How to Ride a Motorcycle for Beginners – 12 Steps


Riding a motorcycle is one of the most fun things you can do but it is very dangerous to ride and so you will have to know how to ride well especially when you are just a beginner.

When you a beginner rider you will have to put a lot of Attention on every action you do on the motorcycle, and you will have to be very patient and restrained.

Many beginner riders do not really know how they should ride a motorcycle and what are the steps to, and because of this I wrote this guide to show you step by step all the things you need to do to start riding a motorcycle in a good and safe way

This guide is fit for any rider from beginner to even advanced rider, and I personally would even recommend reading it several times to know all the steps perfectly.

Before you start

Before you start, it is super important to make sure your motorcycle is properly maintained, and there is no part that does not work because if there is a part of the motorcycle that it’s not working, it’s already damaging  your safety and raising your chances of having an accident

It is very important to check that all these parts work….

Crane wheels, crane, pedal, cable, throttle lights, battery, headlights, turn signals, oil mirrors, rack, chain, and kickstand work properly

You will need to make sure all of these parts work perfectly before each ride

In this guide, we will go over

  • Step 1. Wear protective gear.
  • Step 2. Know the controls.
  • Step 3. know how to work with the clutch.
  • Step 4. Practice slowing down and Braking.
  • Step 5. Start the motorcycle
  • Step 6. Get on the motorcycle in a good and safe way.
  • Step 7. Give your engine time to warm up.
  • Step 8. know how to ride a motorcycle for Your first time.
  • Step 9. Take a safety course.
  • Step 10. know how to train and practice on the motorcycle.
  • Step 12. Know how to make turns correctly.
  • Step 13. know how to ride safely in your motorcycle.

Step 1. Wear protective gear

assorted-color-and-type items

Wearing protective gear when riding is the most important thing you should bear in mind and must do before any riding no matter what

Just know that riding a motorcycle without proper protective gear increases your chances of having a life-threatening accident of about 50 percent, so wearing protective gear is absolutely a must for anyone

If you want to see how dangerous a motorcycle is you are welcome to click on the post I wrote click here to look

Now I will show you the most basic and important protective equipment that you are required to wear, but with that there are also other protective equipment that you will need to take in winter with you such as coat, layers, boots and more that I explain about in the guide I wrote on motorcycle riding in winter click here to view

Helmet – Well, I’m sure you know that you must wear a helmet, but I will mention it again. The purpose of a helmet is to keep you safe from a life-threatening head injury and let me tell you a secret that 50 percent of those who die in motorcycle accidents don’t wear  a helmet, which requires you to wear a strong, high-quality helmet to protect your head perfectly

Boots – Boots are the second most important thing, in my opinion, after a helmet. The role of these boots is to keep your feet safe and also give you better control over the motorcycle when riding

If You want to see the sales page on my site where I show you the best boots on the market, you are welcome to click here

Gloves – Gloves are a very important thing to avoid hurting your hands and even give you a better grip on the handles

Jacket and long pants – two very important equipment details that so many riders do not attach importance to are wearing a jacket and long pants and why you ask you need them. So the truth is that a very long sleeve jacket and pants will help you avoid winter burns or even avoid the annoying raincoats dripping on you and give you an extra layer of protection for your body

Step 2. Know the controls

תוצאת תמונה עבור ‪controls motorcycle‬‏

Before you even start riding, you will have to learn all the various uses of controls that are in your motorcycle and also the role of each of them.

This is a very important part, and I would even recommend you to read this section a number of times so that you remember all the controls because of the fact that riding without knowing all the controls and usage controls can increase the risk of you making an accident significantly

