Let me know some of your dumb beginner mistakes down below so we can all laugh at our collective dumbness and save someone else from making them. Sharing is caring after all!
I bought my motorcycle before having ever ridden a bike....had it delivered to my apartment complex. Had to push it up seven stories of parking garage to get to the empty and flat top floor to practice (this was during the pandemic so there were no MSF courses). It turned out fine, but man it was really hard to get it started and figure everything out on my own from youtube videos
Not reading the manual. Not shifting at proper shift points. Not negotiating enough at the dealership- i was able to get $2k off price but then didn’t negotiate the bs stuff they charge lol. Not having the right tools when modding it out, i stripped a couple of bolts and one time i stripped it so bad i had to take it to a dealership for them to extract it and install the misc stuff i need and they charged $150 per hour 😆. But overall i loved it!
Back in 2007, i bought my first bike ever to ride and own...it was a 2003 Hayabusa! Ignoring safety issues of starting on such a bike, it was dumb because every other bike i tried afterwards was just boring
My first few years on the bike, I didn't even know people wore earplugs. Earplugs are such a game changer. Everything calms down, and you enjoy the ride a lot more.
Earplugs are part of ATGATT imho, just like back protectors, the high frequency wind noise even in a good helmet is a recipe for long term hearing loss and tinnitus without plugs. Hearing loss is one of those things you’re basically screwed on getting fixed unless you’ve got more money than god like Brian Johnson from AC/DC.
Made the same mistake when I bought my first one except I just didnt know.. seller had 2004 rear tire on it, luckily I changed the tires two weeks after buying 😂
I have 2014 tires on my bike. Ofc I couldn't push it, and I learned where the limits are of the tire. Can't wait to get a new set of tires for next year's season. Peace!
no joke. I went from dirt racing, to crotch rockets to cruisers and now wanting a scrambler for light trails. The amount of experiences one can have on motorcycles is pretty much endless.
Some great advice... Especially regarding MSF. As a former coach we always stressed that this was just the begging and that they should take additional intermediate, track and off road classes. The more skills you have, the better rider you'll be.
Having TH-cam University available has saved me from making a fair few beginner mistakes, so I'm infinitely grateful to the creator community for putting their takes out there! I did, in fact, buy a second hand bike that has clearly been several other peoples' "My First Bike". It's a 2020 Ninja 400 that's been to the moon and back, and has spent a fair bit of time horizontal. Perfect, because the first thing I did is throw it on the ground too. My mistake(?) was in getting a bike that's a bit large for me. Yeah, believe it or not, riders exist for whom the Ninja 400 is a terrifying big bikkies absolute unit - I'm 5'1" and have a 25" inseam. I have to pop a cheek to reach the ground, but that's a terrifying prospect as a beginner. I paid peanuts for it, and I've wanted a Ninja for nearly TWO DECADES, but I'm spending most of my time on my partner's Grom! (I can't even flat foot the Grom. It's pop a cheek or tippy toes, but at least the Grom doesn't try and hadoken me into the ground...)
I disagree on the tool set. Instead of getting an expensive one, go to Harbor Freight for the wrenches sockets screwdrivers etc. Use those until you break them. Then upgrade the tool specifically that you broke. That being said, don't go cheap on the torque wrench. That's a headache waiting to happen.
A lot of harbor freight hand tools I can see lasting a lifetime. The ratchets and sockets are really nice! I love harbor freight. The icon stuff is very nice and the warranty on the Pittsburgh and icon stuff is as simple as bring in the broken one and grab a replacement off the shelf
Thanks for the mention! I definitely identify with do your own maintenance 😂 I mean I was in college and didn't have money to just pay dealerships like that but DIYing it definitely taught me a lot about my own bike. I'm a mechanic by necessity 😂
I made 2 of your 5. 1. I went out and bought a motorcycle that was too nice to drop. And then I dropped it. It was used thankfully, but it was a Triumph ST 900. Still too nice to drop. 2. I also thought MSF course was all I needed to learn how to ride a motorcycle on the street. Great information Spite. Ty!
Here comes the old-timer… in my day we didn’t have Cycle Gear/Revzilla… I purchased my first road helmet, from the dealership before I could afford the motorcycle… I also got my license before the MSF course was widely available…. I still have my original helmet, an AGV Kenny Roberts signed edition, with blue velvet liner….
So true about the MSF - state of IL does class that is based upon MSF. Basically, they taught you basic skills and how to ride in a parking lot. Spent the first couple of weeks riding around the subdivision and then around our small town. Practiced start/stops, starting while going uphill, etc.
3rd thing? I bought a brand new MT07 for my bike after MSF. No regrets. Love it and ZERO break downs or maintenance issues. Basically I wanted to learn to RIDE and not worry about fixing things.
I've listened to yours and a few other TH-camrs advice as I get back into the powered two-wheelers. It's been thirty years and I'm glad I did, even though Boon A Goon just reminded me a Hodaka Super Rat was the first motorcycle I rode, which was long, long ago. I'll be travelin on dirt and trails almost exclusively and knowing my history for agressively mountian biking my self and body into creative meetings with the surrounding elements, I decided to gear up to the hilt with body protection before buying a bike. (I figured I needed it most at the start :-) I'm usually way more on the impulsive side, but I took my time, read and watched reviews, asked friends, got an idea of what I wanted, and scoured the net for deals. It's definitely not a matchy-matchy look, but I ended up with good stuff. I think I woulda spent way more and maybe not even bought some of the stuff if I bought the bike first. It was the right way for me
I'm honestly so glad I bought a used bike that had already seen a drop or two. Literally day 2, I got cocky and looped it across an intersection. I got up, picked my bike up and moved it to the sidewalk and looked it over. It looked the same save for a new little scratch on the tank. After laughing it off I rode it home as if nothing even happened
My noob mistake was not doing any maintenance at all on my first bike. This was before the internet (yes, I'm old) and I was young and silly & didn't have a clue. But, to its credit, that little Honda CB250 chugged along for a year & only died because a loose chain wrapped around the front sprocket & punched a hole in the engine case. If I'd just kept the chain adjusted it'd probably still be running around on the streets.
Forty years ago, I owned a TS250 single cylinder two stroke Suzuki enduro motorcycle. Five days after I bought it, I dumped it, on a trail, into a huge puddle of water. It went sideways out of my hands, with the motor running. The motor ingested water. Had I simply pushed the bike out and got it towed and the water taken out, I would have been ok. But I cranked it up and rode it out. That was the end of the health of that motor. If you ever dump a bike in a puddle of water with the motor running. Get the water out before you start it. It ran ok after that but with half the power. I can still remember the sound of the piston ring flutter on the highway, after I did that. Same bike, same forty years ago, several months later. A car pulled out in front of me, and the car's engine died. I was closing but I thought they would move which they did - backwards - so I kept approaching at the 35-mph road speed. The lady driving it then accidentally put it in drive and pulled out again and the car's engine died again, right in front of me. I whacked the side of her car at 35 mph, going over the hood like one of those spinning monkeys on a toy. Holding onto the handlebars way too long. the mirror stalks went across the tops of both my hands, and I will have nerve damage from that for the rest of my life. Thankfully, it's just been some weakness in my grip and some pain when the weather changes and I can still make a living. The lesson is, as soon as you see a problem. Slow down and stop if you have too. Heck, if I had it to do over again. I would have slowed down and pulled up on the sidewalk until this mess in front of me cleared safely out of my way.
