If you are just getting into motorcycling we have a fantastic infographic on motorcycle safety from MotorcycleInsurance.com. Check it out to learn more about how you can protect yourself as a beginner motorcyclist and avoid accidents.

By reviewing the statistics in this awesome infographic you are taking a step towards becoming a more well-informed and safer motorcyclist. Share this infographic with your fellow riders and spread the motorcycle safety knowledge!

While I encourage everyone to get involved with dirt biking, it is extremely important to have places in mind where you are able to ride the bike. Spending a good amount of money on a dirt bike, gear, and other equipment only to realize the areas you were planning to ride at are not legal is a huge bummer, so let’s start brainstorming...

In my neck of the woods we have a fabulous trail system open most of the year to ATVs, however it is illegal to ride a dirt bike on this trail system. Silly rules like this are prevalent throughout the country and figuring out where you can go riding can take some research.

If you know friends and family or have access to locals who are consistently out dirt biking, speaking with them is the fastest way to learn about potential riding areas. Unfortunately, this isn’t always an option and since I’ve moved around a fair amount I’ve come up with a few good internet sources to help beginner riders out. 

My number one go-to resource for finding public riding areas and information pertaining to that area is Rider Planet. Rider Planet is a compilation of riding area information compiled by dirt riders across the country. The Rider Planet database is comprehensive and categorized state by state in alphabetical order.

Once you select a riding area, all sorts of information is revealed including a nice description of the area, the cost to ride (if any), amenities at the facility, directions on how to get there, any pertinent rules and regulations, links to the official track website, a weather forecast, and occasionally actual video footage of the facility.

Simply Click Here to check out Rider Planet’s awesome database of riding areas.

My second favorite option for finding public land to ride on is to do a Google search for rules and regulations on a particular state’s off-road riding opportunities. I’ve had fairly good success by entering the following searches into Google to obtain relevant information on dirt biking opportunities in various states.

Here are a few searches you can try:

dirt biking in [insert state]

[insert state] ohv trails

[insert state] dirt bike trails

[insert state] off road motorcycle trails

[insert state] dirt bike registration

My third tactic is to search for dirt bike or motorcycle clubs local to my area. In one instance by searching for a club in my area I was able to find a private riding opportunity with an MX track and five miles of single track. The stipulation was to join the club and participate in club activities, but I highly encourage taking advantage of these opportunities. Joining dirt bike clubs that host races, events, maintain trails, and have regular meetings is a great way to get involved with dirt biking and give back, not to mention you also get the chance meet great people that care deeply about the sport.

During the winter we stud our dirt bike tires and take to riding on the frozen lake near our home. Since the water itself is owned by no one, it is completely legal to make a track and ride all afternoon. We use a truck with a plow attached to carve out a track in the snow on top the ice.  Then we use a garbage pump to bring up fresh water from below the ice's surface and smooth it out with brooms. You don't necessarily need the garbage pump, that was just the icing on the cake for us, but you can definitely get it done with a plow.  This alone has led to hours of riding fun with no head aches from trying to find a decent place to ride. Learn more about ice riding by clicking here.


One last suggestion I have, should all other approaches fail, is to look for opportunities to ride on private land. Do you have a friend or neighbor with a lot of land? If so, consider talking to that person about riding on their property. I do a good portion of my spring and fall riding on private land and have a great relationship with the land owner. 

I must warn you though that the legalities of riding on someone else’s land vary state by state and a good amount of research should be done. The type of relationship you have with the land owner will play a huge role. Good questions to have answered before you ride on their property are if they want to be compensated and what happens if you get hurt on their property.

Do you have a useful suggestion on finding riding opportunities? Did you find the information provided helpful? Leave a comment and join the conversation!

A lot of new riders worry about outgrowing a Kawasaki Ninja 300, Honda CBR300 or any other small displacement motorcycle in the 250 to 500cc range. My first thought is what exactly do you mean by “outgrowing” the motorcycle? Most people that get into motorcycling are adults so surely they can’t magically add several inches to their stature and no longer fit on the bike.