Okay so let’s get started

  • Throttle – The throttle is located in the right handlebar, and the job of the throttle is to control the engine speeds.  Rolling the throttle down will slow down the speed and rolling the throttle up will give you higher speed, so you have to be very tiny in every action you do in the throttle
  • Brakes – The motorcycle brakes are divided into 2 parts that they are the front brake lever and the rear brake lever while the rear brake lever is located on the left side of the handlebars and its function is, of course, to operate the rear brake, However, the front brake lever is located on the right side of the handlebars, and it controls the front brake so that both brakes are very useful to use.  In addition, a very big mistake that a lot of beginners riders do is do hold the brake levers tightly, which is a very serious mistake, because brake strong with the brake levers can cause a very fast break that can knock you out of the motorcycle so that you can do accident
  • Clutch lever – The clutch lever is located on the left side of the handlebars, and its job is to activate the clutch and in other words, cut off and turn the power from the engine to the rear wheel which helps you to balance and control in dangerous situations where you lose control of the motorcycle
  • Gear lever – The gear lever is located on the lower left side of the motorcycle, and its job is to shift gears, and you can shift gears with your left foot. Usually, the optional gears that were from 1 to 6 while they Divided to Neutral, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gears.
  • Performance Meter – The performance meter’s job is to show all real-time motorcycle data such as fuel, speed, and gear mode and the Performance Meter will be locket under the windscreen
  • Mirrors – The role of mirrors is to help you see all the vehicles behind you, and it is also very important that you always clean the mirrors and stains so you can see them clearly and believe me it is very important and applying what a lot of riders do not matter for their mirrors which driven mףLook at the vehicles behind them so they can accidentally break tightly and make an accident so you’ll always remember to clean the mirrors
  • Flashlights and Lighting – The job of flashlights is of course to illuminate the route you ride especially at night And because of that, make sure before every ride that the headlights and lights work and In addition, make sure you’re not using the most powerful light intensity because it can dazzle other drivers around you
  • Engine Shut Down mode – The Role of the engine shutdown switch is to turn off the motorcycle, and he locked in the right side of the handlebar, in addition, you can use the key to turn off the motorcycle but there are situations that it does not work so the shutdown switch is the best way to turn off the motorcycle

In total there are about 8 usage controls that include

  • throttle
  • brakes
  • Clutch lever
  • The gear lever
  • Performance meter
  • Mirrors
  • Flashlights and lighting
  • Engine shutdown switch

Each of them you will have to learn before you start riding

Step 3. know how to work with the clutch

selective focus photography of motorcycle lever and handle bar

The job of the clutch is to replace the various gears in your motorcycle. If you are a beginner rider, it should take you a little more time and practice to know how to use the clutch so don’t worry if it is difficult for you at first because, in the end, it will be easily matched for you to get used to using the clutch

To use the clutch and shift gears you will need to pull in the clutch lever and from there you will need to use your left foot to shift gears and remember that every time you press left foot this way you shift in one gear

Usually, in most motorcycles, there are from 1 to 5 gears, and sometimes there are even up to 6, and they include and Divided to neutral mode, gear 1 2 3 4 5 and 6

Step 4. Practice slowing down and Braking

https://youtu.be/i-f34n_74oM

The most important thing you will have to practice is knowing how to brake your with your motorcycle properly and how to ride at slow speeds

I personally know so many riders who don’t really practice stopping correctly and believe me that if don’t stop the good way you can even make an accident and fly out of your seat and to avoid this, it is very important that you follow these steps:

  • First, before you practice braking and stopping you must first remember that the right lever applies to the front brake and the left lever in the handlebars applies to the rear brake, and sometimes in motorcycles, the rear brake will be located in the foot brake
  • After that, you probably ask which brake I should use, then it is very important that you know that the front brake is generally responsible for about 80 percent of the braking force. However, the rear brake is only 20 to 30 percent of the brake force, so the front brake is definitely a lot more significant, but with this, it is still important to use both of them
  • The best way to brake is first to apply the rear brake and only then the front brake gives you a safe and perfect braking
  • In addition, never press the brakes tightly because a braking force that is too powerful and one second can cause you to accidentally and fly out of the seat

Step 5. Start the motorcycle

black Suzuki R GSX sportbike

Now you will need to start your motorcycle

To start the engine, you first need to do some steps:

  • Before turning the key, it is very important to make sure that the kill switch is in “on” position and to do so simply slide it down
  • After that you need to check out what kind of motorcycle you have, most bikes require you to kick off to start the engine but if you did not have this option simply turn your key to ignition and check that the lights work
  • Now you need to make sure your motorcycle is in a neutral position and after that press the start button with your right thumb (the start button is marked with a circular arrow with a lightning bolt in the middle)
  • and that’s it you finish starting the motorcycle you just need only allow for at least between 5 to 10 minutes to let to engine warm-up

