From training to street-ready: How to confident riding a motorcycle.

[@MCrider]

🎄 I hope everyone has a great Christmas! 🎄 It has been a fantastic year here on MCrider and I want to thank everyone who has contributed with your likes, subscriptions, and comments. Today is the last day to order MCrider hats and keychains before the holiday. If you order today I will fill the order and drop it off for shipping late today or in the morning. Check out all the hats and keychains here: www.MCrider.com/hat

[@keithpost3697]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Kevin! We’ll be you next year.

[@roywalls5595]

Merry Christmas MCrider

[@tomquinn607]

"The skills that you learn from proper technique can save your life on the street." McRider says it all here.

[@boscodog4358]

You are so correct. The skills need to be second nature.

[@dougrobinson8602]

Here's a tip. When you first go out on the road, do it on a Sunday morning when traffic is lighter and people are mellower. I've been riding for 35 years, and I won't commute to work on my bike on a weekday. I see way too many aggressive and inattentive drivers to risk being the victim of their selfishness. Also, I consider the first ride of my season after three months of winter to be like a first ride on the street. There are streets in my subdivision where the houses were never built that are great for tuning my skills.

[@bikertod]

Truth brother,great point,stay safe out there 🏍

[@Luggruff]

Good tip. Unfortunately I will be baptized in fire it seems. Had one lesson so far, and for the next lesson, I have to drive the bike myself from the school in the middle of the city to the training area, at 5 PM on a Friday.. :'D

[@afonsotatiano8239]

Thanks, sir. I´ve just learned to ride and had the same idea.

[@CrimsonRaven51]

Very good pearls of wisdom. Respect.🙏

[@jimu2896]

I've commented before, but will again. Kevin you (and your videos) were instrumental in my riding developement. Watched your videos for 2 years before getting my first bike at 47. Did 200 miles in my neighborhood before hitting main roads, mostly due to my wife's insistance, but it made me a more cautious rider. After 4 years, 5 bikes and almost 30k miles I can count my close calls on one hand and most were my fault for pushing the limits and/or lack of attention. Keep up the great work!

[@MCrider]

That’s awesome Jim, glad it is going well for you. 👍🏻

[@bobbynixon6330]

I am a new writer 60 years old male who served in the US army special forces for 15 years. I am a paratrooper I was trained for military free fall from high altitudes with low openings and was a combat diver one thing I learned throughout my military career is how important training is and taking baby steps. I chanced upon your channel and have been following it ever since I very much appreciate how you break everything down and how it is the operator that is the most important part to his safety. I thank you very much MC rider for putting this information out and I will continue to follow and conduct my training so I will have every chance to be a good safe rider.

[@CrimsonRaven51]

HALO Brother. Thank you for your service and the wisdom you emparted.🇱🇷🇱🇷

[@rogercohn]

well you probably have a better chance of survival than the average 60 year old

[@rmspeedy1775]

This was 6 years ago, I passed the Team Oregon safety course on a Saturday, got my endorsement on Monday, took one lap around the block. Asked my dad when is a good time to go into traffic? His response was, the sooner the better. I started riding in traffic in short distances, over time I extended the distance. I felt doing that helped me with gaining confidence and better my skills.

[@uneasyr1der]

Thanks for this video, as a new rider, I've been slowly working up the nerve to hit the street! I'm fortunate that I live on a large multi-branching culdesac, with a middle school at the end, so it's been easy to just rip around the 'hood and do lots of parking lot practice till now. But it's time! The main issue I've had is that I live in Atlanta, home of the most ridiculously random, self-serving, hyper-aggressive (for no reason) drivers I've ever encountered. It's scary on four wheels here, much less two! I've almost been run over TWICE on my bike by my own neighbors while turning into my own driveway (signaling with both indicators and hands)! However, I know I just need to pop that cherry, and start venturing out, the more I do it, the further I go, the more confident I will get. If I can learn to ride and survive on the streets of Atlanta, I can ride anywhere!

