Beginner Motorcycle Tips
Real-world advice for new riders, older riders, returning riders, and anyone brave enough to learn motorcycles after life has already given them back pain.
I Bought My First Motorcycle at 58
By then I had raised kids, worked a career, paid bills, survived Louisiana weather, and thought I had life pretty well figured out.
Then I bought a motorcycle.
Turns out motorcycles have a special way of reminding you that you can still learn something new — and occasionally look like a complete fool in public.
The Beginner Rider Mindset
The biggest mistake new riders make is not always buying the wrong motorcycle.
It is trying to impress people.
Motorcycle riding is not about looking cool. It is about getting home. The coolest rider on the road is the one who parks safely in the driveway at the end of the ride.
Essential Beginner Tips Every New Rider Should Know
1. Your Motorcycle Follows Your Eyes
Stare at the pothole and you will probably hit the pothole. Look through the turn and the bike follows.
Your motorcycle does not read minds, but it sure acts like it reads eyeballs.
2. Master Parking Lot Speed
Most beginner drops do not happen at highway speed. They happen while barely moving, usually with an audience.
Practice starts, stops, U-turns, clutch control, and slow circles.
3. Ride Your Own Ride
Someone will always be faster. Someone will always lean farther. Someone will always have a bigger bike.
Let them go. You are not racing for a trophy. You are riding for the joy of it.
🚨 Rookie Mistake Alert
You Will Probably Do Something Embarrassing
You may stall at a red light. You may hit the horn instead of the turn signal. You may forget to cancel your blinker for three miles.
Welcome to motorcycling.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is making fewer mistakes than yesterday.
Things Nobody Told Me Before I Bought a Motorcycle at 58
Before motorcycles, rain was just rain. After motorcycles, rain becomes a full meteorological investigation.
And if they do not wave back, you will think about it way longer than you should.
First it is a helmet. Then gloves. Then a jacket. Then boots. Then Bluetooth. Then a phone mount. Then suddenly you are explaining packages to your spouse.
Someone will ask what you ride. Someone will tell you what they used to ride. Someone will give advice you did not request.
Not-So-Obvious Tips That Can Save You Trouble
Check the Ground Before You Stop
Gravel, sand, wet leaves, mud, oil spots, and sloped pavement can turn a normal stop into a slow-motion dignity disaster.
Before you put your foot down, quickly check where it is going.
Do Not Grab a Handful of Front Brake While Turning
Especially at low speed. Straighten the bike as much as possible before firm braking.
Physics has no mercy and does not care how confident you felt five seconds ago.
Practice Emergency Braking Before You Need It
The first time you practice stopping fast should not be when a truck pulls out in front of you.
Find an empty parking lot and practice controlled stops.
Do Not Ride Tired
Fatigue slows reaction time. If you are worn out, hot, dehydrated, or distracted, take a break.
Louisiana Riding Survival Guide
Louisiana potholes do not identify as potholes. They identify as surprise suspension testing facilities.
The first few minutes of rain can be the slickest because oil and road grime rise to the surface.
Louisiana heat will sneak up on you like a tax bill. Drink water before you feel thirsty.
Fresh-cut grass on pavement can be slick, especially in curves. Treat it like loose gravel.
Dogs, deer, raccoons, snakes, birds, and mystery swamp creatures all have terrible timing.
Beginner Gear That Is Actually Worth Considering
Good gear is not about pretending to be a tough biker. It is about comfort, safety, visibility, and keeping your skin where God put it.
Beginner Helmet
Your brain has no replacement parts. Get a comfortable DOT-approved helmet that fits correctly and does not wobble around like a soup bowl.
Recommended Beginner HelmetsLightweight Riding Jacket
In Louisiana, a breathable mesh motorcycle jacket with armor is worth considering. A T-shirt feels cooler until pavement gets involved.
Recommended Hot Weather JacketsMotorcycle Gloves
When people fall, hands usually hit first. Gloves help with grip, comfort, and protection.
Recommended Beginner GlovesPhone Mount or GPS
A phone mount helps with navigation, but set your route before you ride. Your motorcycle is not the place to argue with Google Maps.
Recommended Phone MountsBeginner Rider Pre-Ride Checklist
Before you ride, take a minute to check the basics. It is much easier to find a problem in the driveway than on the side of the road while sweating through your shirt.
- Check tire pressure.
- Look for fluid leaks.
- Test front and rear brakes.
- Check headlight, brake light, and turn signals.
- Adjust mirrors.
- Secure saddlebags, pockets, and loose items.
- Plan your route before leaving.
- Drink water before riding in the heat.
- Make sure your kickstand is up before rolling away like a champion.
Best Beginner Practice Areas
Before jumping into traffic, find a large empty parking lot. A church parking lot, school lot after hours, or empty business lot can be a great place to build skill without pressure.
Practice Starts and Stops
Smooth starts and controlled stops build confidence fast.
Practice Tight Turns
U-turns and slow circles teach balance, clutch control, and throttle control.
Practice Emergency Braking
Learn how your bike responds before real life tests you.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Buying Too Much Bike
A motorcycle that is too heavy or powerful can make learning harder. Comfort and control matter more than image.
Skipping Safety Gear
Short rides still count. Pavement does not become softer because you were “just going around the block.”
Riding Beyond Your Skill Level
Do not let pride write checks your riding skills cannot cash.
How to Survive Your First 1,000 Miles
Ride Often, But Keep It Manageable
Short, frequent rides are better than one long ride that leaves you exhausted and overwhelmed.
Avoid Rush Hour at First
Learn the motorcycle before you add impatient drivers, school zones, and people eating breakfast tacos at red lights.
Do Not Show Off
Showing off is how motorcycles teach expensive lessons.
Stay Humble
The best riders never stop learning. The dangerous ones think they already know everything.
One Last Thing
I started riding at 58.
Not 18. Not 28. Not 38.
Fifty-eight.
If you are worried you are too old, too nervous, too inexperienced, or too late, you are not.
Every rider starts with a first mile.
The trick is making sure there is a second mile.
Then a third.
Then a thousand more.
See you down the road.
— Rohn Dixon
Founder, Bayou Biker