If you are a new rider or a rider who wants to continue to grow (That should be all of us ;) ) and you are not a Member at MCrider you are missing out on the best part of MCrider. Go to www.MCrider.com/Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide. - The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you. - The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills. In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more. By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills. www.MCrider.com/Member
I've been practicing in a church parking lot that's 6 blocks from my house and it's perfect as the ambulance station is 40 feet away! The EMTs stand outside and watch me sometimes wondering if they'll get some practice too I'm sure, lol
I completely agree with your comment! But I'd personally change my handle to something like allpoliticiciansarecriminals... Because they obviously are.
Returned last year to riding after 30 years. I live in Cumbria, England, loads of little back roads and passes. My wife wasn't happy but finally agreed to me getting a motorbike under certain conditions:Bike must be new (you don't buy someone's cast off) and no pillion. I bought a Honda Cb300r in May last year. The first month I just stayed on car parks and back roads, after a month I had three hours 1:1 with an instructor. When he told me "You're all right" - dry Scottish guy, I finally ventured out. So far I have put about 6000 miles on and loved every minute of it. I start every ride with ten minutes practice - warms up the engine. I am still learning steeply but McRider and Dandan the fireman keep me right 👍 Start small, stay safe and never stop learning. Thank you so much Kevin 😊
@@DaxXx988 I am not doing much highway travel but even at 70mph there is a notable thrust forward on twisting the throttle so I can't see shorter motorway commutes as a problem.
Dropping a motorcycle is a learning experience Never get embarassed, pause, reflect, always learn and improve. One thing in my life that feels good is my daughter rides a Honda CBF1000 better than me.
@Last_Stach_Standing ! i was gassing up in tennessee on a rental and stand wasn't all way down. once it hit that point of no return, i was like no, no, no, no. thank goodness there was a guy on other side of pump who didn't laugh and helped me stand it up.
I am 55 and just bought a ninja 300 that thing is a blast ..perfect bike since i have not rode. In 25 yrs. Its all about the ride not the size of the bike
I've been riding since the early 80's and I'm not learning anything new. Only thing I would learn new, is a new to me bike, all bikes feel different to each other.
@@crp9985 I'm 37 years in, and took an experienced rider course in 2016. Money well spent. You sound like a "I'm smarter than you" kind of person. Kevin is all about continuous training and improvement. Why are you here?
@@crp9985 ...If it's true that you have absolutely nothing left to learn, for sure you are not 100% proficient in every maneuver, every situation, all the time which means you still need to practice what you have learned.
I’m 72 years old and I’ve been motorcycling since 16 and I’m still crap! Not really; but I’m still motorcycling and more aware of my limitations than I was when I was in my teens! That’s why I’ve made it to 72, and I’ll ride until the day I die - but hopefully peacefully in my sleep. PS: thanks Kevin for the voice of reason! Best wishes from 🇬🇧 and God bless America 🇺🇸 It did, after all, make my Ironhead.
My clutch problem as a new rider was because of hundreds of thousands of miles on a standard transmission car. I was conditioned to never be in the friction zone for more than a moment to keep from burning up the clutch. Even after I found out that a motorcycle clutch is made to be slipped, it took months to get that in my head and even 2 years later I still need refreshers on that.
Kevin if I may Sir, I see way too many new riders putting a emphasis on their go-pro, the mount, the microphone, etc., only to soon after record themselves, CRASHING. My humble advice is ride for a year or at least 5000 miles before being concerned with making a video. GOD BLESS ALL THE NEW RIDERS 🇺🇸🏍🇺🇸
not only that, but recording for a youtube channel oftentimes leads to irresponsible riding and blaming the other people on the road, in order to gain clicks, likes and subscribers. that's why i don't watch stuff like motomadness anymore; it's 95% riders being total idiots.
Newish rider here--sometimes I wish I had a camera, because sometimes I think I must be making a lot of mistakes and it would be nice to be able to look at what I'm doing or get someone else to.
I disagree. I'd like to have a camera to record my riding, not only for critiquing purposes, but also for my safety. And yes, I'd like to post videos to TH-cam as well. But not be like those mooks who say "YOU NEARLY KILLED ME" to a driver that pulled into their lane 75ft ahead.
@@crusherven Find a mentor if you can. Someone with GOOD experience can evaluate what you should work on in about 20 minutes of normal riding. Some places have advanced rider classes that include on-road observation by instructors. Good luck !
Wish I would have seen this before I bought my first motorcycle a little over two years ago. Frankly, I probably wouldn't have listened because I'm hard-headed, but it is fantastic advice. Anyone that asks me about riding, I'm sending them to this video. I kind of did what you talked about in the video. For my first bike, I bought a brand new, tall, $16,000, 1000cc ADV bike because it was cool and getting great reviews online. And then I was scared to ride it in a way to learn. Later bought a $4,000 used CRF250L and learned so much riding that bike. When I got back on the $16,000 bike, every thing was much better. I should have bought the CRF250L (or similar) first and spent at least 6 months on that before considering another bike. Folks told me that back then, but I didn't listen. I try to tell folks that now, but like me, they don't want to hear it. The big powerful cool bikes are much more enticing to a new rider for some reason.
Did the same thing! I bought a brand new Indian Chief Dark Horse. The bike terrified me for months. On the flip side, I feel like I can hop on just about any bike and go now. Looking back, I should have saved my money and learned on a much smaller bike that would have been much easier to master the basics. With the chief, I would ride really late with almost no one else on the road in order to gain my confidence and familiarize myself with the handling of such a heavy bike with a “mile long” wheel base.
Great advice as always Kevin. Being 6'4" tall, I bought a used KLR650, rode it for a year and 7,200 miles, dropped it 5 times and sold it for $80 less than I paid. Now riding a used V-strom650 for 2 years and another 20,000 miles and continue to be very happy with it.
New rider, got the V Strom 1050xt. After an hour of riding around my neighborhood, all my neighbors know the sound of my low-frequency lawnmower. I learned to drive on a stick-shift Ford Explorer, what a joy the V Strom is to ride. MSF course in 1 month.
I almost bought a klr650, I ended up getting an 09 Versys 650 for 3146 out the door literally today I'm a new rider raced 125s as a kid but it's been qbout 12 years. Never rode a 650 before and spent around 700$ on gear in total noru leather padded priced at $250 but manager gave me a solid discount @$109for buying the motorcycle from them paid around $65 for some alpine stars glove, helmet is a senici something 2🤣 comes with a Bluetooth attachment made by sena sounds phenomenal great for music idk about calls cause I haven't ridden it my bike yet so I don't know how it is with wind. Overall fitment is fantastic paid around $380 for that helmet (w/ extra visor). Also bought some senici riding boots about $100 a bag for my gas tank which was another 80$ I'm excited to be apart of the community!
@@xghostxgaming7297 Congrats on your new bike! Please watch Kevin's technique and road strategy videos and practice. Kevin is a great resource to keep you safe on the street. 😎👍🏻
@@got_to_roll unfortunately I got into a motorcycle accident last month on the 25th. A lady pulled in front of me and I hit the side of her car going 40. I was wearing my gloves helmet riding shoes and a Hoodie walked away with a broken wrist mobility is coming back surprising considering how hard I hit her and I flew about 150 feet. Thankful to be walking still. Bikes done for the front end basically snapped in half. But I'll be back on either later this season or I may just have to wait till next
Just treat traffic as if you're on a bicycle, because in a way, we sort of are. If the light is turning yellow for those cars and you see a car that's not slowing down. Don't risk it and go. If you don't see any cars or if cars are stopped/stopping, it's pretty safe to go. When I'm at a red light, all I do is keep looking both ways while I'm waiting. By the time it turns green, I can usually tell if it's safe to go.
Although I rode a small Honda when I was 19, I started again at at the age of 60 in 2014 and bought a 2002 Yamaha Virago 250 for $1100. Now in 2020, I am still riding that bike. I can get it to near 70 mph with a good tail wind. It has plenty of power for the rural country roads I am riding and it is a blast to ride. It's easy to manhandle in our tight garage and I have no fear getting it up or down our steep driveway. I can pick it up by the handle bars if I drop it, which I have done at least 6 times or so. It had 5,700 miles on it when I bought it, and now has over 16,000 miles on it. All in all, I have not regretted buying a 250 Virago...And I saved a lot of money. And I suppose it helps that I weigh only about 130 lbs. I may get a bigger bike eventually...maybe a 500 or so. But today I am still riding that Virago and loving it. And you're right, I spent near the same amount of money on gear which can follow me to any other bike I may or may not buy in the future.
@Himmarshee Street Live The living room and patio....Sheeze. That's dedication. I don't even keep any of my bicycles in my living room....although I used to when I was younger. Ride on.
@@jseden Yes, I was looking at those too when I bought the Virago. (I have to admit, I have been a little partial to V twins.) But now, if I ever do buy a "bigger" bike, the new Rebel 500 is a strong candidate. But again, like you I still love my 250.
Take that Motorcycle Safety Course, and when you're done, continue practicing what you learned in the course, find you a big empty parking lot and practice. And practice those emergency stops. My safety course class was a lot of fun, met some real nice folks. But it's important to continue practicing what you learned in those few days. Practicing my emergency stops, helped save me from what surely would have been a collision. And tuning into some of the great Motorcycle youtube channels devoted to rider safety, like this one, only helps you be more prepared. Ride Safe !
Not so sure about the last part where you seem to describe changing down several gears whilst ‘coasting’ to a stop (not really advisable), but the rest was good.
This may be the most important video that you've made. It should be required viewing for everyone even thinking of getting into riding. Thanks for doing it.
I buy used always. I am 66 years old and I have never bought a new car truck or motorcycle in my life. Of the seven Harley's and two Indians I had only one my 02 FLSTC was running and not a basket case when I got it. I learned to ride on a 1938 Indian scout our neighbor had in the 60's with a foot s clutch. It was a right hand shift like my dad's 66 Chevy pick up truck was with three on the tree so it was easy for me. .Good video you always explain thing in a easy to understand fashion. I watch because no matter how long you been riding reviewing this is a good thing
I learn how to ride on a 200cc naked bike and then I bought a 400cc scooter. It is so easier to make slow speed maneuvers when you have a clutch to control you bike. I tried to do the same maneuvers I had done when I took riding exam and I cannot do that with the scooter. I am still practicing them. I made the mistake with the gear. The only thing I had bought before I bought the scooter was a helmet. Now I bought gloves and I am looking for a jacket. I am riding a scooter and the most time I am riding in my town, but I realized how important is motorcycle gear even for the scooter riders. Some people think that scooters are not the real bikes but we take the same risk as any other bike riders.
