Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Beginner rider, motorcycle license, beginner rider


Question
Hi William

I'm thinking about buying a 1985 suiki E250 can you tell me if these are good bikes and also good for a newbie like me?I love motorcycles but the only problem i have is that i don't know how to ride one when i mean by that is the shifting part.What is the shifting order for this bike?I know they are diffrent from a 5-speed car which i can drive and is this bike good for me to ride and get a motorcycle license after i practice good enough to learn well enough to drive on the streets with the public.  I'm afraid to ask my dad to teach me he may laugh at me because i have never done something like this before new at this. Any help or suggestions would be grateful.

Answer
Tim,

Thanks for the question. I am not familiar with the Suzuki "E250", but I can say that a 250 is good choice for a beginner. It's fast enough to get you where you want to go, but small enough to learn the basics of control. You will need proper basic instruction and lots of practice before riding in traffic.

It's too bad you feel you can't ask your dad for help. Does he ride? If not, it is probably better that you take the MSF beginner riding class. It takes a weekend, but it will give you the basics on motorcycle operation (especially shifting the gears), safety tactics and turning skills. If you do not develop the proper riding skills right from the start, any "bad habits" you develop may come back to haunt you in a dangerous situation. Avoid injuring or killing yourself by taking the course. You can find out more at www.msf-usa.org.

As for the gears on your 250, it's  "one down and four up", with Neutral located between 1st and 2nd gear. All motorcycles use this shift pattern (but some are "five up" if they have 6 speeds). Press the shift lever DOWN to put the bike in first gear (with the clutch in, like in a car), then put your toe UNDER the shift lever and click the lever UP to go to 2nd, 3rd, etc. You need to shift down through the gears when you slow down, you cannot just put it in Neutral like a car. This will take practice.

Again, take the MSF course and work on building your skills with every ride. Ride with the proper gear (helmet, jacket, boots and gloves) and take it easy. You can prove to your dad that riding a motorcycle is something  you can do very well, if you are willing to work at it.

Ride safe,

William Roberson
www.greatoldbikes.com