r/NewRiders

Hey everyone, looking for recommendations. I am 18 work a steady job and have good savings so I’m looking to possibly get a bike for the summer and learn how to ride. Planning on doing a MSF course and even possibly another course after to get my skills inline.

My question is how should I go about this and what path did you guys take to get your license and learn how to ride? As well as any recs you guys have for bikes preferably around the $3500-4000 mark.

So I posted in here before. Yeah I failed again. Unsurprising considering how badly I failed the first time.

The first time was in December. My entire class except two of us were all regular and proficient riders. Everyone except me passed. I couldn't get a hold of any low speed movers like at all and felt way behind everyone else. I was doing the whole thing wrong but I couldn't figure out what to do to fix it. My coach didn't seem to have many key insights for me. Then the company didn't let me easily reschedule a retake so I just stopped trying for a while.

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This most recent time with a different company, only maybe 1/3 of the class had riding experience. A whooping half of us failed the class.

I did actually do much better. I was pretty comfortable with a lot of the maneuvers. I figured out that I could do the maneuvers way slower this time around (the first one they demonstrated them all at higher speeds so I thought I had to go faster).

Plus one of the coaches gave me a tip...I said I had difficulty not blipping the throttle when turning the handlebars far...and he told me it's ok for me to lean forward (even though it's not technically the correct posture they teach). I know the posture is incorrect, but it probably helped me the most. Before, when I would turn the handlebars far, the fact that my arm is extended very far away made it difficult for me to not pull back on the throttle. So he said it's ok if I need to lean forward so my arms are still bent a bit when I turn far. Worked great!

EXCEPT I still for the life of me cannot do a freaking u turn. Plus I only found out AFTER taking the test that it's "ok" if you miss the u turn as long as you don't put your foot down. I knew I went out of some of the cones, but I still tried to say mostly in and had to touch a foot. But evidently it's just OUT vs IN on the test. It doesn't matter if you miss one cone/line or them all. It's the same number of points.

If I had just continued to commit to staying a bit outside of the lines/comes and not put my foot down, I would have passed. (Because I messed up one small thing later...the u turn box can easily eat all your points). I'm really frustrated and disheartened to say the least. I'm hoping this company lets me reschedule easier.

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It's just really frustrating. When I learned to drive a car, I had the opportunity to practice legally without a license with a learner's permit. But there are no learner's permits for motorcycles in my state. So I don't have access to the ability to practice outside of class. I'm sure I just need a lot more time to practice than others, but it's incredibly frustrating that I don't have an accessible way to do this.

At least I know the "trick" if you mess up the u turn box I guess. Idk.

With this second company, they also won't let me only re take one of the days. They will make me retake both, which is really frustrating and difficult time commitment wise too considering most of their offerings are during normal working hours.

Guess I'm just looking for words of encouragement and advice. Thanks. :(

Hi all, I’ll try and keep it fairly short. I started off on a Ryker (three wheel) and took my msf for my 2 wheel license. I then read about DCT motorcycles and thought it was awesome that I wouldn’t stall blah blah so I picked up a beautiful 2018 NC750x Dct. The bike is like new but it’s heavy AF! Ive only ridden it around the neighborhood and in parking lots but I’m struggling with turns. I feel the weight of the bike in turns and struggle since I don’t have a clutch to help modulate and have to just rely on my rear brake. I’m contemplating trading it in for something like a Kawasaki eliminator or a dual sport like the Crf300- both of which are lightweight and good for beginners. What are your thoughts? Should I keep trying or count my losses and get something else that is truly beginner friendly? And if the second option- what do you recommend? Btw I don’t like the rebel- I have long legs and feel like I’m riding a toy bike. Thank you!!

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I never owned a motorbike before and i was planning on getting one 125cc motorbike to start, what type of bikes would you recommend me ?

i was leaning towards honda, yamaha or keeway but i am unsure if i want to get a scooter or motorcycle, the thing is i like the reliability that scooters have but visually motorcycles are more appealing and which bikes have easy maintanance or very resiliant ?

when it comes to helmets what should i look for ? is it better to get a full or half face ?

Any tips for the summer months? I can't imagine full gear when it's 110 out. Do you just put the bike up for a few months until it cools down?

