RIDING TIP: FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS COME GREAT THINGS
Last Updated: March 4th, 2024
On our social media pages we asked what folks thought about starting out on a smaller, lighter motorcycle for a first bike. The discussion was great so we’ll be sharing a piece of the discussion below. It did get us thinking though about small beginnings in general. When it comes to motorcycling, little things can go a long way. In this piece we will look at how even the tiniest of actions can develop into great things when it comes to riding habits, gear, and more.
START SMALL FOR A FIRST BIKE?
Being in the rider training business for more than thirty years gives us some particular insights. We may be quick to pull out a simple phrase to drive the point home about starting small (What do pilots first learn to fly? A Jumbo 747 or a Cessna which is part of the “Light Aircraft” category), but the question is really a front for helping potential riders avoid pain. One of the saddest things we see is new riders rushing to their dream bike only to scare the hell out of themselves and dismiss the sport entirely. We are sad because we know the sport potentially lost an enthusiast, an advocate, and even a future coach who might share their passion with future riders.
So how do we define small? Maybe small isn’t the best word because humans come in different sizes with different physical capabilities. Therefore, we primarily are concerned with fitment. Can riders reach the ground? Is the weight of the vehicle manageable ? How is the reach to the handlebars and other controls?
These are all good places from which to start when determining if a motorcycle is a good fit for a person. We really look closely at weight as balance is crucial to a rider. By starting out on a lighter bike we give ourselves more mental and physical bandwidth for operating the vehicle. We choose our particular training bikes, which are all under 500cc, for these very reasons.
Instagram follower, Dan Bateman, had a cool take on the situation:
I think if a rider is new it’s wise to start out with a smaller financial commitment which usually means a smaller displacement bike. As they ride they’ll discover what type of riding they’re most drawn to and what features a bike should have to serve that purpose. When they move up it will be a more informed decision and it’s easier to get their money back out of the starter bike.
Well said Dan. The world of motorcycling is broad and deep and first time buyers may figure a few things out about what they want from the riding experience AFTER they work out the kinks on a starter bike.
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when getting into motorcycling. However, we’ve been around long enough to see that some approaches are superior to others for most riders. We’re in it for the long haul and we want to see riders grow into the sport of motorcycling rather than fall out of joy with it.
SMALL INVESTMENTS IN GEAR
The longer we ride, the more fascinated we are about some of the more popular opinions within the riding community. We do hear about gear snobbery from time to time and it makes us chuckle. Frankly, we are happy to see gear on riders period. While there is no doubt that some riding gear is superior to others, for sure some is better than none! We are excited to just see folks going full ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time) on the roadways.
So don’t be ashamed if you need to start small when it comes to riding gear investment. Over time your tastes will change, technology will advance, and you may find yourself with a few more bucks to level up your gear game. You may even run into a promotion like AMSAF’s Helmet Assistance Program.
SMALL IMPROVEMENTS IN RIDING SKILL
Early in our riding careers we may experience large increases in our riding skill. Over time, we may have our skills plateau, or worse, we my experience skill declines. For this reason we recommend being conscientious about making small improvements in our riding skill. This can come from practicing our low speed maneuvers, high speed cornering, or even branching out into other disciplines of motorcycling like dirt bike riding.
Whatever you do, consider taking small, measurable actions to improve your riding skill. Focus on the fundamentals until you think you’ve peaked and then focus on them some more. The payoffs for taking small steps towards improving your skills are huge.
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Bill Seltzer has been a Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach since 2003 and a Total Control Advanced Riding Instructor since 2011. He currently serves as the Marketing Director for TEAM Arizona and is a member of the Arizona Strategic Highway Safety Planning committee. Have questions or comments about the article? Email him: Bill@MotorcycleTraining.com