To do your own maintenance, invest in stuff like pitbull stands, wheel spools, front wheel chock, portable hydraulic hand pump lift. Those can be hard to find at good prices. I bought a cheap-o motorcycle lift at Habor Freight and it works great on all my bikes....comes in handy with my riding mower too.
I bought new, mostly because my local used market sucks. Never worried about the eventual drops and scratches. Bonus, when I took it home, it was my first ride after taking the MSF 10 years before that. That was an experience.
I bought my recent bike new as my experience with second-hand vehicles in the UK. Quite a few people use PCP and hand the bike back at the end of the lease. Usually before the first mot is due. These bikes are often abused. Bought a cb500x that within a month had a cracked rear brake disk, and the shocks were completely shot. So now I buy bike new.
My first bike was a Honda XR75, I learned on my neighbors Z50. I couldn’t imagine learning to ride on the street. I had 12 yrs riding experience before I bought my first street bike. Master the bike before you take on traffic and all the distracted drivers of the day!
I had a Z50 that my aunt won on the price is right. I foolishly traded it for an SL70 that was a POS and was always breaking down. I couldn't afford parts so it wasn't a fun ownership experience, my buddies had xr75s or yz80s and all I could do was watch on jealously.
My first bike was a Honda XL70 - similar to the XR75 , but the XL had turn signals front and back in addition to head and tail lights like the SR70. My next bike was a Yamaha YZ125 which was strictly a dirt bike.
About to start riding here this month. Gonna be taking the MSF course at the end of the month, already have my gear (jacket, helmet, gloves, and boots), just deciding on waiting to pick up my bike after the first day of riding course or before (almost bought it when I first sat down on it a couple weeks ago lol). Overall, just pumped and glad I decided to go down the two-wheel path after being a car guy all my life.
My first bike was a used Honda Rebel 300 but I got through a dealership which I regret now. However, since that was my first time, good to learn. After a small crash, got fully paid + more from my insurance and got my dream bike, Triumph Scrambler 900. A rich guy sold a clean & full mod bike with only 7.4k which is insane. I been doing brake pads change and caliper cleaning so far than have to do bleeding. Plus, I’m planning on going off road/moto camping, so trying to change my tires to 80/20 or 60/40 as Pirelli Scorpian Rally STR. Also trying to get a high mud guard. Hav to do oil change & brake fluid later too. It’s just so fun learning your bike better and to understand how it works! I totally agree man!
Dumbest mistake when I started riding. Not buying bike boots, after many slight leg injuries I did buy some alpine stars motocross boots, the next day a car hit me .. Big dent in the boot, no broken leg and 40 years later I still have them. Every time I put them on it reminds me to stay cheerful n careful out there. There loads of tin tops just waiting at very intersection, it always surprises me you can see the whites of their eyes but they don't see you.
I rode the biggest piles of crap a small budget could buy in my teens and early 20s. It made me mechanically competent to the point where I resent letting the dealer service my still under warranty new machines.
Ay, another Austinite. Instantly recognized those roads. Every time I drive up there to go to the archery club, I've always thought that area would be amazing for riding around on a motorcycle. I've got a dirt bike, but haven't gotten my street license yet. Was thinking about doing my thing through the Austin Moto Academy.
Lol. I bought my first bike new and rode it 1hr home on the main road 65+ white knuckles the whole way. But damn what a feeling it gave me not only riding for the first time but getting home no issue. I'm chasing that high forever now
I promise, I don't try to advertise for my country, but it's good to know the differences between countries. I'm in France so I'll more say "In My Country" (IMC) - Number 1 : Personnaly, I had to buy my gear to get my licence. IMC, the motorcycle school made a list of "minimum gears to have" to get lessons. We have to buy them and then we can go on. Plus, you can't buy a motorcycle if you don't have the licence, so it's not revelant to finance the gears since we must already have them. - Number 2 : IMC there is 3 test to get the licence. The rule test, the track test (the one win cones on the parking), and the road test. I don't know how it is in USA, but school IMC get you on the road. Not really for long time, but you have a little bit of experience on the streets to begin with - Number 3 : I admit, I knew I was making this mistake, but it's a child dream. I always had second, third event fourth hand vehicules. Plus I didn't wanted to pay a motorcycle someone just trashed and hide it. I know riders a more tend to take care of their motorcycle, but I know a lot of people that are not and I'm not really confident to take the motorcycle from someone else (I bought a Z650 even after watching all the yammie's videos about it ;-) ). In the same time, I started to buy replacement mods like handlebar end, mirrors, headlight, etc. to place them on the bike so if it breaks, it's not the original part. Original part are way more expensives than third party mods (3rd party headlight 300€, original headlight 1500€). - Number 4 : Yep, I already took al lot of stuff in the goal of doing it myself. I watched a lot of videos (Yammie, fort nine, french channels) before getting my bike, I'm an industrial mechanic, so it was kinda obvious to do it myself. Today, I'll go to the services because I know I can't do all the maintenance ... yet. - Number 5 : I wish to do it, but I don't know when. I'm 40, I just started motorcycling and it took time because of money, I just hope I can't do it before it's too late, But I'll have to find a way to do it without having to buy another motorcycle because one is already a big budget, and with others because doing it alone is extremly dangerous, specially when you start. For the mistakes I made, Maybe it was to buy gears that are dark. maybe I would have bought more visible gears like a shiny red helmet (I'm 40, I must have red stuff ;-) ), a white jacket, etc. For the moment, I ride alone. I'm the only riders in my friends groups, I'm a bit antisocial, so I hesitate to go seeking for a group fearing the encounter with absolute jerks (the one laughing to the chicken strips for example).
I'm not sure I have anything I can point to as major mistakes as I did have an experienced rider to help me, but a few things I would pass on: 1: absolutely leave budget for gear, and ideally good gear. And ATGAT. Always wear it whether travelling 1 mile or 100 miles. I don't care how hot it is, wear that gear because the length of the journey doesn't mean jack and crashing is not fun. 2: Don't be afraid to start small. I live in the UK and started out riding 125's for commuting and it taught me so much about anticipating and reading the road ahead. If you want a small capacity bike to build up your skill, any real biker will 100% give you props for that. In fact, ragging the heck out of a small capacity bike can be hilarious fun because you'll be going full ham and probably not even be speeding... 3: Tyres. After the bike and a helmet, tyres should have the most amount spent. All the fancy gizmos and electronics in world don't change the fact the only thing that keeps you upright are those rubber rings on your wheels. So buy good tyres. Buy literally the best tyres you can afford because they WILL make a difference. And they get reviewed to death so find the best tyres you can. 4: Something that was done for me and I do for new/returning riders is make the first couple of journeys with a friend. They can sit behind you and play 'rear-gunner'; keeping traffic off your ass while you start to build some confidence, especially if you've come straight from a CBT in the UK or the MSF. Having an experienced, confident rider who can make sure you have room to work and think during those first miles can make a massive difference. And it's also someone to talk to at traffic lights or on comms. 5: Security. Buy a chain or a disc lock, ideally both. Apparently 30% of riders in the UK only use the steering lock. Thieves can break that and have the bike gone in literal seconds. A police officer once told me that generally if you can defeat thieves for more than 5 minutes, most will give up and go after an easier target and if everyone used things like chains and disc locks, they'd actually be able to catch thieves more often. So secure your bike. 6: Two accessories I consider essential; heated grips and a cargo net. Even if you only ride during summer, there are days when there's just a bit of a chill. You need your hands to be as on point as possible, so something just to take the chill off your fingers is really useful. And a cargo net will make it so much easier to carry stuff, even if you just strap a back-pack down so it's not on your shoulders. They're cheap as well.
