As we get more versed at riding, it’s nice to be able to help those that are just beginning. I fondly remember my first days of riding like it was yesterday. I remember the difficult times I had stopping on a hill, making a sharp right turn, braking, passing, riding in wind, and as silly as it may seem, waving. I wanted to wave, but my hand would simply NOT leave the bars. It’s nice that eventually we gain muscle memory and nearly don’t have to ponder and action as much as simply do it. I know that as I was learning the shared tips I received from more seasoned riders, made all the difference to my skill level. Well, that and the fact that I was packing on the miles with near daily riding. I even rode to work, and it was less than a 3 minute ride. But it was the idea of gearing up and doing it, that made it a highlight, that and after work I could fit in a “little” ride. It’s in the spirit of sharing that I thought it would be nice to talk to some of my most seasoned riding friends and get their take on what would be the “single most important bit of advice” to pass on to new riders, in general. As you see, choosing just a single bit wasn’t as easy for some as for others, but all the advice shared here will benefit any new rider. It’s with their help that new riders are able to know what to ride, where to ride, how to ride and why to protect thier ride. It helps the “newbie” to skirt around some painful lessons and gain valuable skills from riders that were not unlike them at the beginning of their riding journey.
I absolutely love reading these and feel it’s not only invaluable for “newbies” but for all of us that ride. It’s a constant process and we are all learning no matter how long we’ve ridden! Enjoy these thoughts from some very special and talented female riders. I will be posting advanced rider’s advice over the next few days, so you will have time to read and absorb each ones special thoughts.
So lets begin with Nancy Foote owner of Streetmasters Motorcycle Workshops with her husband Walt Fulton, Who is a ride coach at the workshops.
“You Won’t Fight a Bike That Fits You….
Over the decades that I have been riding, I have talked to many female riders, both new riders and those that have been riding awhile. What surprises me (because I hear this a lot) are their comments about how they “chose” the bike they ride. So many times the choice was not the woman’s, but the man’s choice for her. I’ve seen many a man who have an ulterior motive regarding this choice, figuring the woman will lose interest, and then they will get a second bike of their choosing. LADIES! Don’t let this happen!!!!
If you are going to ride a bike, you need to insist on two things: 1) you have to have your say in the matter. It doesn’t do you any good to have a bike you do not want, and most importantly, 2) the bike needs to fit you.
The first item is important because you need to want to go out to the garage, get on that bike and ride it! If you have a bike you do not like, you will not ride it enough to be safe – what I mean by that is, you need to ride it often to develop and maintain the skills and muscle memory to make you a safe rider. This is something that you owe to yourself and your loved ones.
The second item relates to how you fit on the motorcycle. Are the handlebars close enough that you don’t have to stretch to reach them? Are you able to do a full-lock turn of the handlebars without being pulled out of your seat? Are the handlebar grips small enough for your hands? Can your fingers reach the clutch and brake levers? Are you able to operate these levers easily? Can your thumb work the turn signals and horn without having to stretch your hand to reach them? Are you comfortable with how you can get your feet on the ground? Are the footpegs (or floorboards) in your way so that it’s difficult to reach your feet to the ground quickly? Are the footpegs (or floorboards) in a spot that when you place your feet on them that your feet reach easily and comfortably? Can you see all the dials/gauges from a seated position?
All these things contribute to you becoming “one” with the bike. There are so many external inputs that you need to process when you ride (traffic, weather, road conditions, to name a few), it is best to ride a bike that is easy for you to ride so you can focus on the important things, and not be wrestling with your bike.
If any of this sounds all too familiar to you, you may want to revisit the type of bike you ride. You may be surprised how much more comfortable a bike that fits you is to ride – and it will probably increase your fun and enjoyment of your motorcycling!”
Gail Hatch, a rider and blogger at She Rides a Beemer, frequently travels with her teenage daughter around the country on the back on her BMW.
“I’d like to pass on a piece of philosophical advice.
I was several days into a 2 week trip; I was talking on the phone with a friend back home. I must have been stressed about some aspect of my trip. His advice to me was “remember, this is not a forced march”. I stopped to think about this. The stress and anxiety was of my own making. There is no right or wrong way to ride your ride. Relax. Trust your instincts. If you catch yourself feeling stressed, stop and remember, this is not a forced march.”
Karen Boyd with her husband Bobby own Two Wheel Females, a motorcycle forum and is a contributing writer for Examiner.com.
“The single most important advice I would give new riders is to place safety first. That means making sure you are as ready for the ride as your motorcycle. It is just as important to check your mental state as to check tire pressure, and just as necessary to put on ATGATT (all the gear all the time) as it is to put fuel in the gas tank.
Riding beyond your abilities may look cool for a moment if you get lucky and it all goes well, but crashing your bike and trashing your body because of reckless behavior just looks foolish. Ride safe so you can ride again and again.”
MaryAnn Truax is a long term rider with many miles under her belt. She has ridden both street and dirt.
“I have never met anyone starting out in their 40’s that is a natural so take your time and get it right. Test your strengths and work on your weakness EVERY time you turn the key. Test your strengths and work on your weakness EVERY time you turn the key. As far as forums and blogs go: Be sure the advice you are heeding is from an experienced rider. Too many new riders are quick to let you know how much they think they know. To sum it up: A rider’s worst enemy is over confidence. It WILL bite you when you least expect it.”
Join me tomorrow for some more fine bits of advice from some amazing female riders!!