Alright, let me tell you how I got started with motorcycles. It wasn’t really planned, just felt like something I needed to try.
Getting Started
First thing, I knew I couldn’t just jump on a bike and go. Seemed like a stupid way to get hurt. So, I started looking around. Found a local riding school, figured that was the smart move. Before even thinking about a bike, I knew I needed the basic skills. Safety first, right? Even if it sounds boring.
Then came the gear. Man, that’s a whole thing. You need stuff. Good stuff. I didn’t want to cheap out here. So I got myself:
- A solid helmet. Full face. Didn’t fancy scraping my chin off.
- A proper jacket, with armor bits in the elbows and shoulders.
- Gloves. Real riding gloves, not just some winter ones.
- Sturdy boots. Something that covers the ankles.
Yeah, it cost a bit, but broken bones cost more. Felt a bit like a spaceman putting it all on the first time.
The Actual Learning Part
The riding course was key. Seriously. Spent a weekend in a big empty parking lot. They give you these small, beat-up bikes, which is good ’cause you will drop it. Or stall it. A lot. I probably stalled it fifty times that first day. Felt like an idiot. Clutch control was tricky. Finding that sweet spot between stalling and lurching forward like a fool.
They teach you the real basics. Looking where you want to go – that’s huge. Your head turns, the bike follows. Sounds simple, but you gotta practice it. Emergency braking too. Squeezing, not grabbing. Lots of slow speed stuff, weaving through cones. Honestly, that slow stuff is harder than going faster.
Finding My First Bike
After the course, I felt ready to actually look for a bike. People always suggest stuff online, you see lists… Duke, MT this, R15 that, some Classic looking thing. I went to a few shops, sat on different bikes. That’s important. You gotta feel comfortable. Some felt too heavy, some too tall. My feet needed to touch the ground properly, you know? Gave me more confidence.
I ended up choosing something pretty manageable. Not too powerful, not too heavy. Something forgiving for a beginner. Didn’t need to impress anyone, just needed to learn without scaring myself silly. Something around the 200-300cc range felt right for me to start. Easy to handle in town.
Hitting the Road (Carefully)
First few rides on my own bike were nerve-wracking. Not gonna lie. Everything feels faster than in the parking lot. Traffic is intimidating. I stuck to quiet streets, early mornings. Just practiced starting, stopping, turning. Went back to empty lots to practice the slow speed stuff again. Smoothness is the goal. Smooth throttle, smooth brakes, smooth turns.
Made mistakes. Grabbed the front brake too hard once on a slow turn, almost went down. Little wake-up call. Every ride, I tried to focus on one thing. Maybe smooth gear changes. Or looking further ahead through turns. It takes time. You don’t become a pro overnight.
But yeah, that’s how I got into it. Took a course, got the gear, started small, practiced a ton. Still practicing, really. It’s a continuous learning thing. But getting comfortable on two wheels? Totally worth it.