Kevin, so true in one of your views on buying a new bike and afraid to practice because of fear and dropping it and scratching the paint... or worse. It took me awhile to get over it. I just bought a new Sportster “few years ago” and didn’t like the looks of the crash bars so I rode without them “and still do” , yes, I realize the safety of them! But for the longest time I wasn’t utilizing the ability of the bike and and the control that I should have known. Because of fear of dropping the bike. With the MSF course and weekly practices and video’s from you and Jerry Palladio’s video’s I have come along ways and continue to do so. Thanks again for getting me throw so much!.... by the way, you would have made an excellent Pastor.
New to the biking family and to this wonderful page . I was gifted a awsome helmet about 6 years ago and gloves. I took my riding class in 2021 and purchased my 1st bike this year in 2022 a 2000 Vs800gl Intruder used for 1700... I love my intruder. I highly suggest a smaller bike to anyone who is just beginning. Humble yourselves folks we will all work our way up
Hi Kevin, thank you for all your solid advice I am definitely a newbie . But I am also a mom and I find your advice to be very logical and practical . Before I viewed this video I nailed all the used gear and getting ready for my msf class in a few days. I've been prepping by watching all your videos and they are helping me and taking away much of my fear of the unknown . Thank you for taking your time to help us on our journey of learning to ride better. God bless you!
Thanks MC! Your stop & go, slow speed turns and clutch feathering drills have helped me a lot. I practice them at 6am every Saturday and Sunday. 👏🏼💯👍🏼🏍🙏🏼
Great video Kevin. I got my gear first then bike. I did spend a little more on my 2017 Rebel 300, but I absolutely LOVE IT!!! 5100 instead of 3500, but still a great investment. I also have a family friend who rode most of her life who basically gave me the good advice you are giving. She was shocked that HD starts you out on a 500. A lot of times, I have you and DanDanTheFireman in my head. Keep up the good work.
Great analogy about the clutch friction zone being like a volume knob. I’ve taught many people how to ride motorcycles, and moving forward, I will use this analogy; it doesn’t get much more clear or understandable than this. Thank you.
Another good one Kevin,I have been following your videos for about 4 years now, what you are saying about good gear and proper motorcycle areso true. We can easily see the riders that have never dropped a bike,they are the ones riding in t shirts,shorts and sneakers. Greetings from Nova Scotia,Canada
steve russell LOL, I have dropped my bike about 3 times / accident (not my fault) , slipping over a pineapple and letting it slip out of my hand when holding it on a trailer. And drive with t-shirt and sneakers, when the weather is nice. . It's a 2002, BMW C1-200, 176 CC. (LOL) Sad thing is, here in Holland they think it's a 45 km/hr scooter-buzz-bike and not a true motorcycle. I understand that. Parked once next to 2 guys with BMW 1200's in full gear and me in t-shirt and sneakers. Said hello, they were nice, it was fun.
I bought my first bike before I took the course . The bike I got is a 2006 Yamaha 650 VStar. At first I was afraid of the bike until I went through the course. Now I find that riding in my neighborhood seems easy to ride even though I’m a newbie. Watching lots of videos and practicing close to home on backstreets and parking lots. Your videos are very good and detailed. Thank you for making them.
If you grow up riding your bike on and off road like a lot of us did. When you finally jump on your first motorcycle I feel like counter steering and leaning was already deeply ingrained in my mind
I had ridden larger bikes in the past but, the very first motorcycle that I purchased was, a used 1984 Honda XL200R dual sport that I got for $500. It was only 4 years old but, needed some parts. I had to replace both tires & tubes, all the brakes, the clutch cable and the dust boots for the front shocks. Additionally, I had to buy all my gear because I didn't already have it. So all in all, I had invested roughly $1500 before I ever rode it. I was in the military at the time and living on base so after I got my learner's permit, I had to attend a safety course before I was allowed to ride the bike on base. This consisted of 4 hours in the classroom and another 4 hours of practical training. We had to ride a figure 8 inside a 16' by 20' rectangle without our feet touching the ground, practice straight and curved road emergency stops (stopping as quickly as possible without skidding either tire), obstacle avoidance and the "slow poke" race.......ride as slowly as possible without putting our feet down and could not exceed 3 MPH. At some point during the training, we had get up to about 15 MPH, then jam on the rear brake and cause the rear tire to skid without losing control of the bike. We were also taught not to focus on the road directly in front of us but rather, down the road several yards ahead of us (look where you're going, not where you are). This makes avoiding road debris much easier because you have more time to react. After all that was done, I still had to complete the state sponsored MC safety course off base before I could even take the riding test to get my permanent license. I know a lot of new riders today won't want to go through all that just to be able to ride but in my opinion, it was worth every minute.
Loving this channel. Last time I rode was 8 years ago on a CBR. I recently rebuilt a 97 vulcan 500 from the ground up and got all new gear. I am slowly Re-learning how to ride again and break every bad habit I had heard ago on the rockets. Thank you MCrider for all these videos.
You can crash a 250 cc as easy as a 1,000 cc. I can guarantee you, out of millions of possibilities, there will be a scenario even you will crash. Here are my suggestion to new bikers. 1. Do not ride at night, or in the rain. 2. Do not ride during rush hour. 3. Repeat every word you heard in the class while riding. Things like, Brake Lever is an Orange and Squeeze like an Orange, slowly. Do not trust the Green Light. You are invisible. 4. Do not drink and ride. Stay away from Harley crowd and Dealers who promote Alcohol. 5. Wear full gear even if it is 100 degrees. 6. Get a bike with ABS. 7. Do not go to group rides. There will always be that a...hole. 8. Do not tailgate and do not allow others to tailgate. 9. Ride in the places you are familiar and do not change your route abruptly. 10. If you drop your bike, and it is okay, get on top of it and take a selfie.
Yeah Becker, totally with you. Just because its a 250 or 300 doesn't mean it can't kill you. I have a 15 mile commute, no freeways now. I do ride at night, and I've been caught in the rain. I had to adjust accordingly, slowing down, space cushion, etc.
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Outstanding and well said! I would offer a few additions: 11) Be seen. Install additional DTR lamps, use LED flashing brake lights, and wear high viz clothing; 12) Install a car horn (or something really loud); 13) Choose a lane position that allows you to see, and be seen with an available escape route; 14) Most importantly, DO NOT engage the morons on the road. Pack your ego when the kickstand goes up. You are the prey. They can kill you, and get away with it.
Make friends with riders who are safety conscious. Learn counter-steering and practice it with awareness on every ride. Practice slightly adjusting your line around a corner as if there was an obstacle in the road. Be aware of what's around you on all sides, and maintain a good following distance to buy yourself time to react. Enjoy riding the bike you have, even if it's small and not so powerful. Keep your bike well maintained and concentrate on your skills. Learn to spot safety issues with your bike - tyres, chain, brakes, oil leaks. Analyse every slight incident or near miss to figure out what you could have done to avoid it happening ahead of time.
Kind of difficult to not ride in the rain when I live in the place with the heaviest rainfall in the world. What I do is go slow and make sure I stay alert, good braking method helps a lot.
True. I didn't have ABS and that hurt me. Jackass stopped completely from 40 mph to make a left turn. I didn't hit them due to space cushion, but I still went down due to the brakes locking up. And I was on a 300.
You said it well. Love taking training classes. It raises my enjoyment of riding each time. I am assisting a new rider right now. Your channel was my first advice.
Hi Kevin, I've been riding on the street since the early eighties (not counting minibikes, mopeds and dirt bikes). A friend in his early 20's asked about learning to ride and without thinking about it, I told him pretty much the same thing as this video. You should add one more thing to your list, "not subscribing to MCrider!" I'll be sending him this link. Anyway, I did question one of your techniques for stopping. You referred to stopping by, "braking while holding in the clutch and downshifting" but not letting out the clutch in each gear. I've been told since the 80's, you (rev-match) downshift and let the clutch out in each gear while smoothly braking with both brakes. This accomplishes two things, engine braking to help slow the bike, and if you get into trouble that requires acceleration, you are already in the correct gear and can just roll throttle and go. This was reinforced in an advanced rider class a couple of years ago at the local HD dealer. They had us practice hard stopping in straight lines and curves using this technique. TBH I was taught to drive a standard trans car like this too. Is this your recommendation for just new riders? Please elaborate. Thanks
Similar to being trained in firearms....whichever you method you train / practice - when if and /or when that emergency ever appears - you're only 1/2 as good as your training. These guys to teach moto safety...well, I'm glad they have these forums.
Im 45 and getting a 2020 Ninja 650 as a 1st bike. I know it goes against ur advice and its good advice, but I don't want the hassle of having to buy a used bike with potential problems and then selling it a year later to someone. I'd rather be happy now and grow into the bike slowly but surely. Wish me luck
I second that comment, I got myself a HD Fatbob 114 2020, full warranty, unlimited millage /5years, full insurance coverage as new for 7 years, I focused on slow speed training, parking lots exercices and for the first 2k km's I mainly rode the back roads before I drove in the city, I am at 4K Km now, still in training mode and doing great!
I bought my gear first, then went to the MSF. I bought the bike after I got my license. Went with a brand new Ducati Monster as a first bike. Spicy learning curve. ;) I've been practicing a lot, and am now pretty comfortable, but not cocky.
Got a great deal on a Low milage Harley Davidson Heritage Classic because the rider just didn't want to ride anymore. :) thanks for all the great videos !
I remember my state motorcycle manual said something like push left, go left and thinking that has to be a typo, but once I saw the test I realized I had to regurgitate what it says even if I think it must be wrong. I decided the topic needed more research. Understanding counter steering before I started riding was the hardest thing, it took weeks of searching to find a video which really shows it. I think it was one of yours MCrider. Later I found various physics based explanations which helped too. The next hardest thing after that was understanding and trusting that just turning the bars can take the bike out of a turn and flip it to vertical without any kind of special weight shifting or throttle manipulation, that it is all done with steering and everything else is just optimization. Next would be how the motorcycle can just hold a turn once it's leaned in and doesn't need to be held into the lean, with the even harder concept that the bike won't fall over in a turn as long as it keeps moving faster than about 5 mph. I'm still getting used to that last one and its been two years.
