How To Ride A Motorbike – Intro
If you can ride a push bike and drive a manual car then there is a good chance that you possess the general theory skills required to learn how to ride a motorbike too.
Keep in mind that there is a very big difference between being able to perform basic riding functions on a motorbike, for example go in a straight line and change gears, compared to being able to ride in a competent manner on the open roads.
By the end of this article you will have a basic understanding of how a motorbike operates, so that by the time it comes to apply for your motorbike license you will be prepared for some of the basic steps that you will be taken through by an instructor in your practical and motorbike theory tests.
For the purpose of this article we will assume that this is a fully manual motorbike (you will need to change the gears yourself) and that the motorbike has an electronic starter motor, so we will not need to perform a kick-start.
What Are The Main Controls On A Motorbike
The main controls that you will need to be aware of are when you are learning how to ride a motorbike are:
- Clutch lever – This is the right hand lever and is used to pull in clutch when you change gears.
- Brake lever – This is the left hand lever and is used to brake the front wheel.
- Brake pedal – This is the right hand foot pedal and is used to brake the rear wheel.
- Gear lever – This is the left hand foot lever and is used to change gears on the motorbike.
- Throttle – This is operated by twisting the right hand-grip.
- Indicators – These are also located on the right hand-grip and are pushed to the left and right in order to operate the indicators.
How To Start A Motorbike
We will assume that this is an electronic start motorbike, which the vast majority of road motorbikes are these days, so when you begin to learn how to ride a motorbike it is very likely that you will have the same type of setup.
Place the motorbike in the neutral gear (we will cover off gears later in this article) and switch the key to the start position and hold down the starter button, where you will hear the bike attempt to start.
Many brands of motorbikes, for example some Suzuki models, will also require for the clutch lever to be pulled in at the same time as attempting to start the motorbike, which is a safety feature.
If your motorbike is not starting then it is important to check that the kickstand is in the upright position, as there is often a trigger to ensure that the bike will not start if the stand is down.
Photo above: A key start ignition. You will need to turn the key to “On”.
How To Use The Brakes On A Motorbike
Before we even get rolling it is important to know how to stop the motorbike. There are 3 basic ways to slow the motorbike down.
- The Front Brake – This brake is operated by using the right hand lever (the hand that also operates the throttle). This applies braking force to the front wheel.
- The Rear Brake – This brake is operated using the lever on your right foot. This brake should be used sparingly as on bikes without ABS you may lock up the rear wheel, which will lead to losing control of the motorbike. This applies braking force to the rear wheel.
- Engine Braking – This means shifting down gears to use the resistance to slow the motorbike down. This should not be used heavily when first learning the basic principles of how to ride a motorbike as there is the possibility of this additional braking force locking up the rear wheel. The engine braking technique is one that you can begin learning after you have been riding a little bit longer, as it is still a very valuable technique to be used by all riders.
Photo above : The clutch lever. Also in this photo you can see the indicator switch (the arrows), the headlight switch and a red hazard light button.
Photo above: The rear brake pedal. This is operated by your right foot.
How To Change Gears On A Motorbike
The gears on a motorbike operate a little differently to those that are in a car, due to the unique ordering system. This is a critical area that you will need to master when learning how to ride a motorbike.
The gears are laid out in the following sequence: 1st >> Neutral >> 2nd >> 3rd >> 4th >> 5th >> 6th.
What this means is that when the bike is in neutral you need to press down to go to the first gear, but then when it comes time to go to the second gear you need to pass neutral in order to get there.
Once your motorbike has started you will need to hold in the clutch and press the gear lever down to initiate the first gear. You will then need to slowly release the clutch while easing on the throttle in order to make the bike move forwards. Getting the throttle revs correctly matched with the release of the clutch is one of the hardest parts to get right when learning how to ride a motorbike.
Once you reach the road speed where it is time to move to the second gear you’ll need to hold in the clutch and pull the foot lever solidly upwards so that the neutral gear is skipped completely (remember the gearing goes 1st >> Neutral >> 2nd) and the bike is ready for second, then slowly begin releasing the clutch while ensuring that the throttle remained steadily on in order for the motorbike not to stall.
Getting into the third gear is exactly the same as going from first to second, with the exception that there is no neutral gear that you need to skip.
To change back to second gear, or even first gear if you are in 2nd, it is the same principle except instead of pulling the lever upwards you will need to press the lever downwards when changing.
Photo above: The gear selector lever. This is controlled by your left foot.
How To Bring The Motorbike To A Complete Stop And Turn It Off
You will need to get back to 1st gear by holding in the clutch, pushing down the gear lever to ensure that you are back in 1st gear (note: when in first gear you will not be able to push it down any further) and then slowly release the clutch. When the bike is going very slowly you can then pull in the clutch, least of the gear lever upwards very slightly and you should then see that the bike is in neutral. Most likely there will be a light that will confirm that you have selected neutral. When the bike is in neutral it will not stall so you are able to then come to a complete stop, remember to put your feet firmly down on the ground, then push the kickstand down before using the key to switch the motorbike off.
You Now Know The Theory Of How To Ride A Motorbike!
Congratulations, you now possess all of the basic knowledge that you will need in order to know how to ride a motorbike.
Now start putting these steps into practice by getting your motorbike license!
Have a read of “What Is High Mileage For A Motorcycle?” to help you find your first bike.
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