How hard is it to ride a motorcycle?

Riding a motorcycle can seem daunting to beginners, but with proper training, an understanding of the basics, and regular practice, motorcycling can become an enjoyable hobby. In this article, we’ll look at what’s involved in learning to ride, the skills required, and the time and effort it typically takes to become a competent motorcyclist.

Table of Contents

The Learning Process

For most people, the recommended way to learn to ride a motorcycle is through a certified motorcycle safety course. These courses are offered throughout the U.S. by organizations like the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The basic MSF course is usually held over a weekend, totaling around 15-20 hours of instruction. Here’s an overview of what’s covered:

Protective gear – Riders learn about the proper gear, like helmets, jackets, gloves, and boots, and why it’s so important for safety.
Parts of the motorcycle – Students are introduced to the controls and become familiar with things like the clutch, throttle, brakes, and gearshift.
Basic riding skills – This includes balancing the motorcycle, starting and stopping, shifting gears, and making turns.

Street strategies – Riders practice things like stopping quickly, swerving, crossing obstacles, and overall safe riding strategies.
Range riding – The course ranges have different exercises to practice clutch and throttle control, braking, turning, and slow-speed maneuvers.

At the end of the course, students take a skills test and written exam to earn their motorcycle endorsement. The MSF claims over half of all new riders in the U.S. take their curriculum. Their training emphasizes control, balance, and responsible riding.

Physical Ability

Riding a motorcycle requires some physical abilities and coordination. Here are some of the key ones:

Strength – You need enough strength in your arms, legs, core, and hands to fully control the motorcycle. Strength helps manage everything from balancing the weight to operating the shifter and brake levers.
Flexibility – Riders need flexibility to get into a proper riding position and move their bodies with balance on the bike.

Stamina – Riding takes stamina to handle things like longer trips and fighting against wind resistance.
Coordination – Smoothly performing multiple functions – like shifting, accelerating, braking, and steering – requires good coordination.
Balance – Key for low-speed maneuvers and controlling the bike when stopping and starting.

While strength and stamina can be built up over time, flexibility, balance, and coordination are inherent abilities that make learning easier for some people. But people of all ages and fitness levels can learn to ride with proper instruction.

Mental Abilities

Beyond physical skills, riding also requires certain mental abilities and attitudes for safety:

Coordination – Smoothly performing multiple functions – like shifting, accelerating, braking, and steering – requires good coordination.

Concentration – The ability to focus and pay close attention to your surroundings and all the stimuli on the road.
Judgment – Making quick judgments about speed, spacing, road hazards, and traffic conditions.
Calmness – Keeping calm is essential when encountering unexpected situations.

Patience – Learning takes time and patience.
Mechanical aptitude – Understanding how motorcycles work helps riders handle any mechanical issues.

Riders need good hand-eye coordination and reflexes. Processing visual information quickly aids in judgment and reaction time. Riding also requires mechanical aptitude and spatial awareness to understand how the bike responds. Mentally, the ability to remain calm and focused, even during stressful traffic situations, helps keep riders safe.

Time Commitment

Learning to ride well takes regular practice over an extended period. Here’s a look at the typical time commitment:

15-20 hours for a basic motorcycle safety course to obtain a license.
10-20 additional hours of practice riding in controlled environments after completing the course.

Several weeks or months of regular street riding in various conditions to build experience.
Thousands of miles ridden over 12-24 months to really acquire solid riding skills and instincts.

After passing the basic rider course, students still need significant time riding in the real world to get proficient. Most experts recommend at least 500-1,000 miles over 3-6 months for new riders gaining experience on public roads. Riders continue progressing for up to two years before their skills plateau.

Challenges for New Riders

Here are some of the most challenging aspects of learning to ride a motorcycle:

Clutch/throttle control – Learning how these two controls work together smoothly takes practice.
Shifting – Developing quick, smooth shifting takes coordination and clutch/throttle skill.

Balance – Low-speed balance and maneuvering requires strength, coordination, and comfort leaning.
Emergency braking – Knowing how to brake properly in urgent situations.
Cornering – Increased leaning and judgment abilities are needed for smooth cornering.

Speed judgment – Accurately judging appropriate speeds and accelerating correctly.
Traffic situations – Responding safely to traffic hazards and conditions.

Additionally, reaction time, focus, calmness under pressure, and confidence tend to improve gradually with experience. Riders gain muscle memory and instincts only by regular riding in various road conditions.

Factors Affecting Learning Difficulty

Several factors can influence how quickly someone learns to ride proficiently:

Coordination – Riders with good natural coordination often progress faster.
Fitness level – General strength, flexibility, and stamina help with bike control.

Risk tolerance – More risk-averse riders may take longer gaining confidence.
Mechanical aptitude – Understanding motorcycle mechanics aids troubleshooting.
Type of bike – Larger, heavier bikes can be more difficult for beginners.

Access to practice – Frequent quality practice accelerates skills acquisition.
Instruction – The quality of initial instruction impacts fundamentals.
Age – Younger novice riders tend to learn quicker.

But with quality instruction and regular practice, most people can gain competence within 6-24 months, regardless of age or athletic ability. Proper training and protective gear help riders minimize risks.

Tips for Learning Quickly and Safely

Here are some tips to help you learn to ride well and safely:

Take a formal motorcycle safety course and get licensed.

Start on a lighter, beginner-level bike you can easily manage.
Find wide, empty parking lots to practice control skills.
Practice regularly, at least weekly for the first 6 months.

Ride conservatively – no aggressive acceleration or braking.
Don’t ride distracted – stay mentally focused.
Invest in good protective riding gear and wear it.

Find an experienced rider to mentor you.
Build skills gradually at your own pace.
Be patient with yourself – skills require time to develop.

With proper preparation, regular practice, and a patient attitude focused on safety, learning to ride a motorcycle can be a manageable and rewarding experience for new riders.

Conclusion

While riding a motorcycle requires new skills, strength, coordination, and mental abilities, the learning process can be completed in a relatively short period with dedication. The key steps involve taking a quality hands-on riding course, practicing regularly, and logging many miles over 6-24 months to build real-world experience. With proper precautions and a methodical approach focused on safety fundamentals, riding can become an enjoyable hobby for those who put in the effort.