Quote:

1. Thou shall know thy ride.
Take time to familiarize yourself with the controls, the switches, the drive train, the brakes, the tires, etc. You must become "One" with your ride. Learn how it works and why it works. And what to do when it doesn't.

2. Thou must wear the gear.
Helmets, leather, armor, boots, gloves. All a personal preference depending on the risks you are willing to accept. Don't let others dictate your safety. Cool is for fools.

3. Thou must become legal.
Take a course. Practice, practice, practice. Then practice some more. Get a permit. Get a license. Read up on riding technique.

4. Thou must know thy limitations.
Don't ride if you're tired, excited, depressed, or in a big hurry. Cesar Milan is right - you must be in a calm, submissive state before you get a treat.

5. Thou must obey the law.
Stop at stop signs. Keep within the posted speed limit. Yield right of way. Always. To the public and the Police - you are a biker - a lower life form. We must shed that image to survive.

6. Thou must resist road rage.
Yeah, the moron on the cel phone just cut you off. Get over it. Take a deep breath. Shake your head in disbelief. They probably outweigh you 10:1. They might even have a gun. You will lose.

7. Thou must adapt constantly.
Road conditions. Traffic conditions. Weather. Wildlife. Leaves. Gravel. Bright sun. Bright headlights. Parked cars. Constuction vehicles. Lawn care trucks and trailers parked in your lane. It's all out there waiting to make you a statistic.

8. Thou must keep thine eyes and mind open.
Is this car going to stop/pull out/turn? Where can I go if ___ happens?

9. Thou must remember the brotherhood of two wheels.
If you see a bike, no matter the brand, on the side of the road, stop and offer assistance. We're all in this together. Choppers, Mopeds, Hyabusas, we all face the same hazards, challenges, and legislation. Do what you can to help.

10. Thou must ride as often as possible and enjoy every moment.
This, you will live to relish for the rest of your life, even when your riding years are behind you.

Now go forth and multiply your 2-wheeled mileage......



This is great info for a guy just starting out. Like I mentioned before, my experience comes from dirt bikes. And that was quite a few years ago.
I've been thinking about this for the past few year and I am now getting serious about it. I was searching for newb info and this is exactly what I was looking for.
Is there any other advise that could be given to a beginner?

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me" Hunter S. Thompson