I associate outgrowing a motorcycle to the word fun. It’s another way of saying, “I’m no longer challenged on this bike, I’ve learned all I want, and I’m ready to move on.” For most riders this point in time will arrive sooner or later depending on how they progress as a rider and how they utilize the bike. While I agree this happens I want to look at a few other things that may contribute to this “outgrowing” feeling because I personally love riding small displacement bikes and know several other veteran riders that enjoy them to their fullest too...

Before you swear off your bike have you considered other factors that may be contributing to why the bike is no longer fun?

1. Are you riding in heavy traffic? While this can be challenging and exhilarating for new riders it doesn’t allow for the freedom a motorcycle was meant to give you. You are continuously checking blind spots, maintaining gaps, and staying visible. Riding in traffic requires a lot of focus, safety consciousness, and for most riders it’s one of the least desirable scenarios to be riding in.

2. Are you riding straight roads or stop light to stop light? Riding straight roads or within the confines of a city is less than ideal, no matter what size bike you’re riding. Have you ever had the pleasure of taking your small displacement bike down a winding country road and tipping it in and out of corners? Bikes like the Ninja 300 and CBR300 thrive on tight twisting roads and if you haven’t ridden one in these conditions you are missing out.

3. Are you riding with friends that have more powerful bikes? This can make things a little more difficult but shouldn’t make you want to sell your bike immediately. A lot of ground can be made up by becoming a master of braking, corner entry, and corner exit. Learning these skills on a smaller bike will make them easier to acquire and they will always transfer over to your next bike when the time comes.  

If any of the small displacement bikes are suitable for you, outgrowing them shouldn’t be your primary concern. The focus should be on selecting the best motorcycle you can which meets your needs as a new rider. Outgrowing your first motorcycle is bound to happen but shouldn’t be considered a hindrance.

Ninja 300s, CBR 300s, and the like all hold their value incredibly well and are usually in demand as more riders get into the sport so reselling one shouldn’t be a problem. Assuming you don’t damage the bike while you own it, you can usually resell the bike for a few hundred dollars less than what you originally paid. Waiting until season’s end to sell the bike won’t result in any lost riding time and will give you plenty of time to search for the next step up. Even if you decide mid-season to move up, a well coordinated sell and buy scenario can take minimal time.

While I believe there are more positives than negatives to picking up a small displacement bike and then moving on to something bigger (even in a short time frame) you should be aware of and consider a couple additional costs. First, switching or terminating an insurance policy may come with a price. Checking with your insurance provider will determine if or how much this will put you out. Second, dealing with title and licensing fees should be considered. These fees vary state by state so it may be more affordable to switch bikes in one state compared to another.

One of the most enjoyable things about motorcycling is trying out different bikes and learning about how they feel, handle, and produce power. Learning as much as you can on a small displacement bike, even if it is in a short amount of time, puts another notch in your “motorcycles ridden to date” belt and will help give you perspective into what you want out of your next bike. I’ve owned a lot of bikes over the years, some I’ve held onto for a long time while others I’ve had for a matter of weeks. Even the bikes I’ve only kept for a short period I don’t regret owning or riding.

Off-road riding has quickly become my favorite release for a variety of reasons. My only regret getting into dirt bike riding is that I waited 20 years to get started! Here are the top 8 reasons you should get into dirt biking. Have a friend or family member who is on the fence about it? Send this post their way and give them the nudge to start dirt biking now...

#1. FREEDOM
The freedom associated with off-road riding is second to none. For those of you that are speed freaks and get a kick out of going fast, dirt biking is great because in most cases the  speed is no longer limited by law but by the terrain you are riding on and how good of a rider you are. This creates an unsatisfiable sensation to continue improving your skills, tweaking your bike to make it more compliant with the terrain, and getting faster. Being in control of how quickly you get from point A to point B is an awesome privilege.

