My First Attempt at Riding a Motorcycle

My First Attempt at Riding a Motorcycle

by Debra
(Plano, Texas)

Well, I will just go ahead and admit it. Today was my first day to get on my new--actually used--motorcycle. I am learning what a clutch is and where the breaks are. My husband has been riding for years. And, yeah, it happened. My bike fell over and I got scared. He was teaching me to go-stop-go-stop. I will be taking one of those courses in a couple of weeks and didn't want to walk in looking like a "woman" who knows nothing. I am almost 50 and did not want to hear, "What is she doing here?" I got back on the bike and tried again. Better, but I am still very shaky and almost said, "Let's see if we can give the bike back to the dealership."

Has anyone experienced the "I am not sure I have done the right thing?" I know I am just still a bit scared after this morning. And, yeah, I will keep trying. No tears, just nerves!

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My First Attempt at Riding a Motorcycle

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Apr 08, 2010

Be Scared with Confidence
by: Anonymous

I am taking my rider course tomorrow, and I am nervous as well! I have been taking road trips with my uncle on the back of his motorcycle, and he recently gave me one of his bikes to have. I almost feel as if it to much for me to handle, but I am determined never the less. I am 24 year old female, 5'0 and only a hundred and twenty pounds. It?s hard for me to make turns at low speeds and I too am afraid of riding into cars at stop lights. I practiced a few days in the parking lot and dropped my bike once and went over a curb! Don?t give up on yourself, everything will be just fine if you get the confidence and remember to calm your nerves and get everything under control.

Good luck!

Jan 19, 2010

Worried About Taking the Motorcycle Class? Don't Be.
by: Anonymous

A couple of things you may want to think about... the bikes that you will be using for the accredited course are a little smaller and oftentimes more appropriate to learn on. No one likes to drop a bike... especially at slow/stop... but dropping an instructional 100CC - 250cc is a sometimes a little easier to live with... and it's a lot easier on the bike. The bikes that are used in those courses are, in a sense, more suited for that kind of blooper. Just remember: you won't be the first to ding one up... and you certainly won't be the last. :) Regardless... it happens to all of us at one point. Don't give up. And, as far as road hazards [shredded truck tires, roadkill, etc is concerned [from another thread] that is a legitimate concern... for all riders, but with the classes you will be taking you will learn to deal with just about everything you might come across... and they will teach/coach you how to avoid some obstacles by "looking ahead" [not just in front of the tire] or using using a "counter steering" technique for sudden/unexpected obstacles, which is fairly easy to learn... and you will also learn how to "go over" an obstacle, if needed. I guess my point is... and please take no offense... I firmly believe that you should take the class and let a trained professional take you step-by-step through your learning process. I can almost guarantee you will gain a lot more confidence in order to move forward in the process. I've been riding for twenty years+ and personally feel road instruction should be done by the professionals... not a loved one... because "all great riders" ARE NOT "all good teachers". Just say'n. Happy riding!

Jul 28, 2009

I Can't Make Right Hand Turns at a Complete Stop
by: Anonymous

I am 46 years old and wanted to learn to ride, my husband and I have a Road King Classic and we go everywhere, and have a great time. I have noticed more women riding every day, and I said to myself I can do this and I always wanted too, but I was scared that I couldn't do learn. Well all I had to do was tell my husband this and he had me in a parking lot on his Road King going up and down in first gear, not bad I did it. Well now I had the bug, I went and bought a 2005 1220 Custom HD Sporty with screaming Eagle pipes that scare me to death. My biggest problem is taking off with enough speed and making right hand turns from a stop positions, I just can't get it. I am also going into the other lane and I am afraid I am going to get killed. My husband says I should be giving some throttle before I let the clutch out, but how much clutch, I feel its to much power to take a right hand turn. Please help anyone I just bought this bike and I have payments on it and I am scared to go out now and even practice. I will be taking the Rider Ed Course in a couple of weeks.

Jun 03, 2009

Thanks for the Encouragement!
by: Martha

I am scheduled to take a riding class in a week and have been scared stiff that I am going to make a fool of myself. I have wanted to do this for over two years. I am 48 and vowed two years ago after breaking up with my biker boyfriend that I would never depend on a man for a ride again! The stories here have given me much encouragement. Thanks for helping me to realize that I can do it even if I may fumble along the way! :)

Jun 03, 2009

Picking the Bike Up
by: Jenny

Wanda,

There are ways to pick up your bike that don't rely on upper arm strength :-) Here's a great step-by-step instruction page for helping you learn how to pick your bike up so you don't need to return it!

