How to Ride a Motorcycle

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• Although it often happens when a person is watching Easy Rider, it has also been known to happen when he or she has been watching old reruns of Happy Days. Fortunately, there is only one cure for when someone is bitten with the motorcycle riding bug and that is to get a motorcycle and ride.

• If you have never been on a motorcycle before but have always wanted to learn, then now is the time. With gas prices going up, motorcycles are fast becoming economical necessities, plus they can be a whole lot of fun.

Try Before You Buy

• Although this page will give you the basics on how to ride a motorcycle, nothing compares to the knowledge and experience gained from taking a riding training course such as the ones done by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about motorcycle safety.¹ Your state might be one of the many states that waive the on-bike riding skills test and/or the written test required to obtain your motorcycle operator's license or endorsement if you have a course completion card.² Insurance companies may also give discounts on insurance for riders who have completed the courses.² You can find a motorcycle riders course Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website, by contacting your local motorcycle dealer or your local Department of Motor Vehicles (see Step 2 for links).¹

• YouTube: Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse Highlights (Time: 5:22)

Step 1: Obtain the Proper Equipment

• It doesn't matter how safe you drive, how careful you are, how many classes you take, accidents happen. In fact, 90 percent of urban motorcycles that involved another vehicle were not caused by the motorcycle rider.³ For that reason, you need to wear the proper equipment when riding your motorcycle. This includes a helmet, face protection and protective clothing.

Helmet

1. Regardless if your state has a law requiring you to wear a helmet, you should wear one. Riders who wear helmets crash less frequently and suffer fewer injuries and deaths if they do crash.⁴
2. Your helmet should fit snugly, meet U.S. Department of Transportation or SNELL standards, and have no obvious defects.⁵
3. For guides on how to purchase a motorcycle helmet, check out:
   1. Motorcycle Cruiser: How to Buy a Motorcycle Helmet
   2. Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Protective Gear
   3. Rae Motorcycle Training: Choosing a Crash Helmet
   4. YouTube: Helmets: Get Your Head into It (Time: 5:05)
   5. Expert Village: Choosing Motorcycle Protective Gear

• MonkeySee: Motorcycle Riding Equipment (Time: 4:54)

Face Protection

1. A windshield will not always protect you from rocks, insects and other debris that can fly up.⁶
2. Face protection can include a helmet shield, goggles or shatterproof glasses.²
3. Prescription eyeglasses do not provide adequate protection.⁷

Protective Clothing

1. Choose clothing that is impact and abrasion resistant as well as highly visible.³
2. Clothing can include gloves, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, motorcycle jacket and hard-soled boots.
3. Clothing should fit comfortably without binding, but not be so loose that it can become entangled in the motorcycle.⁷

• Expert Village: Motorcycle Safety Gear (Time: 1:50)

Step 2: Obtain a Motorcycle License or Permit

• Studies show that unlicensed motorcycle drivers are more likely to get into an accident than licensed drivers.⁸ If that's not enough to convince you, you should be aware that all states require riders to obtain a motorcycle license and/or permit. This will usually require you to take both a written test and a riding skills test. Some states also require or advise you to take a motorcycle rider safety course that either the state provides or is provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Some states will accept completion of these courses in place of taking the skills test and written exam.⁹

• Since each state has different requirements necessary before a rider can obtain a motorcycle license, links to information from each state's website has been provided below.

How to Obtain a Motorcycle License or Permit in:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas   California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho

Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland   Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri

Montana   Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota   Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania

Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas   Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Step 3: Do a Preride Inspection

• Before you start riding, it is important that you do a quick inspection of the motorcycle. Remember, this machine is the only thing keeping you from hitting the pavement, so you want to make sure it is in good working order. The best way to remember what to inspect, is to use a checklist that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation calls T-CLOCS.¹⁰ This stands for:
  • T - Tires and Wheels
  • C - Controls
  • L - Lights and Electrics
  • O - Oil
  • C - Chassis
  • S - Stands

• This is an important inspection and one that should not be skipped. For a detailed list on what to look for in each step, check out the PDF file that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation provides.¹⁰ You can also find detailed explanations at any of the following links:
  1. Motorcycle Safety Foundation: RiderCourse Interactive Tour
  2. Naval Safety Center: T-CLOCS
  3. Gold Wing Road Riders Association: T-CLOCS  
  4. STAR - Chicago Chapter 394: Pre-Ride Inspection  

• MonkeySee: How to Perform a Routine Check of a Motorcycle (Time: 8:19)

Step 4: Starting Your Motorcycle

• Turn the key and go, right? Not quite. There are several steps that you need to do before your motorcycle will start. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation refers to this as FINE-C.¹¹

1. Turn on the fuel valve.
2. Turn the ignition to the on position.
3. Make sure your motorcycle is in neutral. When it is in neutral, you should be able to roll your motorcycle slightly forwards or backwards.¹¹
4. Turn the engine cut-off switch to the run/on position.
5. Set the choke as necessary.
6. Squeeze the clutch lever. This will make sure you don't start your motorcycle in gear.¹¹

• Expert Village: Turning a Motorcycle On & Off (Time: 1:58)

Step 5: How to Shift a Motorcycle

• Most motorcycles have a linear "1 down, 5 up" shifting pattern.¹² This means that neutral is located halfway between first and second gear. You press down to shift into first gear and up to shift into second through sixth gear. Learning to shift is not difficult. Learning to shift smoothly, well, that's another story. It will take practice.

