Step 2: Where to start, how to learn.
"Alright Alright! Let's do this! Get me on two wheels, I'm ready to hit the highway!"
Yes, I'm sure you are. But there's many steps to go through before that. Do you even know how to ride?
"Well, I uhh... Rode some dirt bikes as a kid and I rode my buddies scooter around the neighborhood, does that count?"
I'm sure it counts for something, but not nearly enough. You're going to need the proper skills and training to take on the open road.
"Well how hard could it possibly be? I mean, I've been driving for years now and I'm a damn good driver to, isn't that enough?"
Even if you feel you've got the knowledge you need, there is way more to learn than you would even imagine, but don't worry there's hope for you yet.
"Okay fine, you're right. I'll take the course, I'll get properly licensed, I'll do this thing right so I not only don't kill or horribly disfigure myself but so I have a much better time riding as well... So where do I begin?"
Well, here in America we have the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, but something like this exists in every country. You need to contact them and schedule yourself for the training course. It's generally not expensive and I can assure you it's a lot of fun as well.
"Oh boy! So I'm going to have f-... Okay look, I lied about the riding experience... I've never ridden any kind of motorized two wheeled vehicle at all..."
Can you ride a bicycle...?
"Of course I can, who couldn't?"
Well then, you'll be fine.
"What?! Really?! Don't I need to practice some where before taking the course or something?"
Nope! They'll teach you everything you need to know, from the very beginning and very basics, things like balancing and turning all the way to being able to ride properly and safely down the road.
Yes, I'm sure you are. But there's many steps to go through before that. Do you even know how to ride?
"Well, I uhh... Rode some dirt bikes as a kid and I rode my buddies scooter around the neighborhood, does that count?"
I'm sure it counts for something, but not nearly enough. You're going to need the proper skills and training to take on the open road.
"Well how hard could it possibly be? I mean, I've been driving for years now and I'm a damn good driver to, isn't that enough?"
Even if you feel you've got the knowledge you need, there is way more to learn than you would even imagine, but don't worry there's hope for you yet.
"Okay fine, you're right. I'll take the course, I'll get properly licensed, I'll do this thing right so I not only don't kill or horribly disfigure myself but so I have a much better time riding as well... So where do I begin?"
Well, here in America we have the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, but something like this exists in every country. You need to contact them and schedule yourself for the training course. It's generally not expensive and I can assure you it's a lot of fun as well.
"Oh boy! So I'm going to have f-... Okay look, I lied about the riding experience... I've never ridden any kind of motorized two wheeled vehicle at all..."
Can you ride a bicycle...?
"Of course I can, who couldn't?"
Well then, you'll be fine.
"What?! Really?! Don't I need to practice some where before taking the course or something?"
Nope! They'll teach you everything you need to know, from the very beginning and very basics, things like balancing and turning all the way to being able to ride properly and safely down the road.
"Oh Good, that's a relief. But with that being said, what if I didn't have any road experience whatsoever? As in, what if I didn't have my automobile driver's license?"
Yep, you can even start from there. You just need to let them know.
"Okay, sounds good. I called them up and scheduled myself for the next class. I can't wait. Is there anything else I need to know until then?"
You bet your ass there is! Generally speaking, these courses don't provide gear. Some might, but usually they don't, so you're going to need to bring your own. Worry not, you'll need it anyways for when you buy your motorcycle.
"Oh! That reminds me! Won't I need my own motorcycle to take this course!?"
Nope. At least 999 times out of a 1000 you won't. Some courses will give you the option to bring your own bike though...
"Something tells me that isn't a good idea..."
Yeah, something tells me you're right. Their bikes are use to being dropped and having little "oops" along the course. Do it to yours though and guess who has to pay to fix those pretty fairings and that sparkling chrome?
"Point made, good sir. Well then, shall we?"
We shall. Let's go get you some gear. I'll meet you up at step 3.
Yep, you can even start from there. You just need to let them know.
"Okay, sounds good. I called them up and scheduled myself for the next class. I can't wait. Is there anything else I need to know until then?"
You bet your ass there is! Generally speaking, these courses don't provide gear. Some might, but usually they don't, so you're going to need to bring your own. Worry not, you'll need it anyways for when you buy your motorcycle.
"Oh! That reminds me! Won't I need my own motorcycle to take this course!?"
Nope. At least 999 times out of a 1000 you won't. Some courses will give you the option to bring your own bike though...
"Something tells me that isn't a good idea..."
Yeah, something tells me you're right. Their bikes are use to being dropped and having little "oops" along the course. Do it to yours though and guess who has to pay to fix those pretty fairings and that sparkling chrome?
"Point made, good sir. Well then, shall we?"
We shall. Let's go get you some gear. I'll meet you up at step 3.