Hi Kevin, video like this should be mandatory for all who wish to ride a bike. Watching can save money, embarrassment AND your skin /life. Look forward to each and every episode.
Kevin your videos are always informational.. Thank You! I have been riding for 40+ years and learn EVERY time I watch a video, be it from you or other MC Instructors. I took a MSF course 2 years ago just to repeat my skills again, improved my riding skills yet again. I am Road Capt for local HD Dealship, must keep my skills fresh and share with new riders. I refer your Channel for them to view and educate themselves. Thank You for sharing YOUR knowledge to an open audience ....
Greetings from eastern Europe! I'm about to start my first riding course next week, and your channel has been really great for me, even though there are differences between European and American MC courses (they are much longer here, and empty parking lots are not a thing in my country :)) ) So thank you and keep up the good work!
Daughter started with Harley Davidson street rod. Perfect, same as the 500 that were used in the free classes with the bike. The only new rider who never tipped over. I still don't think she has ever reved it past 6000 rpm. It's very tolerant of lugging, low rpm riding.
I got my license last summer, bought an old Honda CX500, had a blast, and am now selling it to a friend getting into riding. Looking forward to riding with my friend and to upgrading bikes.
Started with a SusukiC50t. Kept it 2 months. It was great experience. Sold it for what I paid for it. Bought a friend's 01 HD Fatboy. 1450 cc 700lbs. It's perfect for me. I love riding it. Been 9 months riding now. I'm 61. CCRider was and is a go to channel for me. It's why I solidified the plan I followed above.
Learning to ride a dirt bike first made me a master on the street and saved my life more then once after a car pulls out on you then freezes . Riding in the dirt is way harder as you have to have your weight in the right spot while driving though mud puddles and loose sand. Don’t have it right and that back end will slide out from underneath you. And hitting jumps 20-40 ft perfectly just may be the best feeling on earth!
I haven't rode in about 4 years but I am about to move back to Florida and I already have a bike lined up to buy when I get there. Watching these videos is really helping to remind me of what I need to do to be a safe and responsible rider. I am planning to retake the beginners course at the local Harley dealership just to refresh myself on the basics. I'm really looking forward to getting back in the saddle again and your videos are really helping me remember the basics!
Kevin. My son is starting his riding life at 26. He's bought his midline gear, has good boots jacket etc. He bought a 2000 Honda VLX 600 that needs fixing. He's apprenticing at a small bike shop and is wrenching his own bike. He'll be taking the rider safety course and getting plenty of practice with me. Great video and keep up the good work!!
10:00 whats insane to me as a European (where we MUST learn manual shifting in driving school), was hearing that in america you DONT need to learn a manual tranmission to get your driving license. That is just mindblowing to me. It's like getting an airplane licence but not needing to learn how to use the flaps...
Kevin, I can’t agree with you more about smaller bikes. I too own an XT250. It is the bike I got back into riding on. I became quite skilled at low speed maneuvers on it and still practice with it regularly. It is a flawless bike for what it was designed to do. I also own an FZ 09. As fun as the FZ is, I still find myself riding the XT more often due to my love for riding off road. I can flog the heck out of that thing and never feels intimidating. Can’t do that so much with the FZ 09. Thanks for all you do for the riding community. You are a difference-maker.
AT 52 I'm riding seriously for the first time, took a beginner class, bought decent gear, and for my bike an 03 Kawai Vulcan classic. Totally bone stock for 2k and 14k miles on it. Add 800 bucks for TLC fixing up, add another 800 for gear, and 7 months later I've put 4k miles on it. Can't wait get a bigger bike but not until I'm comfortable with certain skill sets. I do alot of parking lot practice to work those skills because in KS not much in the way of twisties. I can't tell you how freeing it is to have an older bike that your not afraid to drop. Coincidentally I haven't dropped it because I'm not afraid to. Thankyou MC for some great content. have a great ride everyone.
I so agree with your comments on buying the right bike to start with. I'd been away from motorcycling for 52yrs and just got back into it last ear. I bought a 250cc Suzuki TU250X and am thrilled that it's "age appropriate" in that it only weighs 300lbs. But it can accelerate and keep up with traffic under almost all circumstances, although freeways are a bit more of a challenge. At my age (76) I don't think I'll be moving up to bigger bike!
Thx m.c I've got to say my first bike was a Honda xl100 ,got my license at 16 ,that was a loooong time ago ,now I'm doing a 21 harley rglide special ,thx for the vids
First bike was a kh 400 kaw. Three-hole two stroke. Great starter bike. A little small for my 6' 2" frame, but lots of snot and no fear of dropping it. Didn't have it long, but I wish I had the thing now!! Would be a lot of fun to modify!
I LOVE my little 2002 VStar 650. Been on it for near 3 years and roughly 13k miles. I really would love my dream bike of a Road King but my issue is I am not sure if I am ready.
Here in the UK, there is a multi stage testing and licensing process, starting at age 17, which begins with a Compulsory Basic Training course which you have to pass to be allowed on the road with a provisional licence, and you have to go through another 3 levels of licence to ride an unlimited capacity machine, taking several years. It was simpler back in the seventies when I started: you got a provisional licence at 16, allowing you to ride anything up to 250cc (or unlimited with a sidecar), then once you passed a single driving test you could ride anything.
Always enjoy your videos Kevin! As a new rider and took the MSF course, I didn't have much of a budget but bought good gear and only could get a used 250cc bike. I was a bit bummed out at first but glad I did after, as it taught me a lot on getting good control of the bike and build confidence to be ready for the 650cc bike that I'm riding now. Taking an Intermediate class at the end of the month to further my training.
The very first motorcycle I ever rode was a Suzuki 80 dirt bike in a field. A few years later the next bike I rode was a Norton Commando, I nearly dumped it because I didn't lean far enough and kissed a curb with the left side of the motorcycle. I kept the bike up but I also learned that leaning is your friend. Part of my problem was that I was riding a bicycle a lot at the time and the lean angle is much less on a bicycle. I think it is where a lot of folks go wrong when first riding a motorcycle, you have to lean a motorcycle probably twice as far as a bicycle. Anyway, lesson learned, and I have not even come very close to dumping a motorcycle at speed in the 47 years since that day. That said, I don't ride aggressively and I watch where I'm going, and probably most importantly I watch the road surface. Keep the good stuff coming in Kevin.
As a new rider, it is important to get training but that is just the start. Riding a motorcycle is a life-long learning process and part of the fun of being a motorcyclist. If you are a new rider and want to continue to learn there are training exercises in the Field Guide that you can practice on your own, you also get access to the forums with riders from all over the world that are willing to answer questions and help you develop as a rider. More details at www.MCrider.com/support
Hey Kevin. I remember a few years ago you promoted the HJC helmet brand. I think they were around $130 to $150. In this video, you suggest spending $300 on a helmet. I bought Sedici from cycle gear that was $199 plus taxes. Is $300 the minimum for a good helmet?
@@stacyodom1746 In my opinion you should not care about the price, but it need to have Snell rating or it has to be ECE approved. if it has either of these, you know it`s a safe helmet, even if it costs next to nothing. If it costs 1000, and doesn´t have either, it´s a no go. Both those markings means it has been tested by a non profit party dedicated to improving helmet safety. With more money you can get more comfort and and all kinds of other nice things like better ventilation, helmet being more quiet and so on. You should find the corresponding sticker somewhere in the helmet. Make sure the helmet fits also you correctly, if it is one size too big the rating does not matter DOT: Standards determined by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT rating currently in effect is federal standard FMVSS 218, and any helmet with the DOT sticker should meet these standards (this is the most basic of the ratings, and are tested by hired independent contractors, and many helmets labeled DOT may not actually pass the standards, and testing is worse than ECE and SNELL, these helmets are usually quite heavy, and the grading is old.) ECE: Standards determined by the Economic Commission for Europe. This multinational standard is used by more than 50 countries in Europe, and any helmet with this sticker must meet the current ECE 22.05 standard. ( these are crash tested, but with different methods than SNELL, SNELL uses harder force on sharper point, while ECE tests need the helmet to spread the G-forces more) SNELL: Standards determined by the Snell Memorial Foundation. This is a voluntary testing procedure, and is only required by certain race bodies. The current standard is SNELL M2020 for street use. (Mostly considered the gold standard, but there has been a bit of a problem for their testing to promote too hard EPS liners which is not good. Also SNELL rated helmets have usually much higher cost, and testing is race oriented, and their test uses harder force on sharper point, while ECE tests need the helmet to spread the G-forces more) FIM: A relatively new standard, the FIM rating is used for helmets that meet safety criteria established by motorcycling's global racing organization for track use.( I do not know anything about these) SHARP: Uses European crash data. if it has good rating it is safe, rating system gives consumer more information than simple pass or fail. My old helmet years ago was 4 stars sharp rated helmet, and ECE approved, cost me about 250€, was loud as hell, but weighed only 1300g, my current one is ECE approved Modular helmet that cost 280€, discounted from 700€. you can buy really expensive safe helmet much cheaper if you buy an older model after a release of a new model, or if there is going to be newer model released soon
I started on a 84 v45 sabre, then went and got a v65 sabre after 20k or so miles... didnt keep it long was to much ! Got a gs500 now and its my favorite. Slow to me but so much fun and light
1 other mistake is not learning to use the front brakes. They will only use the rear and when it comes time to really have to stop they are sliding all over the road as if on ice.
I bought my 2005 Vstrom 650, decked out with luggage, crash bars, decent tires, new chain and sprocket, phone mount, aux lights, full set of gear that fit me and some more little things for $2750. New scared riders are great to buy from!
I’m a returning rider at 65. I’ve probably stretched some of these rules but I’m not willing to admit which ones🙄. I did, however, seek advice from experienced riders about the size of bike I should buy, some of whom are in MCRIDER forums. All of them advised buying smaller than what I had my heart set on, and that’s what I did. I still bought a used bike that’s beautiful and very similar in size to my previous ride. In reality, it’s probably the best bike for me in my circumstances.
