You can’t get very far at AMSOIL headquarters without running into a motorcycle lover. Nearly every department boasts at least one two-wheeled enthusiast. Here, they plumb their rich riding experience to offer motorcycle riding tips for beginners. If you’re just getting started in the lifestyle, follow these tips to get the most out of your experience.
Motorcycle Riding Tips for Beginners
Start with a bike you can handle
Sure, you want to jump on a big Harley-Davidson and head for Sturgis.
But that’s not the best idea if you’ve never ridden a motorcycle. A big, powerful bike equals a heavy bike, and heavy bikes are tougher to handle and keep upright. “Don’t go big, or for a cool bike, or big displacement or what your partner/friend/husband wants so you can keep up when they are riding,” said AMSOIL Trade Show Manager Patricia Stoll, who’s been riding for years. “I’ve seen too many people, especially women, sadly, get bikes that are too big for them to handle comfortably.”
Video transcript: A Company of Enthusiasts: We’re Into Motorcycles
I’m Patricia Stoll, Tradeshow Manager at AMSOIL, and I love motorcycles. [ Music ] I started riding when I was very young. I was actually more of a rider as in passenger at that time. I had cousins and neighbors who would take me out.
My brothers would always take me out on their motorcycle, and we always kept a very active and very outdoors-oriented when we were kids. Eventually, I got my first Kawasaki* Vulcan 500 and graduated to a 750, and then I think it was an 800 and then finally 1100 Honda* Sabre and recently got a 2012 Harley* Deluxe, which I’m absolutely in love with. I think it’s a very versatile sport. I like it because, if I want to just go out and take a leisurely stroll, I can.
I can just run down for a couple of miles and enjoy it by myself, or I can go with my significant other. That to me is what’s so exciting about all of it is it’s such a versatile thing. It’s not just a team sport or it’s not just an individual thing. It is everything.
And that’s really why I like it so much. We’re at the 2016 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I’m here as the Event Manager and Tradeshow Manager for AMSOIL. We are the official oil sponsor of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and we have been for several years.
It’s a lot of fun for me to be at motorcycle rallies because I get to talk to other enthusiasts who are riding, and it’s a lot of fun to build bonds with people with something that we all love doing. This year I got to do something that I’ve not been able to do before. I got invited to go on the Mayor’s Ride. So I was able to talk to the Mayor before we started.
We kind of kicked it off with a little high five, and the ride was absolutely phenomenal. We got to ride from Sturgis to Mount Rushmore and absolutely beautiful scenic roadways all the way there. And at Mount Rushmore we had a big group photo taken. There had to be close to 100 people, and it was kind of fun to be able to do that as not just a rider but also a representative of AMSOIL and to represent AMSOIL on the ride.
My job as a tradeshow manager is providing information to riders about our product, trying to engage with them about what our product can do for them and who AMSOIL is. And it’s not just me. There is a team of people who do this. We are a small team but we’re a very efficient and a very productive team.
So I feel like we’re doing a great job. And, of course, we’re doing a good job because we’ve got a lot of loyal AMSOIL users out there who come to us. It’s always fun when you get to talk to someone and find how AMSOIL has made their bike run so much better. There’s no better way to experience nature than on my bike and smelling it and seeing it and passing through it versus being in a car and just looking at it.
On the bike, I feel like you’re becoming part of it. That’s really exciting to me, and that’s one of the things I enjoy the most. I’m Patricia Stoll, Tradeshow Manager at AMSOIL, and I love motorcycles.
If you’ve never ridden, start with a lightweight bike with a small or mid-sized engine. This might be the most important of these motorcycle riding tips. You may even consider an adventure bike like a Honda* CRF250L or KTM* 350EXC, which can be ridden on- or off-road. You can often find smaller, used bikes pretty cheap online. That way if you dump it, your body and wallet won’t be too badly scarred.
Take a motorcycle rider safety course
New riders need to meet a variety of state-specific requirements to obtain a motorcycle license. You may also have to pass a motorcycle training course.
Training courses vary, but you’ll typically complete a combination of classroom work designed to familiarize yourself with the basics of your bike and field work that teaches defensive riding tactics, cornering techniques and other skills. A safety course is a great start to a long, safe riding career. And it’s one of the most important motorcycle riding tips to follow.
Find a Motorcycle Safety Course near you.
Test, test, test
Before you drop several thousand dollars on a new or used bike, test ride as many makes and models as you can.
If possible, rent a motorcycle for a few days and put it through its paces. Some dealerships will let you take a bike overnight. Don’t marry yourself to one particular brand. If you’re a Harley-Davidson loyalist, don’t shy away from testing an Indian*, Honda or other brand. You won’t know if another brand stirs your passion unless you give it a try.
Be realistic with what you’re going to do with the bike. If you plan to spend most of your time highway riding, be wary of buying a smaller bike designed for city riding, and vice versa, even if the bike wins you over on a test ride.
Don’t compromise
Once you’ve zeroed in on the bike you want, get it – don’t compromise and get a different bike due to a good factory warranty or other incentive.
“I can’t tell you how often I hear people say they regret the first bike they bought,” said Len Groom, AMSOIL Market Manager, himself a lifelong rider. “What often happens is a Harley-Davidson guy, for example, will settle for another brand due to a long warranty or something. Then they immediately regret it, sell the bike in a year or two and just get the bike they wanted all along.”
Compromise ruins your love of riding and ends up wasting money.
Budget for accessories & maintenance
Most motorcycles aren’t cheap, and neither are accessories and maintenance.
Don’t blow your whole bankroll on the bike without budgeting for things like a cover (if you don’t have a garage), riding chaps, a helmet, gloves, jacket, saddle bags, chrome, engine modifications and other expenses.
Eventually, you’ll need new tires, an oil change, new brakes and other maintenance services. Not planning for these expenses can cost you even more in the long run.
Don’t skimp on maintenance
Many seasoned riders know their bikes better than themselves. Like Kevin Fitzgerald, who credits AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil for saving his engine. Any unfamiliar sound or sensation sends them to the garage to investigate. They take impeccable care of their bikes, and so should you if you plan to ride it into the sunset.
Change oil, primary fluid and transmission fluid prior to storing the bike for the season. Before storage, it’s best to wait for low-humidity weather. Ride the machine until thoroughly warmed, then change all oils. After the change, take another warm-up ride to ensure all internals are fully wetted with the fresh lubricant. Use high-quality synthetic fluids to fight the intense heat and stress of high-rpm riding common to big V-twins and sport bikes.
We hope these motorcycle riding tips help you get the most out of your new ride.
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AMSOIL Staff articles draw on the combined expertise of AMSOIL engineers, chemists, Technical Services specialists, technical writers and product marketers. Content is developed from AMSOIL data sheets, laboratory and field testing, oil-analysis results and more than 50 years of synthetic-lubricant development. Topics span automotive, diesel, powersports, marine, small-engine, agricultural and industrial equipment, covering lubrication fundamentals, maintenance practices, product selection and real-world customer experience.
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