So it begins

Went to the BMV today and got my temp. tags and took my test for my permit. Just had to wing it. Didn't get a chance to read any of the book before the test. I figured I would fail and need to come back and retake. Not a big deal since the title office was closed today anyways. I'll have to go back next week and do all that. So I was pleasantly surprized when I passed it. I missed 8of 40. Still plan on reading the book tho. So my motorcycle riding begins. Happy day.

 

Welcome to the addiction.

Something I would suggest is to take the Motorcycle Safety Course somethimes called Begining Motorcycle Cource. But if you are not able to take the cource find a big empty lot and do figure 8's, setup a slolum cource and practice other manuvers to get to know your bike.

Be safe and enjoy your "New" bike

 

I picked up a 81 xj650 a few days ago. Once I get it all fixed up, I'm going to see about getting my license. I've never riden before, I rode around the block for the 1st time the other day.
Does the test include a riding test, or is it just written?

 

Most states you take the written test first to get a permit then the ridding test later. If you take the safty coarse Its usualty 16 to 20 hours of instruction and ridding and when you pass that you take your certificate down to the DMV and get your licence (Atleast you can here in Utah).

 

In the meantime while driving in your car work on taking defensive driving to the next level. When riding a bike you need to anticipate the other driver's around you, next move. Texting, Ipod, talking on the phone...the last thing they're concentrating on is driving.

 

+2 on the rider safety course. The best investment you can make.

 

Please take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Rider Safety Course. To put it bluntly, you will live longer. It's that important and you will be an all around better rider. They teach you stuff you will only learn the hard way under controlled conditions. The most important improvement to your bike is an educated rider.

 

I took the MSF beginners course and the advanced rider course. I've also purchased some instructional DVD's I review from time to time. And...every so often I find an open lot, lay out some cones and run through the exercises the courses and DVD recommend. All of them are extremely valuable. When I took the experienced rider course there were riders there with many more years of riding then me...but.....they never really practice tough, tight moves. They dumped there bikes a couple of times but I didn't. The difference? Practice!

If you don't ride every day, your skills are perishable, they fade with time. Have you ever gotten on a bicycle after not riding one for a few years? You can ride, but it takes a bit to regain your full skill set. A motorcycle is a lot like that but now you're adding lots of additional complexity, not the least of which is traffic.

As a new rider, you need coaches and instruction to learn from the safety experiences of years of accumulated knowledge and good practices.

And if you do ride every day you can develop bad habits...lazy ways of doing things. Always good to get to a parking lot and brush up.

There, was that enough of a lecture to convince you of the importance of taking the courses?

 

Lot's of good feedback, +1 on the practice in controlled enviroment. Panic stops, wet conditions all should be done before you have to. Gravel this time of year from sanding trucks is like little ball bearings spread out on the road.

 

ROAD RASH!!! The gift that keeps on giving...

skillet

 

Good advice, thanks to everyone. I will be looking into the safety course. Put about 45 miles on today. Was very nice.

 

+10 on the safety course. You will learn the skills to deal with basically anything you will have to deal with on the road. Just do it and you will thank yourself for it later

 

Since northern Minnesota's riding season is about 3 months, I use the next 9 months 'forgetting' how to ride. So, every year I start fresh and spend the first ridable weekend doing shakedown rides, consecutively going further and further away from home and every time introducing myself again to more traffic and road conditions, eventually working up to the big freeways and big trucks. This is my confidence drill.

 

You're invisible. Every green light is an uncontrolled intersection. Every car making a left turn will do so before you pass. Every car turning onto the road you're riding will do so in front of you. Ride as if these are always true and if you're lucky, you'll die of natural causes.