Very good video. Welcome to all new riders out there! I also made the mistake of buying my first bike brand new - paid 6.5K for it as well and soon found myself yearning for a bigger /faster /different bike. I did keep it though, put 33K miles on it in 4 years and sold it for little over 2k when trading it in for a versys 1000, worked out to about 1K for the bike per year. As for biking gear... I started cheap and took my time to learn what is good value for money and then upgraded to gore-tex etc... As for training, in the UK to get a full bike license you've got to pass basic training and then do a full riding license course afterwards, really spending about 1.3K on that altogether. I don't regret that though as they teach you good habits and you can learn more and more from there.
As a Suzuki TU-250X rider, I couldn't agree more with your statements on the small displacement bikes. I have a mt-09 that goes faster in 2nd gear than the 250 does maxxed out, and yet day after day, I choose the 250 for most rides. it's a blast rolling the throttle and giving it all it has... and getting up to 50 mph (eventually) :) Plus getting 70-80 MPG is a nice benefit of the smaller displacement. Most places I go, the 250 gets more attention as well. it's styling looks retro, and everyone wants to check it our, where the sportier mt-09 looks like just another sport bike. a sexy one imho, but still, your average person on the street doesn't care about how many cc's your bike has. At the end of the day, have fun, be safe, and love the bike you're on.
Kevin - I am quickly approaching 59, and have been riding since I was 5 (if you count Mini-Bikes) - I am also a FAA Licensed Private Pilot - I watch every video, and as always, could not agree with you more about training. Try go buying an airplane and think you can fly.... No Bueno !!!! - as you can see, I've also been practicing my Spanish :-)
all good points...training and gear are extremely important... keep the gear up to date and continue to take training and coaching from the pros.. whether that is track, street or off road.. my wife and I do all three...there is always something to learn and get better at...read books, watch videos and practice the important skills for the type of riding you do...
I’m not a new rider but I still periodically watch videos like these. Both for cognitive awareness and to see if I have let in any bad habits. In New Zealand the government has recognised that motorcycle accidents costs the country as a whole, financially and emotionally. So they pay the majority of the cost towards rider training with full day courses at bronze (learner), silver (intermediate), and gold (advanced) rider levels. By majority I mean the bronze is $20 to do and the other two are $50. Also you can do them as many times as you like with the same low costs.
Also, don't forget to purchase new helmet after 3-5 years, and if you drop your fairly new helmet..you might want to go and purchase a new one as you've compromised your EPS within the helmet, it may not save you if you get into a wreck. Some don't think about these things, but it is a good tip..
Hi Kevin I really enjoy your you tube MC RIDER videos, I've been riding bikes more years than I care to remember, but always open to new information, especially when it comes to Safety and your channel is excellent for that. I have a comment of the above video, with regard to holding the clutch in until you stop the bike and shift down to 1st gear, surely there is less control as opposed to a combination of engine and normal breaking, releasing the clutch each time you shift down. Love to hear your feedback. Sean, Wexford, Ireland.
I spent a lot of my beginning riding time on the same back roads I'd been riding road bicycle on for years. My first bike, 2004 Vulcan 750, cost me 2200.00. Which my wife gleefully pointed out was 1000.00 cheaper than my road bike.. I still have both.
I agree with all of these tips, definitely about buying used for first bike. New riders don't actually know what they want. I know I was looking for a bike based on what I thought looked good. Ended up getting something completely different because I got a steal on the price but now realize I wouldn't have liked my first choice and would have spent much more
I took up riding a motorcycle at 58. I had over the years ridden a bike but neither had the gear, a bike or had really taken a course. In deciding to learn to ride I took the course, bought the correct gear and yes spent roughly around $1000 + on it and it serves me well. When I decided on what bike to get, naturally I went for a 2nd hand one. My budget wouldn’t allow for a new one. So what did I get, a 2006 Ducati Monster 620ie with 20,000km on the clock in superb condition.. Was it the right bike to get as a newbie, maybe ?? But it was what I wanted and only cost me $5k. The first month or more I had trouble in getting used to the clutch while the power did scare me somewhat. Early on I even got to the point where I was thinking I had made a big mistake and almost was going to give it all away. However, I was determined to learn to ride the bike and slowly but surely I became comfortable with it and my riding improved. Some 2 years later, I am enjoying riding the bike, it doesn’t scare me but I ride as safely as I possibly can, I don’t take risks and I treat all other drivers etc as being possible risks to myself and the bike. I am still learning and I know I always will be. I don’t need a faster or bigger or more expensive bike. The Monster is sufficient for my needs and desires.
It seems the price on a used ninja 400 or YZR R3 or CBR 300 around here are so close to a new one (maybe last years model as compared to a couple years older with mileage) or are even more expensive than that 0 miles newer model. We don't pay tax here on used vehicles but at $4K - $5K the tax is under $400 - $500. Should I actually buy a used one in this situation?
So true. Don't OverBike yourself. In 2020, I purchased a 2008 Honda cb250 Nighthawk with 4,000 miles for $1,300. I had not ridden since my Hodaka dirt bike years in the 70s. Allowed much more funds to go to gear. Having a blast on little country, blacktop roads. Trained a lot in parking lots.
I started on an XT 200 and by chance my son who wasn't willing to spend started on an XT225 I found for like 2k. Both bike were used and cheap and really were awesome starter bikes! I outgrew it years ago and my son was having lots of Fun but died from something not related to Motorcycles at all here recently. GOD BLESS HIS SOUL. He was the oldest. I have 2 younger then him eying that bike and promised to teach them in the spring how to ride it. Can't say enough about an XT for the first year! You can reach the ground cuz it's short and light and low power yes but in the 1st year it's honestly fuckin Perfect... Ride on road or dirt or gravel. Find out what kinda riding you really want to do. Can't say enough about it. An XT is an Awesome choice for a 1st bike. I admit you only get a year or 2 but in that time I promise you will learn, If riding is for you and if so what kinda riding you want to trade that bike for. My son wanted Dirt biking. I wanted street. But XT led the way....
Hey Kevin, I appreciate your use of the drone. With the "sky view", your verbal explanation of the procedure makes complete sense. I get that a 650cc motorcycle may be a bit on the "big" side for a "beginner's practice motorcycle" and I shouldn't feel embarrassed to be "seen" on a 250cc or a 300cc MC to start on. It'll put me miles ahead of those twits-who "think"(yes, this is a word play, and intended) they're"hot sh!t" when the truth is-they're a "cold turd" when it comes to safe motorcycle riding. I know you are busy and may never see, it, respond to this text message. Thanks for the work you do to help motorcycle riders be the best they can be! Doug🤓🏍️🦁🏍️👍🐻
That's why "Blue" is in the garage til I get more gear...all I have is a helmet right now 😞 I have taken her out a couple times down the road with jeans and long sleeves and my helmet..... But I wont feel comfortable til I get everything I need. The motorcycle class I want to take is booked up so I've been watching your videos and a couple other's on TH-cam to learn. My first motorcycle is an 2005 Yamaha R6 and yes it is absolutely terrifying to ride on.....I've been riding my husbands 2020 ninja 650 it's so much more calming for me and I'm able to focus on what I should be....he enjoys riding Blue. I made a mistake there...but maybe I'll be able to ride her in a year or so when I get better.....I paid $3500 for Blue and 80 bucks for a 200 dollar helmet....Kawasaki was having a demo day at our local shop....and the girl hooked me up on a good helmet for what I could afford.
If you are a new rider or a rider who wants to continue to grow (That should be all of us ;) ) and you are not a Member at MCrider you are missing out on the best part of MCrider. Go to www.MCrider.com/Member and get access to the Forums and Field Guide.
- The Forum is an active, friendly place where riders share riding tips, ideas, travel photos, and show off their new motorcycles. Riders and instructors from all over the world are active on the forums and ready to share in the adventure with you.
- The Field Guide is a section of the forums that have very specific training exercises that you can work on in any open parking lot to develop your riding skills.
In addition to these resources, you can discuss every MCrider video, suggest future training videos, read and share gear reviews, and more.
By becoming a member you help support MCrider and keep the weekly videos coming but you also get access to a world of riders who share tips and techniques to help us all enjoy the ride and increase our skills.
www.MCrider.com/Member
+1¹
I've been practicing in a church parking lot that's 6 blocks from my house and it's perfect as the ambulance station is 40 feet away! The EMTs stand outside and watch me sometimes wondering if they'll get some practice too I'm sure, lol
👍
I completely agree with your comment!
But I'd personally change my handle to something like allpoliticiciansarecriminals... Because they obviously are.
lol.
Same here 😹😹
Pick up the pace and more young students will watch and stay watching.
Returned last year to riding after 30 years. I live in Cumbria, England, loads of little back roads and passes.
My wife wasn't happy but finally agreed to me getting a motorbike under certain conditions:Bike must be new (you don't buy someone's cast off) and no pillion.
I bought a Honda Cb300r in May last year. The first month I just stayed on car parks and back roads, after a month I had three hours 1:1 with an instructor. When he told me "You're all right" - dry Scottish guy, I finally ventured out. So far I have put about 6000 miles on and loved every minute of it. I start every ride with ten minutes practice - warms up the engine.
I am still learning steeply but McRider and Dandan the fireman keep me right 👍
Start small, stay safe and never stop learning.
Thank you so much Kevin 😊
Kannst ja gut Englisch
How's that little gem handling the 70-75mph on the highway?
Looking to get one soonish!
Ah Old England here we have to ready all year round for rain.
Yep, these are the better motorcycle guys!
@@DaxXx988 I am not doing much highway travel but even at 70mph there is a notable thrust forward on twisting the throttle so I can't see shorter motorway commutes as a problem.
Dropping a motorcycle is a learning experience
Never get embarassed, pause, reflect, always learn and improve.
One thing in my life that feels good is my daughter rides a Honda CBF1000 better than me.
Well said!
@Last_Stach_Standing ! i was gassing up in tennessee on a rental and stand wasn't all way down. once it hit that point of no return, i was like no, no, no, no. thank goodness there was a guy on other side of pump who didn't laugh and helped me stand it up.
...learning experience ? If I drop my shiny ZX14R, I will kill myself.... hahaha Rgds.
