Good Advice for Nervous Novice Riders
It is normal to be nervous when you are just starting out on a bike, or getting back on a bike after years without one, so take our advice. Motorcycles are nothing like a car, from the controls, to the riding position, to the wind in your face, and that's the whole point.
1. Get Geared Up
Statistics show that the riders most often involved in an accident are newbies, and older riders getting back on a bike after years away from riding. The correct gear can save your life, and you are more likely to have a spill in the first year on a bike, so always wear quality, recently made gear. A helmet is the first priority no matter what the law says, and one made in the the last 10 years. Secondly, wearing the proper boots can save you from a broken ankle in a parking mishap, but remember steel toe boots can make things worse. Long pants and a motorcycle jacket are also a must, and remember old leather can get dry and loose its abrasion resistance. Sunglasses or google (or a full face helmet) will keep bugs and crud out of your eyes, and don't forget a good pair of gloves.
2. Pre-ride Checklist
You don't want to be doing anything once you start rolling except actually riding. Before putting starting your Harley-Davidson, throw your leg over it, pick it up off the stand and sway the bike side to side to get a feel of its weight, squeeze the clutch and brake lever a few times to get a feel of it, and adjust the mirrors. When you glance at the mirrors, you want to see the edges of your shoulders in them. If you need to re-adjust when you're driving, be sure to stop, put your bike in neutral, then adjust it again. Put the bike in neutral and start it, rev it a little to get used to the throttle and the engine vibration. Make sure your helmet is buckled, boots are tied, gloves are on, and jacket it zipped up, and you are nearly ready. The last thing, and the most important, is to fold up the kickstand.
3. Practice Riding
Plenty of older guys cash out their 401K, write the dealer a check and ride their new bike home, but you really ought to practice first to protect that investment. You should not drive your Harley in crowded, high traffic areas until you feel extremely comfortable on it. It is hard enough for experienced riders to avoid idiots in cars trying to run into them, so pick a street without many cars to practice driving your Harley Davidson. Ride an area you know, and ride the same loop a few times until you start to get comfortable with the turns, traffic signals, hills, etc. The more time you spend practicing, the better your experience will be out on the road.
4. Stop and Go Traffic
Don't rush yourself into hitting the road and cruising the mountains just yet, instead, stop and go, stop and go, then stop and go. Unfortunately, the vast majority of riding in town is going to be stop signs, red lights, and traffic, and you want the working of the clutch and gas to become instinctual. In your secluded street, put your bike in the first gear, go forward, then stop, then do it again. This little exercise will allow you to perfect your clutch, as well as build your muscle memory of putting your feet down at the right time, and not too early when the bike is still moving. If you can find a slight slope, practice stopping and then going without rolling backwards. When you are good with the controls you can put your feet on the pegs (or floorboards) when the light turns green, and be rolling before it starts to fall over.
5. Look Where You Want to Go
Inexperienced riders often don't feel comfortable leaning with the motorcycle into a corner, because it doesn't feel natural. Even some riders who have been doing it for years still don't lean the bike anywhere near the maximum cornering angle, even in an emergency. Looking into the direction of your turn will naturally move the handlebars and lean your body to allow the bike to make a smooth turn. You can watch crash after crash on YouTube and see the opposite is also true; look at the thing you are scared of hitting and you will go right for it. Look where you want to go, and get comfortable with the bike leaned over in corners, and you will enjoy the twisty bits much more.
6. You're Invisible to Cars
It doesn't seem possible that this big, shiny bike, with exhaust louder than most cars on the road, would be easy to miss, but for safety's sake, treat traffic as if you're invisible. Motorcycles are much smaller than cars, which means they can be hidden in a blind spot easier. Whenever you're passing a car, always pretend they can't see you, and prepare yourself to move away. The same goes for intersections; slow down and pretend people are about to make mistakes, like turn or dart out in front of you. A bike is easier to overlook, and more vulnerable, but the advantage is that you can accelerate, stop and swerve into smaller spaces to avoid trouble. Remember that, and be prepared for an "emergency exit" to the shoulder, into a driveway, onto the sidewalk, or between two cars, if you suddenly find a car coming right for you.
7. Don't Do This
As a beginner motorcycle rider, you should always go above and beyond to ensure you are safe; in the end, you still haven't built your muscle memory and your riding instincts. First, don't leave your driveway without all of your gear on. Secondly, don't split lanes until you have months of riding practice, and even though you might've purchased your motorcycle to do just that. People swerve into the carpool lane suddenly when they aren't legally allowed to do that, and you need split second reflexes to avoid them. When you don't feel ready to do something, trust your instinct, the last lesson you want to learn is that you weren't ready for that high speed canyon mountain ride. There are no statistics on it, but you can trust that a large percentage of minor motorcycle accidents are caused by a new bike owner showing off in a parking lot. Don't be that guy.
If you have a less than new bike that needs a little help, the HDForums.com is there for you with advice and our how to section.
