You may have been putting it off for some time, or you maybe didn't know where to begin. We've put together 5 steps to help guide you in becoming a fully-fledged biker and join the exhilarating motorcycling community
1.Know how to ride
One of the first things any good instructor will ask you is whether you know how to ride a bicycle. Riding a bicycle is about understanding the relationship between momentum and balance, two concepts that apply to both a bicycle and a motorcycle. Your ability to ride a bicycle will help you immensely when learning how to ride a motorcycle
2.Get your paperwork in order
Unlike a car, you only require a learner’s license to ride a motorbike, but you can't carry a pillion (passenger) unless you have a full license. The K53 is a fairly straightforward rulebook to study, and requires you to know the rules of the road, and the controls and rules for the class of vehicle you're applying for. Once you've aced your learner's test, you'll have more confidence and motivation to take on riding classes.
3.Skip the Bro-class
Far too many riders learn how to ride a bike through friends who own a motorcycle – I was one of these people in my teen years. By attending bro-classes, you may learn how to move a motorcycle from point A to B, but you're missing out on fundamental safety principles that will keep you alive on the road. These include where to position your motorcycle on the road, where to look, which brake to use under certain circumstances, and how to pick up your 300kg motorcycle in the event you drop it. Find a reputable rider training facility and they'll equip you for a lifetime of riding. Some will even offer more advanced courses as you improve your riding skills. After going through bro-class, I signed up for BMW Motorrad's Novice riding course, and even though I knew the basics of riding a motorcycle, there were many valuable lessons to be gained from this course. I progressed through their courses and eventually took on their High-Speed cornering track day course.
4.Do some shopping
A mistake that new riders make is to place the cart before the horse. What does this mean? After completing your training, you're now a reasonably proficient rider and chomping at the bit to start riding your own bike. You proceed to shop around for your first bike. Not the correct way.
The right way to start is prioritising safety gear and spend some money to protect your precious skin and bones. Motorcycle gear isn't cheap so there will be some significant financial outlay involved at the beginning. One of the most important items on your list should be your helmet because you can't legally ride without one, and you wouldn't want to in any case. Gloves and a quality protective jacket with elbow, shoulder and back protection are an essential part of your armour. We would recommend you start with these items - the rest can follow in due course.
5.Start Small
Remember, you're still a novice. Even though you know how to ride a motorcycle, you haven't spent enough time on the saddle to amass the level of experience that will keep you out of trouble. You will still make mistakes while riding, and a 1000cc road missile is unforgiving if you get it wrong. I wouldn't recommend going above 500cc for your first bike. A BMW G310 would be a good starting point, or the Honda CB500X that we reviewed here.
Gugu Masuku