For people that enjoy a bit of a slower pace, dirt biking offers that in the form of wilderness riding. Very little tops spending a day out in the wilderness on a dirt bike taking in the sights, sounds, and natural beauty the earth has to offer. In addition, charting new routes and finding new terrain is extremely fun and fulfilling. 

#2. MENTAL BENEFITS
No matter how much stress or how many bad things are happening in my life the instant I get on my dirt bike and immerse myself in riding it all goes away. Riding dirt bikes is a stress reliever for me, a reset button, and a tool I use to keep my cognitive function sharp. Visually referencing objects as you are moving, feeling what the bike is doing underneath you, coordinating hand/foot movements with accelerating/decelerating tasks, and listening to the engine for additional clues that will optimize the traction at any given instant take up a huge amount of brain capacity. While I’m on the bike even the most pressing issues have no way of getting into my head and by the time I get off I feel mentally refreshed. It’s total meditation for the motorhead.

#3. PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Contrary to what some people may believe, riding a dirt bike is a mighty fine workout. Even a half hour ride on the track or trail can leave you feeling sore the next day. My favorite part about the physical aspect of riding a dirt bike is that in order to ride properly you have to get a full body workout whether you expect it or not. Muscles that you forgot you even have end up getting utilized, your core is strengthened, and the end result is a well rounded body. In addition to muscular improvements from riding your heart rate is elevated during the ride and your cardiovascular system gets a good workout as well. 

#4. DIRT BIKES ARE VERSATILE
Very few motorcycles can be ridden year round. If you are like me, having a bike that is four-season ready is a big deal. Dirt bikes are arguably the most versatile type of motorcycle on the planet. When one season ends a new one begins.  Adapting my bike from the summer woods riding it was set up for to a fun ice riding machine was a worthwhile investment that lengthened my riding season and sent the fun factor through the roof during the winter months. I no longer hate the winter and actually look forward to putting the studded tires on the bike for countless hours of ice riding fun. 

Even if you put the bike away for the winter, transitioning across disciplines just to give something new a try is easy and doesn’t take too much effort. Going from MX track to trail is a breeze. Good luck setting up a cruiser for a track day, it’s impossible. With dirt bikes you can go from one riding medium to another with ease, ensuring more riding time year round no matter what the situation.

#5. THE PEOPLE
I have met almost all of my closest friends through two-wheeled experiences. There is something unexplainable about two-wheeled communities, whether dirt bike or motorcycle-based, that makes being part of them amazing. Perhaps it’s the camaraderie or common interests shared, the willingness of strangers to loan a tool or part at an event, or the willingness of riders to try and help one another improve. This community is awesome and there is little better than sharing riding experiences amongst friends.



#6. BUILDING FAMILY STRENGTH AND VALUES
Beginning to ride dirt bikes on an individual level is one thing, but the greatness of the sport is increased ten fold when you are able to get the entire family involved. There aren’t many sports which can simultaneously improve a parent’s ability to be a good parent, for a child to learn countless life lessons, and for a family to strengthen their relationship with one another. Getting dad, mom, and the kids out on the bikes together for valuable riding and family time is amazing and deserves a post in and of itself.

#7. ENHANCED STREET RIDING SKILLS
The increased awareness of your surroundings, the feel you have on the dirt bike, and control you have will all transfer over to riding on the street. Riding dirt bikes makes you a much better street rider. Whether you enjoy twisty country roads, commute to work, or partake in track days - the skills learned on the dirt will help you out in huge ways on the street. Remember the last time you hit a patch of sand and you tensed up? Those moments will become less scary and easier to deal with once you learn how to deal with less than ideal traction and wheel slippage while riding a dirt bike.

#8. INCREASED LEARNING SKILLS
Taking up a new hobby will inevitably lead to a period of rapid learning. From those first few rides where you start to understand how the bike works to learning about the various maintenance tasks involved, you will learn a substantial amount about the sport and yourself. The best part is that most skills learned transfer over to everyday life and can be utilized on personal and professional level.

