anybike that's 500cc and up is fairly quick, it may say it's only 65hp and 35lbs of torque. But in realize that bike is faster than any sports car you'll see on the road and even more dangerous to you.

Learning to control the clutch in combination with the throttle can be key in keeping control of the bike. The clutch is your friend and can keep you safe.

Keep your head up. Look at where you want to turn, this sounds dumb and is tough to do for some people. But it does make a big difference when making turns.

Do all your shifting and braking before you get to a turn. If you must stop in a turn, straighten out the bike and brake. If you brake while in a turn the bike may fall over. You can use a little rear brake in a turn but most people would advise against it because it can also cause the bike to fall over. General rule it's better to slow down too early than to fly off the bike or crash into something.

If you've never driven a manual transmission before, here's a tip for shifting. When you're up/downshifting keep the throttle completely close. Then give it some throttle after you're down shifting. This sounds stupid but for me someone who's never driven an automatic car before I didn't know this.

Don't ever feel pressured ie. if someone is tailgating you, honking at you, etc. If you're in a situation like that it is better to let them pass you and save yourself the headache. For newer riders like me, when you get stuck behind cars like that you get panicked and do irrational things.

[Lion_Lady]

Go to the MSF website: http://www.msf-usa.org/ and click on your state.

You want to take the Basic Riders Course (BRC). IF that isn't available near you, Harley Dealers offer a similar program called "Riders Edge."

Don't stress if classes are booked up till November... check and see if 'walk ins' are allowed. Show up at a training center early on the first day of class, and you may be able to take a spot from a no-show.

P

[Scoutmedic]

Most or all of this has already been said but, it's worth reiterating and, I have a couple more links that haven't been thrown out there yet.

First of all.....



Second, Have you checked out the Beginner's Guide? There are also stickies and the Learn To Ride A Motorcycle page which is now downloadable in PDF format (Created and maintained by Dragonhawk).

Third, I also recommend an MSF course and reviewing your state’s (province’s/territory’s) DMV or DOT website for licensing information, guidelines and FAQ.

Fourth, Go to a variety of dealers and sit on all kinds of different motorcycles. Even if you don’t think you’d like the ride when you look at it. I was dead set on one riding style when I started and ended up buying a different type. You may surprise yourself as well.

Fifth, Good Luck and Have Fun! I hope you enjoy this site! Be sure to...

[BLKNSLVR]

I agree with most of the posts. Take the MSF BRC and sit on a bunch of bikes. Most likely at the BRC you will be on a little 250 like a Honda Rebel, Suzuki GZ250, or similar bike. I'm 6'2" and I found those too small for me but worked well for the course. My first bike out of the course was a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 but I quickly realized that it was fun to get around on, it got pretty uncomfortable on a long trip.

Good luck and

Greg