Step 6. Get on the motorcycle in a good and safe way

person riding on motorcycle

Maybe the most embarrassing and annoying challenge you are going to have as a beginner rider is to try to get on the motorcycle without falling as well, and I know at first it can be very embarrassing so I would even recommend you practice it on your own instead of without people

  • First stand on the left side of the motorcycle and the grip the left handlebars and swing your right leg firmly and try to reach as high as possible above the seat and making sure your knees are light and gloved which will help you get up easier now if it is easier for you to get through the right side of the motorcycle. It was also good depending on what is more comfortable for you
  • A very important tip that makes this step easier is always to try to transfer your weight to the motorcycle as much as possible.
  • At first, it was a bit difficult and not natural but after a few repetitions and practice it was very easy for you and it is very important not to be in stress if you lose balance at first from the motorcycle it is natural, and it will pass

Step 7. Give your engine time to warm up

person holding white mini bell alarmclock

A very serious mistake I see so many riders doing on my day is not to give the engine time to warm up properly

And you are probably asking why I should give my motorcycle engine time to warm up? You need to give the engine time to warm up to make it more liquid And efficient for riding and also if you do not allow time to warm up you can damage the engine life

Which is why it is super important before each ride to always give the engine time of at least 45 seconds to 10 minutes to warm up Because every time you ride without letting the engine warm-up you are hurting the engine life

I personally would even recommend you use a temperature gauge if you are really serious about this

Step 8. know how to ride a motorcycle for Your first time

And now for the real test and to start riding the motorcycle

So yes I will already tell you from my experience that riding a motorcycle is very scary at leastׁׂ for me at least, but with this, you must remember to be calm the first few times and not go straight quickly

And so to reduce stress and fear before the first ride, there are some important steps you need to do that are going to help you gain control and confidence over the motorcycle greatly

  • First Move your motorcycle to the first gear position with the clutch
  • Make sure you are stable on the motorcycle and not bent
  • After you start using your feet and start walking your motorcycle And at the same time accelerate at very low speeds. Do this for at least a few turns, and I assure you it will give you more confidence
  • Always try to ride in a straight line And as you start to get more control of the motorcycle, try to lower your legs and try to ride without them and increase your speed
  • It’s for starters, and I assure you that after a few times you do this you will feel that you have a lot of confidence in your riding and that you are no longer even afraid to ride at very fast speeds

If you want a more tangible explanation, I highly recommend you watch the video below to show you exactly what I have just explained

Step 9. Take a safety course

The best thing and advice I can give you is to take a safety course

In my opinion, a safety course is a must for every beginner, and I would even recommend taking a safety course every six months to work on your riding skills and in addition there are some states that are required by law to take a safety course so if you do not want it very important that you check if your country requires you

It is also very important not to get confused as there are many different motorcycle courses like a training course where you will learn how to ride a motorcycle, but you will not really get tools to be safe when riding, so it is important that you take a safety course and not get confused.

Also, most safety courses cost between $ 200-400, and sometimes some countries give free courses, plus most safety courses take between 5 and 15 hours and be sure that as much practice time as this is better

Step 10. know how to train and practice on the motorcycle

It is very important that you know how to practice your motorcycle and what you need to do when practicing so that you do not injure yourself

In fact, lots of accidents happened for beginners who wanted to practice highway, for example, fast road which can be life-threatening for anyone who has not practiced on a motorcycle before on a slow road, so it is important that when you go out to practice for the first few times, make sure you follow the rules for at least the first 5 practics

one thing every time – I know so many novice riders who work on a lot of things at the same time and don’t really learn effectively, and well, so you’ll have to work on one thing at a time and not go crazy

Ride with a Friend – The most fun and best thing you can do for yourself is export a friend who knows better than you about motorcycle riding and that way he can train with you and help you and in general, it is very important that someone teaches you

Ride on a Safety Track – What I highly recommend doing is to practice on safety tracks but note that there are countries where it will cost you money, and some of it was free

Practice on Open Place – The most serious mistake that so many beginner riders make is to go straight to a highway vehicle that has loads of traffic which can endanger even their lives and so you will initially have to practice in an open place where there are not even one vehicle like a car park, or Anywhere else that is empty

