Beginner riders - Things to learn

If your a beginner rider there's probably a lot of things you don't know about and know where to start.

Below I have compiled a (not necessarily complete) list of questions to should try to answer on your learning journey. I hope to post about all these things over time.

Learn basic theory
You probably have lots of gaps in your knowledge. You need to get curious and ask questions. Here are some questions you may want to find out about:

• What types of bikes exist?
• How and why do you need to change gears/shift gears?
• Where the controls are on the bike? What do the controls do?
• How do you know what gear your in when your riding?
• Can a motorbike reverse?
• What is counter steering and how do you do it?
• What maintenance do you need to do on a bike? How often? When does it need to get serviced?
• What does it cost to keep a motorbike running?
• How do you measure the speed and power of a motorbike? What does 250cc mean?
• How does a motorbike work?
• Where can I find more information about this stuff?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a bike

Getting your license
You need to be licensed to ride a motorbike. You need to find out the laws and road rules for where you live, and the options you have to get your licence

Buying gear
You should be protected everywhere on your body. It's important for you safety that you don't buy cheap low quality gear. Search for information on the following:

• Leathers vs Textile
• Boots
• Kevlar jeans
• Gloves
• Compromises between comfort and protection
• Helmet
• Jacket
• Pants
• Where to buy stuff
• Tinted visor vs clear visor
• Warmth in winter
• Wet weather gear
• Anti-fog for visor

Buying your first motorbike

• Should you buy privately or from a dealer? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?
• Should I buy new or used?
• What are the costs and options for insurance and warranty
• When will I upgrade to a faster bike?

Good first bikes to read about and compare:

• Kawasaki Ninja 250R
• Honda CBR250R
• Suzuki GS500, GS500F
• Honda CB250, CBF250

Getting skilled, practice

• Constantly practice and get better at the following:
• Cornering
• Braking
• Emergency stop
• Shifting
• Slow riding
• Hill starts
• Parking
• Safety
• Throttle and clutch control
• Vision, scanning, looking through corners