[@elmersalonga6424]

Being a beginner Rider on my 50's videos like this helps a lot. I'm from the Philippines and we don't have a big parking lot here, after taking our "MSF Equivalent Course" I have no choice but to practice on street but early morning before the rush hour starts I do experienced a lot of stalls even drop my bike yesterday when practicing got some close calls with some "stupid rider" who doesn't know what and what to do in an Intersection with lights off and no blinkers by the way! We do have a lot uneducated riders and drivers here. But it is all part of my Riding Journey. I very much enjoying my early morning rides and Informative videos like yours really helps thanks and more power to you Have a Merry Christmas.

[@coastalhillbilly3419]

Started my daughter on a twist and go Vespa, figured new riders can learn gear shifting after becoming good street riders, after a few days in the parking lot and a motorcycle safety class, went riding with her on street loops, routes that she would be riding for work, school, beach, friends houses, before cutting her loose, like mountain bike riding “trail knowledge makes the expert” after a relatively short time she is a good defensive rider, we are having so much fun scootering she hasn’t mentioned motorcycling

[@rogercohn]

Beware of smaller wheels. Some scooters have those tiny 12 inch or smaller wheels. My friends Uncle was killed on one just by running over a PGE pothole in the street. A regular bike would have just gone through it. Maybe a jolt but not where the wheel stuck down in the hole and flipped him off the bike. Today, many scooters have full size wheels. Very important!

[@coastalhillbilly3419]

@@rogercohn Yep!. Actually started her for a short time on a Buddy 150 with 10” wheels 😱 luckily we got good roads in our neck of the woods and ride the same routes, know the pot holes and hazards like the back of our hand and look out for new ones as well as the usual, sand, grass, leaves. Will eventually get her up to speed on a proper motorcycle, just didn’t want her to have to worry about doing 5 things with 2 hands and 2 feet starting out.

[@tedkiley8961]

Being able to make U-turns within 2 parking spaces will help greatly when you have to do it on the street. I've seen riders make U-turns where they either duck walked the bike or ran wide and ran into the opposite curb. Also know riders who never make a U-turn because their slow speed skills are so lacking. Don't be the rider who drops their bike in an intersection or runs out of corning space because they didn't feel the need to practice in an empty lot.

[@johnpagejr.7628]

Merry Christmas Kevin! Thank you for all that you do on your channel. I love watching your videos and have referred many beginning riders to your channel. At 71 years young and I am still ridding and working on helping my son and grand son learn how to ride safely. So Thank you again for all your Help.

[@MCrider]

Very welcome

[@leskirkland2894]

I started riding in the UK in 1979. No compulsory training or any kind of instruction. The dealer I bought the bike from just wheeled it out in the street, gave me the key and left me there. I learnt as I went along. Luckily I travelled to work every day at 04.30am and it was summer so I had plenty of light, good road conditions and nobody else on the road. Certainly not an ideal way to learn and it wouldn't happen today. In fact it's so difficult and expensive to obtain a motorcycle licence here in the UK that very few youngsters bother, Most riders here are over 60 years old and passed their test many years ago when things were much more relaxed. Happy Christmas everyone.

[@bykermike1233]

Very similar experience to me, but still going nearly 50 years later, feel sorry for the next generation ,it seams as though they are being forced out of this great love.

[@theprodigalstranger5259]

And A Happy, Healthy, and Safe Holiday to you and yours Kevin. Continued success in 2023!

[@chiefjoseph8154]

Never. Being ready for everything is overwhelming. You just do your best. Thx MCrider for everything.

[@gaeb912]

Nice! Its like the saying play for your strengths, work on your weaknesses

[@John_Ridley]

I took the MSF returning rider course, it was mostly full of Harley club rider people who had been riding on the street for 20+ years(*). I hadn't ridden for 30 years but had spent a few weeks in the parking lots practicing after watching videos here and some other channels. The 20+ year veteran riders were SHOCKINGLY bad - turns out you don't develop many skills riding in a straight line for thousands of miles. But they also got WAY better in just 3 or 4 hours out in the parking lot. It really hammered home to me the value of spending time practicing. (*) the reason so many long time riders were in the class is that they never bothered getting the CY on their license, our state had just changed the penalty for being caught riding without it from a small fine to a large fine, 6 month suspension of your DL and roadside impoundment of your bike. The MSF course was 6 hours and $50 easy way to get the CY. The instructor said that year, that class was packed with way more people than they ever had in it before.