So take the leap into trying dirt biking if you haven't already. Next week we will discuss where to ride, what resources you can use to find spots to ride near you, and how to approach challenges when it comes to finding a riding location- so stay tuned!

What is the best first motorcycle for new riders? This question comes up a lot and the answer depends on a few things. The best first motorcycle for someone else may not be the same for you.  You will need to do some research to determine what that perfect first bike for you will be. Let’s get started...

WHAT KIND OF RIDING WILL YOU BE DOING?

Will you be riding on the streets, doing track days, cruising, commuting, exploring, hauling lots of gear on long trips, going off-road, racing, or partaking in a combination of disciplines? Most bikes are tailored to perform better at some things than others so keep this in mind when searching for the perfect used bike.


HORSEPOWER VS. DISPLACEMENT

Most motorcycle models are identified by displacement and not horsepower. Depending on number of cylinders, tune of the engine, and other factors - displacement can sometimes be misleading. For example modern 600cc inline four cylinder sport bikes have upwards of 110hp however a Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster with a V-Twin pushrod engine only makes 58hp. The important thing to keep an eye on when shopping for your first motorcycle is the amount of horsepower it has. I would recommend that new riders look for bikes that have around 60 horsepower or less. 60 horsepower is enough to have a ton of fun and get you moving plenty fast. The compilation of bikes below are what I would consider suitable as beginner bikes for most riders.

BEST FIRST MOTORCYCLE RECOMMENDATIONS

SPORT: Kawasaki Ninja 250/300, Kawasaki Ninja 500, Kawasaki Ninja 650, Honda CBR250/300, Honda CBR500, Honda CBR 650F, Kawasaki Versys 650, Suzuki SFV650, Yamaha YZF-R3,

SPORT TOURING: Honda CTX700, Suzuki V-Strom 650, Kawasaki Versys 650

STANDARD: Yamaha SR400, Suzuki TU250X, Suzuki GW250F, Suzuki GW250, Suzuki SFV650, Honda CB300F, Honda CB500F, Suzuki SV650, Triumph Bonneville, Honda Nighthawk

CRUISERS: Honda CTX700, Honda Rebel, Honda Shadow, Suzuki Boulevard, Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster, Suzuki Marauder 800, Yamaha V-Star, Star 250

DUAL SPORT/ADVENTURE: Yamaha WR250, Yamaha XT-250, Yamaha TW-200, Kawasaki KXL650, Kawasaki KLX250, KTM690 Duke, Suzuki V-Strom 650, Suzuki DR650, Suzuki DR-Z400, Suzuki DR200, Suzuki DRZ450, Suzuki DRZ350, Honda XR650L, Honda CRF250L, Honda CRF230, Honda CB500X, Honda NC700X, KTM 500EXC, KTM 690 Enduro R

BIKE WEIGHT
As a new rider the weight of a motorcycle should carefully be considered as well. The heavier the motorcycle the more cumbersome it will be to maneuver at low speeds. In addition, heavy bikes are difficult to pick up should they be accidentally dropped. Ideally your first bike should be around 500lbs or less. Most sport, sport touring, standard, and dual sport meet this criteria easily, however cruisers typically tend to run on the heavier side. If you are in the market for a cruiser you may have to settle for something in the 600lb range.

DOES THE BIKE FIT?
Motorcycle fitment is crucial for having a good first bike experience. Most bikes are designed for riders that are around 5’ 8” in height. Unfortunately a lot of us are either taller or shorter than that, thus we don’t always fit the best on certain motorcycle models. Ensuring you fit well on the motorcycle is a key step to happiness. This means that your arms are in a comfortable position as you ride the bike, your legs don’t feel scrunched up, and most importantly you can at minimum use your tip-toes to stabilize the bike when stopped. I always recommend test riding a bike before buying it, which will give you a great opportunity to assess how well you fit on the bike and if you’re going to be comfortable.

