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can you teach yourself to ride a motorcycle

34K views 82 replies 41 participants last post by  Bkellyusa 
#1 ·
Can you teach yourself to ride a motorcycle safely. i believe in days gone by that was the way you learned.
 
#2 ·
Yup that's how most of us old farts did it. But remember, back then there wasn't as many idiots out there playing with their phone or mp3 player and at one time the max speed was 55mph. So at 55 you could mess with your 4 track tape player and still pay attention to the road. Ha! I'm not sure I would have survived in today's world. But it can be done but would suggest empty parking lots with a lot of practice before you try traffic.
 
#3 ·
Most people can teach themselves anything if they put their mind to it.

When many of us "older" guys learned to ride, that was the only option. Many spent several years on smaller dirt bikes off-road and out of traffic until we got a handle on how a motorcycle operates. We fell down a lot and learned some of the basic things the hard way.

That being said, if my life depended on it, I'd rather not go to a surgeon that was self-taught. I think the best way to learn to ride is by getting the proper instruction.
 
#6 ·
I learned to ride on a small trail bike years ago, I had plenty of empty fields to ride after the farmers took off their crops, Dropped the bike a couple of times nothing major, some of my buddies bought dirt bikes too so we kind of gave each other pointers even though we didn't know what we were doing. It was a learning experience. But enjoyed riding and still do.
 
#8 ·
They had MSF back when I started, but nobody knew anything about it.

Learned myself. 180,000 miles later, and I'm still enjoying 2 wheels. Still haven't taken the MSF...and never will.

In my opinion MSF is nice, but not necessary.
 
#81 ·
Motorcycle riding is an acquired skill. In '81 Uncle Sam mandated "to ride on base, you must take..."
The course showed me how good I was....Meaning, Why I got away with so many "Pucker" situations. The very least, you'll enhance your legendary skills.
Look up the Advanced Rider Course, I guarantee you will safeguard contentment while riding...
 
#10 ·
Absolutely. I rode (and raced) for a few years before I ever took any kind of riding class or school. I'd say that I rode fairly safely.

That being said, I think that it is often easier and more beneficial to have someone teach you how to ride so that you don't end up with bad habits that may need breaking. (I had several!)

And I also think that no matter how good, safe, fast you are, you can always become better, safer, faster with some help from qualified riding coaches that can see your mistakes (many of which you many not be aware of) and that are trained to help you improve.
 
#17 ·
I rode when I was a teenager and did fine. I didn't take a class and basically taught myself. I then didn't ride for 35+ years and started riding again this summer. I took the class and am so glad I did. I had ridden about 2 months waiting for the class. I learned a lot in the 2 days of the class. It really boosted my comfort and settled my nerves a lot. I felt so much more relaxed and confident on my next ride after the class. That in itself made the class worth the cost & effort. I also learned a lot during the class and had a good start on the things I need to practice. I feel it jump started my riding abilities and confidence level. I really recommend that every new rider take the class and it wouldn't be a waste of time for an experienced rider. It had no effect on my insurance rate unfortunately.
 
#18 ·
Learned on dirt bikes with friends, spent a couple of days with an uncle learning street bikes, and from there lots of reading and riding. (If I had an opportunity to ride with older guys I would go for it, got a lot of useful tips over the years)
I have been fortunate in my riding, I have gone down 3x, never got seriously hurt just had to put the bike back together. On the busy roads of NJ, I would encourage any new rider to take advantage of a course. Seriously thinking of taking one myself this upcoming year, just to see where I stand, and improve my riding skills, always room to improve.:thumbsup:
 
#19 ·
I learned in 1975 on a 125 Hodaka dirt bike. While you can teach yourself (obviously) there is really no reason not to take the msf course. They provide the bike, you show up for 3 days and learn and have fun, plus you get to meet other noobs and make some friends. While I was "self-taught" I took the course a few years ago, was I bored somewhat, yes, but I learned some things as well. ( I took the course with my then wife, now known as the defendant)
 
#20 ·
When I got my first bike, a Honda 90, I took it out on the local
city streets near my home and taught myself to ride it.
No problem. That was the late 1960s.
But one of the best things I did was to religiously read the
safety columns in Roger Hull's Road Rider magazine.
I practiced what he preached and here I am today, over a
quarter of a million miles and twelve motorcycles later, still
riding. Just a few minor falls that taught me what NOT to
do the next time.
 
#21 ·
Sure. And you can teach yourself to pack a parachute for sky diving. Yes, people used to do it this way, and no, it was never a good idea. If you dump the bike once, the repairs are more than the cost of a course. Statistics show that, even for experienced riders, motorcyclists who take an MSF course have remarkably lower rates of injury in accidents in the six months following a motorcycle safety course.

Many riders never learn the fine points of controlling a motorcycle. They may be able to get around, but they can’t turn easily, and their braking skills are poor. Sooner or later they get scared to death, and many of them stop riding.

Riders who take the time to learn to ride well, have more control and more confidence. You ride for enjoyment. Why not set yourself up for more enjoyment, not less?

-Rikki @ MichaelPadway.com
 
#37 ·
I come from Ireland and I'm stuck in the South Western part of Virginia and as beautiful as it is, I don't like it, but the curved roads are great practice and fun. I took MSF and I have been riding just under a week in traffic and I haven't had a single issue yet. I have put somewhere around 159 miles on my bike so far. MSF was the best college class I ever took and it gave me my 2 PE credits required for my degree.
 
#26 ·
learn to ride a bicycle in a parking lot, and after some confidence on the streets.
A bicycle is very affordable (often you can find them for under $200), and once you have the hang of a bicycle, a scooter will be kinda a piece of cake.
For a motorcycle, you just have to learn how to shift gears.
 
#27 ·
Prior to a couple weeks ago, I had never ridden a motorcycle. I took a two-day safety course, and found it absolutely invaluable. I learned SO MUCH, and I just can't fathom trying to figure it out on my own. Yeah, I would've been able to ride around and shift just fine, but there are lot of things our instructor taught us that I wouldn't have figured out on my own, except for perhaps by learning the hard way.

I had a lot of fun, and by the end of the course, I aced the DMV test. And the best part was that the DMV test was included as part of the course. In Virginia, when you pass the course, your license is automatic -- no further testing required.

As far as I'm concerned, this test should be required for all new license applicants. :)
 
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