How did you learn to ride?

[dantama]

In another thread Caddmann posted:

Originally Posted by caddmannq

I started riding as a kid in the late 60's, so I just got grandfathered in. We didn't have any of that fancy sh*t. We just rode until we fell off, and then picked it up and said "Well, I'll never do it like that again!" Eventually we learned to ride.

That got me wondering how everyone learned to ride. I know that some of the newer riders had it better and MSF was around to teach them, but whether it was MSF, or otherwise, how did you learn to ride?

I learned at about 12-13 from friends. I grew up in a semi rural area and the kids with $$$ had dirt bikes at a young age. I learned to ride from other kids in an orchard and gravel pit. It wasn't the best environment, trees, fences, ditches, etc. but I survived it. Two stroke dirt bikes might not be the easiest machines to learn how to use a clutch either.

By the time I had a street bike in high school, how to physically operate a bike was no problem at all from my experience in the dirt (I bought a Honda XL 250 when I was 14 ). No body told me about everything that you need to watch out for in traffic and such, but I survived it.

I know that there are a lot more options now that are much more conducive to staying alive, how did you learn to ride?

[nolan]

My Dad bought me a mini-bike. Don't remember my age, maybe 10. Rode that until I got to big for it. In 1978, bought a Honda CB200. Just rode it around in a parking lot to get the feel of shifting, stopping ect. Back then in 1978 just had to take a written test and ride around some cones to get my license. Still can get your license in Iowa this way. Some motorcycle dealerships even rent a little 175 cc motorcycle so you can ride around some cones.

When my wife, (girlfriend then) got her motorcycle license she took the MSC. Was 1993. The all she had to do is take the certificate in and got her license. She has since taken a advanced Motorcycle Course with her Harley. Does help out on her motorcycle insurance by about 50 bucks a year.

[billmac]

Got a used Yamaguchi 50cc at age 13 in 1963. Rode the streets in the neighborhood with no skills. At age 16 started riding dirt bikes that had very little suspension. Age 16-24 owned several motorcycles but was never tested or trained.

In 1974 I was trained by the Fort Worth Police Dept to be a motorcycle cop. Training emphasis was control of the motorcycle. I became an instructor of other motorcycle officers in 1978 and incorporated survival techniques into the training. Unfortunately, all my motorcycle training was from within my own organization.

1987-1995 Supervised police motorcycle unit and I personally competed in about 10 police motorcycle competitions. Learned by watching and conversing with other officers from various agencies. Developed more motorcycle control skills and learned the importance of proper body position. These techniques were incorporated into new officer and quarterly training.

Retired from my job in 1999 and began to miss riding a motorcycle. Wife and I agreed to buy a bike to enjoy together in our retirement. After exhaustive research, in April 2008 we chose a new Nomad.

[cactusjack]

I grew up in a middle class suburb in the 60's and 70's. Everybody had go-karts and mini bikes, and when you outgrew those, you moved on to a Bultaco or Hodaka and would ride through the trails in the gullies and foothills. I started with a go-kart I built from an old lawn mower. Used the self-propelled drivetrain and everything. From that to a Tote-Gote my old man bought for deer hunting, then a 3.5hp JC Penney "Penncraft" mini bike, then onto a Hodaka "Combat wombat" then to a Honda CR 250 Elsinore. All within about a 3 year period. I don't remember exactly how I actually learned to ride. Trial and error? Osmosis by watching others? All I know is I could ride.

[fish]

We didn't have sh*t when we were small but a buddies dad bought 2 honda cr175 I think, my buddy knew how to ride I didn't. He said go ahead take them up to the slate quarries, hell of a place to learn at 15? Only did that 1X. At 21 my brother bought a honda hawk, he knew I rode once or twice so he left me ride in a parking lot at work a few times. At 22 I bought a honda cm400T thats when I meet my wife she was riding a 400 yamaha special. Thats when I started to ride her I mean ride with her, Soon kids came along and all the fun stopped for the next 22+ years. Thats when I started riding an 800 more I mean instead . Know I ride a BIG ASS... nomad ::)

[hollywood]

I rode friends dirt bikes until my mom caught me - yelling "Get off that thing you're gonna get hurt. So then I snuck around and rode when she wasn't there lol. She still don't know I ride. She lives in a far away state and is 85yrs old. I won't worry her with it at this stage of the game.

