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Learn bicycle before motorcycle?

He's going to learn to ride a motorcycle and has never learned to ride a bicycle? Nutzo, I say. When I first took the MSF course many years ago, there was one person there who had never learned to ride a motorcycle. The course was a waste of the person's time, of the instructors time (3 at a time trying to help this person), and a waste of the other class attendee's time as they had less time with the intructors.

Geez, learn to ride a bike first. There's a lot that similar. Yea, the controls are different. But you're still balancing on two wheels. And the steering inputs are the same. Just on a bicycle they're more subtle. But bicycles countersteer just like motorcycles. Don't let this guy muck up a class and waste intructor's time while he learns to balance and ride on two wheels. It's a disservice to the other people in the class who are expecting to get as much instruction as possible. Frankly, taking the MSF class without knowing how to ride a bicycle is stupid, ill-informed, and selfish. I admire his enthusiasm, but shit, if he and you value his life, learn to ride on two wheels first, then take the course.

FYI, the person in my class who never learned how to ride a bicycle spent the first day on the bike being pushed by one instructor from one side of the parking lot to the other. Motor off. Wobbling the whole way. With two more instructors on either side continually grabbing the bike and it's bars and making corrections. Back and forth. Back and forth. The person never got it. And never came back. They were told to go learn to ride a bicycle first. Meantime, all that instructor time could have been given to the other people in the class.
 
ST Guy said:
...When I first took the MSF course many years ago, there was one person there who had never learned to ride a motorcycle...
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Holy crap! What a concept! :twofinger
 
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The easiest way to instill confidence in and teach an adult how to bicycle is to ride a tandem bicycle with him. You steer while he rides anchor. Since he has to follow whatever you do up front, it's pretty much a win-win situation for him. You two can also switch seats later, so he'll understand steering and braking. Once he understands the mechanics involved in cycling, he can apply it when he rides solo. You're in SF and there's probably more than one bike shop near GG Park that rents tandems. And please have him wear a helmet while he's learning. A fall from a bike even at slow speeds can produce skull fractures.
 
vaara said:
Thanks everyone for the interesting responses. In fact, his father didn't like him -- a fact that was once aired on national television, courtesy of Oprah Winfrey (true story). And the reason his mom never taught him how to ride a bike is that his childhood home was on a steep hill, and she didn't want him killing himself.

So, the consensus seems to be: I need to teach him how to ride a bike (there is one on hand). Now I just need to find out how to teach an adult to ride a bicycle... but that's what Google is for. :)

(He does, however, know how to drive a stick-shift car.)
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I taught a female friend how to ride a 10-Speed, who was in her late 50's.

Her parents forbid her to ride a bike as a child because they thought it was unlady-like. :wtf

Trying to push and hold up an adult on a bike while running along side is very tiring. :wow She got the hang of it after a day, but never mastered gear shifting or brakes!!!! WATCH OUT FOR THAT PARKED CAR!!!!!!!!! Oh Noes!!!! :cry
 
Apparently the recommended way to teach someone how to ride a bike is something like this:

Get an undersized bike--where the rider can touch the ground with their feet.
Go to a grassy area, preferably with a (gentle, stopping) slope.
Maybe take the pedals off.
Push/let the person roll down hill. No pedaling.
Repeat.
Tell them about brakes.
When they can do that, pedals.
When they can do that, gears.
Somewhere along the way, raise the seat/bike size.

This order may sound familiar.

Verbose versions:
http://www.bicycleridingschool.org/method.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Bike
 
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I have a 26" mountain bike, I'd be happy to give him! I agree with the majority.
Ride a bicycle 1st.
 
Once you get him on a bicycle, make sure you explain countersteering to him. And that at walking speed, it doesn't work and you need to turn the bars in the direction you want to go in. Don't worry about explaining why/how it works, just explain the push left, go left concept.

Note for all: Ever wonder why little children usually have such a hard time making the transition from tricycles to bicycles? It's because they steer exactly the opposite from each other and nobody bothers to explain that to them. They get on a bicycle and use tricycle steering inputs and it's all wonky. Finally, with enough time on the saddle, they get it. 'Makes me wonder how much faster they'd make the transition with some careful explaining and instruction.
 
Those of you who already rode bicycles prior to riding a motorcycle (unless you have exceptional balance to begin with), are discounting how big of an advantage you had by already being comfortable with balancing and the effects of speed thereon. I would strongly suggest riding a bicycle before taking the BRC. That's not the time to learn or develop that balance, and there is limited time available for each exercise. Why not be ahead of the game before going to class?
 
i went from right out of HS to riding my motorcycle... but i spent everyday on my bike before i got my motorcycle. it made me a great rider!
vaara said:
A housemate of mine is taking the MSF next month. However, he and some other folks here are a bit leery about this. Reason: he never learned how to ride a bicycle. He's 31, btw.

Some are insisting that he should learn how to ride a bicycle first, to become comfortable with balance and the whole idea of riding on two wheels. However, I think it's irrelevant, and might even be counterproductive, given the completely different nature of bicycle vs. m/c riding -- centers of gravity, hand controls, etc.

