I have decided to learn to ride a motorcycle. Now what? What are the steps? Where do I go? What do I need? Can I even do this at 46 years old? These were the questions I was asking myself and others. I will be honest; the last question was really the first one I asked.
When Jason and I discussed the possibility of riding motorcycles as our hobby after our kids grow up (they are both in high school this year-one senior, one freshman), I feel like it came out of nowhere. Of course, it didn’t, it had just felt like I hadn’t thought about it in years. But then I got excited about it. Really excited about it. I looked up websites on women riders; where and how to get started. I figured if I had done my “research”, I could make the smart decisions. Take the right steps. And then I started to doubt whether I wanted to be a biker. I don’t look or feel the way I did in my 20s. I don’t embody the look of a biker. So, I called in reinforcements. I have a friend who has ridden since she was 16. She’s amazing and loves to ride. And she offered to help me get started. She didn’t provide advice or tell me what to do. She just said she’d join me on the journey. She went with me to try on gear and then later went riding around parking lots and cul-de-sacs with me. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. How does one actually get started learning to ride?
Take a class.
This is step one- well, step 1.5 really. I started by going to a motorcycle dealership and taking a look at some bikes. Sat on a few. Pictured myself on them. Then, I took a class-and let me tell you, that’s when you figure out if you actually like RIDING a motorcycle more than just the look and idea of them. It’s also the best start to checking off the next step.
Get your license.
I, by nature, am a rule follower. And because of that, I wanted to have my license before I would take a motorcycle on the road. In my state, you can either go to MVA and take a written and riding test like a 16 year old, or you can get certified through Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified class (which also includes the written test and riding test) (see “Take a class.”).
Buy a bike.
After the class is where the real learning begins. And to do that, you need access to a motorcycle. You don’t actually have to buy one. You can borrow one from a friend or rent one, but if you are serious about learning, you should have some long-time access to a bike. Which bike you buy depends on how you want to ride.
To read more about buying a motorcycle and what to get, see this post.
Find some riding friends.
This is key. I could not really have learned on my own. There are videos out there for learning in 15 minutes, but I figure they are for a younger generation. I am older and a little more cautious. I am blessed to have had J to help guide me and a good friend to ride with me. Having someone more experienced who I could follow, try to keep up with, and more easily build my skills was key.
Ride on.
Enjoy the ride! Whether up and down a pretty street, skills practice, going to see your friend’s daughter at her softball game, or just riding around to ride. I have quickly found the excitement of adventure when I the feel of the wind on my helmet and jacket, the smells of the fields after a rainstorm, the counting of the bugs that hit my visor or that one cicada that throat punched me. It’s a great experience.