Is It Hard to Ride a Motorbike?

It depends on the riders’ experience level, age, and skills whether it is hard to ride a motorcycle or not. Also, if you have never been on the road before, you will find it very hard to ride a motorbike. If you know how to drive a car and this is your first time riding a bike, you will still have the road sense and can learn early compared to one who doesn’t even have the basic road sense.

For those who have never ridden a motorbike, riding a bike seems very challenging. The concept of keeping the bike balanced and stable during the ride and turning corners while leaning the bike may seem quite risky and hard. As a result, most people who are even attracted to bikes do not ride because they are afraid. They believe that riding a motorbike is hard.

“Is it hard to ride a motorbike?” This is a very common question in the minds of those who have never ridden a bike. Let’s make it easier for those who want to start riding a motorbike and answer it. Continue reading this article to learn how hard is it to ride a motorcycle.

To answer this question in simple words, it is not hard to ride a motorbike. However, someone who has the experience of riding a bike can say this. For a new rider, it can be hard to learn to ride a motorbike. It can be pretty challenging. But it is not impossible.

For a beginner, it is hard to learn to ride a motorbike. There are many factors that make learning to ride a bike challenging. However, only with experience, practice, and patience you can safely learn how to ride a motorbike and the road dynamics. Learn what makes learning to ride a motorbike challenging.

Motorcycles come with two wheels, unlike cars and other heavy vehicles. As a result, they are required to be balanced throughout the journey and when stopped. If the rider hasn’t ridden a bicycle before, he will have no idea of how to balance a two-wheeled vehicle.

Motorbikes cannot stand on their own without the kickstand or center stand while parked. Nonetheless, when you are riding the motorbike, you need to ensure it doesn’t lose balance and control while ensuring stability during different maneuvers and turns.

One of the most difficult concepts of riding a motorbike, especially for beginners, is the turning principle. Motorbikes are difficult to steer and turn compared to cars. Why? Motorbikes use leaning and counter-steering to turn corners, which are a lot more to learn initially for a beginner rider.

Leaning the bike while turning a corner can be intimidating, even for some intermediate or experienced riders. It requires riders to lean the bike to a certain angle while riding it to turn a corner. The bigger the radius of a corner is, the more the rider will need to lean the bike.

Unlike cars, motorbikes don’t feature an enclosed, cage-like structure, protecting riders in case of an accident. Similarly, they don’t have seatbelts and airbags for riders to keep them safe from the impact of a motorbike crash. The idea of riding such a vehicle, like a motorbike, can be intimidating for a novice rider, making it hard for them to start riding.

When you are riding the bike at a good speed, it usually stays stable. However, slow-speed maneuvering on a motorbike is tricky. Things get difficult while maneuvering the bike at slow speeds if you are new to bike riding. The weight of the motorbike becomes very evident. Most beginners fail to keep the bike stable at slow speeds.

Stalling a motorbike is common among beginner riders. You must have also observed many novice riders fail to keep the bike running due to poor throttle and clutch control. The most vital step of riding a motorbike or learning to ride a bike is to ensure precise throttle and clutch control. You must learn how much throttle you should open and when to engage and release the clutch in a certain situation. Also another vital thing to know is when to shift between gears while riding.

Motorcycles may be small in size and weight compared to cars. However, being fitted with two wheels requires balance and management. Therefore, you need to have enough physical strength to handle or manage the weight of the bike. Whether parking a motorbike, duckwalking a bike, or riding it, motorbikes require riders to have strong muscles to manage them safely.

Mental strength is as important as physical strength to ride a motorbike. Most people don’t even give motorbikes a try due to mental barriers. There are many mental barriers, including traffic, road conditions, distracted and rash drivers, and fear of falling on a motorbike. These mental constraints can make you a nervous rider and can make you commit mistakes while riding.

Unlike cars, riding a motorbike can be tiring due to many factors. Firstly, your muscles and body are actively involved in the bike riding process. Secondly, if you love to ride long distances, it is more likely to cause rider fatigue mainly because of the air drag, and sitting continuously in the same position for hours can cause muscle stiffness and back pain. 