Like most people, I learned how to ride a bicycle in childhood, but somehow I don't think my motorcycle-learning experience would have been any different if I hadn't.

Thoughts?
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ST Guy said:
Once you get him on a bicycle, make sure you explain countersteering to him. And that at walking speed, it doesn't work and you need to turn the bars in the direction you want to go in. Don't worry about explaining why/how it works, just explain the push left, go left concept.

Note for all: Ever wonder why little children usually have such a hard time making the transition from tricycles to bicycles? It's because they steer exactly the opposite from each other and nobody bothers to explain that to them. They get on a bicycle and use tricycle steering inputs and it's all wonky. Finally, with enough time on the saddle, they get it. 'Makes me wonder how much faster they'd make the transition with some careful explaining and instruction.
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Yeah, I didn't know bicycles counter steered. When I was told that in MSF I put up my hand and meekly opined

"Umm...that's crazy talk!"

:rofl
 
i rode bicycles a ton before i ever threw a leg over a motorcycle.

while i'm sure that the specific bicycle balance-skills translate over to motorbikes somewhat, there are other things you learn on a bicycle that help motorbiking a TON more.

one is to constantly scan the road surface. skinny-tire race bicycles are fabulous, but you learn mighty quick what's slippery, what's dangerous, and to keep looking ahead. this is a must on a motorbike.

also, you learn to watch drivers. if you think they occasionally don't see motorcycles, they are totally blind to bicycles. you learn to watch head movements, profile drivers, look for opening doors, etc.

i'm certain that those skills have saved my ass several times.
 
Aluisious said:
Yeah, I didn't know bicycles counter steered. When I was told that in MSF I put up my hand and meekly opined

"Umm...that's crazy talk!"

:rofl
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I attribute the fact that I was real good at bicycle riding and instinctively using countersteering to probably saving my skin, maybe my life a couple times after I first started riding motorcycles. There were a couple times when I was first on my motorcycle that my steering inputs were quick and instantaneous, and because of my bicycle experience, correct. Both times I avoided disaster. Once when a car coming the other way on a twisty section of road came over the center line at me. I instantly and instinctively put the proper inputs into the bar and avoided a head on. Another time I screwed up and passed a slowing pickup truck coming up Pescadero Road maybe a week after getting my first bike. Dumb mistake. As I pulled up next to the truck, he started his left turn into a driveway and again, my bicycle experience paid off and I pushed left to gain more clearance between his front fender and me. 'Could easily been real ugly.
 
+1 ianian

while the physical skills might not be that important, the mindset of riding a bike helps with riding a motorcycle.
 
Right on the nose.....feet touching ground...no pedals....Fred Flinstone around a bit to get a feel for the balance.....pop pedals back on and they'll be good-to-go.....:thumbup

mbsv said:
Apparently the recommended way to teach someone how to ride a bike is something like this:

Get an undersized bike--where the rider can touch the ground with their feet.
Go to a grassy area, preferably with a (gentle, stopping) slope.
Maybe take the pedals off.
Push/let the person roll down hill. No pedaling.
Repeat.
Tell them about brakes.
When they can do that, pedals.
When they can do that, gears.
Somewhere along the way, raise the seat/bike size.

This order may sound familiar.

Verbose versions:
http://www.bicycleridingschool.org/method.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Bike
Click to expand...
 
Why learn to ride a bicycle before learning to ride a motorcycle?

He's going to learn how to balance a two-wheeled vehicle either way, but he won't have to worry about peddling the motorcycle - it's easier to get the necessary momentum for balance by turning a throttle vs. peddle power.

I'd have him enroll in the BRC - if he fails, then have him learn to ride a bike before returning.

FWIW, I've had several (but admittedly not many) students successfully complete the BRC with no experience on a bicycle.


-Q!
 
Pakow said:
the first two questions i ask someone when they express interest in learning to ride a motorcycle are:

a. can you ride a bicycle?

b. can you drive a stick shift car?

If you can't do both, you are not ready for a motorcycle. Period.
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What makes you the ultimate authority on whether or not a given person is capable of learning to ride a motorcycle or not?


You can't make the mistake of thinking you know all there is about riding or learning to ride - I don't, and I've taught several thousand novices to ride.


Be more open minded - you may be amazed by what you can learn.


-Q!
 
Tell him to at least TRY a bicycle- borrow one, rent one, something. See how he adapts. A dirt bike is another way to check out the two wheel world without ending up scraping along on asphalt at a high rate of speed.
 
i would say ride a bicycle first so you have more confidence to ride a motorcycle
 
Some people adapt to two wheels quickly and easily. But I'd hazard to guess that the majority don't. I believe that getting on a bicycle and trying out two wheel travel that way is much easier and less intimidating than trying to do it on a motorcycle. For many, just getting used to clutching and throttle control and braking is enough of a challenge without throwing in learning to balance and steer on two wheels.
 
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