The first day with the brand new driver's license in your pocket and the brand new motorcycle in the garage is the day of excitement. The second is usually the bath of reality. And driving a motorcycle often has nothing to do with what you had imagined and is more complicated than it appeared to be “from the outside.”
Obviously, there is no need to be discouraged. In fact, there can be no better advice for a person who is starting out on two wheels than to face situations that are less comfortable for them without fear but with caution.
Being prepared, and if possible practicing a little before jumping into the ring, is the best way to experience these less comfortable circumstances. Next, we are going to review what the first 6 “moments of truth” usually are for a beginner and offer some tips to overcome them successfully.
The first and most important thing is to “change the chip” -especially if you come from the car- and understand that driving a motorcycle around the city has nothing to do with doing it with a car or with being a pedestrian. Large avenues such as Diagonal or Castellana in Madrid are a relatively friendly setting for motorcycles; long straights in which it is enough to keep your distance from the cars around you and watch out for turns and intersections to ride calmly. But the whole city is not like that; There are narrow streets, traffic lights that do not work, roundabouts loaded with traffic, pavements in poor condition and institutional traps such as “Berliner cushions” and concrete “New Jersey” fences placed at will.
The motorcycle is even more enjoyable in company. There are few things more pleasant and uniting than taking our partner in the back seat and discovering new destinations together. However - once again - reality can make this “first time” bitter if you are not properly aware that the reactions of a motorcycle with a passenger have absolutely nothing to do with doing it alone. The driver, suddenly, must deal with his legs carrying 50 or 60 kilos more that force him to brake, steer and accelerate differently and above all to also think about the well-being of whoever occupies the rear seat.
There are many motorcyclists, even experienced ones, who hate riding when it rains and get really tense when they have to face a downpour. In reality, if you have tires in good condition, good waterproof equipment and you ride even more cautiously, riding in the rain is not particularly dangerous. You must take into account and avoid, however, those elements of the pavement that become slippery when wet, such as manhole covers, horizontal signs... and above all, be very gentle when braking. On the other hand, the reactions of many motorists in rainy conditions are usually different from those they would have in dry conditions; Be careful, therefore, with what is happening around you.
Although rain is usually considered the worst and most unpleasant environment to ride a motorcycle, the truth is that the motorcyclist's true public enemy No. 1 is the wind. The truth is that there are not many ways to deal with a strong, gusty side wind, one of the most potentially dangerous scenarios. The larger the lateral surface of the motorcycle-rider assembly, the more the “sail effect” will increase and the more it will shake us, so we must try to minimize the space. On the other hand, remember that motorcycles with large fairings are more sensitive to wind than those without. Not going out to ride in wind would be the best advice, beyond driving at moderate speed and stopping regularly if conditions become too risky.
It is usually another of the moments that bikers hate the most; that of starting uphill with a motorcycle that wants to overcome itself downwards by pure gravity and with one foot on the ground. With the motorcycle still stopped, you must engage first gear and keep the clutch pressed. The front brake is gradually released and the rear brake is used to keep the motorcycle in place while the throttle is gradually applied. In reality, it is no more difficult than learning to properly synchronize the movement between releasing the foot brake, the clutch lever and the throttle grip... and that can only be achieved by practicing. That's why the best advice is to rehearse over and over again in controlled and safe conditions until the movements come naturally. Of course, you have to be very careful with the throttle grip and not be afraid to play with the clutch. You must “pull” the motorcycle but without excesses to avoid scares and loss of control.
Another delicate circumstance for the handlebars occurs when you have to start from a very steep descent and with the motorcycle - unlike in the previous case - wanting to move forward. The technique is not that different in essence and involves controlling the brakes to release them at the right moment. The big difference is that - in this case - the most advisable thing is to start in second gear, at the minimum revolutions - gravity itself will move the motorcycle - and coordinating the movement by releasing the rear brake immediately before the front. Of course, always keeping one or both feet firmly anchored to the ground.