Equipment Equipment Equipment – Even if you are just going to practice and ride at low speeds it still does not mean you are not going to crash and believe me you are for your first time as a motorcycle rider going to be crashed so consider all equipment including like gloves, helmet, boots, jacket and long pants

Step 11. Know how to make turns correctly

aerial view of highway near trees

Usually, once you have passed the 5 or 10 mph speeds, you will need to make inquiries and turns correctly

In fact, doing wrong turn with a motorcycle can significantly endanger you, and I just mention that turns in wrong way and especially at the wrong time are among the most prominent causes of motorcycle accidents especially among beginners

And because of that, it is very important that you follow the 4 main steps that show you how to make turns in a good way

  • Slow down – first before you see the turn, you need to brake the brakes and reach a slow speed of between 10 and 20 km Just remember not to blow the levers tightly as it can get you off the motorcycle and also always head up and never sideways or down.  And remember that when turning, you should never ride fast and always remember to slow down at the right time
  • Take a look and be calm – after you slow down the speed, and you are already a few meters before turning you will need to lift your head and look upward in the direction you want and also remember to move your eyes and nose towards the turn because remember that the motorcycle will go where your eyes and head are going. And also when you turn it is very important that you are calm and foxed and not stressed because it will only hurt the process of turning which is simply
  • Press- this step is very critical that is how to work with the handlebars which is much simpler than you think, just move the handlebars to the side you want to move for example to move left Move the handlebars to the left of course and lean more to the right which will help you leaner the motorcycle to the left and remember to increase the speed slightly and do not jerk the handlebars erratically And that’s you in the halfway just don’t try to do all kinds of ineffective tricks
  • Rall – and at the end you have to roll the throttle just very important to remember to roll the throttle throughout the turn to not lose balance in this part the most important thing is to be as possible Balanced, stable, and controlled and keep in mind these 3 words and I assure you that you will turn with your motorcycle  a professional

And these are the 4 very important steps that include everything you need to do when turning with the motorcycle. It is very important to do all the steps and actions calmly and gently and not be stressed and in addition to remembering to practice the turn where there are no people

Step 12. know how to ride safely in your motorcycle

In my opinion, this is the most important part of this article, and I’m talking about knowing how to ride safely with your motorcycle

many beginner riders ride crazy and fast on the roads so it is no wonder that so many beginners riders making accidents and so as a beginner rider you will have to ride in a defensive and slow and no aggressive and fast

Here are some very important tips to help you ride safely

Equipment Equipment Equipment – This may be the third time I say this in this guide, but with that, I will repeat it because the data still shows that a lot of riders just don’t ride appropriate equipment, so it is super important to wear suitable protective gear before every ride

Don’t do tricks – Among the things that may be most difficult not to do  when you are an advanced rider is not to do tricks and stunts with your motorcycle and to do tricks for your motorcycle is among the most dangerous things you can do and not like in regular bicycles that the risk is much more Lower than doing an accident

On the other hand, if you are one who very much wants to start doing stunts with your motorcycle I highly recommend you go and do it in a stunt group or go to a teacher that teaches you and remember that stunts are only for advanced riders and not for the fast road but only for an open road that blanks from people

Follow the traffic rules – It is very important that you be alert and keep track of all the stops and traffic signs so you know when to stop and when to ride so that you also have to teach all the traffic rules orally and if you wear glasses it very important that you take them in every ride so you can see all the signs

Ride Defensively – You Must Never Be Cold And Think That Drivers See You Because They Are Not And In fact, About Two-Third Of All Motorcycle Accidents happen because a driver comes in the way of the rider so you must always ride carefully and be very focused and alert

Never Drinking – Riding when You Is under Alcohol Impact is Automatically Equals Lethal Fatal Accident And Most Who Ride who is Drunk Going To Make in 99 Percent of the cases a deadly Accident And So Never Think about Drinking Before You Ride

Thanks for reading unit the next post

Rob

I’m Rob, the owner of RX Riders Place. My family and I have a long history of riding dirt bikes and ATVs and want to share what we have learned.

Recent Posts