Bought a 88 Yamaha Virago 750 in 1991. I practiced in my neighborhood in the middle of the night so I wouldn't be embarrassed if I dropped it.
No One ever helped me except to tell me how the controls worked.
Sold the 750 and years later bought a VStar 650 and finally the Nomad.

[gshep]

I had only two experiences with motorcycles prior to last fall.
Once when I was a youngster ( maybe 8), I got on a friends scooter, I proceded to run it off the road into a ditch, total experience about 4-6 seconds
Second when I was much older , but not much wiser, I got on my brother in laws honda 450 , turned in around in gravel and threw me down. Much more experience then maybe 40 seconds.
Turn the clock forward nearly 40 years and I took a MSF course last fall . I did borrow another bike about 2 weeks prior to the MSF course, so I guess I can say the MSF taught me all I know. Now 7 months later, I have put 4000 miles on my 07 Nomad.
The biggest thing that helped me was the principle of "countersteering" and learning how to use it correctly. I had never heard the term before and still most of the guys I know ,that have ridden for years, don't know , haven't heard, say they don't use it, or don't believe it.

Shep

[waterman]

I learned on a mini bike when I was young. I am surprised that none of us killed each other when riding that because we did a number of daredevil tricks on it (the Evil Knevil years). After that, a three wheeler around the farm. After that, nothing for 20 years until I bought the motorcycle.

[Top Cat]

I bought my first bike, brand new 1965 Bridgstone 90cc, , when I was 20 years old. Never rode before. The dealer I got it from showed me the controls and how they work and I was off.
Only layed it down one time. A little road rash but didn't hurt the bike. Ben down one time since and that was last year coming back from Americade. Went off the right side of the road on a right hand curve :-[ Never had a lesson or friend to teach me. I have learned a lot about riding in the last 43 yrs. Yet thanks to Trip starting this site I learn more all the time.

[ponch]

I got a Rupp mini-bike in 9th grade and after that, I rode everyone else's bike until I was 25, at which point I bought a KZ-1000.

[Cajunrider]

I rode a few times as a youngster (pre-teen) on my cousin's Honda Cub 50. Then as a teenager, a friend of mine had a Honda 750 (1972 - 1973) and would let me ride it to Nicholls State occasionally. That was the end until I purchased my Nomad last month. I have done alot of ATV riding for the past 10 years on my Honda Recon during deer hunting season but that doesn't compare to motorcycle riding on today's highways. I've put 1,100 miles mostly 2 up with my wife in the last month. Amazing how much you can learn from forums like this one. I read faithfully every day and enjoy every minute. I'm sure I'll have over 3,000 miles of seat time before I can get into a MSF beginners course down here. Should I skip the basic and go into the experienced course after logging in 3 or 4K miles?

[ringadingh]

I was about 13 when I learned how to ride, I did that by getting a book from the library that explained the controls and how to shift. That book really helped a lot, by the time I finally got on a bike, it was as if I had been doing it forever. I started out on a 1960 Lambretta, but learned to really ride a bike on my pals 1963 350 Ducati.

[ells]

Rode a few times as a teenager, street and dirt, just got on it and rode as apparently did a lot of others. Then nothing (no riding) until 10 years ago I signed up for a MSF class so I could get my MC rating on the license before buying something. Had little clue going into the course and came out fairly skilled, or at least knew a whole heck of a lot more than before. Have ridden quasi-daily in traffic and open road ever since with hardly a bad tale to tell, except for a few static drops - a bike left to its own devices when not moving really wants to fall over, maybe a gap and MSF training, the Advanced and Experienced course didn't cover it much either.

[coacha]

First bike I ever rode was a Honda Trail 90, back in the early 70's. Loved riding it on camping trips till one time I was pulling into the camping site and the throttle stuck, I paniced, and my brother in law had to run up next to me and turn it off. I just froze up and hung on. I crushed about 7 sewage pipes and jerked out power cords from the camper as I zoomed down between the trailers.

When I go my Nomad, I started just putting around the neighborhood till I took the MSF course. That was a great experience.

[skimo]

Started with Honda Trail 70 at 12, then move to Yamaha 80, Suzuki 125, Hodaka, Yamaha 250, all dirt or trail bikes. Learned in the back yard.