Some people are great at building muscle memory. Remember to make sure your mirrors are adjusted—you'll rely on them quite a bit while riding. When you are stopped, put your right foot on the ground. Let the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's acronym for their checklist, T-CLOCS, guide you. Once you're straddling the bike, sit down and acquaint yourself with the motorcycle's controls. Let the clutch out and engage the throttle again. Riding a sidecar motorcycle is easier than you think. Is it necessary to downshift while braking? Motorcycles shift differently than cars. 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 are moving, accelerate slightly and pull you feet up onto the pegs. As you slow down, turn your head to look to the end of the turn. Yes, although it will take good technique to do this without potentially wearing down the transmission. ", enough courage and I was good to go. Imagine it's a dial with a range of power, rather than an on/off rocker switch, and you'll be able to engage gears more smoothly. By twisting the grip toward you (so that your wrist moves down), you apply the throttle. Thanks a lot. Apply pressure to both your front and rear brake as you slow down and begin braking. "Thanks, it's really helpful. If you opt for a leather jacket, make sure it’s motorcycle specific. Never operate a motorcycle under the influence of any substances. Look online to find a course near you so you can learn the basics of operating and controlling a motorcycle. Thanks a lot. 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. A typical shift pattern, called "one down, five up," looks like this: Finding neutral with your left foot takes some getting used to. Get a feel for how you fit on the motorcycle. Smoothness is crucial here as well. To get to 2nd gear, pull the clutch back, ease off the gas, and pull up firmly on your shifter to move through neutral. It does not need to be the most expensive helmet to do the job of protecting your head. Look for ones with a retention strap around the wrist. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Always employ proper technique. Regular leather jackets aren’t built to protect you. For example, warmer weather jackets have more zippers and vents to allow for adjustment of airflow around the body. Your right hand also controls the front brakes, whose lever is located in front of the throttle, much like on a bicycle. "Prevention is Better Than Cure.". Staying comfortable keeps you alert and makes the ride more enjoyable. This article has been viewed 1,496,599 times. You should hear a bit of a clicking noise when in 1st. How do I overcome a fear of riding a motorcycle? Slowly let out the clutch lever until the bike starts to roll forward. I'm buying my first bike soon and have never ridden one before, so I was hoping to, "I'm 54 yrs old and rode dirt bikes as a teen. To find the right size, get a professional fitting at a store that specializes in motorcycle equipment. Remember: "All the gear, all the time". First, put on proper apparel for safe riding. When riding a motorcycle, your right hand is responsible for two crucial functions: acceleration and braking. Find a motorcycle safety course in your area. But there are ways to minimize your risk and put the odds more in your favor. I, "This was extremely educational. It is not essential to know how to ride a bicycle, but it can be very helpful to you to get an understanding of what it feels to ride a motorcycle, and it can help you gain a sense of balance more safely, as falling off a bicycle is not dangerous as falling off a motorcycle. Fuel-injected bikes don't need this. As with the manual transmission on a car, begin by disengaging the clutch, then shift gears and slowly re-engage the clutch. Switches should be within easy reach of your fingers. Your motorcycle helmet is the single most important piece of equipment for motorcycling riding. Riding a motorcycle will always include an element of danger; there’s no way around that. Use your left foot to steady the bike at a stop. These two standards are rigorously tested for the required safety standards to ride on public roads. And this is a site about motorcycles. You can downshift into 2nd gear and stop before shifting down to 1st. Once you are at a stop, keep the front brake engaged, and plant your feet firmly on the ground. Beginners can enroll in motorcycle safety courses that give you the tools to be a proper rider. To mount the bike, shift your weight onto your left leg, then kick your right leg back and then up and over the bike. Additionally, clutchless shifting may be harder or easier to perform on certain motorcycles. I plan to buy my very first bike the second week of February. Compare your head measurement to the measuring table of the brand that you wish to buy. Very slowly let your clutch out until the bike starts moving forward. After 2nd gear, you don’t have to pull up with your left toe quite as hard since you’re not going through neutral. Basic rider courses offered by your local government may not always be available in your area. This strap is designed to keep the gloves on your hands in a crash. Learn more... Learning to ride a motorcycle can be fun. Learning basic motorcycle operation is similar to learning how to drive. Thanks. You may have to push down several times. Repeat this process to shift through higher gears. If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the controls. Stand to the left of the bike, place your left hand on the left handle and straighten the front tire. Thanks very much. Go ride. By using our site, you agree to our.