Beginner Motorcycle Riding Tips

If you are new to the motorcycle life, congratulations! You are now a part of a tight-knit and adventurous community. Get ready for an improvement to your lifestyle. As a beginner, you may be wondering how you can best learn how to ride. Here at Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson®, we strive to make your life easier. That's why we rounded up the following tips to building your skills. If you are still looking for Harley-Davidson® motorcycles for sale, check out our inventory. We are a Harley-Davidson dealer proudly serving those in Corvallis, Portland, Medford, and Salem, Oregon.

Attend a Class

The fee for a motorcycle class is money well spent! You'll be able to glean the wisdom from an instructor who has been riding for years. They can offer tricks of the road, strategies, advice, answer questions, and otherwise be a great resource for you. You'll also be with a group of people who are all in the same boat as you. They all are new to riding, too! This solidarity can help make the learning process easier since you're all in this together. Who knows, you may even come away with a new riding buddy.

If you don't own a motorcycle yet, don't worry. Most classes will provide a loaner bike for you to use. When you're ready to look at Harley-Davidson motorcycles for sale, you can visit Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson. 

Through the class, you'll learn all the basics you need to be comfortable on the road. This includes topics such as how to use the throttle and clutch. Once you master these skills, you can even take intermediate and advanced courses to improve your skills more.

Get the Gear

Safety gear is important for every rider, but especially for new riders. When you are first learning to ride, you're inevitably going to have falls, scrapes, and road bumps. You'll want to be fully protected when it happens.

First, you'll need a hemet. It needs to be crash tested and fit well to get the protection you want. Second, you'll need sturdy outerwear to protect your skin from weather and the road. To help stay cool on hot days, you can look for breathable clothing with ventilation. Finally, you'll want ear protection. Did you know riding your motorcycle over 40 miles per hour can result in irreversible hearing loss? All you need is to throw on a pair of disposable ear plugs or reusable wax balls to keep your hearing protected.

Practice

Once you are equipped with the right techniques and gear, you are ready to hit the road! But don't go out on the freeway just yet. You'll want to spend some time out on low-traffic residential roads first to build up your skills. Practice turning, accelerating, and braking for a while. As you strengthen your skills, you can then increase your speeds and head out on higher traffic roads. Stay within your limits and before you know it you'll be a seasoned pro.

Motorcycle Maintenance

Your motorcycle needs some regular maintenance to continue running smoothly. As you ride around town, you will deplete your fluid levels. Check them regularly and top off when they get low. Measure your tire tread and air pressure to ensure it's within the manufacturer recommendations. Test your lights and brakes to make sure they run well. Only head out on the road if your motorcycle is running well and able to have a safe ride!

We hope you found these tips helpful! If you are looking for Harley-Davidson motorcycles for sale, visit Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson. We are a Harley-Davidson dealer proudly serving those in Corvallis, Portland, Medford, and Salem, Oregon.