One of the most important questions in the mind of a new rider is how long does it take to learn how to ride a motorcycle? To be honest there isn’t an exact timeline for becoming a proper bike rider because you have to always keep learning. Everyone has a different frame of mind which directly impacts your ability to learn anything including how to ride a bike. All you need to do is to take control of the machine and learn the basics as well as you can and it may take you a week, a month, or a few months but if you are determined you will definitely be able to learn it at last.
The most important thing in learning to ride a motorcycle is starting the process as early as possible. It doesn’t mean that if you haven’t learned it in your childhood you’ve missed the train but it means you need to start today if you really want to do it. You can take the example of learning to operate a computer. How did you learn to do it? You observed people around you and you sat with someone who already knew how to operate a computer.
Once you’ve got hold of a computer you would have started performing various tasks on it and eventually learned how to turn it on, how to put it on sleep, how to use various software systems, how to download stuff etc. It is the same process but all you need to do is to balance yourself on a motorcycle instead of sitting in front of a computer.
Have you ever ridden a bicycle? Well if you have, you are already halfway through it. You know how to balance yourself on 2 tires and you don’t even have to paddle. You just have to hold the handle steadily and keep the race going. There are only 3 things you need to take control of in order to become a successful rider.
- Balancing
- Learning to Operate the Controls
- Navigating Proper
Balancing
Balancing is all about focus and being able to sit in a proper way on the bike. You can learn it from your friend or someone in your family who rides a motorcycle or you can join a proper training institute. You should have someone alongside you to help you out because it could be difficult at the start. Just sit on a bike and experience to keep the handle steady in your hands. You don’t need to even start the bike as you are just practicing to sit on it properly. Once you have gotten used to it you can move to the next step which is learning to operate the controls.
The Controls
There are different controls involved in operating the motorcycle. You need to check whether your kickstand is out or not? You’ve got the throttle and front brake on the right-hand side while the clutch is on the right-hand side. The gear is present in front of the kick and you’ve got the back breaks on the left side of the motorcycle. That’s the basic controls of a motorcycle and some of the machines need the kick some can just start by pushing the start button and you don’t need to kick start them. Once you have switched the bike on you need to easily move your hand in an anti-clockwise direction to release the throttle. Hold the clutch properly and gradually let it go along with the throttle. If you let go of the clutch instantly you could lose control of the bike so be careful about it. The gears can also be present on your handle if you have an automatic machine but most of the times you need to change gears with your right foot. So do notice the noise your machine is making as you have to change the gears regularly if you are speeding up or slowing down.
Navigating Through the Traffic
Normally you should be riding a motorcycle in a traffic-less environment in the start because it would be safe for you as well as for the people around you. You need to learn the controls properly before you are able to navigate through the traffic. A playground or a training center would be an ideal place to start. You can place various obstacles to learn how to turn properly.
Once you are able to take turns properly you can start practicing how to use the brakes. Make it a habit to look at both the sides of the road before crossing it and do use the mirrors on the bike to know the traffic behind you. Use the indicators properly and unless you aren’t in control of all of these things you shouldn’t go on a busy road. Just start riding a motorcycle today and within a few weeks, you would definitely be a better rider than you are today.
Just keep practicing regularly and it is a matter of a few days that you will be passing through the traffic while feeling the breeze and feeling invincible. Last but not the least never ignore the importance of safety gear even if you are just starting to drive so buy a helmet and safety gear before putting your hands on a bike.