[@sab_1055]

Thank you so much. This is exactly the question I was asking myself.

[@simonjcelliot]

Uk you need to pass your compulsory basic training course which is a day, then you can ride a 125cc… after that if you want to ride a bigger bike you need to pass a theory test on a computer then pass a test on the bike in a yard, then you have an observed road ride of about 45 mins… then you are allowed on the road

[@barrycuda3769]

When I was sixteen, I learned control riding my '78 TT500 on the streets of a city that had a lot of rain , slick surfaces, slippery road markings, steep slippery hills , black ice , snow, and all of that on knobby tires , it was a case of get good or get hurt , didn't need anyone to teach me .

[@Goblinv3]

I aged like milk. Took my course on august 27, bought my bike on September 1, and on November 13 wrecked it. I took a corner to fast and wide and smacked a guard rail. Walked away fine but once the adrenaline came down boy let me tell you what, I wasn't able to walk. Small fracture on right ankle and small nondisplacement fracture on my left knee. Healing Well but bet i will have a whole different respect and mentality riding around. First thing they said "Never ride above 75 percent of your limit".

[@heybruh3274]

Honestly, If I had listened to everyone, I probably would have never even purchased a motorcycle. I guess the big difference between me and many others today, I fully accepted responsibilty for my own level of risks and any outcomes based on my decisions. I started riding- a Harley Ultra, after one year on my Kawasaki 900 Classic. Yep, less than one year after purchasing my first bike. I am an old fart too. And guess what…. I have NEVER dropped my bike and YES I practice slow speed skills using the setups by that NY motocop. I've also consumed great instruction presented by MCRider and Canyon Chasers. Yes, I am never above learning more and practicing practicing. (Pssst, the guys I ride with would never guess that I am “new” rider)

[@stevegordon2644]

Thanks Kevin, happy new year to you! Motorcycle skills are use or lose . I haven't ridden all season, now I stall out on my bike coming out of the driveway on to a busy street, nervous now total noob again

[@frankgonzalez534]

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family, I enjoy all your videos.😎

[@lily_astral]

Ok question, if you don't have a truck and you're not comfortable riding on a street yet, how the heck do you get your bike to a parking lot? 😂

[@kylehartley3822]

I know your comment is old but I bought a used bike before my MSF and I used a trailer attached to my truck(or car you don't need much towing power bikes are between 250-600lbs usually)

[@fredstraw]

I started at age 12 riding old british bikes and cars on fields on a farm. Then at 16 started on the road and still ride and drive at 61

[@polocarrera6061]

Merry Christmas for you too Mcrider

[@bladeh7734]

Thanks for another great video Kevin. Hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas 🎄 !

[@MCrider]

Thanks, you too!

[@mutahirw]

Excellent tips and really great advise thank you Kevin. Wishing you and family a happy Xmas and New Year. Warm wishes from the other side of the world Dubai! ❤

[@eddcurry1245]

Enjoy the holiday,, see you on the road😎 guess I’ll check out the hats when you return

[@MWAnderson73]

Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🎄

[@Texmotodad]

Amen brother!

[@robnee3313]

Great video. Thank you.

[@gtrevino50]

Would like to see a video on your summer riding gear for the Texas heat.

[@danmercer214]

Merry Christmas and have a safe happy new year.

