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Motorcycle Power

I'm a beginner...

In the process of getting a bike and have found a couple that are 450-500cc. I rode a 250cc in the MSF course and sometimes even that felt a bit too powerful. My instructor approached me during class at one point to tell me to "own the power of the bike." How does one do that, especially when transitioning from riding a 250cc bike for <10 hours in class to riding a 500cc bike in traffic? I was wondering how those of you who are advanced riders learned to own the power of your >400cc bikes.

Thanks for sharing!

Comments for Motorcycle Power

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Apr 03, 2011

Learning to Ride
by: fran

I just bought my bike this week. It was also on my bucket list. I went back and forth with my husband on what to buy. He wanted me to get a 250 and I wanted something bigger. I ended up with a Vulcan 500. Tried to learn for the first time yesterday and dropped it just one time. Ha, scared to death. I am enrolled in the safety class but not til May 21. Its nice to know everyone was a beginner at one time and there is hope for me after all.

Jun 07, 2010

Thanks for the Advice
by: Anonymous

Thanks so much for your comments as to what size bike I should learn on. It's nice to know that there are other women out there who enjoy that breeze in their face and the freedom to ride off into the sunset..............Thanks

Jun 05, 2010

Finding Friends to Ride With
by: Linda

I started riding about two years ago and I'm more of an around town rider. It's hard to find other women friends that want to ride. I'm a very cautious rider trying to find other women in the Suffolk county area that would like to ride out toward the eastern end of Long Island. Are there any sites that you could recommend?

Apr 19, 2010

Where to Take Lessons
by: Anonymous

I am a 55 year old female with arthritis, and like in the movie with Jack Nicholson, the Bucket List, I have always wanted to get my license for motorcycle. I don't want to ride one forever, but just take lesson on a safe track where they supply the bike, and I can get my license from them. Who knows, maybe I will still ride. I had a cancer scare, they got it in time, but now I want to do the things I always wanted to, but need a light bike I can hold up. Which bike would I need to take lessons on, and where in central NJ do they offer lessons on a track and supply this light bike.

Mar 21, 2010

200cc - Too Low?
by: JT

Thanks for the replies to my post. I just found a Honda CM 200 that I really like. I have been reading that a lot of people go higher than a 200cc because they "grow out of" the engine displacement quickly as they become more comfortable riding. As I'd mentioned in my original post, I rode a 250cc in the MSF and felt fine (sometimes kinda scared when I rolled too much on the throttle). I don't have the money to continuously upgrade my bike and I'm only look to ride around town to run errands. Is a 200cc right for someone in my situation or should I go bigger?

Mar 06, 2010

Agree with Alystar
by: Rene L.

I totally agree with Alystar and also remember going through just what you are experiencing. I was a first time rider when I decided to take the MSF class. I had never dirt biked and had only ridden on the back of my boyfriends bike, and then would only go with him on surface streets (often times while holding my breath, lol).

When I took the class I thought there was no way I could ride anything bigger than a 250 Rebel, but trusted my boyfriend and others with experience who told me that it would be a waste to get a 250. I ended up with a Suzuki s-40 because it is a 650 but still very light and easy to handle. One year later I wish I had gotten the 800 V-Star and laugh when I remember feeling shaky on a 250 Rebel.

Take your time and practice, practice, practice. Also,when I first got my own bike and was trying to gain confidence and comfort, it was important whenever I was riding to remind myself that I could take my time and I also reminded myself that if I made a mistake, missed a gear, or something similar, that I could just correct my mistake. When I realized that I could, it was a piece of cake. Also, for me, after a short time, I realized that a big factor was that I realized that another big factor was that I have been driving a car since I was 16 and know the rules of the road and how to be a safe driver, no matter if I'm on a bike or a in a car. Give yourself time and make sure to get out and practice, even if you have to do it in a parking lot until you feel comfortable enough to go out on the road.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Ren'e

Mar 05, 2010

Best of Luck
by: Alystar Mckenneh

It's just like roller skating the more you do it the easier it gets. Almost like when you started driving and you felt the lane was too narrow now you zip through skinny spots while drinking a soda and managing your check book.

As for the instructor and owning the power.... again it is something you become. And you can only get there with more riding. Don't worry it will happen sooner than you think and all of a sudden that 250 will seem so small.

Best of Luck,

Alystar

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