Learn How to Pick Up Dropped Bike Here

Jun 02, 2009

New Rider
by: Wanda

Debra I read your experience on your first attempt. I've had my bike now for 5 weeks. I've dropped it twice and now I'm very nervous. It happened once at the DMV practicing the course and the second time at a stop sign. The second time made me very nervous. Now I'm wondering the same thing, "Can I take my bike back to the dealership". I'm afraid the bike is to big for me. How do women pick up their bikes if they are alone? I feel like I have to always ride with my husband.

May 18, 2009

Not too Old!
by: Jacee

I'll be 65 this month. I took the motorcycle safety class in 2003. Yup, I fell over in class and felt like a fool. There was only one other woman in the class - the rest were young men. It was embarrassing - but, they picked up the bike for me.

I passed the written test easily, but the driving part was a little more difficult. I think the instructor gave me a "mercy pass". If only he could see me now - he wouldn't believe it! I've had 3 bikes since then and now ride a GSXR1000. I can do it and I'm good at it - and most of all, I LOVE this bike. It is so fun to ride.

I'm very glad I ventured into motorcycle riding. I had misgivings about it several times. But I was determined to do it and do it well. I did lots of parking lot time with my husband's patient instruction, after taking the class. Now we ride our GSXRs together every good-weather weekend. I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything.

May 18, 2009

Am I too Old at 52 to Learn to Ride a Bike?
by: Sarah

Hi,

I've always wanted to learn to ride a motorbike....but feel that at maybe 52 I am too old to venture out!?

I guess I feel that it'll be too complicated to get the hang of the gears....clutch...throttle and just be too scary after driving a car!

May 18, 2009

It'll Get Better!
by: Anonymous

I learned to ride at 48 and was one of those women who people were wondering what I was doing in the class. I dropped my bike TWICE in the class, just not during the test. When I got off my bike yesterday, I had over 4800 miles - and I got my bike last Sept. Yes, you can do it and NO, you didn't do the wrong thing. It just takes persistence!

May 18, 2009

My First Attempt at Riding a Motorcycle
by: Anonymous

Oh heck yes I don't know one, not one - long time biker that hasn't had a little fear.

I have been riding an automatic Honda since last July so I had the basics of turning and riding down but this week was my first attempt (at age 51) to try the clutch and I was ok with it after about ten minutes - now I have ridden over 300 miles since Thursday - some shaky and some spot on - I went on a breakfast ride this morning with about 30 people and I did horribly in the twisties of the Arizona mountains but I did it - then I came home and caught my breath for a few hours and went back out again for 5 more hours to ride to some friends houses to visit and show off the bike.

I could never have tried the bike riding and the clutch at the same time but that's me.

Practice that's all you can do!

May 17, 2009

Don't Worry!
by: Jenny

We all have to learn somewhere. I made the mistake of letting me husband (in fact, I begged him) show me some things in parking lots for a few weeks before my safety class. He had been riding for years, and while he was very good at breaking things down step-by-step, he couldn't break them down in the same way that they did in the class.

It didn't go well. His bike was more powerful then what we used in the class, so not only did I have to worry about trying to learn everything, I had to worry about this way more powerful bike!

What ended up being the best thing I did before the class was really reading my materials and memorizing things. I also spent a lot of time with my husband having him show me how to turn the bike on, having him just show me how to use the brakes how to change gears WITHOUT my actually moving the bike. After dropping the bike a few times, I was too scared to do anything, and the course had it really broken down well and helped avoid all those issues that I had while in a parking lot with my husband.

There were a few of us who had limited to know experience with motorcycles (one woman hadn't even touched one before arriving, and my two goes around a parking lot weren't much more).

You're in the class to learn how to ride. The course is advertised as being good for someone who's never been on a bike. If you don't pass the class, you can take it again. Or, you can do what was recommended. None of us failed our course, not even the woman who hadn't touched a bike, but we knew before our test that we could come back again in a few weeks after we'd practiced at home, and then we'd be allowed to take the test again.

Oh! One more note - after I took the class, I went back out into the parking lots with my husband. While I technically had a license, I didn't feel road ready (and, in fact, the instructors recommended that while we had our licenses, we all needed more parking lot time). My husband recently said that in my two days of class, I learned more then he learned in his two months of riding when he started 15 years ago!

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