Getting into car parks to practice slow speed skills and building up on road and street experience slowly to give your time to adjust to sensory overload is top knotch suvival advice.
I agree on everything except for not buying new. While you should buy used, it's not absolute. I'm a new rider myself and more concerned about learning to ride than trying to get the bike working. That's a problem when you buy used. You inherit the previous owners problems. Which adds additional cost in money and time away from riding.
We don't have MSF courses in California, we have the California Motorcyclists Safety Program (CMSP) certification program. Classes are put on by the California Highway Patrol motorcycle division. I believe that private companies can get certified to provide the training, but I think learning from CHP motorcyclists that constantly train and ride for a living is hard to beat.
As my first motorcycle I bought brand new bike and I was stressing out about all the little things like a scratch or dirt or water damage from rain. Then, I just thought to myself that I just need to enjoy myself and if it happens, it happens.
My mistake was not riding sooner I wanted a bike at 5 and at 17 I saw an deadly accident a motorcycle rider Rode through green car through red and the rider crashed into the sedan the rider wore no gear and his gut was ripped open that pushed me away from motorcycles but I always kept looking at them once I hear one passing me now I’m doing my license!
My advice would be when picking a bike for the first time don't let yourself be talked into something big or heavy, big fast bikes might sound cool but they are usually harder to drive and it's much harder to handle them when you need to move them around in small places like a garage or any place where you would store it.
The hardest part about buying ones first bike (still looking myself) is finding a used bike, that has been ran through more times than an OF model, that isnt more money than a BRAND NEW BIKE that hasnt been abused like the red headed step child of a rented mule. People are DELUSIONAL about the value of their old ass bikes.
First mistake? Your first motorcycle should be one that runs. I always tell this to people for project cars, but for some reason it totally slipped my mind when I got a motorcycle.
I got lucky my dad was a biker and I had 8 older brothers/sisters that all rode motorcycles. My first bike was a farm find for $5 with words from my father. ''If you can make her run, you can ride her''. I was 6 and had been riding my sibling bikes for a yr. The first thing you should buy/get after the bike is a shop manual for that bike. Take care brothers, ride free. In 54 yrs. of riding, I've buried 6 good friends and a brother! BF @ 17 He died in my arms as I tried to put his brains back into his head!!!
Mine was overfilling the oil on an engine with a crap oil breather system and thought "yeah it'll burn off" 1000 miles later. I had an oil seal crankshaft leak..
bought full set of gear before even doing the MSF course... bought a brand new 2023 CB300R (which, I learned on in the MSF), poodled around my neighborhood for about 1 week~ before even attempting any highway or expressway deals... am working on buying tools for doing maintenance, do most of my own chain maintenance but wanted to get the first oil-change done by the dealership I bought it from so if I decide to sell in the next year, I have dealer slips to show what was done and it's not "trust me bro". My next bike is going to be an ADV bike (likely cb500x) and want to do some fire-trails up north and or just do more travelling.
As a personal observation, with the exception of people who have done a lot of road racing, I can just about spot any rider who has never ridden off road simply by how few skills they have. Dirt biking bakes in things that street bikers may never learn. I bought an observed trials bike when I lived in the Netherlands from the guy who trains the Dutch police riders in observed trials. Every Dutch cycle cop has been taught to ride observed trials. Observed trials obviously isn't for everyone. But it's an easy thing to do in the Netherlands, which has very limited off road opportunities for other genre of off road activities and lots of trials clubs with places to ride. I rode 17 events in the two years that I lived there and I was making no effort to ride them all. One street noob mistake I made was not being careful with the oil that I bought for my street bike, which would be considered during the paleolithic era for anyone new to riding. It chewed up and spit out standard car swill. However, I have found that Rotella T4, (15w-40 the "cheap" stuff) works very well in anything that doesn't require super thin oil. I goes in my Duramax, snow blower, street bikes, dirt bikes, E30, Ski Nautique...pretty much everything but the wife's Sienna with excellent results over decades of time.
Putting my motorcycle in the kitchen of a local bar during rain thinking I would leave it and jump in a friends car. Instead I needed help to get it out of the kitchen whixh was a few steps down….the kitchen help ripped off my front fender and just sat it back on the wheel. As I pulled off the fencer went under the front wheel kinda like a snow mobile ski. I went down. Well I was fine and so kinda was the bike but lesson learned. Always inspect your bike after anyone elses hands are on it.
Gosh I’m old! 😂 we didn’t get any training back in the day here in the U.K.! My test was riding round the block while the examiner stood at the side of the road with a clip board watching me go past!😂😂😂 I didn’t make mistakes everything was learning
Fun idea to get more TH-camrs doing this and see what they'll mention that one doesn't mention but know it's a thing. It'll be fun to see and hear and be a big help for the community as an added bonus. I enjoyed Lali's video about it as well. Yam also did one if I recall not too long ago (I think it wasn't too long ago 😆).
There is a ton of value that can be obtained from financing a vehicle or anything. I'm not gonna mow lawns for 20 years saving up for my first car when I can finance a car and drive to a much better paying job.
@@alecgolas8396 the same sadly can't be said about motorcycles as they're mostly for fun. If you really want one for commuting a 125cc scooter is honestly all you really need
Add Michigan to the list of states with no public land, at least the southern half. I would have to go about 160 miles north to reach public rideable land, and much farther than that to reach any training other than msf.
My mistake was buying an Indian Scout brand new. after a year I was ready for a bagger only to find out my bike is worth 1/2 of what I owe on it. After a year of ownership I realized there's a ton of good used bikes that were better options for me such as a Road King or a Springfield.
My newbie mistake was believing the magazines that I needed expensive new kit on day 1... you don't, you can build it up over time. Also, you change kit over time and riding conditions i.e. if you are a fair weather biker, you don't NEED a Klim 4 season gore-tex suit. You WILL drop your first bike, so go with used.
First time on a motorcycle was at the MSF class.. FAILED.. lol... So I bought the bike anyway and just rode on a permit.. Taken it next year and passed.
I don’t know if it was really a mistake or not but my first bike I rode home through stop and go traffic on a busy street in the rain lol. I was nervous as could be considering my only experience was the MSF course and had someone almost run into me cutting me off. Trial by fire for sure, but I now have 11,000 miles under my belt in my first year of riding and I feel like that first ride gave me the confidence that I can handle whatever is thrown at me.
Sorry Spite but bundling the gear was your 2nd mistake the 1st was going to a Harley dealer lol. My biggest mistake was giving a sh!t what others thought of the bike I bought. Its a hard lesson for some, like me, but get the bike you want and damn the torpedoes!
I made the mistake of thinking that the chain maintenance schedule was time based, not mileage based. My beginner bike's chain had a shockingly good run, but it ended up falling off somewhere around 14 thousand miles in.
my big dumb mistake (and i have NO excuse) when i started was that i liked to get off my bike before droppng the kickstand. yeah it took one thankfully soft drop to correct that behavior.
I'm not riding yet, but will soon. Whole video I was looking at his hand that should cover brakes with 1-2 fingers. 😨 Lovely put together video tho. I heard a saying from a guy that for a first bike you should pick something that makes your heart race at the first look of the bike, like love on first sight, butterflies in your stomach, that kind of thing. I couldn't purchase Honda Rebel so I'll go with something cheaper, but she'll wait. :D
Don't try everything you see online if you're a beginner -they're not. Stepping on the high side foot peg to mount your bike, launching from a stop at an intersection both got me in trouble 😢
I made a video similar to this. “Top 10 things I wish I knew before getting a motorcycle” and you hit some of the same points, love your video man, I have to disagree to a point though on the “don’t buy a new bike” as a beginner I did just that , I want to ride and learn and not buy a used bike I might have to fix up or buy someone else’s problems.
