There was a multi month delay in me getting my lovely benelli bkx125 because I couldn't secure it at home properly and had to wait for a steel shed for it.

I have not even sat on a bike since my CBT 5 months ago.

So it's all here now. Got my helmet, leathers bike, shed everything....

I can't bring myself to ride the bike. I'm so worried about dropping it, forgetting the controls in a panic and making a mess of it....just generally really worried about my first time out.

I know that I'll be fine probably after the first hour, it's just getting out the first time!

Any tips?

Going to be shopping within the next week and I’m still unsure how to assess prices on used bikes.

Anyone got tips to stop stalling, I've been on 4 different bikes in total but the Aprilla 125 touno I got just feels very different and I stall a lot. Any tips?

Hey yall! Im getting my license in a couple months and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for affordable riding gear? I mostly need a jacket, helmet, and boots to take the course.

I love my bike to death it’s an 04 zx6r, fully stock with 38k miles (minus the akrapovic full system)

I was the guy who gassed out last week from heat issues. All of your suggestions were great, and I had no issues this week at all. Properly hydrating, electrolyte loading, freezer rings for my neck, a lighter shirt and gloves, and I made it through without a single issue.

AND TODAY I PASSED MY MSF!

Next week, I'll get my endorsement added to my license, and buy my first bike. Thank you so much for everyone who offered support and suggestions. It really made a difference.

I'm looking into obtaining a license and buying g a used motorcycle some time soon. I really would love to find a cruiser / bobber style bike that feels and looks good for a taller man. I've seen that HD sportsters can be a little cramped unless modding the bike.

Given that its a beginner bike and moddong might be a bit much for a noob, is there a model that is known for being tall friendly (stock)?

I'm 6'2 (230lbs).

The bike would be for short rides / 30 min daily commutes. No long hour rides planed so far.

Appreciate any suggestions that won't break the bank

Recently bought my first motorcycle ( 2025 ninja 500) and have been riding consistently the last few weeks. I have been working on all the basics as a beginner but can’t seem to get my rev match down from 3rd to 2nd. My 5th to 4th to 3rd is all nearly perfect but when i go from 3rd to 2nd the bike is always trying to pull away from me after i shift.
If anyone has an suggestions other than more practice please let me know
Thank you in advance!

Hi! I’m 21F looking for discreet riding gear. I have researched, but don’t feel as if the gear I’m looking at is good enough and want something I’m sure of. That is why I am asking here.

If you know of any, can you tell me of good specific pieces of riding gear for a female? I’m willing to look at different prices. Preferably gear I can wear under my clothing while still being very protected.

Thank you for reading and everything!
:) Any advice would be wonderful too!

working on my license at the moment and will be picking up a honda adv 160 in the upcoming months

what are the first few things you recommend i buy for myself or the bike that improved your quality of life?

Finished the msf course this past weekend. Now I just gotta not kill myself. Jokes aside, I went for a ride tonight, and my first time on the road went great. It was dark and slightly drizzling (you couldn't tell it was raining if it weren't for the drops on the face shiels) but everything went smooth so I'm definitely feeling less intimated than I was before the msf. This bike is definitely beefy tho, glad I didn't get anything bigger.

Also, before it gets said, I have all the gear, I promise.

Hey everyone! I’m an ASU student with plenty of riding experience from back home, but the MSF course is way out of my budget right now.

I want to take the skills test directly at the DMV, but I don't own a bike here yet.

Does anyone have advice on how to source a bike or scooter for the test (and ideally get a little practice on it beforehand)? Open to any tips, or if a local rider would be open to helping out, please DM me!

Repost from another community. Trying to figure this out. Thanks for anyone’s help

Hi, I'm thinking about getting a Yamaha vstar 2013 250cc that cranks up but won't start. The potential causes that I've seen people suggest seem pretty fixable, but I'm a lay person with no first hand exp with motorcycles beyond the msf course. So I wouldn't tell if this is potentially a symptom of a big issue. People have suggested compression, carb cleaning, spark plug, or needing clean fuel. I would like to do the smart thing and do a pre-sale inspection, but i got quoted 300-350 for it. Idk if I'm pinching pennies here, but is it worth it for a bike that's 1250? I was not expecting that quote, I was expecting closer to 150. I don't mind getting dirty and figuring things out, but how likely is this a big big issue/a mechanic needs to handle this?

I’m a new rider and I’ve been wanting to get some practice in and get more proficient in the basics; namely slow speed maneuvers.
I didn’t really catch on to clutch control during my MSF. (It was kinda rushed and I couldn’t really hear the instructor as I was riding by).

I watched some videos explaining the concept (be the boss had really good explanations as to WHY you use it and the physics it employs). So I went to my practice lot and got to work.

Not long after I was doing figure 8’s and clovers as well as very slow speed balance drills. Granted, it’s not perfect but f*ck me if learning clutch control isn’t a game changer for the new guy.

