Photo from my day at the Northwest Motorcycle Clinic. Carbureted bikes might need a slight twist of the throttle as the engine turns over in order to get fuel into the cylinders. Don’t apply the brakes during your turn. It went through the tedious little details and was extremely helpful, especially for beginners, "I believe I can start riding now with fewer problems, as I have never ridden a bike before. If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the controls. Even if you don't live in one of the states that require some or all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, it's always a good idea to wear one. Once you're straddling the bike, sit down and acquaint yourself with the motorcycle's controls. It's a cruiser but a, "I never rode a motorcycle and I went riding with my boyfriend and enjoyed being a passenger, but I'd love to learn, "I saw many adult boys riding bikes, so I had a dream to buy a bike and ride it. Keep your head up and look through the turn. You should idle for anywhere from 45 seconds to several minutes, depending on factors such as ambient temperature, engine displacement, and oil capacity. The handbrake, which applies the brakes to the front wheel, is the lever on the right handlebar. You want to get a good sense of balance on your bike. When you’re driving, you should shift gears by first pulling on your clutch with your left hand to disengage the rear wheel. I want, "I am 60, and want to enjoy the pleasure of bike riding. But this article really helped me about, "Excellent article. You’ll know you’re in 1st gear when the shift pedal doesn’t click down anymore. If you feel intimidated, do not fear, you will adapt quickly. ", go into it with a bit of knowledge. Depending on how tall you are, mounting a motorcycle can be awkward the first couple times you do it. Besides protection, jackets also provide protection from environmental conditions, such as sun, wind, precipitation, and cold temperatures. Make sure you're protected by wearing as much safety gear as possible, including gloves, armored clothing, and boots. Slowly roll on the throttle as you glide through the turn to keep momentum. As you come out of the turn, keep the throttle steady or add a bit more gas while you lean back up. Slowly but surely I am getting there. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,496,599 times. "Prevention is Better Than Cure.". When you want to start moving faster, pull back on the throttle slightly as you let out the clutch. This article helped me how to start and, "It's too helpful without asking others. ", confidence that I am on the right track. ", "I enjoyed your helpful guide to riding a motorcycle. If you want to turn right, you'll need to lean slightly to the right while pushing the right handgrip away from you. They are designed to take on the destructive forces of an accident. But there are ways to minimize your risk and put the odds more in your favor. the gear changing. Most modern bikes automatically shut off if the kickstand is still down when the bike is put into gear. He or she will be able to coach you on what to do. You want to make sure the following are in good working order, and not just the first time you hit the road but every time you go for a ride. Sign up for a motorcycle safety course. This article help me remember some of the basics of riding as well as info. While making a U-turn, my bike switched off even though I slowly released the clutch. The step-by-step is excellent ,explains well, and I truly appreciate it. Make sure you know where all the controls are and that you can reach each comfortably and without looking down. To get to 2nd gear, pull the clutch back, ease off the gas, and pull up firmly on your shifter to move through neutral. ", my bike. It is not like wrestling a bear. I found it very interesting and helpful for me to get ideas on, "I can't ride a motor bike. You will learn the proper and safe way to enjoy motorcycling and you can get insurance discounts after completing the course. Your motorcycle helmet is the single most important piece of equipment for motorcycling riding. Just like a bicycle, a motorcycle is turned by counter steering once you hit about 10 mph, not by turning the handlebars from left to right. And this is a site about motorcycles. ", ride a bike. You should be in appropriate gear according to your vehicle. Tips for First-Time Riders on Classic Motorcycles, The Different Types of Transmissions on ATVs, How to Ride a Motorcycle in Rainy, Icy, and Wet Weather Conditions, How to Get Your Motorcycle out of Storage and Back on the Road, C: Controls, including levers, pedal, cables, hoses, and throttle. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. When starting, pull in the clutch lever and put the bike into 1st gear by pushing down on the gear shifter with your left foot. ", "Thanks, I now have a good experience of riding a bike. With your bike on, shift all the way down into 1st gear. Unless you own a vintage motorcycle, your bike has an electronic ignition that makes starting the engine as easy as starting a car. Different helmets fit different head shapes. As you hold the start button, the engine will turn over and start to idle. Both can be a little intimidating at first. Go ride. For example, warmer weather jackets have more zippers and vents to allow for adjustment of airflow around the body. The gear shifter is typically located by your left foot and is used to shift one gear up or down while you’re pulling the clutch lever. Turning is actually easier to do than to describe, so trust your instincts when you get out on a bike. Additionally, you should be able to operate the rear shifter without lifting or sliding foot off the peg. Riding a motorcycle in a day depends on the distance and the model of your bike.To know how far you can ride, I am going to provide you with an informational guide about how many miles can you ride a motorcycle in a day. Counter steering involves pushing the handgrip on the side you want to turn. Alternatively, you can measure yourself by using a soft measuring tape to measure around your head about 0.5 inches (13 mm) above your eyebrows. Some people are great at building muscle memory. The handbrake lever on the right handlebar applies brakes to the front wheel, and the lever on the right side of the bike near your foot works the rear brake. Your bike won't start unless the kill switch is in the "On" position, so flip it down before you turn the key (the kill switch is usually a red rocker switch operated by the right thumb). As you enter your turn, remember to slow down. However, when slowing down to approach a turn, it is best to slow down before the turn (not during) and shift into the appropriate gear (depending upon your speed through the turn) in order to accelerate gently through the turn. I plan to buy my very first bike the second week of February. Be careful to lift your leg high, or it might get caught before reaching the other side of the bike. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Ride-a-Motorcycle-%28Beginners%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Ride-a-Motorcycle-%28Beginners%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Ride-a-Motorcycle-%28Beginners%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1566422-v4-728px-Ride-a-Motorcycle-%28Beginners%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"