Getting Started
So you’re interested in motorcycles? There are dozens of opinions on how to get started. I’m considered an exerienced rider by many friends, and yet I’m still a newb. I’m new enough to still remember what it’s like to just start riding, yet not experienced enough to know everything. I’ll give you my insight into how to get started.
First things first, do you have money for a bike. While a bike is cheaper on gas, depending on what bike you buy, the insurance is expensive. Gear is another thing you must budget. License? Training? Never thought of these? You’d better start thinking. First thing you must do before riding any motorcycle is go to a school. In the Lower Mainland, there are 2 reputable schools. Action is the oldest and most popular. I recommend them. They are patient and willing to teach to those willing to learn. They have several different times for courses and all of them will give you the basics of riding. They will train you to pass your tests and ride safely on the street. The other school is BC Safety Council. Held in Richmond and Delta, this school is also highly recommended, although I can’t say much on what they do as I have not taken their courses. There is a school in Abotsford, Maple Ridge, and Proride in Vancouver. All of them are good, but Action and BCSC are the most popular.
Action Motorcycle School:
http://www.actionmotorcycleschool.com/
BC Safety Council:
http://www.safetycouncil.bc.ca/Default.aspx
Once you decide on a school, you need to decide on gear. While the school will tell you about basic gear and the types of gear, many people want their own before they go to school. There are 4 types of riders. Squids ride without any gear. Street-casual will wear jeans and possibly a motorcycle jacket. Street riders wear a kevlar suit. Then there are racers. Full leathers. Here are the pros and cons of each:
1/ Squid: The pro is that you stay cool and “look cool” when riding. Especially on hot day. When the temperature goes over 25C, it’s hot. However, if you crash, even at a slow city speed of 30kph, you’ll be hurting for a month.
2/ Street-Causual: This is a good compromise to the squid look. You add the marginally better pair of jeans that last a few feet of sliding and a motorcycle jacket. The pros are it’s easier to go to the store or the pubs. You can get out of the house quicker and not worry too much. The cons are the gear offers very minimal protection, if any at all.
3/ Street: This is a good choice if you ride within the city and do little or no highway riding. Kevelar suits hold up quite well and has impact padding for any falls or crashes. They are bad in a slide, so any speeds over 50kph is potentially damaging. Any accident is painful, but a kevlar suit is usually good up to 50kph when they are only marginally better than street-casual.
4/ Race: A full leather suit is the best outfit for safety. Racers wear it for the protection when sliding down the track. Street riders wear it to do the same. However, any sudden stops will make any protection worth nothing.
This was your introduction to riding. Look for the next entry that details the differences within types of gear. What’s good, what’s not good. Further down the line of short tips, look for types of motorcycles, advanced training, socializing, and is motorcycling for you.
