New R3 owner, new to bikes, what do I need to know and do 1st?

Read the owners manual, cover to cover, and backwards again.
Get your Learners permit organised.


Don't dream of riding your brand new expensive dangerous thing until you've booked lessons with your local qualified instructor.
they are the folk that guide you to get your license, and try to reduce risk of injury heartache, expense and death.


I'd go buy a $1500 125-250cc or use the instructors bike. for a few months.






Enjoy the journey.

I'm always amazed and envious of you crazy people who have that much balls to buy a brand-spanking new motorcycle with absolutely no riding experience whatsoever, no training, nothing. Not even coaching up by a friend.

You should be both applauded for your balls and reprimanded for your senselessness.

Do you have any friends or acquaintances that ride? If so, have them come over and show you some beginner ropes.

If not, well, you can either wait and drool over your new ride parked in your residence while you finally take the MSF course. It would honestly be worth it. But if not, ask yourself if you are really going to ride it over to a vacant parking lot to practice when getting there is what counts? Can you ride it around your quiet neighborhood? That's similar to parking lot riding save for the cars and peds running around...

Some slow speed tips for the complete newbie:

Clutch control. That is probably one of the most important things to learn right now. If you are riding really slow, doing slow speed things, you need to have the clutch at the partially engaged spot (and not fully engaged-where you completely release the clutch, so you are holding the clutch halfway in) while you have the throttle gently rolling.

Always brake to a complete stop with your tire straight.

Don't lock the steering wheel while doing U-turns. Locking the steering means turning the steering until it comes to a stop. Always clutch control on a U turn.

A surprising number of students who walk into my MSF classes have zero riding experience AND already bought their bike. So it's not as uncommon as one may think. To be honest I was in that camp too - $1500 CB750 with 45K miles on it. My MSF class was 2 weekends after purchase. A co-worker rode it the 40+ miles from seller's house to mine. It sat parked though. Turns out the seller was also my Instructor. If you're near the border a neighboring state may have more openings - WVa has slots vs Northern VA is generally sold out for months if not the whole season before it even starts. There was a reciprocity agreement back then.

I don't see a problem with pushing a bike - I've pushed my 885 Triumph well more than a mile. It's fantastic exercise and a solid reminder to not run out of gas.

I tell my students that their shiny, new completion card only certifies that there is a better than 50% chance they won't wreck and kill themselves when riding in an empty parking lot at less than 20mph.

Absolutely the most vital skill you'll learn is clutch control and coordination with gas, followed closely by looking ahead. IMO don't ride on public roads unless you can start from a stop reliably at least 9/10 times. Traffic is unforgiving so if you botch it at a light, one try and then paddle walk yourself out of the way to the curb. This means setting up in traffic so you're in that lane to begin with. I tutored a guy from my class who despite 2 days worth of training still couldn't get the hang of it. He had a brand spanking $20K BMW as his first bike. He finally got the concept after an hour of "hanging' the bike on the clutch". On flat ground I pull backward on the bike as the student tries to fight me with clutch and gas modulation.

pattonme said:

On flat ground I pull backward on the bike as the student tries to fight me with clutch and gas modulation.

Click to expand...

I am not a certified instructor but I have also tutored a few folks over the years in parking lots then onto the streets. Many afternoons, not just a 30 minute how to.

I also use the method above to simulate starting on hills. I hold them back gentle at first and let them go then progress into holding them with everything I have and force them to break my pull. It works well.

Thank you for being an instructor. While we are out riding on those pretty days, you are out in the parking lot teaching our new riders.

My hats off to you!

Here's a good book to read Proficient Motorcycling before your Scheduled MSF coarse. I just read this book on my flight over to Amsterdam last week. I just got back yesterday. Its crazy traffic over there cars motorcycle and tons of bicycles. It was very interesting book and I feel now when I'm riding I'm being even more carful. Cars going over the line on a turn etc. The apex of the turn. Counter steering. Blind corners and making yourself have a better field of vision depending where you are on the turn etc. Your Age and Speed is everything.

When you break your bike in: New Tires and brake's first 100 miles go easy. Brake's will work better with time. And tires will be better also. Hard break in or The Manual under 8000 rpm's your choice. Your new so I would go the easy way only.

Enjoy your new bike and take your time and learn and practice practice practice and You will look back one year and think you have learned lots and let your guard down. Don't! You never stop learning every ride I keep learning. I ran across some deer tonight breaking in my new Vesrah brake pads on a twisty road with no lights and I was doing the speed limit @ 25 mph no problem. But someone could have been on the same road doing 65-70 mph it would be a different story. (speed is everything)

here is the link for the book. I got it on my Kindle.