RE: October 2023 I looked into buying a used motorcycle for my first bike but what I found was the prices were so high - what the heck, might as well buy new. I wish it wasn’t that way but that’s what my experience was.
My biggest mistake was buying bikes without riding them, everyone said the sv650s were awesome, so I bought one, and didn't like it. Traded it within 3 months for a Honda Hornet, probably cost me 2 grand because I'd spent some money on the sv trying to turn it into the machine it was not intended to be. Also, I'm now not sure how I feel about the hornet. I have to remind myself , motorcycle unicorns don't exist.
I vlogged a similar topic a while back ("Don't Make My Mistakes) - good post Spite, but to expand a bit on your second point - I think the MSF should at least teach the basics of trail braking in the BRC-1 - you simply cannot ride on fast roads without a basic understanding of trail braking. Slow look press and roll immediately fails the first time you hit a sharp freeway off ramp...
I just got my second bike, a Diavel 1200, less than 2000 miles, 2018, and I still am afraid to drop it 😂. Luckily, I am a big dude and have enough strength to recover even from bad situations. I almost dropped it twice today, practising slow speed figure 8s. It is so jerky at slow speed that I tend to over squeeze the clutch. My previous bike had enough torque to pull itself while I was dragging the rear brake, and here I have to learn to operate in the friction zone mostly with the clutch. Otherwise, it gets upset with me dragging the rear brake with a clutch, fully released.
My mistake was not knowing that 1000 cc is the same on a sport bike as it is on a cruiser. For the noobs, 1000 cc on a sport bike=quite fast and dangerous, only for the experienced; 1000 cc on a cruiser=far more manageable and even some beginners (like me when I was starting out) can start larger.
I bought a used bike as my first one and it turned out to be too much for me. So I traded it in and got what I really wanted and I love my new bike. Not so much because it's new but because it's more of what I need just starting out.
@@RestlessMule it was either try and die or work within my skill level. I had to be honest. Trying to be a cool looking badass isn't always the smartest move.
It was like the space shuttle had sex with a school bus (tech + boring motor= yawn). Made the error of getting a new BMW 750GS. Thing just had no soul. I sadly had to go through 6 bikes to find the one that checked the MOST boxes. Some compromise is usually needed and the Trident 660 ended up being my jam in the end.
As someone who bought his first bike new, last December, yeah don't do that. I just highsided it last week, and its very likely totaled (frame damage) and i still owe on it. Better to get used.
My 1st "mistake" was getting into motorcycles in the 1st place. Considering all the $ I could have saved in the +40 years since would have paid for my early retirement already. ;) Joke aside; thinking my juvenile offroad skills would auto transfer to the street was probably the biggest one. Fast&safe on asphalt and fast&safe on dirt is not the same! Oh, also "fast" on public roads and on the track are not the same, at all. So, in short, shoulda had more training before going nuts and wrecking bikes that didn't deserve it.
Used motorcycle prices can fluctuate at various times of the year. If you can wait until later in the riding season rather than buying at the beginning of the riding season then you will probably save money. If you take care of and then sell said motorcycle at the beginning of the next riding season you might find yourself an experienced rider with no cash outlay and all those extra months to save money for your dream bike.
Mine back then was buying, and learning on a school bike, both without abs I knew coming from cars and karts that would have been my weak spot, still I locked up the front wheel and low sided while braking and avoiding the training “obstacle” from 80km/h Abs saves lives on the street and newbs benefit from it even more I wouldn’t choose a bike without cornering abs nowadays
Yeah, I know I’m on this list and haven’t event gotten to the first point yet. Way over paying for a 2008 Harley softail deluxe. Atm pay off is 13.2k. It has 27k miles but a lot of mods on it.
i know maintenance is simple but before i start getting all those tools needed i'd rather go to the store. they do little stuff like chain adjustment for free anyway.
Don't immediately go replace the exhaust and do other engine mods on your first bike. Most every beginner will choose the wrong parts and is far more likely to reduce the engine's performance and resale value.
Bought a bike based on mileage and not general condition low mileage = good right? Without really researching or inspecting. R6 10,000 miles that was stretched, lowered and crusty AF. It was fine first season had a blast. Start of this season blew its oil all over the freeway at 90mph. The reason it had 10k miles? Dropped early on in its career and sat. Tore sprocket cover bracket leaving a hole in the block. Previous owners fix? JB weld.....my fix? To my everlasting shame JB weld....
I got me a used F4i and ive dropped it several times, never on the street though. Ive been riding it 8 years now, when it drops, all i care about is if the engine covers are cracked. If its not, i really dont care😂. Once i fix all the issues it has, then ill care.
You just can’t help but mention the Versys again. Kind of like that girl in elementary school who you told everyone was weird because you had a crush on her 😂
I'm very jealous for your weather... I live in Sweden and we just got the first few snowflakes... I agree with almost everything you say. Don't buy a new bike as a first. Learning on an older bike is good. don't finance your first bike either. My first bike 3 years ago was a 1999 Suzuki VL1500. Then I've had 9 bikes and I just got a 2011 Victory Cross Roads and it's the first bike I've financed. the good thing to start out with an older bike is that you learn to work on your bike - Just like you say in the video. But I don't really agree with the offroad thing. At least not in the beginning. I did that - and I crashed, that was painful, both for my body and the destroyed bike.
Did I miss something. Are you and yami not doing videos together anymore? I wanted to see you and yami do the dual ride review on his xsr900 and get your thoughts.
Let me know some of your dumb beginner mistakes down below so we can all laugh at our collective dumbness and save someone else from making them. Sharing is caring after all!
I bought my motorcycle before having ever ridden a bike....had it delivered to my apartment complex. Had to push it up seven stories of parking garage to get to the empty and flat top floor to practice (this was during the pandemic so there were no MSF courses). It turned out fine, but man it was really hard to get it started and figure everything out on my own from youtube videos
Not reading the manual. Not shifting at proper shift points. Not negotiating enough at the dealership- i was able to get $2k off price but then didn’t negotiate the bs stuff they charge lol. Not having the right tools when modding it out, i stripped a couple of bolts and one time i stripped it so bad i had to take it to a dealership for them to extract it and install the misc stuff i need and they charged $150 per hour 😆. But overall i loved it!
Back in 2007, i bought my first bike ever to ride and own...it was a 2003 Hayabusa! Ignoring safety issues of starting on such a bike, it was dumb because every other bike i tried afterwards was just boring
My boob mistake was not getting into motorcycles sooner
My first few years on the bike, I didn't even know people wore earplugs. Earplugs are such a game changer. Everything calms down, and you enjoy the ride a lot more.
What?!
I wear galaxy buds with some good tunes playing! The noise canceling is a game changer.
Earplugs are part of ATGATT imho, just like back protectors, the high frequency wind noise even in a good helmet is a recipe for long term hearing loss and tinnitus without plugs. Hearing loss is one of those things you’re basically screwed on getting fixed unless you’ve got more money than god like Brian Johnson from AC/DC.
try it. I don't ride without them@@danielpittman889
@@danielpittman889What?!
my stupid mistake was leaving the ten year old tires on my first bike, thinking they'd last me the season. they didn't.
Made the same mistake when I bought my first one except I just didnt know.. seller had 2004 rear tire on it, luckily I changed the tires two weeks after buying 😂
New tires are the best though! Best upgrade per dollar.