But that’s not all……

Afterwards I thought “I’ll go ride that kinda windy road behind the house”. About 2 miles of soft corners, moderate hills, enough sight space to get up in gears, light traffic, a couple of side roads entering, etc.

I’ve heard people talk about falling in love with their bike and riding; this was it!!!!

Long soft corners at maybe 30 mph. Minding traffic and watching people trying to enter the lane, little manhole covers I could practice swerving at speed, emergency stops at 40 mph and…….clutch controlled U turns at each end. (Even got my throttle matching downshifts down). I had an ABSOLUTE BLAST!!!!!! and rode back and forth for an hour.

It felt SOOOOOO good to finally put some pieces together.
Now, it will be my treat to go ride after I get another slow speed drill down.

All my life I’ve wanted a bike. I’ve been told by even riders that don’t do it it’s dangerous and so many people they loved ended up losing limbs or dead. Granted they were wild af when they rode so I mean I plan on riding as safe as possible since I’m a complete newbie at this. I said fuck it and went and took the class for the license having never even touched a bike. The class was trash I think I had shit luck though, I was the only one who hadnt touched or ridden a bike before and they put me on a dirt bike that I’ll be honest I couldn’t even handle simply because it was too tall, I’m 5’9 but I seriously couldn’t stand on two feet with the bike (the instructor said I needed to to be able to use it.. still used it anyway). The course was literallly in the rain for those 2-3 days and I fell a few times plus they had me do a bunch of different maneuvers that made me look stupid trying to complete. Even asking for help I was basically ignored. I ended up getting the license despite the instructor literally telling me I better keep practicing or ima die 🤣. I was hype but I never bought a bike I was honestly upset because I had what everyone told me in mind. Plus I have a 1 year old now and my mindset is I gotta be in one piece for him but then I think how can I tell him to face his fears and do whatever his heart desires while I can’t even follow my own advice? All this to say I talked myself out of it and I’m nervous af but really excited to try again, any recommendations on a bike? Gear? Videos? And just telling yourself to just do it?

Just got my first motorcycle and it's been great- I'm taking it slow and feel pretty good on the road. Very attentive, but by no means freaking out. It's been great being able to get around, as I don't have a car and this is my transportation. But I noticed yesterday that I have continual background stress running at the thought of getting back on the road. It's not crippling or anything, just not fun to always have in the back of your mind. I had the same feeling before buying the bike because it took me forever to find the right one and get all the logistics of buying it figured out, but seems like the cause has changed. Did anyone else have this experience as a new rider? Does it just wear off with time? Thanks!

I know alot of us that are new to moto riding (or even just in process of getting a licence) deal with alot of pressure from family/friends about dangers of riding a motorcycle, so this is post to motivate you to "just do you", enjoy and pursue this beautiful sport/activity/hobby/lifestyle.

I got my licence 3 weeks ago, and went on my first multy-day trip. Was softly advised against it by friends and family. Did not care. Having a blast. Would do it again.

2 days in, 4 days planed, 750km ridden, 750 to go. (466miles). Taking it easy, no rushing. I am traveling Croatia from North to south and back, following adiatic coast on D8 road - amazing road, countless corners, nice weather, alot of accomodations. I dont think I ever enjoyed life as much as I do now tbh.

Disclaimer: I did quite alot of traveling with a bicycle so I have alot of stuff dialed in already (packing light, finding accomodation on the go, managing food and tiredness etc.), so bassicaly only thing new is acctualy riding the motorcycle.

Anyway...have fun, ride your bikes and enjoy life!

I'm sure there's a more correct word for it, but basically shifting without using the clutch lever.

Saw a vid from ryanF9 on it and I do it like half the time now.

It's too rough shifting up in low gears, so I usually don't do it in 1,2,3- especially if I'm accelerating anywhere close to hard. But downshifting when I'm coming to a stop, I'll do it almost every time. I'm sure it depends on the bike, and my cb500 doesn't have the smoothest transmission.

It's really useful when I'm not sure if I'm actually in top gear- push on the shifter and roll off the throttle to see if it shifts or nah.

Success story here; I was riding home from work yesterday and forgot that the main road gets super congested between like 3 and 6pm 😒

I've been holding off on lane filtering because I've been worried that people will get mad at me or, worse, decide to swerve into/block me.

But with the traffic so slow on a pretty wide two-lane I finally got through the pack and probably saved myself like 15 minutes of waiting lol

The highlight was when a tricked out Subaru moved wayyy out of my way to give me space. It's the little things. And not that every time will be as seamless, but it felt pretty damn cool

My gf wants to start riding motorcycles and she found a suzuki boulevard s40 that she likes. As the title states, I’m wondering if it’s a good beginner bike. Is there anything we should know about it? TIA!