Q&A for How to Ride a Motorcycle

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  • Question
    What do I do while turning the motorcycle in narrow street?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Slow down as you approach your turn and look in the direction you want to go. Lean into the turn as you make it.
  • Question
    How do I overcome my fear of motorcycles?
    Community Answer
    Try riding it in your driveway, or somewhere safe. Wear lots of protection, such as knee pads, arm pads, and a helmet.
  • Question
    How do I handle a motorcycle on a stop and go situation?
    Community Answer
    Hold your clutch and brake, but make sure your engine does not stop by moving the throttle.
  • Question
    How can I learn to balance on a motorcycle?
    Community Answer
    If you have never ridden a bike before, this can be tricky but it is mainly like balancing on a bike. However, when you stop, you should always put your leg down to keep from falling off. Have an experienced bike rider show you what to do.
  • Question
    How can I maintain my balance?
    Community Answer
    Concentrate your center of gravity in your abdomen -- you should have a base which you use to maintain your balance on. Keep trying until you get it.
  • Question
    How do I go from neutral into first gear?
    Community Answer
    Do this by pulling the clutch in and giving it some gas, slowly letting go of the clutch in first gear.
  • Question
    How do I manage the motorbike when going uphill and downhill?
    Community Answer
    Lean forward when going up and lean back when going downhill. This will reduce your chances of flipping back or forward and will help your balance.
  • Question
    How do I slow down and speed up again?
    Community Answer
    Hold your clutch and brake. To pick up speed again, release them.
  • Question
    When l kick-start a motorcycle, should l press the clutch?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you should disengage your clutch if you are not in neutral. It is a basic safety procedure.
  • Question
    How long do I need a learner's permit?
    Community Answer
    Depends on your age and where you live. For example, in the state of Virginia, if you are younger than 19, you need to hold a permit for 9 months; once you turn 19, you only need to hold a permit for 90 days.
  • Question
    Do I have to shift gears from 3rd to 1st while taking a turn?
    Community Answer
    No, you can slow down the speed by pressing the brake lightly, or you can switch to 2nd gear. It depends on the length of the turn.
  • Question
    How do I declutch a motorcycle?
    Community Answer
    It is opposite to engaging the clutch. You would just release the left hand lever.
  • Question
    When the bike is in motion, can I apply the rear brake without the clutch?
    CrayFish715
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can do this as long as you don't stall. The rear brake should only be used as a trimming brake to slowly bleed speed. It is best used when turning at a low speed to keep the bike from toppling over.
  • Question
    How can I maintain my acceleration while climbing a hill?
    CrayFish715
    Community Answer
    All you have to do is downshift. As soon as you hit the lower end of your revs, clutch in, downshift, clutch out with a bit of throttle and you'll pick up revs again.
  • Question
    Should I hold the clutch or leave it while kick-starting the motorcycle?
    CrayFish715
    Community Answer
    Put the bike into neutral, hold the clutch and front brake and then kickstart.
  • Question
    Are motorcycles fast or do they just look fast but aren't?
    Community Answer
    Yes. They tend to be at least as fast as cars, and many are significantly faster. It also feels faster riding a motorcycle.
  • Question
    How do I slow down a motorcycle that's going down hill?
    Community Answer
    Use engine-braking; let go of the throttle and let the bike slow down on its own. If needed, downshift. You can also brake like you normally would, but it's better to use the rear brake if you're going down a steep hill. That is only if you want to slow down a little; if you want to stop, you can use both the front and the rear brake, but it is possible to stop by only using the front brake.
  • Question
    When is the front brake used when riding a motorcycle?
    Community Answer
    When you're coming to a stop or when you want to slow down. Some experienced riders use it for trail-breaking.
  • Question
    How do I stop the engine without a key?
    Community Answer
    Modern bikes have a safety feature installed. When you drop your side stand, it will automatically stall the engine.You can also stop the engine if your bike is equipped with a kill switch. Lastly, though not really recommended, you can stop the engine by engaging the clutch in first gear, front or rear brakes fully-engaged and then release the clutch.
  • Question
    In first gear, my bike skids. Should I ride bike in second gear when I want to ride slowly in traffic?
    Community Answer
    It is safe to start in second gear as long as you are sure your engine will not stall.
  • Question
    What should I do if I get confused while shifting gears on my bike?
    Community Answer
    Stop your bike, pull the clutch, and then try to change gears without getting off. This will improve your gear-changing skills.
  • Question
    What motorcycles are the fastest?
    Jermaine Barnett
    Community Answer
    The Dodge Tomahawk is the fastest it can pick up speeds of about 350 mph (560 km/h). Of course, this is not appropriate for public roads, you'd have to use private land or speed circuits to test the speed and more speed is dangerous.
  • Question
    How to avoid stalling a motorcycle at first gear?
    Community Answer
    You can avoid stalling by using more RPMs via the throttle, letting off the clutch slowly. Keeping this balance is important so as to not stall, also by checking how tight or loose your clutch cable is, which could make you stall easier if it is too loose.
  • Question
    I have good control on the bike that I ride daily, but when I ride another bike, I have trouble balancing the handle bars. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    The different sensitivity on the throttle and different length of the bars tells your brain it's not used to this bike yet. So just practice more on that bike.
  • Question
    What is the procedure to follow when descending a hill?
    Tiffany Walaski-Cayce
    Top Answerer
    The front brake is by far the most powerful, effective and reliable of the two. Generally, the front brake is favoured over the rear, unless you’re cornering, riding over sand, gravel, ice, wet or otherwise slippery surfaces. In such cases you want to be very judicious with the front brake, as it can easily lock up and take you down hard and fast. How you brake downhill or anywhere else depends — on the class of bike you ride, whether your bike has ABS and/or traction control, the speed you’re carrying, the type and condition of your tires, the road surface, the weather, whether you’re going straight or cornering (or about to), how big a hurry you’re in to stop, and many other variables.
  • Question
    How should I go about getting the motorcycle?
    Tiffany Walaski-Cayce
    Top Answerer
    First, you are going to want to figure out what kind of motorcycle you want and which one is best for you engine power wise. You don't want to get the most powerful bike if you're a beginner and can't handle it. If you're a first time motorcycle buyer, I recommend going to a motorcycle dealership and be sure to choose a highly recommended one with a long history of doing great business. Yelp is a useful tool to seek buyer reviews. Only go with a used bike private sale if you are well aware of motorcycle mechanics or have someone who is check the bike for you. It's imperative to have a bike that has no issues mechanically you could be placing yourself and others in danger.
  • Question
    Any tips for approaching humps in the road?
    Community Answer
    Slow down.
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