@@MCrider where is your silver rotating at I liked it so much
@@MCrider where is your motorcycle Silver Road King at i like it
I am 55 and just bought a ninja 300 that thing is a blast ..perfect bike since i have not rode. In 25 yrs. Its all about the ride not the size of the bike
_Thats what she said_ ...
@@joshuakalaniparks9084 lmao
I feel even after riding for 20 years I am still learning every day. Every time I step out to ride I learn something new.
I've been riding since the early 80's and I'm not learning anything new. Only thing I would learn new, is a new to me bike, all bikes feel different to each other.
@@crp9985 I'm 37 years in, and took an experienced rider course in 2016. Money well spent.
You sound like a "I'm smarter than you" kind of person.
Kevin is all about continuous training and improvement. Why are you here?
@@crp9985 ...If it's true that you have absolutely nothing left to learn, for sure you are not 100% proficient in every maneuver, every situation, all the time which means you still need to practice what you have learned.
I’m 72 years old and I’ve been motorcycling since 16 and I’m still crap! Not really; but I’m still motorcycling and more aware of my limitations than I was when I was in my teens! That’s why I’ve made it to 72, and I’ll ride until the day I die - but hopefully peacefully in my sleep. PS: thanks Kevin for the voice of reason! Best wishes from 🇬🇧 and God bless America 🇺🇸 It did, after all, make my Ironhead.
Amen. 20 years for me too. A wise man never stops learning. Its the very reason you become wise
My clutch problem as a new rider was because of hundreds of thousands of miles on a standard transmission car. I was conditioned to never be in the friction zone for more than a moment to keep from burning up the clutch. Even after I found out that a motorcycle clutch is made to be slipped, it took months to get that in my head and even 2 years later I still need refreshers on that.
Kevin if I may Sir, I see way too many new riders putting a emphasis on their go-pro, the mount, the microphone, etc., only to soon after record themselves, CRASHING. My humble advice is ride for a year or at least 5000 miles before being concerned with making a video.
GOD BLESS ALL THE NEW RIDERS 🇺🇸🏍🇺🇸
not only that, but recording for a youtube channel oftentimes leads to irresponsible riding and blaming the other people on the road, in order to gain clicks, likes and subscribers. that's why i don't watch stuff like motomadness anymore; it's 95% riders being total idiots.
Newish rider here--sometimes I wish I had a camera, because sometimes I think I must be making a lot of mistakes and it would be nice to be able to look at what I'm doing or get someone else to.
Doing for money ignoring safety.
I disagree. I'd like to have a camera to record my riding, not only for critiquing purposes, but also for my safety. And yes, I'd like to post videos to TH-cam as well. But not be like those mooks who say "YOU NEARLY KILLED ME" to a driver that pulled into their lane 75ft ahead.
@@crusherven Find a mentor if you can. Someone with GOOD experience can evaluate what you should work on in about 20 minutes of normal riding. Some places have advanced rider classes that include on-road observation by instructors. Good luck !
Wish I would have seen this before I bought my first motorcycle a little over two years ago. Frankly, I probably wouldn't have listened because I'm hard-headed, but it is fantastic advice. Anyone that asks me about riding, I'm sending them to this video.
I kind of did what you talked about in the video. For my first bike, I bought a brand new, tall, $16,000, 1000cc ADV bike because it was cool and getting great reviews online. And then I was scared to ride it in a way to learn. Later bought a $4,000 used CRF250L and learned so much riding that bike. When I got back on the $16,000 bike, every thing was much better. I should have bought the CRF250L (or similar) first and spent at least 6 months on that before considering another bike. Folks told me that back then, but I didn't listen. I try to tell folks that now, but like me, they don't want to hear it. The big powerful cool bikes are much more enticing to a new rider for some reason.
Thanks for sharing, people are going to do what people are going to do...glad it worked out for you though.
Great reply - very good
Did the same thing! I bought a brand new Indian Chief Dark Horse. The bike terrified me for months. On the flip side, I feel like I can hop on just about any bike and go now. Looking back, I should have saved my money and learned on a much smaller bike that would have been much easier to master the basics. With the chief, I would ride really late with almost no one else on the road in order to gain my confidence and familiarize myself with the handling of such a heavy bike with a “mile long” wheel base.
Great advice as always Kevin. Being 6'4" tall, I bought a used KLR650, rode it for a year and 7,200 miles, dropped it 5 times and sold it for $80 less than I paid. Now riding a used V-strom650 for 2 years and another 20,000 miles and continue to be very happy with it.
I just got a V-Strom 650 as bike number 4 and I love it. Very awesome bikes to ride and they seem happy to go anywhere,
New rider, got the V Strom 1050xt. After an hour of riding around my neighborhood, all my neighbors know the sound of my low-frequency lawnmower.
I learned to drive on a stick-shift Ford Explorer, what a joy the V Strom is to ride. MSF course in 1 month.
I almost bought a klr650, I ended up getting an 09 Versys 650 for 3146 out the door literally today I'm a new rider raced 125s as a kid but it's been qbout 12 years. Never rode a 650 before and spent around 700$ on gear in total noru leather padded priced at $250 but manager gave me a solid discount @$109for buying the motorcycle from them paid around $65 for some alpine stars glove, helmet is a senici something 2🤣 comes with a Bluetooth attachment made by sena sounds phenomenal great for music idk about calls cause I haven't ridden it my bike yet so I don't know how it is with wind. Overall fitment is fantastic paid around $380 for that helmet (w/ extra visor). Also bought some senici riding boots about $100 a bag for my gas tank which was another 80$ I'm excited to be apart of the community!
@@xghostxgaming7297 Congrats on your new bike! Please watch Kevin's technique and road strategy videos and practice. Kevin is a great resource to keep you safe on the street. 😎👍🏻
@@got_to_roll unfortunately I got into a motorcycle accident last month on the 25th. A lady pulled in front of me and I hit the side of her car going 40. I was wearing my gloves helmet riding shoes and a Hoodie walked away with a broken wrist mobility is coming back surprising considering how hard I hit her and I flew about 150 feet. Thankful to be walking still. Bikes done for the front end basically snapped in half. But I'll be back on either later this season or I may just have to wait till next
Also dont trust green lights! Someone might be looking at their phone and run through you...
Just treat traffic as if you're on a bicycle, because in a way, we sort of are. If the light is turning yellow for those cars and you see a car that's not slowing down. Don't risk it and go. If you don't see any cars or if cars are stopped/stopping, it's pretty safe to go.
When I'm at a red light, all I do is keep looking both ways while I'm waiting. By the time it turns green, I can usually tell if it's safe to go.
@@joemann7971 I do that too. Looking left, right and behind constantly at stop lights. Probably looks like I have tourette's.
Also look at there rims. it's a dead giveaway if there moving. Or starting to move.
Be safe everyone
True. I ride with four words imprinted in my frontal lobe: they’re drunk - I’m invisible.🏍
I give it 2 beats before I proceed
Although I rode a small Honda when I was 19, I started again at at the age of 60 in 2014 and bought a 2002 Yamaha Virago 250 for $1100. Now in 2020, I am still riding that bike. I can get it to near 70 mph with a good tail wind. It has plenty of power for the rural country roads I am riding and it is a blast to ride. It's easy to manhandle in our tight garage and I have no fear getting it up or down our steep driveway. I can pick it up by the handle bars if I drop it, which I have done at least 6 times or so. It had 5,700 miles on it when I bought it, and now has over 16,000 miles on it. All in all, I have not regretted buying a 250 Virago...And I saved a lot of money. And I suppose it helps that I weigh only about 130 lbs.
I may get a bigger bike eventually...maybe a 500 or so. But today I am still riding that Virago and loving it. And you're right, I spent near the same amount of money on gear which can follow me to any other bike I may or may not buy in the future.
It's great to want what you've got. I'm equally content with my used V-strom650.
@@got_to_roll Yes, indeed !
@Himmarshee Street Live The living room and patio....Sheeze. That's dedication. I don't even keep any of my bicycles in my living room....although I used to when I was younger. Ride on.
I ride a rebel250 and have no real desire to upgrade either.. it's fast enough, super easy to work on and I still greatly enjoy riding it.
@@jseden Yes, I was looking at those too when I bought the Virago. (I have to admit, I have been a little partial to V twins.) But now, if I ever do buy a "bigger" bike, the new Rebel 500 is a strong candidate. But again, like you I still love my 250.
Feels like I’m talking with my uncle and he’s just spitting wisdom.
Take that Motorcycle Safety Course, and when you're done, continue practicing what you learned in the course, find you a big empty parking lot and practice. And practice those emergency stops. My safety course class was a lot of fun, met some real nice folks. But it's important to continue practicing what you learned in those few days. Practicing my emergency stops, helped save me from what surely would have been a collision. And tuning into some of the great Motorcycle youtube channels devoted to rider safety, like this one, only helps you be more prepared. Ride Safe !
Not so sure about the last part where you seem to describe changing down several gears whilst ‘coasting’ to a stop (not really advisable), but the rest was good.
Good point
This may be the most important video that you've made. It should be required viewing for everyone even thinking of getting into riding. Thanks for doing it.
I buy used always. I am 66 years old and I have never bought a new car truck or motorcycle in my life. Of the seven Harley's and two Indians I had only one my 02 FLSTC was running and not a basket case when I got it. I learned to ride on a 1938 Indian scout our neighbor had in the 60's with a foot s clutch. It was a right hand shift like my dad's 66 Chevy pick up truck was with three on the tree so it was easy for me. .Good video you always explain thing in a easy to understand fashion. I watch because no matter how long you been riding reviewing this is a good thing
I learn how to ride on a 200cc naked bike and then I bought a 400cc scooter. It is so easier to make slow speed maneuvers when you have a clutch to control you bike. I tried to do the same maneuvers I had done when I took riding exam and I cannot do that with the scooter. I am still practicing them.
I made the mistake with the gear. The only thing I had bought before I bought the scooter was a helmet. Now I bought gloves and I am looking for a jacket. I am riding a scooter and the most time I am riding in my town, but I realized how important is motorcycle gear even for the scooter riders. Some people think that scooters are not the real bikes but we take the same risk as any other bike riders.
Viking Cycle has some decent gear at affordable prices. I wear one of their jackets & a pair of their pants.