Another major difference between a motorbike and a car is the roof. A car has a roof and a cage-like structure. On the other hand, a motorbike is exposed with no protection from the weather conditions. Riding a motorbike in extreme weather conditions, like raining, hailing, snowing, and heavy winds, is usually impossible unless you are a bike freak and don’t prioritize your safety.

For a new rider, getting used to road conditions and reading the terrain can be an issue. Beginner riders are not as aware of the sudden road challenges and threats. Also, a busy road can pose many safety threats for new riders as they are not used to dealing with traffic and busy roads.

Considering that bike riders need to be more mentally active and aware of their surroundings and potential hazards puts more pressure on them. It is physically and mentally tiring to stay focused while riding. There is no room for even a small mistake while riding a motorbike.

It is not easy to ride a motorcycle. However, if you are passionate enough about riding a motorbike and practice a lot, you can learn to ride a bike in less time than usual. If you want to learn how to ride a bike fast, we have some useful bike-riding tips for beginner riders so you can hit the road on your bike in no time.

It is hard to learn to ride a motorbike if you have no prior riding experience. However, if you follow the beginner tips below, it will be easy for you to start riding the bike.

This is the most basic of all bike riding tips someone can give to a beginner rider. Consider it a strict rule that can never be overlooked. Wearing safety riding gear, including a DOT-approved helmet, jacket, pants, riding boots, and gloves, is the most essential for your road safety. Make it a habit. It may seem tiring to wear riding gear every time you go out for a ride. However, it is a life savior. It makes you a little stress-free while riding a motorbike.

For a beginner, one of the most important decisions to make is to choose the right-size motorbike to start with. Even if you can afford it, don’t pick a motorbike that is above your skill level. To make it easy for you to learn to ride a motorbike, start with a small-capacity, low-powered motorbike that you can easily handle and maneuver. The motorbike you choose has to be lightweight to ensure you can operate in all riding conditions.

For a beginner rider, the first thing he must learn while riding a motorbike is the balance. Learn how to keep the bike balanced on two wheels during the ride, as well as when parked. Avoid falling the bike on one side. Learn how to keep it stable at both slow and normal speeds.

Though it is common for novice riders to drop the bike, but try not to do it. Keep it upright as much as you can. Once you get used to the weight of your bike, you will become better at riding it on busy roads.

Get yourself enrolled in a safety bike riding course. It is important for all riders who love riding a motorbike. Whether bike riding is your hobby, your need, or just a part-time activity, a safety riding course can help you learn essential bike riding skills. It can make you better an expert at riding a motorbike.

Above all, you will also get to learn how to ride safely in different riding conditions and how to tackle emergencies while riding.

The basics of riding a motorbike include clutch control, throttle control, and gear shifting. Most novice riders aren’t aware of the right amount of throttle, clutch action, and when to shift between gears while riding the bike. To ensure a smooth riding experience, you must learn these basics. Spend a good time while practicing these things. Also, practice a lot in an empty open space, like an empty parking lot.

How to lean a motorbike while cornering and counter-steering are a few concepts that even some expert riders aren’t aware of. More than being experienced, you need to be a confident rider to lean the bike while turning a corner.

Taking a tight corner on a motorbike isn’t easy. If you are a novice rider, we suggest you slow down before you enter a corner and take the turn at a slow speed. This way, you will not have to lean on your bike a great deal.

Learn the counter-steering concept to ensure you are aware of how a bike works when it comes to taking a turn. Though these are considered to be expert riding skills, a beginner must have a basic know-how of how to lean the bike and turn a corner.

Considering all these aspects or challenges involved in motorbike riding, it is not easy to ride a motorbike. However, once you learn how to ride a motorbike and get experience, you start enjoying it. Riding a motorcycle is hard, but not as hard as it looks like, and what some new riders explain. It is a hard but equally fun process to learn to ride a motorbike.