[@NobodyWhatsoever]

Part of my issue with slow-speed practice isn't the practice itself. It's that the closest parking lot to home is a church a half-mile away. I don't have the "quiet neighborhood" option because mine is anything but, so I just had to bite the bullet and go. So ... I can make it there. Actually, it gave me the confidence to realize I can do easy road rides. But I still have to agree your list is correct, and that's why I am so insistent on practicing in the parking lot. Sadly, today when I got to that lot, people started pulling into it for some kind of Saturday night thing -- choir practice? Who knows. So that makes the next closest actually quiet parking lot (the others between end up being used for late-night hangouts by people up to no good) is a school some 11 miles away unless I'm willing to ride through the major shopping district on a divided four-lane road with heavy traffic, and then some, just for a parking lot I know would be quiet.

[@markwhatley9955]

Thanks for the great information, Kevin. Merry Christmas.

[@grumpyrider8801]

The only thing seat time increases is, Well seat time, it doesn't improve skills, Myself and a couple other riders offer practice sessions in our town typically at least once a month in an open parking lot. set up cones for the beginners and novice riders and some competition styles ones for us to continue to improve and test ourselves

[@FreestyleCarp6gaming]

Thank you for making this video

[@stacyodom1746]

Thanks Kevin! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!

[@EvolvingNaturally]

Merry Christmas!

[@brettcreech3490]

Thanks Kevin Merry Christmas.😎

[@lynnsample4549]

Happy holidays and safe travels.

[@MCrider]

Thank you!

[@John_Ridley]

I'm a super bad example. My first time ever even riding on a motorcycle was on the back of the bike I bought for $300 after being on the back of it for 10 minutes riding from work to the guy's house. I handed him money, he handed me the keys and the title, said "here's the clutch, front brake, back brake, throttle, shifter, 1 down 5 up, good luck" - 1 minute later I was riding on the street, in the dark, over bad roads (potholes, gravel, very uneven, etc). I practiced on the roads in that small town and passed the state motorcycle test in a parking lot 2 weeks later. 2 weeks after that I did an iron butt 550 mile ride from college to home for Thanksgiving. I never had any problem on the street with it but the engine exploded a few months later. 30 years after that and I'm back in the saddle but this time I took multiple MSF courses and do a ton of parking lot practice. We do get smarter as we get older. As far as U turns I do them every day in my driveway to back the bike into the garage, and at least a few times a year when I am heading down a road that has been closed due to accident or something. I got a LOT better with the clutch skill needed for this because of the Z400 I bought last year specifically to work on skills.

[@stevegordon2644]

Thanks for the awesome videos. Happy holidays and God bless

[@MyLife-og2kr]

Learn the fundamentals for a few hours and take it to the road. It's really not that hard, but it's it safe? Not really. But you can do it. I did lol. I probably practiced for 3 4 hours and took the chance. Went on small roads and roads that i knew like the back of my hand. It helped a lot.

[@Eisenhammer78]

Interesting… Here in Germany you have mandatory practice hours on the streets and on the Autobahn with your instructor in a car behind you. You wear a warning vest which says driving school and that’s it. The first two hours are on a parking lot for basic manouvers, then it’s to the streets. Your examination is also done on the streets with your instructor and an examiner, that gives you your license (or not) afterwards. That examination run is about 45min in regular traffic (no warning vest there) and afterwards you have to prove stuff like figure 8 and basic manouvers. So, as you are used to driving in traffic, you simply continue to do so while ideally taking further safety training courses and training yourself still on parking lots. So that question is interesting to me. Maybe your license should take more training too? God bless

[@justinspikes5053]

My problem is... How do I get the motorcycle from my house to the parking lot??? If I dont feel ready to be on the street?

[@kodiak536kodiak536]

FYI, how many new riders do you know of that actually started in the parking lot? I NEVER heard of ANY that I know of...most will buy, licensed and hit the streets. THEN, some actually take the MSF courses. I for one, started on dirt bikes, progressed to street bikes and NEVER practiced on the parking lot. The ONLY reason I ended up taking the MSF course, which I have NEVER heard of beforehand, was because military mandated course before I could ride on base. Although it was the only course, a basic rider course at that, it gave me knowledge and basic skills to stay alive all these years, 40 years to be exact .

