How to Gain Confidence as a New Rider
Written by: @jasminerosetea
Learning to ride a motorcycle can be daunting. Truth be told, when I first started, I was always nervous when I took my bike out to practice. I took a Motorcycle Safety Course but only passed with the minimum amount of points. I had a lot more to learn once I received my permit. While practicing on my own, I dropped my bike more than once– both while parked and while on the road– and stalled at stoplights and in traffic. Gaining confidence when learning to ride doesn’t come overnight.
Speaking from experience, I found that there are a few steps you can take to help you quell self-doubt and boost your morale when you are in the beginning stages of learning to ride. Here are 5 tips to building confidence as a new motorcycle rider:
Practice
Take your motorcycle out every day. Ride a little farther each time. If the weather is inclement, sit on your motorcycle in the garage and familiarize yourself with all your controls. Does something need to be adjusted so you can reach better and be more comfortable? Motorcycles are super customizable, so adjust your clutch, your handlebars, change out your seat– make your bike work for you. A confident rider is comfortable on their motorcycle.
2. More Practice.
I cannot stress this enough. If you live in an area with a lot of traffic, find a large parking lot to do circles in. Practice looking into your turns, your parking skills, and coming to a full stop before putting your feet down.
When training yourself on city streets or learning how to ride on freeways, go out early in the morning or late in the evening when there is little to no traffic. The main thing is to just do it, everyday.
3. Wear Protective Gear.
You will feel more secure when you are wearing the proper protective gear while riding. Whether or not your locality has a helmet law, wear a helmet. Find footwear– preferably boots that cover your ankle– that offers good grip and traction, so you don’t slip when moving your bike or coming to a stop.
There are so many amazing options for protective motorcycle gear available in all sizes; this hasn’t always been the case for womxn, in particular. Keep reading for recommendations for motorcycle gear for women (found below.)
4. Know your route.
Ride familiar roads and places you can navigate without a map. While it doesn’t hurt to have a GPS or your phone with a map mounted to your motorcycle, when you are learning to ride, it’s ideal to avoid any unnecessary distractions. This also means you might want to skip out on listening to music until you become more familiar with your bike.
Practice riding around your neighborhood, then expand your route farther and farther out. If you have a friend to ride with, let them take the lead.
True story: As a newbie, I once decided “go exploring” in the hills alone and ended up on a steep dead end hill that I had a difficult time getting out of. It wasn’t fun.
5: Take the time.
Everyone’s learning experience is different, but remember that all riders had to take the time to learn, no matter what their background. Keep practicing and spending time on your bike, & you’ll soon find that you were always meant to experience life on two wheels. You’ve got this!
The biggest takeaway here is to practice, practice, practice. Then, when you feel more confident in your newly found skills, we invite you to join your nearest Litas branch. Many branches offer beginner-friendly rides and/or meet ups that don’t require riding. You’ll continue to learn new skills from other riders and make great friends in the process.
Go here to find the branch nearest you, and download our app to connect and find encouragement from other new riders.
WHAT TO WEAR WHEN LEARNING
TO RIDE
motorcycle gear recommendations
New rider motorcycle gear recommendations:
Wondering what motorcycle gear you need when you are a new rider? While motorcycle gear can be costly, your safety is worth every penny. You will feel more confident on your motorcycle when you are properly protected.
Here are 5 basic items of motorcycle gear you should wear when new to riding a motorcycle:
Boots: These don’t have to be “motorcycle” boots; the soles of your shoes just need to have good traction, and your boots should cover your ankle. We do not recommend steel-toe working boots, as the steel in the boots can cause injury if you are in an accident.
Helmet: We recommend a full face helmet for all new riders. Statistically, any impact from a fall or accident will more likely happen to your face and chin. There are many helmet makers in the market, and their sizing can vary. If you can, get fitted for a helmet at a retail location to ensure that you are wearing the correct size for you.
Gloves: Full-fingered gloves will protect your hands from flying debris on the road and add additional grip while riding. A story of caution: my very experienced boyfriend used to never wear gloves, until he almost lost his fingers when a car sideswiped him going 25 mph in our neighborhood. Wear gloves!
Jacket: Whether you choose a leather, Kevlar, Dyneema, or an armored jacket, make sure you feel comfortable in your jacket while riding. Range of motion and breathability are things to take into consideration. Fit is just as important as function. We love riding jackets made by women for women. Some women’s motorcycle gear brands we love are: Hell Babes, Stellar Moto Brand, Atwyld, Nine Lives Moto Wear, Black Arrow Label.
Pants: Finding the right pair of riding pants comes with a decent amount of trial and error. There are many body shapes and sizes to consider. We are currently big fans of riding jeans from Stellar Moto Brand and Atwyld; both brands offer inclusive sizing and are designed and tested by women who ride.
You took the initiative to learn to ride a motorcycle, so give yourself a pat on the back for getting this far already— but don’t stop there. Keep going. These tips will help you gain confidence as you continue to improve your motorcycle riding skills. Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the ride!
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