Where do I start?

Riding a motorcycle is unlike anything else. It brings an incredible sense of freedom, confidence, and adventure into your life. If you’ve been looking for something to get excited about or something to spice things up a bit, getting a bike just might be the best thing you ever do for yourself. You’ll also quickly notice the motorcycle community is strong, you’ll soon be surrounded by friends who share your new-found love for motorcycles.

If you don’t know anyone who rides, it can be a bit confusing knowing where to start. Trust us, we’ve been there. We know it can be overwhelming, but once you dive in, it’s not that complicated, promise. We’ll layout some of the basics below to get you started.

First things first.

The absolute best thing you can do before ANYTHING else is go and take the Motorcycle Riders Course. This will ensure you learn the basics before heading out on the road and will greatly increase your chances of staying safe on the road. On top of that, you’ll walk away with your license and some experience on an actual motorcycle. This will help you figure out what type of motorcycle you might want, what you’re comfortable on, and confirm that you even like riding motorcycles at all…. but we’re pretty sure you’ll be hooked.

You do not need ANY experience to take this course, just a valid drivers license and the ability to ride a bicycle.

Motorcycle Riders Course

There are various options when it comes to the riders course; any state-certified course will put you in a better place to start your motorcycle riding adventure and ensure the best experience on the road. You can check out the Harley-Davidson New Rider Course as well as the MSF Course. You can count on getting comfortable riding a motorcycle and running drills, as well as a curriculum to get you ready to hit the road.

Find A Bike

Now the fun part (oh wait… it’s all been fun). Hopefully, at this point, you have your motorcycle license, know the basics of how to be safe on the road, and have an idea of what type of motorcycle you want. There are so many options and things to consider when buying a motorcycle and you're probably swimming through loads of foreign information and classifieds. Don’t fret, we’ve got you.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself.

• WHAT KIND OF RIDING DO I WANT TO DO?

  • Are you wanting to ride cross-country, putt around town, ride on dirt roads, or commute to work? Is being comfortable on long trips important, or style, or both? We have all types of riders in The Litas and that is a beautiful thing. Some things to consider; what size is your gas tank and how far will it get you? What is your average speed? Are you riding on freeway or backroads? Will you want to carry gear on your bike?

• What style of bike is my favorite?

  • You should start looking through classifieds and make a note of ones you like, and what you like about them. You can also go and check out some different dealerships. Don't be scared to walk into a dealership and tell them you just got your license and are trying to find the right bike for you. A few manufacturers to look at might be Harley-Davidson, Yamaha, Honda, BMW, Triumph, Indian, Kawasaki, Ducati, and Suzuki. They are all going to have very different styles of bikes, so figure out what you like, then narrow it down from there. Do you want a touring bike, vintage, cruiser, cafe racer, bobber, chopper, bullet bike? So many options...

• What is my budget?

  • This is really going to dictate what you end up with. Buying a new bike is going to be more expensive than buying a used bike, but then again buying a used bike can come with all sorts of headaches. Just like cars, older bikes will have more problems than new bikes. If you are buying used, see if you can have a motorcycle mechanic look at it before purchasing. Usually, the seller can bring it to a dealership to get an inspection done. You can also buy a used bike from a dealership, which will give you more confidence in its condition. Look at things like

    • How many miles are on it?

    • How many owners?

    • Does it have any leaks or body damage?

    • Has it been dropped before?

    • Was it stored in a garage, or outside in the elements?

    • Does it start easily?

    • How does it feel when you test drive it?

• What size of bike should I start with?

  • This will depend a lot on what kind of riding you anticipate you’ll be doing. Motorcycles are designed for the style of riding the bike is built to do. With that comes different stances, capabilities, weight, and engine sizes. Larger bikes can take a little longer to get completely comfortable on. Often, riders choose a smaller bike to learn the ropes and then move on to a larger bike once they are comfortable. Everyone is different. Take the time to figure out your riding style before spending money on modifying your bike. Many riders figure out their favorite stance, handlebar style, peg location, and preferred engine size after riding consistently. Ultimately, it just goes back to what you want and how comfortable you are riding.

Hit the Road

Now that you have your license and a motorcycle, you're ready to get on the road! The first couple of months riding there will be a huge learning curve. We always say the first rule is to not get too far out of your comfort zone. If you're uncomfortable at fast speeds, slowly work up to them, if you're uncomfortable with canyon turns, work up to them. It's not a race, and as soon as you push yourself too far is when accidents happen.

We also recommend doing the majority of riding by yourself as you start out. If you're a new rider riding in a group, it can be a lot more to think about; where riders are in relation to you, keeping the right distance, staying in line, etc. You can also run into problems if the group is going faster than you're comfortable with and you’re trying to keep up. If you're considering going on a group ride, look at the route, and make sure you're comfortable with everything on it before going.

Lastly, join The Litas right away. As soon as you have your license and a bike, submit your info to your local branch! A lot of groups will host wrench nights and meet-ups where you can connect with newer riders just like yourself who are looking for advice and set up independent rides that match your skill levels.

It will also enable you to connect with experienced riders who can offer a plethora of knowledge and their favorite tips & tricks. We may be at different skill levels and own different types of bikes but welcome all womxn on motorcycles. We of course do beginner rides and others that are technical and more advanced but ask the organizer what the ride is like and see what they recommend before attending.