I have 2014 tires on my bike. Ofc I couldn't push it, and I learned where the limits are of the tire. Can't wait to get a new set of tires for next year's season. Peace!
The tires on my 50cc scooter are from 2008. Is that a problem? They used to lose air but I pumped them with tire slime lol
no joke. I went from dirt racing, to crotch rockets to cruisers and now wanting a scrambler for light trails. The amount of experiences one can have on motorcycles is pretty much endless.
Some great advice... Especially regarding MSF. As a former coach we always stressed that this was just the begging and that they should take additional intermediate, track and off road classes. The more skills you have, the better rider you'll be.
Having TH-cam University available has saved me from making a fair few beginner mistakes, so I'm infinitely grateful to the creator community for putting their takes out there!
I did, in fact, buy a second hand bike that has clearly been several other peoples' "My First Bike". It's a 2020 Ninja 400 that's been to the moon and back, and has spent a fair bit of time horizontal. Perfect, because the first thing I did is throw it on the ground too.
My mistake(?) was in getting a bike that's a bit large for me. Yeah, believe it or not, riders exist for whom the Ninja 400 is a terrifying big bikkies absolute unit - I'm 5'1" and have a 25" inseam. I have to pop a cheek to reach the ground, but that's a terrifying prospect as a beginner. I paid peanuts for it, and I've wanted a Ninja for nearly TWO DECADES, but I'm spending most of my time on my partner's Grom! (I can't even flat foot the Grom. It's pop a cheek or tippy toes, but at least the Grom doesn't try and hadoken me into the ground...)
I disagree on the tool set. Instead of getting an expensive one, go to Harbor Freight for the wrenches sockets screwdrivers etc. Use those until you break them. Then upgrade the tool specifically that you broke.
That being said, don't go cheap on the torque wrench. That's a headache waiting to happen.
A lot of harbor freight hand tools I can see lasting a lifetime. The ratchets and sockets are really nice! I love harbor freight. The icon stuff is very nice and the warranty on the Pittsburgh and icon stuff is as simple as bring in the broken one and grab a replacement off the shelf
Thanks for the mention! I definitely identify with do your own maintenance 😂 I mean I was in college and didn't have money to just pay dealerships like that but DIYing it definitely taught me a lot about my own bike. I'm a mechanic by necessity 😂
I thought I was saving money and time until I realized that oil was like $7 a quart... I was big dumb.
I made 2 of your 5. 1. I went out and bought a motorcycle that was too nice to drop. And then I dropped it. It was used thankfully, but it was a Triumph ST 900. Still too nice to drop. 2. I also thought MSF course was all I needed to learn how to ride a motorcycle on the street. Great information Spite. Ty!
Here comes the old-timer… in my day we didn’t have Cycle Gear/Revzilla… I purchased my first road helmet, from the dealership before I could afford the motorcycle… I also got my license before the MSF course was widely available…. I still have my original helmet, an AGV Kenny Roberts signed edition, with blue velvet liner….
So true about the MSF - state of IL does class that is based upon MSF. Basically, they taught you basic skills and how to ride in a parking lot. Spent the first couple of weeks riding around the subdivision and then around our small town. Practiced start/stops, starting while going uphill, etc.
3rd thing? I bought a brand new MT07 for my bike after MSF.
No regrets. Love it and ZERO break downs or maintenance issues. Basically I wanted to learn to RIDE and not worry about fixing things.
I've listened to yours and a few other TH-camrs advice as I get back into the powered two-wheelers. It's been thirty years and I'm glad I did, even though Boon A Goon just reminded me a Hodaka Super Rat was the first motorcycle I rode, which was long, long ago. I'll be travelin on dirt and trails almost exclusively and knowing my history for agressively mountian biking my self and body into creative meetings with the surrounding elements, I decided to gear up to the hilt with body protection before buying a bike. (I figured I needed it most at the start :-) I'm usually way more on the impulsive side, but I took my time, read and watched reviews, asked friends, got an idea of what I wanted, and scoured the net for deals. It's definitely not a matchy-matchy look, but I ended up with good stuff. I think I woulda spent way more and maybe not even bought some of the stuff if I bought the bike first. It was the right way for me
I'm honestly so glad I bought a used bike that had already seen a drop or two. Literally day 2, I got cocky and looped it across an intersection. I got up, picked my bike up and moved it to the sidewalk and looked it over. It looked the same save for a new little scratch on the tank. After laughing it off I rode it home as if nothing even happened
My noob mistake was not doing any maintenance at all on my first bike. This was before the internet (yes, I'm old) and I was young and silly & didn't have a clue. But, to its credit, that little Honda CB250 chugged along for a year & only died because a loose chain wrapped around the front sprocket & punched a hole in the engine case. If I'd just kept the chain adjusted it'd probably still be running around on the streets.
Being terrified of rain. Driving to work if even small chance. Not saying want to ride in it or try to but not worried too much anymore.
Forty years ago, I owned a TS250 single cylinder two stroke Suzuki enduro motorcycle. Five days after I bought it, I dumped it, on a trail, into a huge puddle of water. It went sideways out of my hands, with the motor running. The motor ingested water. Had I simply pushed the bike out and got it towed and the water taken out, I would have been ok. But I cranked it up and rode it out. That was the end of the health of that motor.
If you ever dump a bike in a puddle of water with the motor running. Get the water out before you start it. It ran ok after that but with half the power. I can still remember the sound of the piston ring flutter on the highway, after I did that.
Same bike, same forty years ago, several months later.
A car pulled out in front of me, and the car's engine died. I was closing but I thought they would move which they did - backwards - so I kept approaching at the 35-mph road speed. The lady driving it then accidentally put it in drive and pulled out again and the car's engine died again, right in front of me. I whacked the side of her car at 35 mph, going over the hood like one of those spinning monkeys on a toy. Holding onto the handlebars way too long. the mirror stalks went across the tops of both my hands, and I will have nerve damage from that for the rest of my life. Thankfully, it's just been some weakness in my grip and some pain when the weather changes and I can still make a living.
The lesson is, as soon as you see a problem. Slow down and stop if you have too. Heck, if I had it to do over again. I would have slowed down and pulled up on the sidewalk until this mess in front of me cleared safely out of my way.
To do your own maintenance, invest in stuff like pitbull stands, wheel spools, front wheel chock, portable hydraulic hand pump lift. Those can be hard to find at good prices. I bought a cheap-o motorcycle lift at Habor Freight and it works great on all my bikes....comes in handy with my riding mower too.
So glad i got a used bike first. Snapped my front brake lever off on the first week after dropping it at 0km/h.
I bought new, mostly because my local used market sucks. Never worried about the eventual drops and scratches. Bonus, when I took it home, it was my first ride after taking the MSF 10 years before that. That was an experience.
I bought my recent bike new as my experience with second-hand vehicles in the UK. Quite a few people use PCP and hand the bike back at the end of the lease. Usually before the first mot is due. These bikes are often abused. Bought a cb500x that within a month had a cracked rear brake disk, and the shocks were completely shot.
So now I buy bike new.
My first bike was a Honda XR75, I learned on my neighbors Z50. I couldn’t imagine learning to ride on the street. I had 12 yrs riding experience before I bought my first street bike. Master the bike before you take on traffic and all the distracted drivers of the day!
I had a Z50 that my aunt won on the price is right. I foolishly traded it for an SL70 that was a POS and was always breaking down. I couldn't afford parts so it wasn't a fun ownership experience, my buddies had xr75s or yz80s and all I could do was watch on jealously.