If you find that the bike is fairly close to what you want, but not exactly, there a number of alterations can be made to the bike to tailor it to your needs. Aftermarket handlebars could be installed to put the bars in a better position. The seat can be altered by changing the height and shape of the seat foam to raise or lower the seat position. Aftermarket foot pegs can be used to change foot ergonomics and are available for most models. Suspension modifications can also be made to lower the height of the motorcycle, a change which can be particularly helpful for shorter riders.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I PAY?

In most cases I would recommend investing $2000 - $4000 into your first motorcycle. As I mentioned in my previous article Buying used vs. Buying new, buying a brand new bike should not be a priority. There are a plethora of good used bike options in this price range that will allow you to grow as a rider without breaking the bank.  

MY FAVORITES
I personally love to recommend the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and Suzuki SV650. Both have very nice power curves, a lot of torque, and are pretty forgiving. Both bikes can be a hoot to ride on the twisties and are more than capable on the street. I’ve personally raced the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and have found it to be a formidable weapon in the lightweight class, forgiving, and extremely enjoyable. In addition, Kawasaki and Suzuki have offered their respective models for almost a decade so used bike prices are cheap and parts are plentiful should any accidents happen. If you’re in the market for a sport bike, standard bike, or even a sport touring bike you may find that one of these two bikes will be your “best first motorcycle”.

Have a first bike recommendation? Leave a comment below and fill everyone in on what you think is a good first motorcycle.

Should new riders buy a new bike or a used one when first starting out? This is a great question and I’m happy to share my thoughts on the subject. Most of us when we think about motorcycle riders envision guys and girls on shiny new bikes, looking the part, and thoroughly enjoying themselves. The media and motorcycle industry definitely perpetuate this thought so it ends up being natural for new riders to consider buying brand new bike as their first...

I had spent 18 years being told by my parents that I was sure to hurt myself if I got a motorcycle. When the time came to buy a motorcycle I was particularly cautious. My lack of experience on motorcycles was not going to be a deterrent for me, I was determined to find an affordable and perfect motorcycle for myself.

As one of the first generations to grow up with the internet, I relied on it heavily to find information and determine if motorcycling was something I wanted to get into. Since I didn’t have a mentor that rode motorcycles nor did I know anyone mechanically inclined who could help answer any of my new rider questions, I turned to the world wide web. Perusing the Total Motorcycle Beginning Rider Forum was one of the most valuable resources I had starting out...

Information on the forums should always be taken with a grain of salt. As I read and learned more, I evaluated all the forum advice carefully and decided for myself what to believe and what to pass off as bad info. While I got a lot of useful info from the new rider forums, I was particularly disturbed by how quickly fellow riders were pointing potential new riders to websites with gruesome crash footage and images of fellow riders who had unfortunately lost their lives in accidents. While it is important to be aware of the risks motorcycling inherently comes with, fear mongering new riders not a useful way to grow the sport. This is something new riders need to watch out for as they learn about motorcycling. Basing your decisions on statistics and data is much better than being turned off completely by a disturbing image. After seeing these horrific accident photos, it took me awhile to commit to street riding. Most risks inherent with motorcycling can be mitigated by taking the proper steps, from choosing a motorcycle you’re comfortable on, to wearing a helmet, to not drinking and riding, to refraining from riding at night.

Once I determined I was going to be a motorcyclist my natural ability to be extremely detail oriented took over and I researched everything to death from what motorcycle I was going to ride, to what gear I should get, to the cost of insurance and to all the relevant safety stats. I recall spending an awful lot of time ironing out all the details especially since my parents put a lot of pressure on me not to get a motorcycle. I think I spent a month or more on focused research so that I could make the right choice.

My first motorcycle sort of fell into my lap and nowadays probably isn’t a common choice for a first motorcycle. I ended up buying a 1984 Honda Nighthawk 700SC from my high school. The shop classes had been trying for years to get it running right. I took it home for a few days and had it running well enough to do some test riding. To my despair I discovered that second gear never engaged. I enjoy a good project so I decided to buy the bike for 500 bucks and get my education in mechanics at the same time.