How to Shift to First Gear

1. Make sure the motorcycle is in neutral and start it.
2. While holding the clutch lever (usually on the left handle bar) down, use your left foot to press down on the gear shift until you reach first gear.¹²
3. Apply some throttle while slowly releasing your clutch.¹³ Give it just enough throttle to keep your motorcycle from stalling but not too much to cause it to overrev.²
4. Once your motorcycle begins to move forward, place your feet on the foot pegs.
5. Don't forget to make sure the kickstand is up!

• MonkeySee: How to Start and Shift a Motorcycle (Time: 4:09)

How to Shift to Second Gear

1. Place your left toe under the gear shift.
2. Pull in the clutch as you release the throttle.¹³
3. Move the gear shift up one notch by lifting up your left foot, which will put you into second gear.¹²
4. Let out the clutch smoothly while applying throttle.¹³

• Expert Village: Motorcycle Riding: Shifting Gears (Time: 1:10)

How to Down Shift

• When down shifting, you need to make certain that you are going slow enough before shifting. If you aren't, your motorcycle will lurch and the rear wheel may skid.¹⁴ Then, in one swift and smooth movement:

1. Squeeze the clutch.
2. Apply the throttle slightly to let it catch the lower gear smoothly.²
3. Press down on the shift lever.

• Expert Village: Motorcycle Riding: Down Shifting (Time: 1:10)

Step 6: How to Brake a Motorcycle

• Motorcycles have two brakes: front and rear.
  • The front brake is a lever located on the right hand side (it is the lever opposite the clutch). The front brake is more powerful and provides about three-fourths your total stopping power.
  • The rear brake is a peddle located on the right side of the right side (opposite the gear shift).

• Nothing can teach you braking except practice. However, here are a few tips:

1. You should always use both brakes when you want to slow or stop.
2. Apply both brakes at the same time.
3. Do not apply the brakes too hard because it can cause the wheels to lock up and the bike to skid.
4. Always squeeze the brake lever, don't grab it.

• MonkeySee: How to Brake on a Motorcycle (Time: 7:26)

Quick braking

• Braking quickly or in an emergency is an important skill and should be practiced. Here is how to do it:

1. Close the throttle or shut off the accelerator.^{15 16}
2. Apply the front brake.
3. Apply the rear brake.
4. Increase the pressure on the front brake by pressing firmly and progressively.¹⁴
5. Apply the clutch to avoid stalling.

Step 7: How to Turn (Corner) a Motorcycle

• Turning can be difficult for new riders. They often take a corner too fast, or believe they are taking it too fast, and end up losing control.¹⁴ In fact, this is one of the biggest causes of single-vehicle motorcycle accidents.¹⁷ Here is how the basic turn or corner should be approached:

1. As you approach the turn, reduce your speed by closing the throttle and/or applying the brakes.¹⁴
2. Look through the turn to where you want to go. Keep your shoulders straight, eyes level and turn only your head.¹⁴
3. Press the handlebar in the direction of the turn. This will cause your motorcycle to lean.²
   1. Keep your feet on the pegs and grip the motorcycle with your knees.²
   2. Do not try to sit perpendicular to the road. Let your body lean with the motorcycle.²
   3. A good rule of thumb when cornering: when in doubt, lean more.¹⁸
4. Keep an even throttle through the turn or accelerate slightly to stabilize suspension.^{2 14}
5. When you reach the end of the corner, roll on the throttle as you straighten up your motorcycle.¹⁹

• Expert Village Videos: Motorcycle Turning & Leaning (Time: 1:31)

Conclusion

• Learning how to ride a motorcycle properly is essential if you want to ride safely. Nothing improves a rider's ability more than practice. Again, new and experienced riders are urged to take a rider's safety course and get their license before hitting the road.

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References for How to Ride a Motorcycle

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Official Site: Motorcycle Safety Foundation
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Riding Tips  
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Rae Motorcycle Training: Safety Protection & Dealing with Accidents
4. ↑ Motorcycle Cruiser: How to Buy a Motorcycle Helmet
5. ↑ Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Motorcycle Operator Handbook  
6. ↑ New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Motorcycle Manual: Preparing To Ride
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Personal Protective Gear  
8. ↑ Motorcycle Cruiser: MAIDS Motorcycle Accident Study: Lessons From 921 Crashes
9. ↑ Red Rocks Education Center: Motorcycle Rider Education
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Motorcycle Safety Foundation: T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist  
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Motorcycle Safety Foundation: FINE-C
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} About.com How to Ride a Motorcycle  
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Sandlake Tsunami ATV Rental: How to Shift Gears on a Quad or Motorcycle
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5} New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Motorcycle Manual: Ride Within Your Abilities
15. ↑ Motorcycle Cruiser: Effective Braking
16. ↑ Rae Motorcycle Training: Motorcycle Training Hints, Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
17. ↑ Motorcycle Cruiser: Lines Through Corners
18. ↑ Old Guy's Place: Improving Cornering Skills
19. ↑ Rae Motorcycle Training: Cornering

How to Ride a Motorcycle Videos

• YouTube: Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse Highlights (Time: 5:22)
• MonkeySee: Motorcycle Riding Equipment (Time: 4:54)
• Expert Village: Motorcycle Safety Gear (Time: 1:50)
• MonkeySee: How to Perform a Routine Check of a Motorcycle (Time: 8:19)
• YouTube: FINE-C Motorcycle Startup (Time: 1:46)
• Expert Village: Turning a Motorcycle On & Off (Time: 1:58)
• MonkeySee: How to Start and Shift a Motorcycle (Time: 4:09)
• Expert Village: Motorcycle Riding: Shifting Gears (Time: 1:10)
• Expert Village: Motorcycle Riding: Down Shifting (Time: 1:10)
• MonkeySee: How to Brake on a Motorcycle (Time: 7:26)
• Expert Village Videos: Motorcycle Turning & Leaning (Time: 1:31)

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