My first bike was a Honda XL70 - similar to the XR75 , but the XL had turn signals front and back in addition to head and tail lights like the SR70. My next bike was a Yamaha YZ125 which was strictly a dirt bike.
About to start riding here this month. Gonna be taking the MSF course at the end of the month, already have my gear (jacket, helmet, gloves, and boots), just deciding on waiting to pick up my bike after the first day of riding course or before (almost bought it when I first sat down on it a couple weeks ago lol). Overall, just pumped and glad I decided to go down the two-wheel path after being a car guy all my life.
My first bike was a used Honda Rebel 300 but I got through a dealership which I regret now. However, since that was my first time, good to learn. After a small crash, got fully paid + more from my insurance and got my dream bike, Triumph Scrambler 900. A rich guy sold a clean & full mod bike with only 7.4k which is insane. I been doing brake pads change and caliper cleaning so far than have to do bleeding. Plus, I’m planning on going off road/moto camping, so trying to change my tires to 80/20 or 60/40 as Pirelli Scorpian Rally STR. Also trying to get a high mud guard. Hav to do oil change & brake fluid later too. It’s just so fun learning your bike better and to understand how it works! I totally agree man!
Dumbest mistake when I started riding. Not buying bike boots, after many slight leg injuries I did buy some alpine stars motocross boots, the next day a car hit me .. Big dent in the boot, no broken leg and 40 years later I still have them. Every time I put them on it reminds me to stay cheerful n careful out there. There loads of tin tops just waiting at very intersection, it always surprises me you can see the whites of their eyes but they don't see you.
I rode the biggest piles of crap a small budget could buy in my teens and early 20s. It made me mechanically competent to the point where I resent letting the dealer service my still under warranty new machines.
Ay, another Austinite. Instantly recognized those roads. Every time I drive up there to go to the archery club, I've always thought that area would be amazing for riding around on a motorcycle. I've got a dirt bike, but haven't gotten my street license yet. Was thinking about doing my thing through the Austin Moto Academy.
Lol. I bought my first bike new and rode it 1hr home on the main road 65+ white knuckles the whole way. But damn what a feeling it gave me not only riding for the first time but getting home no issue. I'm chasing that high forever now
I promise, I don't try to advertise for my country, but it's good to know the differences between countries. I'm in France so I'll more say "In My Country" (IMC)
- Number 1 : Personnaly, I had to buy my gear to get my licence. IMC, the motorcycle school made a list of "minimum gears to have" to get lessons. We have to buy them and then we can go on. Plus, you can't buy a motorcycle if you don't have the licence, so it's not revelant to finance the gears since we must already have them.
- Number 2 : IMC there is 3 test to get the licence. The rule test, the track test (the one win cones on the parking), and the road test. I don't know how it is in USA, but school IMC get you on the road. Not really for long time, but you have a little bit of experience on the streets to begin with
- Number 3 : I admit, I knew I was making this mistake, but it's a child dream. I always had second, third event fourth hand vehicules. Plus I didn't wanted to pay a motorcycle someone just trashed and hide it. I know riders a more tend to take care of their motorcycle, but I know a lot of people that are not and I'm not really confident to take the motorcycle from someone else (I bought a Z650 even after watching all the yammie's videos about it ;-) ). In the same time, I started to buy replacement mods like handlebar end, mirrors, headlight, etc. to place them on the bike so if it breaks, it's not the original part. Original part are way more expensives than third party mods (3rd party headlight 300€, original headlight 1500€).
- Number 4 : Yep, I already took al lot of stuff in the goal of doing it myself. I watched a lot of videos (Yammie, fort nine, french channels) before getting my bike, I'm an industrial mechanic, so it was kinda obvious to do it myself. Today, I'll go to the services because I know I can't do all the maintenance ... yet.
- Number 5 : I wish to do it, but I don't know when. I'm 40, I just started motorcycling and it took time because of money, I just hope I can't do it before it's too late, But I'll have to find a way to do it without having to buy another motorcycle because one is already a big budget, and with others because doing it alone is extremly dangerous, specially when you start.
For the mistakes I made, Maybe it was to buy gears that are dark. maybe I would have bought more visible gears like a shiny red helmet (I'm 40, I must have red stuff ;-) ), a white jacket, etc.
For the moment, I ride alone. I'm the only riders in my friends groups, I'm a bit antisocial, so I hesitate to go seeking for a group fearing the encounter with absolute jerks (the one laughing to the chicken strips for example).
The MSF also has intermediate and advanced courses. The Ride Like A Pro courses are amazing. I highly suggest taking them.
I'm not sure I have anything I can point to as major mistakes as I did have an experienced rider to help me, but a few things I would pass on:
1: absolutely leave budget for gear, and ideally good gear. And ATGAT. Always wear it whether travelling 1 mile or 100 miles. I don't care how hot it is, wear that gear because the length of the journey doesn't mean jack and crashing is not fun.
2: Don't be afraid to start small. I live in the UK and started out riding 125's for commuting and it taught me so much about anticipating and reading the road ahead. If you want a small capacity bike to build up your skill, any real biker will 100% give you props for that. In fact, ragging the heck out of a small capacity bike can be hilarious fun because you'll be going full ham and probably not even be speeding...
3: Tyres. After the bike and a helmet, tyres should have the most amount spent. All the fancy gizmos and electronics in world don't change the fact the only thing that keeps you upright are those rubber rings on your wheels. So buy good tyres. Buy literally the best tyres you can afford because they WILL make a difference. And they get reviewed to death so find the best tyres you can.
4: Something that was done for me and I do for new/returning riders is make the first couple of journeys with a friend. They can sit behind you and play 'rear-gunner'; keeping traffic off your ass while you start to build some confidence, especially if you've come straight from a CBT in the UK or the MSF. Having an experienced, confident rider who can make sure you have room to work and think during those first miles can make a massive difference. And it's also someone to talk to at traffic lights or on comms.
5: Security. Buy a chain or a disc lock, ideally both. Apparently 30% of riders in the UK only use the steering lock. Thieves can break that and have the bike gone in literal seconds. A police officer once told me that generally if you can defeat thieves for more than 5 minutes, most will give up and go after an easier target and if everyone used things like chains and disc locks, they'd actually be able to catch thieves more often. So secure your bike.
6: Two accessories I consider essential; heated grips and a cargo net. Even if you only ride during summer, there are days when there's just a bit of a chill. You need your hands to be as on point as possible, so something just to take the chill off your fingers is really useful. And a cargo net will make it so much easier to carry stuff, even if you just strap a back-pack down so it's not on your shoulders. They're cheap as well.
Getting into car parks to practice slow speed skills and building up on road and street experience slowly to give your time to adjust to sensory overload is top knotch suvival advice.
I agree on everything except for not buying new. While you should buy used, it's not absolute.
I'm a new rider myself and more concerned about learning to ride than trying to get the bike working. That's a problem when you buy used. You inherit the previous owners problems. Which adds additional cost in money and time away from riding.
We don't have MSF courses in California, we have the California Motorcyclists Safety Program (CMSP) certification program. Classes are put on by the California Highway Patrol motorcycle division. I believe that private companies can get certified to provide the training, but I think learning from CHP motorcyclists that constantly train and ride for a living is hard to beat.
As my first motorcycle I bought brand new bike and I was stressing out about all the little things like a scratch or dirt or water damage from rain. Then, I just thought to myself that I just need to enjoy myself and if it happens, it happens.
