[Red Rider]

Riding a motorcycle is a unique experience. Riding is fun and invigorating, yet the skills needed for safe riding, combined with the lack of car-like crash protection on a motorcycle, can cast doubts on whether a person should choose to ride a motorcycle. Some potential riders lack the ability to execute skilled and timely actions in a complex traffic environment; others lack keen judgment or don’t have a firm grasp of the concept of risk management.

MSF believes that motorcycling isn’t for everyone. If you’re considering becoming a rider, however, here are some questions for you to use as a self-assessment of the physical capabilities and mental attitude required to safely navigate a motorcycle on the street:

1. Are you a higher risk-taker than others you know? If you tend to need a thrill while driving a car and have aggressive or risky tendencies (following too closely, turning without signaling, talking on a cell phone, getting angry at other drivers, etc.), motorcycling may not be for you. While motorcycling improves the overall quality of life for many, for some it can lead to disaster. Thinking that accidents only happen to others is an attitude that will get you in trouble.

2. Can you ride a bicycle? This is a prerequisite for enrolling in our Basic RiderCourse and generally a good gauge of your ability to maneuver a motorcycle. Bicycling, like motorcycling, is a physical activity that involves balance and coordination. And speaking of coordination …

3. Can you drive a stick-shift car? This is not a requirement, but it may make learning to ride easier because almost all motorcycles have manual transmissions. If you can’t get the hang of shifting gears but still want to enjoy a powered two-wheeler, you might want to start out on a motor scooter. Motor scooters generally have automatic transmissions and come in many sizes, from simpler models with an engine size of 50 cubic centimeters (cc) to powerful 650cc models.

4. Do you see well? Riding a motorcycle requires special perceptual skills that rely on good vision. Have you had an eye examination recently? Do you tend to see things that are far away later than other people you know? The ability to see well ahead is important for safe riding.

5. Are you mechanically inclined? Today’s motorcycles are very reliable machines, but with all the bolts, nuts, and mechanisms out in the open, and only two tires connecting you to the pavement, you need to be able to inspect your equipment and make the occasional minor adjustment. You don’t need to be a master mechanic, but it helps to know your way around a tire pressure gauge and a wrench. Most everything a rider needs to know is in the motorcycle owner’s manual, and if you’ve never read your car owner’s manual, that could be a sign that motorcycling is not for you.

6. Are you safety-minded? If you routinely find yourself bandaged up after doing simple do-it-yourself projects around the house, or think it’s acceptable to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, the unique challenges of motorcycle riding may not be compatible with your decision-making. Riders can control their situation only if safety is a high priority. Millions of motorcyclists ride millions of miles without incident, and they likely take safety seriously.

7. Do you respect machinery and other equipment that has risk? For example, when using a lawn mower or chainsaw, do you maintain it properly and wear eye/ear/hand protection when needed? If you’re not serious about safety in connection with simple machinery and equipment whose improper use can lead to serious injury, you may not respect motorcycling enough to follow safety precautions. Successful riders know that safety isn’t a matter of luck, but a matter of doing the right things to minimize risk.

8. Can you focus? Inattention is a major cause of crashes. Safe motorcycling requires dedicated attention to the immediate task and a keen awareness of everything going on 360 degrees around you. Rush-hour traffic aboard a motorcycle is not the place to be daydreaming. For instance, if you find yourself overusing your brakes because you were caught off-guard, or are often surprised by a passing car or truck you didn’t see, your situational awareness could be less than adequate.

9. Can you handle your car in an emergency? Drivers don’t often have the need to brake hard or swerve to miss a crash, but it’s important to have the skills to be able to do so when needed. On a motorcycle, having these types of skills is essential because other highway users tend not to see motorcyclists in traffic, especially around intersections.

10. Are you willing to invest some time in learning to ride the right way before hopping on a bike? Your best “first ride” is a Basic RiderCourse where you can familiarize yourself with the safe operation of a motorcycle. You can even take the course as an experiment, to help you better understand the dynamics of good riding and to determine if motorcycling is right for you.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation - Motorcycle Safety Foundation

[Jetpilot07]

i believe if you want to ride on the black top, you should first spend a few years on the dirt!!!!!

motorcycling isn't a right, it's a priveledge.....

[cbr1kfireblade]

Originally Posted by Jetpilot07

i believe if you want to ride on the black top, you should first spend a few years on the dirt!!!!!

motorcycling isn't a right, it's a priveledge.....

.... GREAT RIGHT UP

[Deep Blue]

Riding a motorcycle is one of the most thrilling and enjoyable things you can do. It is also one of the most dangerous. Risky things are by their very nature more rewarding than the mundane e.g. investing in stocks can result in serious cash but also can result in losing your shirt. The trick is to be in the right place in between i.e. getting alot of reward but not for too much risk. There reaches a point when a small amount of additional reward/pleasure results in a much higher risk of accident on the bike. e.g. going round that corner at another 5kmh faster won't give you much more of a thrill but could end in disaster if you are at the limit of your tyres. Assessing where this point is comes with experience - you experience situations where you are shocked/surprised and file these away for next time. Staying just below this limit maximises your pleasure for a given level of risk.

[cbr1kfireblade]

[dicknose]

I dont think riding on dirt is any sort of pre-requisite. Sure it helps, but in may places there is better training for road riding than dirt riding.

Id add - can you risk an injury?

Are you pregnant?
A new parent or primary carer for someone else?
You need to consider that as a new rider you have a very high risk of having an accident and that could result in hospital time and possibly weeks of limited mobility.
For most of us, this is simply a normal risk.
But if someone else is depending on you, then its also a risk for them. Do you have insurance that will pay for income or the cost of someone else to do your carer work?

Sure - you could have an accident in a car. But if you are taking up bike riding the chances are way higher of an accident that puts you out of action for a while.
And I type this as a lady from my work is in hospital with a broken femur and multiple breaks to her lower leg and ankle. She had been riding for a month and was hit by someone running a red. She will be in hospital for a month and in plaster for longer.
She is single and while not pleasant - it isnt as big a drama as being a new mum or caring for an aged relative or similar.