Can you picture yourself in a sleekly fitted leather jacket, black jeans, and a badass motorcycle helmet? Motorcycles embody power, athleticism, speed, and freedom.
They’re an automatic cool factor. If given the chance to ride one, you should definitely take up the opportunity.
They can be dangerous, but you can minimize the danger a lot by practicing proper motorcycle safety. If you want to learn how to ride a motorcycle, this is the right place.
Read on to find out how to get started on this fun and daring activity.
How to Ride a Motorcycle
Let’s break it down into a couple of simple steps. Practicing these steps will help motorcycle riding become familiar and as close to second nature as possible. You will be safe while also setting yourself up to have the time of your life.
1. Thorough Inspection
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation includes a checklist to guide your inspection. Because you are so exposed when riding a motorcycle, you will want to make sure that your vehicle is functioning properly for your safety.
Check T-CLOCS:
T stands for tires and wheels.
C for the controls of the motorcycle.
L for the lights on the motorcycle.
O for the oil fluid levels.
C for the chassis.
S for the stands, including the kickstand.
2. Wear Proper Gear
This includes helmets, proper footwear (closed-toed shoes), and long sleeves and pants to protect your skin from the elements. As with bike riding, helmets are absolutely vital to safety to cushion your skull.
Since many people carry their phones with them while transiting, you may want to invest in a phone stand. You can find them over at American Legend Rider.
Even if you are going at less than 10 miles an hour, you can get some bad scrapes and bruises in the case of an accident.
3. Properly Mount the Bike
It looks incredibly sexy when someone seamlessly mounts their motorcycle. If you look ungainly doing it now, don’t worry. With practice, you will be able to flawlessly mount the bike every time.
Stand to the left of your bike, with your weight centered over your knees. Grab the right handle with your right hand, and place the left hand on the left handle. Lean toward the front of bike slightly. Think about how people mount a bike in movies.
You will want to shift your weight onto your left leg and then kick your right leg up high, almost like a dancer. Then, seat yourself on the bike in a straddle. At this point you will want to make sure all the controls are accessible and that your mirrors are in the right place.
4. Get Familiar with the Controls
Turns out, riding a motorbike is pretty complicated. It may do you better to review all the controls, and simulate a couple of scenarios before you actually get on the road. You can look here for some things to practice on the bike and how to get the controls working.
A Fun and Freeing Activity
Now that you’ve gotten started learning how to ride a motorcycle, a world of opportunities opens up before you. You can invest in new gear for your bike, find fellow hobbyists to bike with, or simply pose with the bike for your online dating profile.
The world’s your oyster!
Check out our automobile section for more cool tips.