[@markrumfola9833]

Good Morning to you Sir

[@awichannel3653]

Tank you to information about the motor matic injeksi

[@tedkiley8961]

I can never find an empty parking lot as Kevin had on this video. At best I can find the far corner of a lot but still have to contend with cars passing through.

[@MCrider]

High School parking lots or HS Stadiums work well.

[@stevenbrite4056]

Merry Christmas brother

[@iallso1]

In New Zealand this is not down to the new rider to decide if he is proficient, a riding instructor must sign off that the rider has passed a basic handling skills course before the rider can even sit the theory test and be earn a learners licence.

[@salahshami8793]

Thanks a lot my dear , I have questions my boss is there any different between bevy motorcycle or light weight motorcycle for the training I mean which the best for training ? My best greeting

[@Sid_Mowe]

I don't think this ever crossed my mind when I first started riding.

[@charleshunt3806]

Well, I was a naughty boy I went directly onto the street. My first ride was like two hours and 45 minutes and I certainly was a little bit Squirrley but I did my best and it worked out and now I have over 1000 miles on my Honda super cub. And I had no prior training and no prior riding experience in a parking lot or otherwise and I know that was technically not the right way to do it for sure, but I did it and it worked out. I figured we went 0 to 100 on that motorcycle but of course not technically because of course it can’t go that fast but I was so excited I just couldn’t not ride it. and I’ve gotten better and I’m going to continue to get better and improve

[@rogercohn]

I did the same with an airplane. Without proper Training I just took over the controls of! Buddies plane and flew to Vegas 400 miles

[@charleshunt3806]

@@rogercohn now I have like 7900 miles on the thing and now I have my license like I’m supposed to. I took the motorcycle course and it was definitely a good thing to do, but as I knew before I bought it, it is designed to be

[@boballen7592]

Hey Kevin, great advice. However, I've been riding my 2020 goldwing since New, and with all those buttons, I still have to look down occasionally. Just sayin.

[@MCrider]

There is a lot to remember on a GW. ;)

[@markrumfola9833]

Safe trip Kevin

[@JHV166]

Find yourself on a 2 lane street that dead ends, and you'll understand how important being bbbable to make a competent U turn will become apparent

[@yescavol1637]

But how do I get from the dealership to home across Nashville with my new Road King

[@MCrider]

They will trailer it for you.

[@rogercohn]

We all pretty much know the graph of descending line of response and ascending line of experience. Hopefully these can balance each other and cancel out the descending line of response time... But that means you have to keep riding continuously and it doesn't mean starting out riding a Harley at 60+. You miss out on the increase in experience. I know a few guys who "rode when I was younger" and then start up again when they have the time and money. Besides missing out on the increase in experience, most of them really only rode a friend's bike a few times in college. Not really a past rider. You have to be honest with yourself. And the other comment is your math? While it holds up you make it sound very complicated. 250 milli sec is just a quarter of a second. 60 mph=1 mile per minute= approx. a little less than 100 ft/ sec/4=25 ft. Close to the actual 22 feet but maybe easier to understand.. Surprisingly, metric is not easier to figure since time is not told in metric but in 60's. 60 sec=1 min. 60 min =1 hour.

[@NO_Expectations]

What is your opion about all these KZbinrs who do Motorcycle videos then spend so much time with only their right hand on the bars while they wave their left hand around while they are talking. I have been riding for 46 years with zero accidents but many very close calls, I would never ride around with just one hand because accidents can happen so quick you need to be in full control of your bars which you can only do holding onto the bike with both hands. Hope you had a good Christmas wish you all the best for the new year.

[@MCrider]

Here you go. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGaofKxvpr-oidE

[@brianfreeman3192]

Playing devil's advocate here and I don't disagree with you but you're gonna have to get out on the street to get to that parking lot. Unless you have a place in your neighborhood to practice. I agree with the comment that doing this during low peak traffic times is ideal.