My mistake was not riding sooner I wanted a bike at 5 and at 17 I saw an deadly accident a motorcycle rider Rode through green car through red and the rider crashed into the sedan the rider wore no gear and his gut was ripped open that pushed me away from motorcycles but I always kept looking at them once I hear one passing me now I’m doing my license!
My advice would be when picking a bike for the first time don't let yourself be talked into something big or heavy, big fast bikes might sound cool but they are usually harder to drive and it's much harder to handle them when you need to move them around in small places like a garage or any place where you would store it.
The hardest part about buying ones first bike (still looking myself) is finding a used bike, that has been ran through more times than an OF model, that isnt more money than a BRAND NEW BIKE that hasnt been abused like the red headed step child of a rented mule. People are DELUSIONAL about the value of their old ass bikes.
First mistake? Your first motorcycle should be one that runs. I always tell this to people for project cars, but for some reason it totally slipped my mind when I got a motorcycle.
I got lucky my dad was a biker and I had 8 older brothers/sisters that all rode motorcycles. My first bike was a farm find for $5 with words from my father. ''If you can make her run, you can ride her''. I was 6 and had been riding my sibling bikes for a yr. The first thing you should buy/get after the bike is a shop manual for that bike. Take care brothers, ride free. In 54 yrs. of riding, I've buried 6 good friends and a brother! BF @ 17 He died in my arms as I tried to put his brains back into his head!!!
Do you mind if I ask if the one who had head damage had a helmet? Sorry for your loss, just wondering if a helmet allowed that much damage.
@@leebrewer7394 No helmet. Would have made no diff. hit a parked car doing 100 mph or more.
@@leebenson4874 dang, ok. Sorry. Thanks.
Got my first bike about 3 months ago.
Honda nc750xd
Got it brand new.
Been doin about 1000km per month so far.
Mine was overfilling the oil on an engine with a crap oil breather system and thought "yeah it'll burn off" 1000 miles later. I had an oil seal crankshaft leak..
Not getting a KLR sooner. It's the 4 cylinder CJ5 of motorcycles. It'll take you anywhere. My KLR is amazing.
bought full set of gear before even doing the MSF course... bought a brand new 2023 CB300R (which, I learned on in the MSF), poodled around my neighborhood for about 1 week~ before even attempting any highway or expressway deals... am working on buying tools for doing maintenance, do most of my own chain maintenance but wanted to get the first oil-change done by the dealership I bought it from so if I decide to sell in the next year, I have dealer slips to show what was done and it's not "trust me bro". My next bike is going to be an ADV bike (likely cb500x) and want to do some fire-trails up north and or just do more travelling.
As a personal observation, with the exception of people who have done a lot of road racing, I can just about spot any rider who has never ridden off road simply by how few skills they have. Dirt biking bakes in things that street bikers may never learn. I bought an observed trials bike when I lived in the Netherlands from the guy who trains the Dutch police riders in observed trials. Every Dutch cycle cop has been taught to ride observed trials.
Observed trials obviously isn't for everyone. But it's an easy thing to do in the Netherlands, which has very limited off road opportunities for other genre of off road activities and lots of trials clubs with places to ride. I rode 17 events in the two years that I lived there and I was making no effort to ride them all.
One street noob mistake I made was not being careful with the oil that I bought for my street bike, which would be considered during the paleolithic era for anyone new to riding. It chewed up and spit out standard car swill. However, I have found that Rotella T4, (15w-40 the "cheap" stuff) works very well in anything that doesn't require super thin oil. I goes in my Duramax, snow blower, street bikes, dirt bikes, E30, Ski Nautique...pretty much everything but the wife's Sienna with excellent results over decades of time.
Putting my motorcycle in the kitchen of a local bar during rain thinking I would leave it and jump in a friends car. Instead I needed help to get it out of the kitchen whixh was a few steps down….the kitchen help ripped off my front fender and just sat it back on the wheel. As I pulled off the fencer went under the front wheel kinda like a snow mobile ski. I went down. Well I was fine and so kinda was the bike but lesson learned. Always inspect your bike after anyone elses hands are on it.
Msf was great for the slow speed stuff. Which you need lol
Gosh I’m old! 😂 we didn’t get any training back in the day here in the U.K.! My test was riding round the block while the examiner stood at the side of the road with a clip board watching me go past!😂😂😂 I didn’t make mistakes everything was learning
Fun idea to get more TH-camrs doing this and see what they'll mention that one doesn't mention but know it's a thing. It'll be fun to see and hear and be a big help for the community as an added bonus. I enjoyed Lali's video about it as well. Yam also did one if I recall not too long ago (I think it wasn't too long ago 😆).
0:38 the REAL tip here is to not finance any motorcycle, or any vehicle for that matter. If you can't pay it outright you can't afford it
I came here to say this. What’s worse than dropping your bike? Dropping your financed bike.
Solid life advice. Don't take any loans for that matter unless you need it to build credit. Everything else is a scam
There is a ton of value that can be obtained from financing a vehicle or anything. I'm not gonna mow lawns for 20 years saving up for my first car when I can finance a car and drive to a much better paying job.
@@alecgolas8396 the same sadly can't be said about motorcycles as they're mostly for fun. If you really want one for commuting a 125cc scooter is honestly all you really need
F all this. Every motor vehicle I have owned was financed and that all worked out fine and paid off….check your damn privilege mr or mrs fat pockets
10:43 *Starts aggressively tapping helmet* 🫳🪖
Add Michigan to the list of states with no public land, at least the southern half. I would have to go about 160 miles north to reach public rideable land, and much farther than that to reach any training other than msf.
My mistake was buying an Indian Scout brand new. after a year I was ready for a bagger only to find out my bike is worth 1/2 of what I owe on it. After a year of ownership I realized there's a ton of good used bikes that were better options for me such as a Road King or a Springfield.
You know what, I think Ill ride to my nearest msf and redo the drills. I should probably get comfortable with those exercises on my new bike
My newbie mistake was believing the magazines that I needed expensive new kit on day 1... you don't, you can build it up over time. Also, you change kit over time and riding conditions i.e. if you are a fair weather biker, you don't NEED a Klim 4 season gore-tex suit. You WILL drop your first bike, so go with used.
First time on a motorcycle was at the MSF class.. FAILED.. lol... So I bought the bike anyway and just rode on a permit.. Taken it next year and passed.
I don’t know if it was really a mistake or not but my first bike I rode home through stop and go traffic on a busy street in the rain lol. I was nervous as could be considering my only experience was the MSF course and had someone almost run into me cutting me off.
Trial by fire for sure, but I now have 11,000 miles under my belt in my first year of riding and I feel like that first ride gave me the confidence that I can handle whatever is thrown at me.
Sorry Spite but bundling the gear was your 2nd mistake the 1st was going to a Harley dealer lol. My biggest mistake was giving a sh!t what others thought of the bike I bought. Its a hard lesson for some, like me, but get the bike you want and damn the torpedoes!
I made the mistake of thinking that the chain maintenance schedule was time based, not mileage based. My beginner bike's chain had a shockingly good run, but it ended up falling off somewhere around 14 thousand miles in.
my big dumb mistake (and i have NO excuse) when i started was that i liked to get off my bike before droppng the kickstand.
yeah it took one thankfully soft drop to correct that behavior.