Hello! I'm a 31 male looking to get my first motorcycle in Canada. I'm thinking of the new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 or a used Triumph Bonneville T100. Use case: weekend rides, once a week commute to work and gaining the skills. I would like to modify it into a rugged scrambler. According to you, which would be a better option considering there is a 3-4k price difference, insurance, availability of parts for modification, ride experience and reliability? Or am contemplating it way more than I'm supposed to?

Hey everyone,

I’m a 26 male living in France and I’ve never gotten a driver’s license. Public transport has always been reliable enough here in Europe that I never really needed a car. Lately though, I’ve been thinking about getting a motorcycle license instead, mainly for getting to work, running errands or taking short trips during holidays.

I’ve driven a car and a scooter a couple of times (not exactly legally), but I wouldn’t say I have a solid understanding of road rules, cars or motorcycles. That’s part of why I’m unsure: would it make sense to start with a motorcycle before ever getting a car license?

I’m not interested in speed or anything flashy. If anything, I prefer going slow and just enjoying the ride. I’d really just want something practical and manageable for everyday use.

I also don't really want a car because they seem to be generally more expensive to purchase and take care of.

For someone starting completely from scratch, would you recommend going straight for a motorcycle or get the car license first? If so, what should I focus on early on?

Thanks a lot!

Just bought my first bike and already have a good helmet and decent gloves. I still need to pick up a jacket, pants, and boots. I don't know what to get for them though. I want something good that also won't break the bank. Does anyone have good suggestions?

For the boots specifically, I wanted a more sneaker style armored shoe.

Any good brand/product suggestions for any of these pieces of gear would be great!

I'm gonna put my opinion on this trend here to hopefully open up the eyes of some new riders. As you delve into the motorcycle community (especially the online community) you will pick up on the idea that you should start on a "beginner bike" then you "outgrow" it and get something faster and faster and faster. Especially with the rise of motorcycle influencers, this creates the image that every rider is supposed to graduate up to a 1000cc supersport as an end goal. This is wrong.

Motorcycles are first and foremost, a mode of transportation. Once you restructure that idea in your brain you can compare them to cars. A Honda accord is perfectly capable of going the speed limit and above. You don't outgrow an accord and then get a Corvette. You just drive your reasonable vehicle unless you decide that you want a nicer or faster or bigger car. Similarly, once you are in the realm of motorcycles that are capable of sustaining the speed limit, the concept of outgrowing them becomes null. There's nothing wrong with wanting and being ready for something bigger, nicer or faster, but this outgrowing concept puts unnecessary and dangerous pressure on young new riders.

To wrap it up, new riders, get a 300, 400, 500 and don't think there's a whole new world out there once you can finally move up. It's being on 2 wheels that's the new world. Enjoy it, keep that bike for years or forever. Get a bigger bike when you want, can afford and are honestly ready for one. Not when ig motovloggers tell you it's time for your 600.

Hi all,

I picked up a GSX 8s to get me riding again. I have a nice Spartan leather jacket that is much too small now.

I have a new HJC helmet, Aprilla Experience jacket by Alpinestars, and textile gloves from Alpinestars.

No pants yet. We have three dealers and one stocks a set of Klim in my size. Hesitant on the $600 price. I think the bib type pants would be the way to go for me. Any pants would be mail order or special order through dealers. What should I be looking for as far as ratings go? I seem very concerned about sleeve or pant leg sliding up and leaving skin vulnerable.

Riding boots look like they are heavily padded? Right now I wear a pair of lace up, over the ankle, Danner work boots.

Back brace/pad? Just found out about these also.

I have a very short commute- one way about 2 miles. High 30's in am right now, not worried about that. On the way home or on the weekends, I would like to get in some short rides, 10-25 miles? There are a few entertaining roads going in different directions.

So any advice is appreciated. I know nothing about ratings or really what is available. There is a lot of gear out there. I will be riding very conservatively, will be installing new rear tire this week and matching front in near future. The Road 6's.

Thanks, MikeB

Day 1 of my MSF class and I'm on lunch break. They put me on a 250cc Yamaha. Unfortunately, I dropped the bike on the first exercise because I accidentally twisted the throttle when I went to squeeze the front brake and it just kinda jumped out from under me.

After that initial hiccup though? Once I got the bike moving, it was fucking magical. I am already in love and planning to come back and do the advanced rider course with my own bike.