[@johnnylightning1491]

I'm trying to figure out why you would need the engine cutoff switch on the road. Generally the last thing I want to do is shut my engine off until I'm at my destination.. In 40 years of riding I don't think I've ever used an engine cutoff switch, I just turn off the ignition. Am I missing something?

[@MCrider]

In case of a tip over it is nice to be able to quickly shut the MC off.

[@johnnylightning1491]

@@MCrider I can see that.

[@murraehaynes3182]

Good advice…practice until your basic skills are autonomous 👍🏼

[@murraehaynes3182]

@mcridermotorcycletrainina4 I’ll pass an you’re probably a scammer

[@TennRides]

If someone is even asking if they are ready for the road, they are probably not. The fact that they are asking shows some uncertainty of their riding skills, and that could lead to a crash, if nothing else, out of fear. Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the time with your family.

[@mr.nobody5028]

I do not know, but I know I was not ready.

[@tx.tactical3165]

Something is wrong with your website???

[@mannyechaluce3814]

The real question is, when is the streets ready for you :D

[@stewartnorton6386]

Pretty simple here in the UK, once you have an passed your tests 🤣

[@tomquinn607]

No sir. You have not passed the street.

[@stewartnorton6386]

@@tomquinn607 You have to do 40 minutes of road riding for your test, you are certainly ready once you pass.

[@magsteel9891]

I think the process of getting a license in the UK is very different. In the US you can take a weekend class and have your full motorcycle license.

[@stewartnorton6386]

@@magsteel9891 Yes it is very different. And expensive!

[@Snoozzzzzze]

When I started riding there was no parking lot! Stick the L plates on and off you go. I had done a bit of off road and back road riding before but not much. 300 miles through cones really won’t have helped that rider much.

[@magsteel9891]

Where else would you ride it? Even if you want to do parking lot practice you still have to get to a parking lot. Many of us don't have off-road riding options, and not all bikes are suited to it anyway. A better question might be "When are you ready to ride on a highway"?

[@tomquinn607]

When your skills are intuitive.

[@magsteel9891]

@@tomquinn607 A friend once told me "When you've put in 10,000 miles on the streets". Maybe by that point it's intuitive.

[@joelaichner3025]

Putt Putt Putt , or vroom vroom vroom , to woof woof woof , to bark bark bark , to just snarling , to telling your friends , step back , SHE BITES ,

[@emmanuel_medina_garcia]

I don’t know if this is for marketing purposes but every time you say “life saving “ you make more difficult for new rides (we get it you can die riding a motorcycle). It’s not helpful saying it every 10 seconds

[@grinningintheirface2685]

Think you dont need to know how to do tight u turns? What if you go around a corner and just ahead of you is a drunk bear in the middle of the road, charging a $100 toll, but you have no money, and you cant go straight? Didnt think about the greedy alcoholic bears did ya? 😂

[@bifftannen3167]

If you even have to ask the question,"am I ready to ride my motorcycle on the street" 10 times out of nine you're nowhere near ready

[@stanleyford9921]

Do you have a video for how to lay down a bike as a last resort to avoid being killed?

[@dougrobinson8602]

Never do that. A bike that has been dropped on it's side is sliding on metal and maybe body panels. There is very little friction with the road as there is when your tires are in full contact. If this is advice you've gotten from a rider, consider any other advice from them to be suspect.

[@MCrider]

Yes, I have a video on when to lay it down... kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZmwfnyuo9Wgo9k

[@mhoeij]

Many riders have died laying down their bike, it’s the most dangerous thing you can do on the road. Problem is that we only hear from the ones who were lucky enough to survive, and they tend to be confused about the difference between skill and luck.

[@stephengardonyi8736]

No one actually lays down a bike on purpose, it's just an attempted saving face way to keep from saying "I F'd up and lost control". As long as you're on the bike you have control, once on the ground you're just along for the ride.

[@roywalls5595]

I have not did any thing Its like riding bicycle! I started riding right way no body tell me how to ride I am 62 turning 63 in 5 months! 🛵 MCrider