Disclaimer: This is only personal information that I have found over these months and living in California so rule, laws and costs can be different this is just my point of view. I am still a new rider. I Ride a cruiser bike not a sport bike.
I was 19 when I decided to get a motorcycle with my dad already owning a bike but no experience other than what I have seen its defiantly not enough so before I decided to get my license I took the Motorcycle Safety Course just to learn how to ride a bike and what it feels like. I completed the course and than decided to go for my license... Here is what I did not know and looked all over the internet for and couldn't find:
There is so much to learn now that I have my license... I Hope I can teach people learning from my mistakes as I hope people in the process can teach the next generation of riders.
I was 19 when I decided to get a motorcycle with my dad already owning a bike but no experience other than what I have seen its defiantly not enough so before I decided to get my license I took the Motorcycle Safety Course just to learn how to ride a bike and what it feels like. I completed the course and than decided to go for my license... Here is what I did not know and looked all over the internet for and couldn't find:
- Under 21 but over 18 you need to hold a permit for 6 months so I recommend start your permit while your in the safety course or you may have a long time before you get close to regular riding.
- You need to take the Safety Course if your in this age range it is mandatory and it is cheaper for younger people under 21.
- If you start your permit after you take the Motorcycle Safety Course (like I did) you need to go in to the DMV and take 2 short test pass them get your permit wait the 6 month and then go back to the DMV so they can issue your license. (This was something I was very unsure about the process so I hope this helps with people going through the same situation.)
- Learn all about your bike parts before you really get started riding, BUY A USED BIKE!! Save some money clean the bike up don't blow all your cash fixing it up but make sure it can run fine: check your air filter, oil, forks (this is my problem right now), tires...
- Safety Checks: Make sure everything is working before you leave.
- Ask question from people who own bikes if you are confused on how your bike works do not try to act like you know how everything works. Personally I have already caught new riders pretending like they know what they are talking about its obvious.
- I Recommend buying a go pro or something just incase something happens to you while your riding and when you make a mistake you can look back at it and see where it went wrong and where to correct it. The second time I dropped my bike I knew what happened but replaying the footage helped me understand better what to not do in the situation. (When I dropped my bike nobody asked if I was okay so be prepared for the fact that you might be on your own even thought theres many people around you.
There is so much to learn now that I have my license... I Hope I can teach people learning from my mistakes as I hope people in the process can teach the next generation of riders.