I split the crankcases, repaired the transmission, and replaced all the broken parts. I carefully sand blasted all the parts and repainted the motorcycle adding some custom touches I thought were pretty cool at the time. I was fascinated with the 4 into 1 Kerker exhaust systems which were prevalent in the 80s and couldn’t find one so I even fabricated my own. Luckily, my lack of exhaust tuning didn’t cost me too much power and the motorcycle still ran great and made an awesome sound!

The Honda Nighthawk was a great first motorcycle for me because it fit me well, had enough power to be entertaining, but was forgiving enough that I wasn’t going to get into too much trouble. The Nighthawk had a claimed 80hp that came on pretty steadily and was manageable. I used the motorcycle for everything from commuting to trips and it was always pretty comfortable with enough range that I didn’t have to stop in every town for fuel.

I put on over 12,000 miles on the Nighthawk in five Wisconsin riding seasons and loved every minute of it. From the 100 degree summer commutes to work, to the rainy rides home, to the beautiful late season fall color rides, to the frigid November “will this be my last ride of the year?” rides the Honda was a great motorcycle to me. It never broke down and it costed pennies to maintain. It will always have a special place in my heart as my first motorcycle, my first major project, and my first restoration. 

Whatever your reasons may be for considering getting into motorcycling, I know you won’t regret it! If you’re anything like me, you’ll get completely hooked, and be on track to collect more sweet riding memories than you’ll know what to do with!

Are you thinking about getting into motorcycling? Do you have a fear you’re trying to overcome? Leave a comment and share what may be holding you back from getting your first motorcycle.

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As a new rider do you think it is wise to start on the most powerful bike before learning the basics? Definitely not. I made a smart choice when I got my first street bike, but made dumb choice when I got my first dirt bike. I thought with some street experience I could manage a 500cc two-stroke dirt bike. I bought the bike as a pile of parts and only paid a few hundred dollars, so it definitely was a financially driven decision, and unfortunately not a well informed one. As a result from this first dirt bike purchase, I have been downsizing my bike ever since. I now ride a 250cc two-stroke after going through the 500cc bike and a 450cc bike.

I have ridden bikes for over eight years. My level of experience has allowed me to be paid to test ride bikes, evaluate engines, and race in the majority of motorcycling disciplines including road racing, hare scrambles, trials, endurance racing, speed trials, and ice racing. With that experience comes hard earned wisdom. I can say without a doubt that even after all my experience riding I am still not a good enough rider to fully unleash the potential of a 600cc or 1000cc sportbike. The same can be said for my ability to expertly control a 450cc motocross bike on an MX track or through a tightly wooded hare scramble race. The only place I’m starting to feel truly comfortable and competitive on a 450cc MX bike is ice riding, where the power can be tailored for the longer straights.

Everyone progresses at a different rate and some of you will probably argue that after eight years you could definitely master a 600cc or 1000cc bike, which could be true under very specific circumstances. Achieving that level of riding skill on that powerful of a machine would require consistent unrelenting focus and an awful lot of intense track time. Regardless, if you are just starting out, use my mistake as a lesson. You should buy a bike you can handle and love to ride, not the fastest or most powerful one.

Some of you reading this might have had your heart set on picking up a 600cc or 1000cc sportbike. I want to assure you that you can have just as much fun on a less powerful machine. I have always found that riding less powerful bikes to their full potential whether on the street, track, or trail has always put a bigger smile on my face then timidly trying to control the power of a superbike. The joy that can be felt when you expertly rail a corner on a bike you have full control of is second to none.  

Take a lesson from the professional riders out there and consider starting out on a bike that matches your ability level, then as your skill set grows move up to a more powerful bike incrementally. Trust me, you will find the world of motorcycling way more fun and much safer if you do so!

Are you considering getting into motorcycling? Do you have a question you want help answering? Leave a comment and I’ll steer you in the right direction!