Kevin, so true in one of your views on buying a new bike and afraid to practice because of fear and dropping it and scratching the paint... or worse. It took me awhile to get over it. I just bought a new Sportster “few years ago” and didn’t like the looks of the crash bars so I rode without them “and still do” , yes, I realize the safety of them! But for the longest time I wasn’t utilizing the ability of the bike and and the control that I should have known. Because of fear of dropping the bike. With the MSF course and weekly practices and video’s from you and Jerry Palladio’s video’s I have come along ways and continue to do so. Thanks again for getting me throw so much!.... by the way, you would have made an excellent Pastor.
*Why can’t motorcycles hold themselves up?*
Because they are two-tired.
Lovely. 😂
Groan...
Hahaha.
XD
🤔...😳😶😐😏🤭...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
New to the biking family and to this wonderful page . I was gifted a awsome helmet about 6 years ago and gloves. I took my riding class in 2021 and purchased my 1st bike this year in 2022 a 2000 Vs800gl Intruder used for 1700... I love my intruder. I highly suggest a smaller bike to anyone who is just beginning. Humble yourselves folks we will all work our way up
Awesome, welcome!
Hi Kevin, thank you for all your solid advice I am definitely a newbie . But I am also a mom and I find your advice to be very logical and practical . Before I viewed this video I nailed all the used gear and getting ready for my msf class in a few days. I've been prepping by watching all your videos and they are helping me and taking away much of my fear of the unknown . Thank you for taking your time to help us on our journey of learning to ride better. God bless you!
Thanks MC! Your stop & go, slow speed turns and clutch feathering drills have helped me a lot.
I practice them at 6am every Saturday and Sunday. 👏🏼💯👍🏼🏍🙏🏼
Just bought my first bike last month. It's a 2004 Yamaha v star 1100 with 19k miles on it. Excited to be part of the rider family
Great video Kevin. I got my gear first then bike. I did spend a little more on my 2017 Rebel 300, but I absolutely LOVE IT!!! 5100 instead of 3500, but still a great investment. I also have a family friend who rode most of her life who basically gave me the good advice you are giving. She was shocked that HD starts you out on a 500. A lot of times, I have you and DanDanTheFireman in my head. Keep up the good work.
You are the first in TH-cam calling them common instead of stupid mistakes. I am appreciated sir.
Great analogy about the clutch friction zone being like a volume knob. I’ve taught many people how to ride motorcycles, and moving forward, I will use this analogy; it doesn’t get much more clear or understandable than this. Thank you.
Another good one Kevin,I have been following your videos for about 4 years now, what you are saying about good gear and proper motorcycle areso true. We can easily see the riders that have never dropped a bike,they are the ones riding in t shirts,shorts and sneakers. Greetings from Nova Scotia,Canada
steve russell LOL, I have dropped my bike about 3 times / accident (not my fault) , slipping over a pineapple and letting it slip out of my hand when holding it on a trailer. And drive with t-shirt and sneakers, when the weather is nice. . It's a 2002, BMW C1-200, 176 CC. (LOL)
Sad thing is, here in Holland they think it's a 45 km/hr scooter-buzz-bike and not a true motorcycle. I understand that.
Parked once next to 2 guys with BMW 1200's in full gear and me in t-shirt and sneakers. Said hello, they were nice, it was fun.
Good ol' 3 in the tree! I, too, got my license on a truck with that transmission. Loved it!
I bought my first bike before I took the course . The bike I got is a 2006 Yamaha 650 VStar. At first I was afraid of the bike until I went through the course. Now I find that riding in my neighborhood seems easy to ride even though I’m a newbie. Watching lots of videos and practicing close to home on backstreets and parking lots. Your videos are very good and detailed. Thank you for making them.
Hi, I have a vstar 1100. And it's a blast, very good looking and reliable motorcycles. I put 9000 miles in the first 1 .5 year. Awesome machine
If you grow up riding your bike on and off road like a lot of us did. When you finally jump on your first motorcycle I feel like counter steering and leaning was already deeply ingrained in my mind
I had ridden larger bikes in the past but, the very first motorcycle that I purchased was, a used 1984 Honda XL200R dual sport that I got for $500. It was only 4 years old but, needed some parts. I had to replace both tires & tubes, all the brakes, the clutch cable and the dust boots for the front shocks. Additionally, I had to buy all my gear because I didn't already have it. So all in all, I had invested roughly $1500 before I ever rode it.
I was in the military at the time and living on base so after I got my learner's permit, I had to attend a safety course before I was allowed to ride the bike on base. This consisted of 4 hours in the classroom and another 4 hours of practical training.
We had to ride a figure 8 inside a 16' by 20' rectangle without our feet touching the ground, practice straight and curved road emergency stops (stopping as quickly as possible without skidding either tire), obstacle avoidance and the "slow poke" race.......ride as slowly as possible without putting our feet down and could not exceed 3 MPH. At some point during the training, we had get up to about 15 MPH, then jam on the rear brake and cause the rear tire to skid without losing control of the bike. We were also taught not to focus on the road directly in front of us but rather, down the road several yards ahead of us (look where you're going, not where you are). This makes avoiding road debris much easier because you have more time to react.
After all that was done, I still had to complete the state sponsored MC safety course off base before I could even take the riding test to get my permanent license.
I know a lot of new riders today won't want to go through all that just to be able to ride but in my opinion, it was worth every minute.
Loving this channel. Last time I rode was 8 years ago on a CBR. I recently rebuilt a 97 vulcan 500 from the ground up and got all new gear. I am slowly Re-learning how to ride again and break every bad habit I had heard ago on the rockets. Thank you MCrider for all these videos.
Your teaching style is what motivates me to be safer, learn more, and help others.
You can crash a 250 cc as easy as a 1,000 cc. I can guarantee you, out of millions of possibilities, there will be a scenario even you will crash. Here are my suggestion to new bikers.
1. Do not ride at night, or in the rain.
2. Do not ride during rush hour.
3. Repeat every word you heard in the class while riding. Things like, Brake Lever is an Orange and Squeeze like an Orange, slowly. Do not trust the Green Light. You are invisible.
4. Do not drink and ride. Stay away from Harley crowd and Dealers who promote Alcohol.
5. Wear full gear even if it is 100 degrees.
6. Get a bike with ABS.
7. Do not go to group rides. There will always be that a...hole.
8. Do not tailgate and do not allow others to tailgate.
9. Ride in the places you are familiar and do not change your route abruptly.
10. If you drop your bike, and it is okay, get on top of it and take a selfie.
Yeah Becker, totally with you. Just because its a 250 or 300 doesn't mean it can't kill you. I have a 15 mile commute, no freeways now. I do ride at night, and I've been caught in the rain. I had to adjust accordingly, slowing down, space cushion, etc.
Outstanding and well said! I would offer a few additions: 11) Be seen. Install additional DTR lamps, use LED flashing brake lights, and wear high viz clothing; 12) Install a car horn (or something really loud); 13) Choose a lane position that allows you to see, and be seen with an available escape route; 14) Most importantly, DO NOT engage the morons on the road. Pack your ego when the kickstand goes up. You are the prey. They can kill you, and get away with it.
Make friends with riders who are safety conscious.
Learn counter-steering and practice it with awareness on every ride. Practice slightly adjusting your line around a corner as if there was an obstacle in the road.
Be aware of what's around you on all sides, and maintain a good following distance to buy yourself time to react.
Enjoy riding the bike you have, even if it's small and not so powerful. Keep your bike well maintained and concentrate on your skills.
Learn to spot safety issues with your bike - tyres, chain, brakes, oil leaks.
Analyse every slight incident or near miss to figure out what you could have done to avoid it happening ahead of time.
Kind of difficult to not ride in the rain when I live in the place with the heaviest rainfall in the world. What I do is go slow and make sure I stay alert, good braking method helps a lot.
True. I didn't have ABS and that hurt me. Jackass stopped completely from 40 mph to make a left turn. I didn't hit them due to space cushion, but I still went down due to the brakes locking up. And I was on a 300.
You said it well. Love taking training classes. It raises my enjoyment of riding each time.
I am assisting a new rider right now. Your channel was my first advice.
Hi Kevin,
I've been riding on the street since the early eighties (not counting minibikes, mopeds and dirt bikes).
A friend in his early 20's asked about learning to ride and without thinking about it, I told him pretty much the same thing as this video.
You should add one more thing to your list, "not subscribing to MCrider!" I'll be sending him this link.
Anyway, I did question one of your techniques for stopping. You referred to stopping by, "braking while holding in the clutch and downshifting" but not letting out the clutch in each gear.
I've been told since the 80's, you (rev-match) downshift and let the clutch out in each gear while smoothly braking with both brakes.
This accomplishes two things, engine braking to help slow the bike, and if you get into trouble that requires acceleration, you are already in the correct gear and can just roll throttle and go.
This was reinforced in an advanced rider class a couple of years ago at the local HD dealer.
They had us practice hard stopping in straight lines and curves using this technique.
TBH I was taught to drive a standard trans car like this too.
Is this your recommendation for just new riders? Please elaborate.
Thanks
Similar to being trained in firearms....whichever you method you train / practice - when if and /or when that emergency ever appears - you're only 1/2 as good as your training. These guys to teach moto safety...well, I'm glad they have these forums.
Im 45 and getting a 2020 Ninja 650 as a 1st bike. I know it goes against ur advice and its good advice, but I don't want the hassle of having to buy a used bike with potential problems and then selling it a year later to someone. I'd rather be happy now and grow into the bike slowly but surely. Wish me luck
I second that comment, I got myself a HD Fatbob 114 2020, full warranty, unlimited millage /5years, full insurance coverage as new for 7 years, I focused on slow speed training, parking lots exercices and for the first 2k km's I mainly rode the back roads before I drove in the city, I am at 4K Km now, still in training mode and doing great!
I bought my gear first, then went to the MSF. I bought the bike after I got my license. Went with a brand new Ducati Monster as a first bike. Spicy learning curve. ;) I've been practicing a lot, and am now pretty comfortable, but not cocky.
Got a great deal on a Low milage Harley Davidson Heritage Classic because the rider just didn't want to ride anymore. :) thanks for all the great videos !
