Gear for the Class

Gear for riding is expensive, but medical bills are even more expensive.  However, as I’m brand new, I don’t know if I’ll like this or hate it. I may take the class and find out this isn’t for me. Or it might be the next big hobby I get into. Thus, I tried to be economical and rational in starting. Go fully safe for the class and low speed trips after the class.

Helmet

There’s all sorts of helmets. But I wanted the safest kind – a full face helmet that is DOT approved. I found a cheap one and went with it. (What I got here.) This helmet has worked out well for me. It is true what they say that it breaks in a bit after wear. It feels awkward and different to wear it at first, but after a while you don’t even notice it.

In the future, I’ll probably upgrade to a modular full face helmet. I didn’t know these existed at first. They are a full face helmet where the front module can flip open. Instead of having to pull it off and on.

My first challenge with the helmet was my glasses. A few quick searches online and I found out the answer. Take off your glasses first, pull the helmet on, and then put back on your glasses. It feels odd at first, but like the helmet, the feeling goes away. Another newbie tip, when putting it on, position the side pulls over your ears and then pull down so that your ears are on the cloth the whole time. The first few times I put on and off the helmet I hurt my ears until I got that action right. There’s actually quite a few putting helmet videos out on you tube you may want to check out if your as new to this as I am.

Jacket

I’m using a leather jacket I already have. In the future, I’ll upgrade to a heavy duty riding jacket, likely with metal padding inserts. Or maybe a full racing suit. I need to research more into this. Again, just starting out.

I also wore a thicker long sleeved shirt under my jacket for just in case.  That was such a trivial thing to do for an extra millimeter of protection, I figure why not.

Gloves

I have many assorted gloves for gardening, winter wear, and so on. But I was concerned if any would be the right thickness and feel for riding a motorcycle. Gloves are cheap, so I bought a new pair of “motorcycle gloves.” As an added plus, the pair I found was used in an episode of the Walking Dead. If it works in the zombie apocalypse, it should work to drive a motorcycle. (What I got here.)

Pants

I started with a thick pair of jeans in good shape. (I say good shape, because I sure wouldn’t use them if they had holes and were falling apart.) Jeans aren’t much protection, but like my jacket should be a good enough start for the class. In the future, I’m going to look into riding chaps and/or riding pants. I mean hey, a chance to wear lather chaps in public, why not? ;)

Over the Ankle Footwear

I had a solid pair of over the ankle boots I used. The boots are in good shape and just a few months old. (I like red wing boots.  They hold up to abuse.) I need to research more if there’s much difference in riding boots or not.

Raingear

There was a chance of rain for the class, so I needed something. I looked around amazon and bought a cheap rain suit. I doubt this will hold up over years or many rainy rides. But like I said at the start, I don’t want to go all in, until I see how it goes.  (What I got here.)

Longer term, Harley makes an orange rain suit that feels thick enough to last. Plus, it is orange for high visibility, yet, because it is Harley it still looks cool, even when orange. Of course, it is over 3 times as much as the cheap one I have.

Overall

I feel good about starting, but this whole gear area is one I will be researching more to find a good balance in cost, comfort, and safety.

First Dealership Visit

Before I signed up for the riding lessons, I visited a motorcycle dealership.  The sales guy was very helpful.  But without having ever driven one, I really couldn't tell how they would actually feel when I was driving them.  I wasn't sure which one was right for me.  But it was helpful, because it gave me a feel for what they feel like and look like in person up close.  I think this helped for the class.

I really recommend taking the class, seeing if you like it, and then deciding to a bike after that.  Some of the guys in my class did it in the opposite order.  If your new to it, like me, you won't know which bike is right for you.  Also, you can't test drive it without a motorcycle license.

Update: When I was there first, I sat on a Harley Street and Dyna Street Bob second.  I was so new to all of it that I couldn't much tell them apart.  However, after actually driving a Street, I know that bike doesn't fit me well at all.  Further support for, take the course first, and then select a bike.

Motorcycle First Steps

Should I get a cheap motorcycle and learner’s permit and lean on my own? All I need to be street legal is a learner’s permit and that only requires passing a written test. Scary isn't it?  These things are big complex dangerous machines. I wasn’t sure how to drive it down the driveway to even start learning. Plus, without ever having driven one, how could I be sure it would fit me well? I decided to sign up for a course to learn how to drive it.

The MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) has a Basic RiderCourse

http://www.msf-usa.org/brc.aspx

In my area, there are two main organizations this course. A set of classes is sponsored by ABATE. ABATE is a non-profit motorcycle advocacy group. They are cheap, just $75 dollars for the class. However, they were booked out solid through the end of the year. The other choices was through Harley Davidson. They were pretty booked up too, but there were 3 dealerships in my area offering classes, so I found one I could get into. They are much more expensive at $300, but also include an extra day of class time. And I think the class size is normally smaller. Plus you ride a Harley :)

Before the course started, I wondered if I should have waited for next year for the cheaper ABATE class. But, the Harley class worked out well, and I consider it money well spent.

Advice: Ask what happens if you drop out of the class or fail the test. The dealership I took it at had a nice policy. They’ll let you try again in the future: wait list for free, or guaranteed spot for half price. I think this is a dealer specific policy and could change, so ask in advance. At $75, failing and paying a second time isn’t too bad, but at $300, failing and paying a second time is pricey.

Beginning of My Motorcycle Adventure

First my background, I can ride a bicycle. Now when I was like 7 or so, I broke an arm flipping over one, but I’ve done alright since then. I last flipped over one when I was 15 or so, and didn’t even break anything :) That’s over two decades without bicycle injury! Thus, I felt I was ready.

I’ve never drove a motorcycle. I think I may have been a passenger a super long time ago. I never drove dirt bikes, but did ride as a passenger with my older aunt when we were both kids. That’s the extent of my motorized two wheel experience.

Why am I doing this?  It is there.  Or, I like to try new things, and it something there.  Or, my wife wanted a boat, but we don't live by water, so this was a compromise.  Or, when I was younger, I had fun riding on a dirt bike as a passenger with my aunt.  Or, I'm getting older and needed a midlife crisis adventure.  Or, I'm always looking for new challenges and this is one.  Or, do I really have to have a reason?  I'm doing it.  I'll see if I enjoy doing it and if so, I'll keep doing it.  Then after I'm into it, then I'll figure out the reasons.