madlori replied to your post: That post about writing motorcycle scenes I’ve been meaning to write
Okay, PA, a year ago I was going to take a cycle class and look into getting one and was talked out of it. You just talked me back into it.
Woo, Lori! I hope you give it a try!
Taking a cycle class is absolutely the smartest, safest way to learn to ride. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation teaches courses all over the US (with affiliates in other countries), which take you from classroom study to actual practice on bikes (which are offered for use by the program, you don’t need to own your own—and as a damn short person, I can tell you they have bikes that will fit you) under the supervision of an experienced rider, who is often a law enforcement officer who can share a lot of tips and stories about the things they’ve learned and seen. At the end of the program (40 hours, if I remember right, offered in various formats to suit different schedules), you end up with your motorcycle license, and—bonus!—the ability to take a discount on your vehicle insurance.
The MSF program teaches you good habits and—just as important—confidence on a bike. Statistics show that riders who’ve taken the MSF course have a 90% lower accident rate than bikers who haven’t. And like I said, you don’t need to own a bike to take the course, so it’s a great way to test out whether it’s something you want to do—or to get the credentials so you have them just in case.
Motorcycles are always more dangerous than cars, but there are ways to substantially mitigate that. Training like this is a big one, along with observing cautious driving habits that stem from your awareness that you’re less visible on the road than cars (and sometimes drivers are deliberately assholes to bikers).
Good gear also makes a major difference. You can start out riding with nothing but a good helmet, a sturdy pair of jeans and shoes, and an appropriate jacket from your closet—and some people continue riding in this, but as you ride more, you may decide you want to invest in more task-specific gear. Good kit can cost, but considering what it can prevent, it’s a pretty good bargain. With a good DOT-rated—or even better, Snell-rated—helmet, sturdy trousers and long-sleeved jacket, your ability to weather accidents if you DO have them goes up substantially.
When buying a helmet—the one thing you do need to do before you start riding—it’s worthwhile to track down a good motorcycle gear shop (some dealers stock equipment and accessories), because you should try on a few different models to find the size and shape that’s most comfortable for you. They are NOT something that can be bought sight unseen, and they shouldn’t be bought second-hand. If the helmet’s been in an accident before, then it may offer you no protection at all even if it looks perfectly fine, because the padding inside is designed to crush to absorb impact and keep your skull safe. (This also means that if you’re ever in an accident, you’ll have to buy a new helmet afterwards.)
Motorcycle boots are a thing I like to have, because man do my shoes and legs take a beating when I ride. Oil, dirt, heat, mud, ack. I’ve found solid motorcycle boots in a lot of places (including clearance racks :D) but these days not everything advertised as a ‘motorcycle boot’ really is. The most important characteristics are a sturdy leather shaft that goes at least calf-high (it’ll protect you from burns against hot engine parts) and grippy rubber soles. (I used to have a pair with soles that gave me so much traction I once towed a friend across a half-melted pool of slick ice. Man, I miss those.) Personally, I favor boots that don’t have shoelaces, as I’m always a bit paranoid about them coming loose and getting caught in moving parts. And it’s just as well if you don’t invest on the basis of prettiness, because they’re unlikely to stay pretty for long if you ride much. ^_^
A jacket—which I advocate, because it protects against the unpleasantness of having bugs and pebbles bounce off you, and shelters you from cuts and scrapes even a low-speed tip-over might otherwise earn you—should be snug around wrists and throat, to prevent wind gusts from puffing you up like a marshmallow and road-crap and rain from bouncing up in there. Also, the sleeves should be a bit long. When you try it on, hold your arms straight out in front of you and lean forward a bit, to test how it’ll pull across your shoulders and keep your extended wrists covered. Some jackets have fancy stuff like airflow vents and all sorts of (admittedly appealing) snaps and buckles for optimal adjustment. You don’t NEED all that, though coveting it is perfectly fair. ^_^ You might already have a jacket in your closet that’s suitable, at least to start with.
Leather shops are a reliable, if rather expensive, place to find good motorcycle gear like jackets, chaps, and gauntlets (you don’t need everything, but pick the best balance of safety and comfort for you). There are, generally speaking, two different styles of gear, both of which are very effective. There’s the Harley-associated ‘classic Americana’ look—you know the type, with the showy chrome grommets and studs, laces, fringe, and even more leather than was strictly necessary to get the job done. And then there’s what I think of the ‘racer’ or ‘Japanese’ look, which tends to be sleek and streamlined. Leather is always a popular choice, but there’re also many other sturdy materials (and colors ^_^) to choose from.
When I’m out shopping, though, I keep an eye peeled for stuff that would make good biker gear without costing so much, because honestly the minute you slap ‘biker’ onto the official label, the price shoots up. Also, it remains true that shopping for gear as a woman sucks a bit more than shopping for gear as a man. The selection’s getting better, but it still takes some research and patience if you want to be choosy (especially if you hate pink; argh for god’s sake).
If you decide to pursue riding and maybe even buy a bike, you might also want to consider whether body armor would be a good investment for you. Some jackets come with varying levels of armor built-in to shoulders, sleeves, back, etc. You can also buy motorcycle armor as separate pieces, or for that matter as full suits if you want to buckle up like a modern-day knight. ^_^ I had a chance to check out Icon’s armor vests—a classmate wears one when he rides in the warmest part of summer, when the heat of a sturdier leather jacket would be lethal, and they’ll also fit comfortably under loose jackets—and they were agreeably light, comfortable and flexible. I’m planning to invest in one myself when I get my bike back up and running. (PLUS it gives you the excuse to dress like a cyberpunk badass whenever you feel like it, which is totally not to be downplayed.)