Motorcycle Riding Tips for Beginners

When you start riding a motorcycle, there’s plenty to learn. This is an exciting time, but you also want to be sure that you’re fully prepared by brushing up on some basic riding practices and safety rules. Here at Loewer Powersports & Equipment, we want to help you get ready for the ride of your life. That’s why we’ve gathered all the essential motorcycle riding tips for beginners. Keep reading to learn more. If you’re still looking around for the perfect bike, visit our dealership in Alexandria, Louisiana. We have a wide selection of motorcycles that you won’t want to miss out on.

Take a Refresher Course

There’s no substitute for proper instruction, and motorcycle riding classes are a great way to get the lowdown on how to take care of your bike and ride with confidence. There are plenty of aspects of motorcycle riding to learn, and it isn’t the same as driving a car or truck. Additional techniques and skills are required, and the only way to know is to learn from someone who is already an expert.

A great bonus to riding classes is that you’ll be provided with a bike for practicing, so even if you don’t have a motorcycle yet, you can still learn how to ride. You’ll learn various techniques involving the throttle, clutch, brake control, and much more.

Practice Frequently

Following your motorcycle classes, you’ll still want to give yourself time to practice before hitting the highways. Ride around a parking lot slowly to get used to the feel of your bike. This will help you gain confidence as you learn to fine-tune your turning, accelerating, braking, and reversing skills. An experienced friend can stand by to give you pointers. 

Riding with an experienced buddy the first time you hit the open road can be helpful, too, since they can help you if anything goes wrong. Don’t be afraid to go slowly when you’re learning. After all, your safety is more important than being the fastest rider on the road.

Gear Up

Another essential factor when you’re new to motorcycles is to adequately gear yourself up for safe riding. A helmet is easily the most critical piece of motorcycle gear you’ll own. Be sure to try on various helmets so you have a better chance of finding an ideal fit. Keep in mind that it should stay in place when you move your head from side to side. A helmet that slides around with a bit of movement should be avoided, as should one that pinches or causes redness after being worn. Choose a helmet with crash test ratings that are up to standard.

As fun as it might be to ride your motorcycle, you should remember that there’s always the potential for danger. That’s why it’s important to invest in protective outerwear. Simple street clothes aren’t going to provide enough protection when you’re traveling at high speeds on your bike. A riding jacket and pants or a one-piece riding suit will keep your clothes from getting dirty and shield your skin from the sun.

In order to keep your grip on your bike and the road, you’ll also want to wear riding gloves with a good grip and a pair of sturdy riding boots with thick soles. These items will keep you warm when it’s cold outside, and you can even get waterproof boots for riding in wet weather.

Finally, you should consider wearing hearing protection. Not every rider does, but the roar of your motorcycle’s engine combined with the wind whipping past you can get very loud and potentially do some damage to your hearing. Earplugs that still allow in some sounds like sirens are ideal to wear with your helmet.

We hope you found this guide useful! For new riders in search of the perfect bike, Loewer Powersports & Equipment is the place to go. Our dealership is based in Alexandria, LA, and we carry a wide selection of motorcycles for all riders, whether you’re just learning to ride or you’re upgrading to a new bike. We proudly serve all of Rapides Parish and Lafayette.