Tips for riders getting back into motorcycling

So recently, when the opportunity came to purchase a friend's motorcycle – a 650-year-old, 15-mile Kawasaki Ninja 35.000R – for an absurdly low price, I took it. In doing so, I joined the ranks of what the motorcycle industry calls “reentry riders.”

After doing some preventative maintenance, I took my first ride on my new-to-me bike, and despite some shaky starts and sore muscles, it all came back to me pretty quickly. But I haven't been gone as long as some of the returnees – people who went to college, for example, then got married and had kids and lived the American dream, and now, decades later, find themselves looking back longingly. every motorcycle that speeds by.

If you are one of these dreamers, there are some things you need to know. The sport you left is not necessarily the one you are returning to. A lot has changed in the last 20 or 30 years, and you need to update your skills, your equipment, and your attitude to keep your reentry from fizzling out. Here are my tips for those who start cycling again after a long time.

Don't go big

If you rode an old used 80s Japanese one-liter motorcycle in your college days, you're in for a big surprise if you get on a modern one-liter motorcycle and open the throttle. Those air-cooled four-cylinder engines of old made around 90 horsepower, and today you can buy a bike that makes double that power. Even the average middleweight makes enough power to beat the "fast" bikes of our youth, and the ability to nail the speedometer needle to 150 mph is easily within the reach of anyone with a decent credit score. Buying too many. motorcycle – too fast, too big, too heavy – is one of the quickest ways to add “ex-” to the biker you want to be again.

In addition to the potential for unintentionally self-destructing yourself, buying too many motorcycles can also cause financial harm. You may not actually stick with the sport. Some riders realize that memories are better than reality and find themselves making payments on an unused motorcycle taking up space in the garage. Reboot your riding life on something small and light and you'll be less likely to drop it once or twice before getting your chops back. If you buy a cheaper used motorcycle, you will still suffer less financial damage when you drop it.

Don't let peer pressure influence you

If your friends who ride all have Harleys, or BMW GSs, or Hayabusas, resist the temptation to get along with the gang. Get the bike that's right for you, not them. If your friends give you a hard time riding a different brand of motorcycle, they're probably not really your friends.

Although manufacturers have started offering more do-it-yourself motorcycles in recent years, the market is still segmented. A narrowly focused sportbike, adventure bike, cruiser or heavy tourer can keep you from discovering new types of riding you enjoy. Resist the lure of advertising, think realistically about the type of riding you'll actually do, and buy the right bike for the job. And realize that you may still change your mind about the type of riding you prefer.

Depending on how long you've been away from riding, the type of motorcycle you've been riding back in the day may not be so great for your current body. There's a reason you so often see pot-bellied old men like me on Honda Gold Wings and Harley-Davidson touring bikes. The spacious seating position is kind to old bones and creaking joints. I'm not as limber as I was in my wasted youth, and my knees especially cry these days from being bent too much, too often. My Ninja 650R has a moderately sporty riding position, but I modified it with lowered footpegs and handlebar risers to make it more comfortable. However, I don't rule out swapping it one day for a standard with a more moderate seating position.

Bad news: you're older; Good news: the equipment is better

The older you get, the longer it takes to heal, which puts a spotlight on your riding gear. Maybe you thought a helmet, jean jacket, jeans and sneakers made you look cool in the old days, but they won't do much more in a crash today.

Upgrade your protective gear, starting with a full-face or flip-up helmet with good ventilation. In most road-speed accidents the impact with the pavement or other obstacles does more damage than the slide, so choose a jacket with good armor on the shoulders and elbows and pants with armor on the knees. Don't forget the gloves with fastening straps. Wear all your gear every time you ride. “I was just going to the store, so I didn't think I needed to wear all that stuff” is an excuse you hear all too often in the emergency room.

When I was younger, I could jump on a motorcycle and go a hundred miles before breakfast and sit at Denny's feeling great. I only recently learned that all my biker muscles atrophied during my layoff and doing a few stretches before I adjust is a good idea. Pain is distracting and can slow your response to road hazards. Tune your body like you tune your motorcycle.

A refresher course makes sense

Time has a way of dulling what were once finely honed skills. My first ride on the Ninja was slow and cautious compared to the way I launched my old VFR800 on the same roads, and at times it still felt too fast. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has a Returning Rider course specifically for riders returning from layoffs, and I'm considering it.

The road environment has probably changed, too. Perhaps the last time you drove, the highways weren't filled with pickup trucks with five-foot-tall thugs and drivers staring at their cell phones. There are good road safety courses that teach not only driving techniques, but also how to be more aware of risks and anticipate them so they don't catch you by surprise.

The returning pilot is better than the former pilot

For now, I'm just happy to be back on two wheels. I had no idea how much I missed it. I expect to be the slowest on any ride I take with friends for a while, but I'm in no rush.

As of my next birthday, my age starts with a seven, but if I play well, wear the right gear, and respect my new limits, I see no reason why I can't continue riding until I'm eight, and maybe even after that. .