Learning How to Ride a Motorcycle for the First Time, with Harley Davidson

[Tom]

Interesting read for aficionados.   

https://coolmaterial.com/rides/how-to-ride-a-motorcycle-for-beginners/?utm_source=GetTheElevatordotcom

[fotoguzzi]

I hate when people think brakes is spelled breaks.. at that point I quit reading.

[Bull Tahr]

Interesting first choice for learning to ride............... ..........

[Scout63]

I think first rides should be on small displacement Japanese four stroke singles on grass or dirt away from anything else that moves.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

Being in my 52nd year of riding motorcycle, I truly appreciate the excitement, the fun, the freedom and the technical expertise it takes to safely operate one of these machines.

I learned on a 65cc Honda, moved up to a 125, a 380, 550 before getting a 900 cc BMW. Roads had 1/8 the traffic of today and the early 70’s were a perfect time to learn the skills.

[LowRyter]

I think first rides should be on small displacement Japanese four stroke singles on grass or dirt away from anything else that moves.

That option isn't available for many that live in cities and 'burbs anymore.  So it's usually MSF, ride between the cones on Honda 250s. 

I remember when a farmer would let you hunt on his farm land too. 

[Griso8V]

While the author is kinda of a bozo, the concept of training new riders on a nice MC is a good one in my opinion.  And it will certainly build brand loyalty in those that chose to stick with it and purchase a bike...
Tony C

[Cam3512]

The kid across the street took that class.  New rider, said it was great.  It got him his NJ motorcycle enforcement too.

[AJ Huff]

Looks like a good proper course very much like the MSF course I took in Michigan. Seems like a right sized bike to me.

-AJ

[Tom]

MSF out here gets Honda bikes donated.  They get sales plus the tax donation.  Smart move for selling entry level bikes.

[guzzisteve]

There is a Guzzi 1400 rider here by ATL that had a women rider pull right out of her driveway in front of him. Bad wreck on her 1st ride of her 1st bike, a Sportster(you know ,a girls bike in HD crowds).

[Moparnut72]

There is a picture on the Triumph Rat site, triumphrat.net. Looks to me that the insurance company will probably total it. Not so much for the amount of damage but the cost of Moto Guzzi parts. I would think that a person would have a good bike if you could get it for a reasonable price and repair it with used and after market parts.
kk

[Motormike]

I hate when people think brakes is spelled breaks.. at that point I quit reading.

Them's the brakes. 

[PJPR01]

I hate when people think brakes is spelled breaks.. at that point I quit reading. 

Even worse that his editor didn't catch the error either.   

[MMRanch]

Yea ,

What Scout63 said : "I think first rides should be on small displacement Japanese four stroke singles on grass or dirt away from anything else that moves."

My mom probably saved my life by getting me a Honda 65cc (one step up from a moped) .  These guys starting out on the Harley 500cc bike is crazy .

The Honda Rebel 250 would make a good learning bike too.   The one I had was a lot of fun !

[Tom]

IIRC the Honda bikes supplied for the Basic MSF courses in Hawaii are the Rebels 250 and/or the intermediate size 450 (whatever).

[OldMojo]

I hate when people think brakes is spelled breaks.. at that point I quit reading.

This.

How about break petal/peddle?

Just back away from the keyboard, please.

[steven c]

 I think everyone could start on a mini bike just to get familiar with the hand throttle.

[Moparnut72]

For fun I just rebuilt an old mini bike with HF Predator motor. The damn thing is trying to kill me. It will wheelie when the clutch engages or the throttle is twisted too quickly. I guess they were created for little people with a lower center of gravity. My wife said I need to wear a helmet.   
kk

[berniebee]

I think first rides should be on small displacement Japanese four stroke singles on grass or dirt away from anything else that moves.

Absolutely.
It's so much more fun to learn on a lightweight small displacement bike. I learned to ride in the dirt on a tiny Honda Z50, which thankfully didn't even have a clutch.
I learned how to skid that back wheel without falling, to downshift and to rev the crap out of it at the base of a hill I was about to climb. I learned about traction on dirt vs gravel vs pavement vs puddles. It was a blast, at speeds only slightly faster than a bicycle.

After two summers, my next and first road bike was a Yamaha RD200. Lightweight, flickable, it had plenty of power to keep up with cars. I remember a Cycle World magazine comparo article of the Honda CB200 vs the Yamaha RD200.  The authors preferred the Honda for beginners because the Yamaha had a sudden acceleration when it came on the pipe at about 3,500rpm (Ooh, so much power) and they derided it's front drum brake because it was just too effective.  The Z50 and RD200 ignited a life long passion.

My jaw dropped this spring when a petite 50-something  acquaintance told me she had purchased her first bike. On the advice of "friends" she had purchased a Harley, slightly customized with foot controls moved way forward. "I can't reach the brake or shifter when I'm stopped. It's so heavy!"   What a sad introduction to motorcycling.

[Gliderjohn]

I would support a graduated system here for working up to large and/or powerful motorcycles. I first rode 70cc, 90cc and 175 cc bikes on dirt and grass before moving up to a 400cc road bike which I rode 11 years before moving up to a "big" bike, my T-3. Still alive and riding at 67 so must have worked.
In the flying world all pilots start in very basic flying machines and work up. Most would not recommend letting a newly minted pilot take out a P-51.
GliderJohn