Learn to Ride a Motorcycle

Before you can embark on your adventurous motorcycle lifestyle, you first need to learn to ride a motorcycle. Learning is a complex process and your best bet is to adopt multiple approaches to sharpen those skills. After all, a motorcycle is unlike anything you've experienced before. It's got fewer wheels and protection than a car and a different handling approach than a bike. We gathered up the best strategies for developing your riding skills below. If you have any questions or still need to buy your starter bike, visit Barnes Harley-Davidson® Victoria. We proudly serve those in Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, and Port Alberni, British Columbia.

Go to Motorcycle School

Motorcycle school is going to be your biggest resource for learning to ride a motorcycle. Glean from the wisdom of an expert instructor who blends knowledge of teaching with knowledge of riding. Enjoy being surrounded by other riders who are at your same level. That solidarity can make it easier to shrug off mistakes and be patient with yourself as you see everyone else around you learning the ropes too. You may even leave motorcycle school with new riding buddies.

You don't need to own a bike yet to partake in most motorcycle schools. Beginner classes usually provide a motorcycle to borrow during class. Throughout the experience, you'll learn the basics such as using the throttle, clutch, and so on. 

If you found the motorcycle school environment helpful, you can look into intermediate and advanced courses down the road. These offer great ways to strengthen your skills and become an even better rider.

Equip Yourself with Gear

As you learn to ride a motorcycle, you're inevitably going to make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes end up bumping into something or falling over. You'll want to be protected in case that happens.

For head protection, get a well-fitting and crash tested helmet. For skin protection, get a sturdy full-length riding jacket and riding pants. Opt for breathable fabric so you won't get too hot when riding in the summer. For hearing protection, get a pair of earplugs or wax balls. After all, riding your motorcycle over 40 miles per hour hits you with permanent hearing damage. You'll want to take the necessary precaution so that you'll still be able to hear the throaty engine rumble for years to come.

Practice

All new skills take time to develop and it's the same when you learn to ride a motorcycle. You may have all the technical knowledge about riding in your head from motorcycle school, but it takes a while for that knowledge to transfer to muscle memory. You'll need hands-on learning to help the information sink in. All you need is to practice, practice, practice. Start off small. Find an empty parking lot or a low-traffic residential road. Practice accelerating, braking, and turning. As you build up your skills, you can increase your speed and set out onto more challenging roads. Before you know it, you'll be tearing up the highway at top speeds like a champ!

Deciding to learn to ride a motorcycle is an exciting challenge. Let us help support you! Bring all your motorcycle questions to the friendly staff at Barnes H-D Victoria. If you still need to buy your first motorcycle, come check out our wide range of motorcycles for sale. It's easy to find the perfect model for your unique budget and riding lifestyle. Whether you care most about rider comfort, style, fuel economy, or another aspect, we can help you find the right type of bike. We proudly serve those in Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, and Port Alberni, British Columbia.