Tips for Learning to Ride a Motorcycle

If you're new to the motorcycle lifestyle, you have many exciting adventures awaiting you! Before you can enjoy the fun of your new bike, you need to learn how to control it. We created the following guide to learning how to ride a motorcycle. If you still need to buy your first motorcycle, visit the showroom at Windy City Motorcycle Company!

Take a Class

A class is crucial for anyone new to motorcycles. Riding a motorcycle is a different experience than anything you've known before, such as a car or bicycle. It uses a different steering method, has a different turning radius, and so on. To drive safely on the road, you need to be trained to control your motorcycle.

Fortunately, there are plenty of classes available to you at the Windy City Motorcycle Company Riding Academy. We providebeginner's motorcycle classes for you to get used to riding without much risk, you don't even need to worry if you don't have a bike yet! A beginner's course will teach you how to use the throttle, clutch, brake, and more. We also offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, so you can always work to improve your skills.

Proper Gear

When you are learning to ride a motorcycle, there are going to be inevitable bumps and falls along the way. You'll want to be protected with the proper gear during this learning process. It's important to get all the gear before you hit the road.

You know you need a helmet, but it needs to be well-fitting to give you adequate protection. Too loose won't shield your head properly and too tight is unbearably uncomfortable to wear. Take the time to find the perfect one for your head size and head shape. Make sure it has favorable crash test ratings too!

Additionally, you need to protect your skin from the hazards on the road, such as kicked-up debris or the unrelenting sun. You also want to protect your skin from road rash if you fall, so be sure to get yourself a riding jacket and riding pants. Full-length clothing doesn't have to mean an uncomfortably hot ride though! Look for breathable fabrics offering ventilation so you can stay comfortable on hot summer days.

Finally, you'll want a form of hearing protection. Anytime you ride your motorcycle above 40 miles per hour, you face the possibility of permanent hearing damage. All you need are some basic disposable earplugs, but you can also invest in more comfortable reusable earplugs.

Windy City Motorcycle Company dealerships each offer their own unique sets of riding gear! Visit any of our dealerships to pick up the gear you need to take on your next motorcycle riding adventure!

Practice Makes Perfect

The key to learning is repetition, and it's not enough to simply take in the concepts of riding a motorcycle – you need to put these ideas into action over and over until they stick.

When you are first starting out, you'll want to practice in an area without any traffic. Find an empty parking lot or a low-traffic neighborhood. Practice turning, accelerating, and braking. Slowly increase your speed until you feel confident about hitting the highway.

If you still are looking for your first motorcycle, a class, or the latest gear, look no further than Windy City Motorcycle Company. We carry a range of new and used motorcycles for all riding lifestyles and budgets. It's easy to find the perfect one for your new life! Visit us in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; and Detroit, Michigan.