I remember my state motorcycle manual said something like push left, go left and thinking that has to be a typo, but once I saw the test I realized I had to regurgitate what it says even if I think it must be wrong. I decided the topic needed more research. Understanding counter steering before I started riding was the hardest thing, it took weeks of searching to find a video which really shows it. I think it was one of yours MCrider. Later I found various physics based explanations which helped too. The next hardest thing after that was understanding and trusting that just turning the bars can take the bike out of a turn and flip it to vertical without any kind of special weight shifting or throttle manipulation, that it is all done with steering and everything else is just optimization. Next would be how the motorcycle can just hold a turn once it's leaned in and doesn't need to be held into the lean, with the even harder concept that the bike won't fall over in a turn as long as it keeps moving faster than about 5 mph. I'm still getting used to that last one and its been two years.
Hi Kevin, video like this should be mandatory for all who wish to ride a bike. Watching can save money, embarrassment AND your skin /life. Look forward to each and every episode.
Kevin your videos are always informational.. Thank You! I have been riding for 40+ years and learn EVERY time I watch a video, be it from you or other MC Instructors. I took a MSF course 2 years ago just to repeat my skills again, improved my riding skills yet again. I am Road Capt for local HD Dealship, must keep my skills fresh and share with new riders. I refer your Channel for them to view and educate themselves. Thank You for sharing YOUR knowledge to an open audience ....
Greetings from eastern Europe! I'm about to start my first riding course next week, and your channel has been really great for me, even though there are differences between European and American MC courses (they are much longer here, and empty parking lots are not a thing in my country :)) ) So thank you and keep up the good work!
Daughter started with Harley Davidson street rod. Perfect, same as the 500 that were used in the free classes with the bike. The only new rider who never tipped over. I still don't think she has ever reved it past 6000 rpm. It's very tolerant of lugging, low rpm riding.
You are the most down to earth and sensible rider I've seen here on TH-cam - and I commend you for it! Thanks for this.
I got my license last summer, bought an old Honda CX500, had a blast, and am now selling it to a friend getting into riding. Looking forward to riding with my friend and to upgrading bikes.
Started with a SusukiC50t. Kept it 2 months. It was great experience. Sold it for what I paid for it. Bought a friend's 01 HD Fatboy. 1450 cc 700lbs. It's perfect for me. I love riding it. Been 9 months riding now. I'm 61. CCRider was and is a go to channel for me. It's why I solidified the plan I followed above.
Learning to ride a dirt bike first made me a master on the street and saved my life more then once after a car pulls out on you then freezes . Riding in the dirt is way harder as you have to have your weight in the right spot while driving though mud puddles and loose sand. Don’t have it right and that back end will slide out from underneath you. And hitting jumps 20-40 ft perfectly just may be the best feeling on earth!
I haven't rode in about 4 years but I am about to move back to Florida and I already have a bike lined up to buy when I get there. Watching these videos is really helping to remind me of what I need to do to be a safe and responsible rider. I am planning to retake the beginners course at the local Harley dealership just to refresh myself on the basics. I'm really looking forward to getting back in the saddle again and your videos are really helping me remember the basics!
Kevin. My son is starting his riding life at 26. He's bought his midline gear, has good boots jacket etc.
He bought a 2000 Honda VLX 600 that needs fixing. He's apprenticing at a small bike shop and is wrenching his own bike.
He'll be taking the rider safety course and getting plenty of practice with me. Great video and keep up the good work!!
Fresh! I LOVE THIS INSTRUCTOR ! He actually gave in details the information I have been looking for 4 years . I simply adore this channel.
10:00 whats insane to me as a European (where we MUST learn manual shifting in driving school), was hearing that in america you DONT need to learn a manual tranmission to get your driving license. That is just mindblowing to me. It's like getting an airplane licence but not needing to learn how to use the flaps...
Kevin, I can’t agree with you more about smaller bikes. I too own an XT250. It is the bike I got back into riding on. I became quite skilled at low speed maneuvers on it and still practice with it regularly. It is a flawless bike for what it was designed to do. I also own an FZ 09. As fun as the FZ is, I still find myself riding the XT more often due to my love for riding off road. I can flog the heck out of that thing and never feels intimidating. Can’t do that so much with the FZ 09. Thanks for all you do for the riding community. You are a difference-maker.
AT 52 I'm riding seriously for the first time, took a beginner class, bought decent gear, and for my bike an 03 Kawai Vulcan classic. Totally bone stock for 2k and 14k miles on it. Add 800 bucks for TLC fixing up, add another 800 for gear, and 7 months later I've put 4k miles on it. Can't wait get a bigger bike but not until I'm comfortable with certain skill sets. I do alot of parking lot practice to work those skills because in KS not much in the way of twisties. I can't tell you how freeing it is to have an older bike that your not afraid to drop. Coincidentally I haven't dropped it because I'm not afraid to. Thankyou MC for some great content. have a great ride everyone.
You do great videos
I so agree with your comments on buying the right bike to start with. I'd been away from motorcycling for 52yrs and just got back into it last ear. I bought a 250cc Suzuki TU250X and am thrilled that it's "age appropriate" in that it only weighs 300lbs. But it can accelerate and keep up with traffic under almost all circumstances, although freeways are a bit more of a challenge. At my age (76) I don't think I'll be moving up to bigger bike!
Thx m.c I've got to say my first bike was a Honda xl100 ,got my license at 16 ,that was a loooong time ago ,now I'm doing a 21 harley rglide special ,thx for the vids
First bike was a kh 400 kaw. Three-hole two stroke. Great starter bike. A little small for my 6' 2" frame, but lots of snot and no fear of dropping it. Didn't have it long, but I wish I had the thing now!! Would be a lot of fun to modify!
I LOVE my little 2002 VStar 650. Been on it for near 3 years and roughly 13k miles. I really would love my dream bike of a Road King but my issue is I am not sure if I am ready.
Here in the UK, there is a multi stage testing and licensing process, starting at age 17, which begins with a Compulsory Basic Training course which you have to pass to be allowed on the road with a provisional licence, and you have to go through another 3 levels of licence to ride an unlimited capacity machine, taking several years. It was simpler back in the seventies when I started: you got a provisional licence at 16, allowing you to ride anything up to 250cc (or unlimited with a sidecar), then once you passed a single driving test you could ride anything.
6’6 250 a touring bike was my first bike, jumping on a small “beginner bike” not always the correct choice.
Always enjoy your videos Kevin!
As a new rider and took the MSF course, I didn't have much of a budget but bought good gear and only could get a used 250cc bike. I was a bit bummed out at first but glad I did after, as it taught me a lot on getting good control of the bike and build confidence to be ready for the 650cc bike that I'm riding now. Taking an Intermediate class at the end of the month to further my training.
The very first motorcycle I ever rode was a Suzuki 80 dirt bike in a field. A few years later the next bike I rode was a Norton Commando, I nearly dumped it because I didn't lean far enough and kissed a curb with the left side of the motorcycle. I kept the bike up but I also learned that leaning is your friend. Part of my problem was that I was riding a bicycle a lot at the time and the lean angle is much less on a bicycle. I think it is where a lot of folks go wrong when first riding a motorcycle, you have to lean a motorcycle probably twice as far as a bicycle. Anyway, lesson learned, and I have not even come very close to dumping a motorcycle at speed in the 47 years since that day. That said, I don't ride aggressively and I watch where I'm going, and probably most importantly I watch the road surface. Keep the good stuff coming in Kevin.
Thanks Kevin. Valuable tips for riders of all experience levels.
Glad it was helpful!
I got my first bike 22 years after I got my license - a used Honda CTX700 with a dual clutch transmission. Couldn't be happier :)
As a new rider, it is important to get training but that is just the start. Riding a motorcycle is a life-long learning process and part of the fun of being a motorcyclist. If you are a new rider and want to continue to learn there are training exercises in the Field Guide that you can practice on your own, you also get access to the forums with riders from all over the world that are willing to answer questions and help you develop as a rider. More details at www.MCrider.com/support
Hello fellow SBU .. HOPE ALL IS WELL.. BEARCAT BASKETBALL 86
Did you play in 86? I was there 85 to 89.
Yes sir.. played 84- 86... me and my 2 buddies.. Franklin Buckley..Thomas Hawkins.. sorry for the late reply jus made it overseas on deployment
Hey Kevin. I remember a few years ago you promoted the HJC helmet brand. I think they were around $130 to $150. In this video, you suggest spending $300 on a helmet. I bought Sedici from cycle gear that was $199 plus taxes. Is $300 the minimum for a good helmet?
@@stacyodom1746 In my opinion you should not care about the price, but it need to have Snell rating or it has to be ECE approved. if it has either of these, you know it`s a safe helmet, even if it costs next to nothing. If it costs 1000, and doesn´t have either, it´s a no go. Both those markings means it has been tested by a non profit party dedicated to improving helmet safety. With more money you can get more comfort and and all kinds of other nice things like better ventilation, helmet being more quiet and so on.
You should find the corresponding sticker somewhere in the helmet.
Make sure the helmet fits also you correctly, if it is one size too big the rating does not matter
DOT: Standards determined by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT rating currently in effect is federal standard FMVSS 218, and any helmet with the DOT sticker should meet these standards (this is the most basic of the ratings, and are tested by hired independent contractors, and many helmets labeled DOT may not actually pass the standards, and testing is worse than ECE and SNELL, these helmets are usually quite heavy, and the grading is old.)
ECE: Standards determined by the Economic Commission for Europe. This multinational standard is used by more than 50 countries in Europe, and any helmet with this sticker must meet the current ECE 22.05 standard. ( these are crash tested, but with different methods than SNELL, SNELL uses harder force on sharper point, while ECE tests need the helmet to spread the G-forces more)
SNELL: Standards determined by the Snell Memorial Foundation. This is a voluntary testing procedure, and is only required by certain race bodies. The current standard is SNELL M2020 for street use. (Mostly considered the gold standard, but there has been a bit of a problem for their testing to promote too hard EPS liners which is not good. Also SNELL rated helmets have usually much higher cost, and testing is race oriented, and their test uses harder force on sharper point, while ECE tests need the helmet to spread the G-forces more)
FIM: A relatively new standard, the FIM rating is used for helmets that meet safety criteria established by motorcycling's global racing organization for track use.( I do not know anything about these)
SHARP: Uses European crash data. if it has good rating it is safe, rating system gives consumer more information than simple pass or fail.
