Witch Doctor-
I've been riding for a year now and started when I was 30, so here is what I learned-
1) Take the MSF course. The ability to learn in a controlled environment is key. The instructors will do a good job teaching you and you will quickly develope the confidence to ride.
2) Find a friend who rides. It is so much nicer to ride with someone- You can stop, have someone to talk to, and someone to watch out for you. They will be teaching you how to ride in traffic, how to ride in groups etc.
3) Ride- Time in the saddle will help more than anything. You are building skills, experiance and most importantly, confidence that you will need to ride. I started (after the MSF course) by riding around my neighborhood for hours. After that I branched out. The bike will be most difficult to control at low speeds so practice, practice, practice.
4) Get your own bike. If you have to rely on your friends to let you borrown their's, you will be at their mercy for time and practice. Also, you need to "bond" with your own machine. It takes some time to learn how the bike responds and what it's limits are. If you are jumping around from bike to bike, you are not going to learn the bike.
5) Don't skimp on gear. A helmet that fits right and warm clothing (I am a cold wuss) are the difference between a great ride and a lousy one. Take the time to find things that work and that fit.
6) First bike- I determined what I wanted (for me a cruiser that was between 750 and 900cc's) and sit on *every* bike that fits the bill. There is a lot of variation between the manufactures, so you need to find the one that fits you. Most all controls on any bike are adjustible within certain limits, but you need to get in the ballpark. Personally, I had my heart set on a t100. After sitting on everything in my range, I found the Speedmaster to be the best fit for me. As a plus it is beutiful, handles like a dream, and was a *very* forgiving bike to learn with. If I had gone with a smaller displacement bike, I would have been selling it three months later and getting the Speedmaster.
Well, I will get off my soapbox now. Welcome to riding. Stay safe out there.
-TM
