How did you learn?
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
How did you learn?
Now that we know what your first bike was,how did you learn?Motorcycle class,friend or relative,or self practice? My brother showed me how to change gears on an old Honda Dirt Bike,and said your on your own.I stalled it out a few times before I got the hang of it.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: halifax nova scotia
RE: How did you learn?
I learned like everyone else did. By falling down. Once you master the art of falling down, you can master the art of riding. At first, I didn't listen to anyones advice. But after you excavate two tons of gravel out of your knees and elbows,receive about 40 stitches, and two GOOD cracks in the head from your old man you FINALLY START to listen. Wouldn't change a thing. "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger".
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Texas
RE: How did you learn?
As a kid, we begged, borrowed, hmm, but didn't steal, motorcyles, dirt bikes, mopeds, scooters, wherever we could. There were several of us, so one of us always had a "connection". We would take turns riding. On rare occasions, most of us, would ride, the rest would ride behind. It didn't matter to us, we were "in the wind". One kid had a old Harley scooter. That is how I learned to ride.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: How did you learn?
My dad had motorcycles all of my life. He built me a home made motor scooter when I was around7 years old. He taught me all I knew till maybe 10 years ago when I took the experienced rider course offered by the MSF and learned a few bad habits I had been applying over the years. That impressed me enough that I become a MSF instructor.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: How did you learn?
Back when I started riding I don't even think there were "motorcycle classes".
Most of us were self taught, borrowing bikes and getting some basic 'words of wisdom'from the old timers of the day.
Getting your motorcycle endorsement was also much easier back then. My "road test" consisted of riding to one side of a parking lot, and then riding back. LoL...
Most of us were self taught, borrowing bikes and getting some basic 'words of wisdom'from the old timers of the day.
Getting your motorcycle endorsement was also much easier back then. My "road test" consisted of riding to one side of a parking lot, and then riding back. LoL...
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 954
Likes: 56
From: Ypsilanti, MI
RE: How did you learn?
I grew up riding dirt bikes. Once you learn the basics of riding you never forget them. I didn't get a road bike until I was 35. I took H-D's Riders Edge course which helped loosen the rust from not riding for many years.
For a brand new rider I would suggest finding someone with a dirt bike to learn the basics of shifting and breaking first, before taking a class. Once you learn those you can concentrate on the other things and less on the basics.
For a brand new rider I would suggest finding someone with a dirt bike to learn the basics of shifting and breaking first, before taking a class. Once you learn those you can concentrate on the other things and less on the basics.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 30,634
Likes: 0
From: Laredo, TEXAS
RE: How did you learn?
My first bike was a yamaha enduro (dirt bike)... took plenty of spills on it...
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: How did you learn?
ORIGINAL: mpaquette
I grew up riding dirt bikes. Once you learn the basics of riding you never forget them. I didn't get a road bike until I was 35. I took H-D's Riders Edge course which helped loosen the rust from not riding for many years.
For a brand new rider I would suggest finding someone with a dirt bike to learn the basics of shifting and breaking first, before taking a class. Once you learn those you can concentrate on the other things and less on the basics.
I grew up riding dirt bikes. Once you learn the basics of riding you never forget them. I didn't get a road bike until I was 35. I took H-D's Riders Edge course which helped loosen the rust from not riding for many years.
For a brand new rider I would suggest finding someone with a dirt bike to learn the basics of shifting and breaking first, before taking a class. Once you learn those you can concentrate on the other things and less on the basics.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: How did you learn?
I learned by riding my Honda 50 mini trail around the yard, and then along the dirt roads that surrounded the family farm. As OFG said, getting your motorcycle endorsement was quite easy back in the dark ages. I had to follow a cage around the block for my road test.
