Hey ya group,
Riding weather is upon us here is N.Kentucky. I am a new rider and I feel like a novice has a few things to offer so here is my bit-o-wisdom for you nubes out there like me.
Tip #1: Do not buy a bike until you read "Motorcycles for Idiots"
This is a good complete novice approach to our new quest and gives many suggestions on selecting your new bike. Think, smaller = safer for a new rider. That being said, my first bike purchase, for a steal, is a 2003 RoadStar Midnight; yea, huge. This made sense to me at the time because I didn't want to grow out of my bike too quickly. Now my learning curve is going to be extended a bit in order to be crash free. I must be cautious and more then a bit patient at sewing my oats if I want to outgrow anything!
I am a confident auto driver and have always driven as if I was a biker, unbeknownst to me at the time. I am 46 and my Father taught me how to drive; assume that no other driver should be trusted to see me, and when in doubt, yield the right of way. But not all the confidence in the world would have kept me from my next tip.
Tip #2 Do not even think about riding without attending a novice riding class conducted by a MSF affiliate.
You will find that maybe half the class is made up of smart people just like you, only they have had some experience on bikes in the past. I had zero and the least in the class, one fella had about 2 years, 18 years ago. All the rest have been on and off bikes and owned them now. But one thing became evident as the learning began; No one should not, have been there.
I just completed the course this weekend and I am proud to say that I was one of the best students there, scoring perfect on the driving course and 98% on the written. Not bad I thought, but the real testing took place on the road today. My first putt was today and what a charge !
I headed out of the drive this afternoon and guess what…I looked like a novice for sure even though I was on my 1670cc and not the 125cc Suzuki ridden in class. I can tell you I would have never pulled that 1670cc out without that novice class under my belt though. It gave me the heads up confidence on the riding skills required to navigate a bike like that around and, it didn’t matter that I was on a 125cc or a 1670cc when it came to the skills I needed that the class taught me.
I stayed in the subdivision for an hour or so then made some “yahoo” calls. Then I did that some more; practicing what I had learned in the class. And that is my third and final tip.
Tip #3 Stay in the shallow end until our skill increases.
Yep I am and it is working out well. I even ventured across a four way intersection, but then back to an open parking lot for some more practice. I was able to ride with a few cars and even followed a school buss all in the relative safety of my suburban motorcycle course.
Today has been a good start on a fun activity and I couldn’t be happier that I finally decided to buy a bike. The instructors at Balance Dynamics here in N.Kentucky gave a fun and informative class and I probably should owe my life to them.
P.S. Do I really have to mention the sense that wearing a helmet makes

Kool Scootin to ya’s,
Xstar