I'm not riding yet, but will soon. Whole video I was looking at his hand that should cover brakes with 1-2 fingers. 😨 Lovely put together video tho. I heard a saying from a guy that for a first bike you should pick something that makes your heart race at the first look of the bike, like love on first sight, butterflies in your stomach, that kind of thing. I couldn't purchase Honda Rebel so I'll go with something cheaper, but she'll wait. :D
Don't try everything you see online if you're a beginner -they're not. Stepping on the high side foot peg to mount your bike, launching from a stop at an intersection both got me in trouble 😢
Love my Vulcan 650. Still I like the look of the nakeds and think my next bike will be one.
I made a video similar to this. “Top 10 things I wish I knew before getting a motorcycle” and you hit some of the same points, love your video man, I have to disagree to a point though on the “don’t buy a new bike” as a beginner I did just that , I want to ride and learn and not buy a used bike I might have to fix up or buy someone else’s problems.
But I do also get your side of it as well.
RE: October 2023
I looked into buying a used motorcycle for my first bike but what I found was the prices were so high - what the heck, might as well buy new.
I wish it wasn’t that way but that’s what my experience was.
My biggest mistake was buying bikes without riding them, everyone said the sv650s were awesome, so I bought one, and didn't like it. Traded it within 3 months for a Honda Hornet, probably cost me 2 grand because I'd spent some money on the sv trying to turn it into the machine it was not intended to be. Also, I'm now not sure how I feel about the hornet. I have to remind myself , motorcycle unicorns don't exist.
I vlogged a similar topic a while back ("Don't Make My Mistakes) - good post Spite, but to expand a bit on your second point - I think the MSF should at least teach the basics of trail braking in the BRC-1 - you simply cannot ride on fast roads without a basic understanding of trail braking. Slow look press and roll immediately fails the first time you hit a sharp freeway off ramp...
Nooby mistakes people make all the time: riding in the outside wheel track and dragging both feet at slow speed
"If you don't like the vulcan 650,... the z650,... the versys 650..." I see a pattern here lol
I just got my second bike, a Diavel 1200, less than 2000 miles, 2018, and I still am afraid to drop it 😂. Luckily, I am a big dude and have enough strength to recover even from bad situations. I almost dropped it twice today, practising slow speed figure 8s. It is so jerky at slow speed that I tend to over squeeze the clutch. My previous bike had enough torque to pull itself while I was dragging the rear brake, and here I have to learn to operate in the friction zone mostly with the clutch. Otherwise, it gets upset with me dragging the rear brake with a clutch, fully released.
My mistake was not knowing that 1000 cc is the same on a sport bike as it is on a cruiser. For the noobs, 1000 cc on a sport bike=quite fast and dangerous, only for the experienced; 1000 cc on a cruiser=far more manageable and even some beginners (like me when I was starting out) can start larger.
I bought a used bike as my first one and it turned out to be too much for me. So I traded it in and got what I really wanted and I love my new bike. Not so much because it's new but because it's more of what I need just starting out.
At least you were honest with yourself and found something that was a better fit.
@@RestlessMule it was either try and die or work within my skill level. I had to be honest. Trying to be a cool looking badass isn't always the smartest move.
Rear break jamming, forgetting the front / not trusting gripping it hard
It was like the space shuttle had sex with a school bus (tech + boring motor= yawn). Made the error of getting a new BMW 750GS. Thing just had no soul. I sadly had to go through 6 bikes to find the one that checked the MOST boxes. Some compromise is usually needed and the Trident 660 ended up being my jam in the end.
my first bike was a 2016 fat boy s. it fit me perfect. i am 5'6" and the low seat ride height was awesome for me.
As someone who bought his first bike new, last December, yeah don't do that. I just highsided it last week, and its very likely totaled (frame damage) and i still owe on it. Better to get used.
My 1st "mistake" was getting into motorcycles in the 1st place. Considering all the $ I could have saved in the +40 years since would have paid for my early retirement already. ;)
Joke aside; thinking my juvenile offroad skills would auto transfer to the street was probably the biggest one. Fast&safe on asphalt and fast&safe on dirt is not the same!
Oh, also "fast" on public roads and on the track are not the same, at all.
So, in short, shoulda had more training before going nuts and wrecking bikes that didn't deserve it.
Watching this after having dropped my new Suzuki GSX-8S that I bought a couple of weeks ago as first bike :)
I made the mistake of crashing into the back of a car! luckily i bought a cheap used bike but good gear so that mitigated a lot of the damage
Used motorcycle prices can fluctuate at various times of the year. If you can wait until later in the riding season rather than buying at the beginning of the riding season then you will probably save money. If you take care of and then sell said motorcycle at the beginning of the next riding season you might find yourself an experienced rider with no cash outlay and all those extra months to save money for your dream bike.
Off topic, but I love that HM2 shirt
Mine back then was buying, and learning on a school bike, both without abs
I knew coming from cars and karts that would have been my weak spot, still I locked up the front wheel and low sided while braking and avoiding the training “obstacle” from 80km/h
Abs saves lives on the street and newbs benefit from it even more
I wouldn’t choose a bike without cornering abs nowadays
I really like this type of videos, haven't seen you do this type in a while.
rule number one should extend to your motorcicle too, in my opinion. If you can't afford to buy a bike, just buy a cheaper one
Yeah, I know I’m on this list and haven’t event gotten to the first point yet. Way over paying for a 2008 Harley softail deluxe. Atm pay off is 13.2k. It has 27k miles but a lot of mods on it.
i know maintenance is simple but before i start getting all those tools needed i'd rather go to the store. they do little stuff like chain adjustment for free anyway.
Don't immediately go replace the exhaust and do other engine mods on your first bike. Most every beginner will choose the wrong parts and is far more likely to reduce the engine's performance and resale value.
Bought a bike based on mileage and not general condition low mileage = good right? Without really researching or inspecting. R6 10,000 miles that was stretched, lowered and crusty AF. It was fine first season had a blast. Start of this season blew its oil all over the freeway at 90mph. The reason it had 10k miles? Dropped early on in its career and sat. Tore sprocket cover bracket leaving a hole in the block. Previous owners fix? JB weld.....my fix? To my everlasting shame JB weld....
I got me a used F4i and ive dropped it several times, never on the street though. Ive been riding it 8 years now, when it drops, all i care about is if the engine covers are cracked. If its not, i really dont care😂. Once i fix all the issues it has, then ill care.
You just can’t help but mention the Versys again. Kind of like that girl in elementary school who you told everyone was weird because you had a crush on her 😂
I don't like that 650 either (love you big green but no one is perfect) but are you ok , did the 650 hurt you ?
Don’t wait just do it!
Good basic information Spite. Well said.
5:20 sadly i want a cfmoto 450sr as a 1st bike and they are only new😅
I'm very jealous for your weather... I live in Sweden and we just got the first few snowflakes... I agree with almost everything you say. Don't buy a new bike as a first. Learning on an older bike is good. don't finance your first bike either. My first bike 3 years ago was a 1999 Suzuki VL1500. Then I've had 9 bikes and I just got a 2011 Victory Cross Roads and it's the first bike I've financed. the good thing to start out with an older bike is that you learn to work on your bike - Just like you say in the video.
But I don't really agree with the offroad thing. At least not in the beginning. I did that - and I crashed, that was painful, both for my body and the destroyed bike.
#1 wasn't working for Yamie noob?😀
should i start out on a 125cc or just go up to a 400-500?
My first bike was a '21 low rider S. I blame Blockhead (but really I blame myself)
Did I miss something. Are you and yami not doing videos together anymore? I wanted to see you and yami do the dual ride review on his xsr900 and get your thoughts.
If you could get ahold of one I'd like to see your thoughts on the gsxs1000gt. Great video, you earned that like.
Mine was cleaning the chain in first gear 🤠