My old helmet years ago was 4 stars sharp rated helmet, and ECE approved, cost me about 250€, was loud as hell, but weighed only 1300g, my current one is ECE approved Modular helmet that cost 280€, discounted from 700€.
you can buy really expensive safe helmet much cheaper if you buy an older model after a release of a new model, or if there is going to be newer model released soon
I started on a 84 v45 sabre, then went and got a v65 sabre after 20k or so miles... didnt keep it long was to much ! Got a gs500 now and its my favorite. Slow to me but so much fun and light
1 other mistake is not learning to use the front brakes. They will only use the rear and when it comes time to really have to stop they are sliding all over the road as if on ice.
Thank you so very much, i didnt know i could keep the clutch in the whole time as i shift gears down when slowing down.
Countering steering was confusing until I realized it’s the same with airplane pedals, push left to go left, Check!
And you bank into a turn, then neutralise pressure on the controls once you've achieved the desired rate of turn. :-)
I bought my 2005 Vstrom 650, decked out with luggage, crash bars, decent tires, new chain and sprocket, phone mount, aux lights, full set of gear that fit me and some more little things for $2750.
New scared riders are great to buy from!
Nice video. Great drone shots!
Glad you enjoyed it
I’m a returning rider at 65. I’ve probably stretched some of these rules but I’m not willing to admit which ones🙄. I did, however, seek advice from experienced riders about the size of bike I should buy, some of whom are in MCRIDER forums. All of them advised buying smaller than what I had my heart set on, and that’s what I did. I still bought a used bike that’s beautiful and very similar in size to my previous ride. In reality, it’s probably the best bike for me in my circumstances.
Very good video. Welcome to all new riders out there!
I also made the mistake of buying my first bike brand new - paid 6.5K for it as well and soon found myself yearning for a bigger /faster /different bike. I did keep it though, put 33K miles on it in 4 years and sold it for little over 2k when trading it in for a versys 1000, worked out to about 1K for the bike per year.
As for biking gear... I started cheap and took my time to learn what is good value for money and then upgraded to gore-tex etc...
As for training, in the UK to get a full bike license you've got to pass basic training and then do a full riding license course afterwards, really spending about 1.3K on that altogether. I don't regret that though as they teach you good habits and you can learn more and more from there.
😂🤣 Outside of the budgeting for prep and gear, I’m pretty sure I am making all the other mistakes. It’s a learning process.
Much appreciated
I bought a new but inexpensive DF250 RTR very beautiful and just right for starters. Glad I found this channel
I am a new rider🤪 got a used 2007 low mile Honda rebel and I still think it is too big me. Overall great video, love the drone shot
Oh yeah, forgot to mention on your last video I watched, new subscriber! Again, thanks for your time and knowledge!!
if soneone wondering if they can switch from 250 to 1000cc ,you can if you respect the bike and know how to apply slight throttle to the bike
Good perspective.
Add Approx $200 to budget for crash bars
As a Suzuki TU-250X rider, I couldn't agree more with your statements on the small displacement bikes. I have a mt-09 that goes faster in 2nd gear than the 250 does maxxed out, and yet day after day, I choose the 250 for most rides. it's a blast rolling the throttle and giving it all it has... and getting up to 50 mph (eventually) :) Plus getting 70-80 MPG is a nice benefit of the smaller displacement.
Most places I go, the 250 gets more attention as well. it's styling looks retro, and everyone wants to check it our, where the sportier mt-09 looks like just another sport bike. a sexy one imho, but still, your average person on the street doesn't care about how many cc's your bike has.
At the end of the day, have fun, be safe, and love the bike you're on.
Kevin - I am quickly approaching 59, and have been riding since I was 5 (if you count Mini-Bikes) - I am also a FAA Licensed Private Pilot - I watch every video, and as always, could not agree with you more about training. Try go buying an airplane and think you can fly.... No Bueno !!!! - as you can see, I've also been practicing my Spanish :-)
all good points...training and gear are extremely important... keep the gear up to date and continue to take training and coaching from the pros.. whether that is track, street or off road.. my wife and I do all three...there is always something to learn and get better at...read books, watch videos and practice the important skills for the type of riding you do...
I’m not a new rider but I still periodically watch videos like these. Both for cognitive awareness and to see if I have let in any bad habits. In New Zealand the government has recognised that motorcycle accidents costs the country as a whole, financially and emotionally. So they pay the majority of the cost towards rider training with full day courses at bronze (learner), silver (intermediate), and gold (advanced) rider levels. By majority I mean the bronze is $20 to do and the other two are $50. Also you can do them as many times as you like with the same low costs.
Also, don't forget to purchase new helmet after 3-5 years, and if you drop your fairly new helmet..you might want to go and purchase a new one as you've compromised your EPS within the helmet, it may not save you if you get into a wreck. Some don't think about these things, but it is a good tip..
Ive only been riding for a few years and ive been enjoying the almost empty roads. Its easy to socially distance on my dual sport Yamaha tw200.
kevin, i just wanted to tell you I got the stickers day before yesterday. Thank you so much & ty for the note as well. See you on the road
Hi Kevin I really enjoy your you tube MC RIDER videos, I've been riding bikes more years than I care to remember, but always open to new information, especially when it comes to Safety and your channel is excellent for that. I have a comment of the above video, with regard to holding the clutch in until you stop the bike and shift down to 1st gear, surely there is less control as opposed to a combination of engine and normal breaking, releasing the clutch each time you shift down. Love to hear your feedback. Sean, Wexford, Ireland.
I bought a clean '97 Honda shadow 1100 that had 28k miles on it for 1800, goes to show you can find good used motorcycles if you search for them.
I spent a lot of my beginning riding time on the same back roads I'd been riding road bicycle on for years. My first bike, 2004 Vulcan 750, cost me 2200.00. Which my wife gleefully pointed out was 1000.00 cheaper than my road bike.. I still have both.
I agree with all of these tips, definitely about buying used for first bike. New riders don't actually know what they want. I know I was looking for a bike based on what I thought looked good. Ended up getting something completely different because I got a steal on the price but now realize I wouldn't have liked my first choice and would have spent much more
Thanks for the video, it all makes a lot of sense!👍
I took up riding a motorcycle at 58. I had over the years ridden a bike but neither had the gear, a bike or had really taken a course. In deciding to learn to ride I took the course, bought the correct gear and yes spent roughly around $1000 + on it and it serves me well. When I decided on what bike to get, naturally I went for a 2nd hand one. My budget wouldn’t allow for a new one. So what did I get, a 2006 Ducati Monster 620ie with 20,000km on the clock in superb condition.. Was it the right bike to get as a newbie, maybe ?? But it was what I wanted and only cost me $5k. The first month or more I had trouble in getting used to the clutch while the power did scare me somewhat. Early on I even got to the point where I was thinking I had made a big mistake and almost was going to give it all away. However, I was determined to learn to ride the bike and slowly but surely I became comfortable with it and my riding improved. Some 2 years later, I am enjoying riding the bike, it doesn’t scare me but I ride as safely as I possibly can, I don’t take risks and I treat all other drivers etc as being possible risks to myself and the bike. I am still learning and I know I always will be. I don’t need a faster or bigger or more expensive bike. The Monster is sufficient for my needs and desires.
It seems the price on a used ninja 400 or YZR R3 or CBR 300 around here are so close to a new one (maybe last years model as compared to a couple years older with mileage) or are even more expensive than that 0 miles newer model. We don't pay tax here on used vehicles but at $4K - $5K the tax is under $400 - $500. Should I actually buy a used one in this situation?
So true. Don't OverBike yourself. In 2020, I purchased a 2008 Honda cb250 Nighthawk with 4,000 miles for $1,300. I had not ridden since my Hodaka dirt bike years in the 70s. Allowed much more funds to go to gear. Having a blast on little country, blacktop roads. Trained a lot in parking lots.
I started on an XT 200 and by chance my son who wasn't willing to spend started on an XT225 I found for like 2k. Both bike were used and cheap and really were awesome starter bikes! I outgrew it years ago and my son was having lots of Fun but died from something not related to Motorcycles at all here recently. GOD BLESS HIS SOUL. He was the oldest. I have 2 younger then him eying that bike and promised to teach them in the spring how to ride it. Can't say enough about an XT for the first year! You can reach the ground cuz it's short and light and low power yes but in the 1st year it's honestly fuckin Perfect... Ride on road or dirt or gravel. Find out what kinda riding you really want to do. Can't say enough about it. An XT is an Awesome choice for a 1st bike. I admit you only get a year or 2 but in that time I promise you will learn, If riding is for you and if so what kinda riding you want to trade that bike for. My son wanted Dirt biking. I wanted street. But XT led the way....
Hey Kevin, I appreciate your use of the drone. With the "sky view", your verbal explanation of the procedure makes complete sense. I get that a 650cc motorcycle may be a bit on the "big" side for a "beginner's practice motorcycle" and I shouldn't feel embarrassed to be "seen" on a 250cc or a 300cc MC to start on. It'll put me miles ahead of those twits-who "think"(yes, this is a word play, and intended) they're"hot sh!t" when the truth is-they're a "cold turd" when it comes to safe motorcycle riding. I know you are busy and may never see, it, respond to this text message. Thanks for the work you do to help motorcycle riders be the best they can be! Doug🤓🏍️🦁🏍️👍🐻
That's why "Blue" is in the garage til I get more gear...all I have is a helmet right now 😞 I have taken her out a couple times down the road with jeans and long sleeves and my helmet..... But I wont feel comfortable til I get everything I need. The motorcycle class I want to take is booked up so I've been watching your videos and a couple other's on TH-cam to learn. My first motorcycle is an 2005 Yamaha R6 and yes it is absolutely terrifying to ride on.....I've been riding my husbands 2020 ninja 650 it's so much more calming for me and I'm able to focus on what I should be....he enjoys riding Blue. I made a mistake there...but maybe I'll be able to ride her in a year or so when I get better.....I paid $3500 for Blue and 80 bucks for a 200 dollar helmet....Kawasaki was having a demo day at our local shop....and the girl hooked me up on a good helmet for what I could afford.
3 on the tree.....love those trucks